The 10 Best Educational Toys For Preschoolers
This wiki has been updated 19 times since it was first published in July of 2019. The years before children enter kindergarten are among the most important for the development of their young minds, so it's incumbent upon parents to make sure their little ones are surrounded with things that help them learn. These educational toys for preschoolers fit the bill perfectly, and we've ranked them by their learning potential, entertainment value, and durability. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. VTech Kidizoom Duo Selfie Camera
2. Educational Insights Design & Drill Robot
3. Thames & Kosmos Aircraft Engineer
Editor's Notes
July 18, 2019:
What makes a toy educational may well be something of a philosophical question, but we're confident that we could point to any of the toys included on this list and tell you just how important they could be to the development of a child's mind. Of course, we wanted there to be some variety here, as well, and we didn't want everything to seem too classroom-oriented either.
With that in mind, our top pick turned out to be an exceptional camera from VTech. I owned an early child-oriented laptop of theirs called the Super Color Whiz when I was about five or six, and they've been making exceptional children's electronics since at least those days. Like our robot at number two, it's available in what could only be described as gender-specific colors, but if you don't want your kids investing in that binary distinction, you could always subvert the manufacturer's intentions and get pink for boys and blue for girls.
Among toys oriented for STEM learning, you'll find the Thames and Kosmos Aircraft Engineer at number three, and a microscope from Educational Insights at number nine. And artsy types will appreciate the inclusion of a comprehensive arts station, as well as a miniature piano from Melissa & Doug that features note labels to reinforce the piano's scales, as well as an option to customize the instrument with your child's name.
4. Step2 Great Creations Art Center
5. Duplo Endless Creativity Set
6. Melissa & Doug Alphabet Wooden Lacing Cards
7. Mudpuppy America Map Puzzle
8. Melissa & Doug Learn-To-Play Piano
9. Educational Insights GeoSafari Jr. Microscope
10. Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Piggy Bank
Daniel Imperiale holds a bachelor’s degree in writing, and proudly fled his graduate program in poetry to pursue a quiet life at a remote Alaskan fishery. After returning to the contiguous states, he took up a position as an editor and photographer of the prestigious geek culture magazine “Unwinnable” before turning his attention to the field of health and wellness. In recent years, he has worked extensively in film and music production, making him something of a know-it-all when it comes to camera equipment, musical instruments, recording devices, and other audio-visual hardware. Daniel’s recent obsessions include horology (making him a pro when it comes to all things timekeeping) and Uranium mining and enrichment (which hasn’t proven useful just yet).