The Best Educational Toys We Tested Spark Imagination and Creative Play

Mar. 15, 2025

In This ArticleView AllIn This ArticleTop Educational Toys Under $40Educational Toys for 1-Year-OldsEducational Toys for 3-Year-OldsEducational Toys for 8-Year-OldsChoosing the Right ToysBehind the ScenesWhy Trust PEOPLE?What Is PEOPLE Tested?

In This ArticleView All

View All

In This Article

Top Educational Toys Under $40

Educational Toys for 1-Year-Olds

Educational Toys for 3-Year-Olds

Educational Toys for 8-Year-Olds

Choosing the Right Toys

Behind the Scenes

Why Trust PEOPLE?

What Is PEOPLE Tested?

Photo:People

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Whether you’re searching forgifts for your own kidsor someone else’s, opting for an educational toy is a great way to encourage kids to learn while having fun.

Play is crucial to early childhood development, and toys are an important component in forming the brain connections necessary for learning and development, according toDr. Jill Campbell, a clinical psychologist who specializes in parenting and early child development.The best educational toys spark a child’s imagination, teach them something, or engage their problem-solving abilities, from building blocks to picture books.

To help you find thebest toyfor your child, we spoke with Dr. Campbell about appropriate ideas for each developmental stage. We also tested several toys with our own children to create a comprehensive list of the best educational toys for kids of every age.

Best Educational Toys for 1-Year-Olds

What to Look ForAccording to Dr. Campbell, toys that encourage kids to “use their senses” are important for babies’ development. Look for “toys that are simpler, toys that they manipulate, and toys that are more activity dependant, so the child is more active and the toy is more passive,” Dr. Campbell tells PEOPLE.

What to Look For

According to Dr. Campbell, toys that encourage kids to “use their senses” are important for babies’ development. Look for “toys that are simpler, toys that they manipulate, and toys that are more activity dependant, so the child is more active and the toy is more passive,” Dr. Campbell tells PEOPLE.

Ms. Rachel Speak & Sing DollPHOTO: Target$30 at AmazonView on Hammacher.comView on Thepaperstore.com

Ms. Rachel Speak & Sing Doll

PHOTO: Target

$30 at AmazonView on Hammacher.comView on Thepaperstore.com

This adorable plushy was one of the highest-scoring toys that we tried when testing the hottest toys of the year. It plays 16 different phrases and four songs from the wildly popular Ms. Rachel show and encourages kids to imitate sounds and sentences.

Intended Age:6 months and up |Requires Batteries:Yes (included)

PHOTO: PeoplePHOTO: PeoplePHOTO: People

Sassy Stacks of Circles Stacking Ring STEM Learning ToyPHOTO: Amazon$8 at Amazon$8 at Target$13$8 at Walmart

Sassy Stacks of Circles Stacking Ring STEM Learning Toy

PHOTO: Amazon

$8 at Amazon$8 at Target$13$8 at Walmart

Intended Age:6 months and up |Requires Batteries:No

Airbition Talking Flash CardsPHOTO: Amazon$11 at Amazon

Airbition Talking Flash Cards

$11 at Amazon

With 224 different illustrations that are inserted into the child-friendly base, this toy is great for encouraging communication. It provides three ways to learn: verbally with an audio button, visually with colored illustrations, and written with clear, bold printed words on top of the cards.

Intended Age:1 year and up |Requires Batteries:No, recharges via USB-C

VTech Count and Chomp DinoPHOTO: Amazon$22$20 at Amazon$20 at Walmart

VTech Count and Chomp Dino

$22$20 at Amazon$20 at Walmart

This interactive dinosaur toy helps teach kids about numbers, colors, shapes, and food. The toy responds with encouraging phrases and flashing lights when kids feed it plastic coins or press its numbered buttons.

Intended Age:1 year and up |Requires Batteries:Yes (included)

LeapFrog Learning Friends 100 Words BookPHOTO: Amazon$20$13 at Amazon$13 at Target$20$13 at Walmart

LeapFrog Learning Friends 100 Words Book

$20$13 at Amazon$13 at Target$20$13 at Walmart

Intended Age:18 months and up |Requires Batteries:Yes (included)

Best Educational Toys for 3-Year-Olds

What to Look ForFor kids about to enter preschool, Dr. Campbell says to look for “toys that encourage imagination and creativity and inspire them to play pretend.”

For kids about to enter preschool, Dr. Campbell says to look for “toys that encourage imagination and creativity and inspire them to play pretend.”

Educational Insights GeoSafari Jr. KidnocularsPHOTO: Amazon$15$10 at Amazon$10 at Walmart$22 at QVC

Educational Insights GeoSafari Jr. Kidnoculars

$15$10 at Amazon$10 at Walmart$22 at QVC

These kid-friendly binoculars encourage kids to explore their surroundings and spend more time appreciating the outdoors. The binoculars come with a breakaway neck strap, and the lenses are padded with comfortable silicone pads for added safety.

PEOPLE editorKayla Kittssays that the GeoSafari binoculars kept her son constantly entertained when he was three-years-old.

Intended Age:3 and up |Requires Batteries:No

Lego Duplo Town Buildable People with Big EmotionsPHOTO: Amazon$50$40 at Amazon$42 at Target$60 at Walmart

Lego Duplo Town Buildable People with Big Emotions

$50$40 at Amazon$42 at Target$60 at Walmart

This toddler-friendly Lego kit comes with everything needed to make five characters with different facial expressions to help kids identify emotions from facial cues.

Little Tikes Story Dream MachinePHOTO: Amazon$50$43 at Amazon$50 at Target$50$48 at Walmart

Little Tikes Story Dream Machine

$50$43 at Amazon$50 at Target$50$48 at Walmart

The Story Dream Machine lets kids take control of their bedtime stories. The toy projects illustrated stories onto the wall and reads the stories out loud, and our testers found it easy enough for adults and kids to use on their own.

Yoto Mini PlayerPHOTO: Yoto$70$65 at Amazon$70 at TargetView on Yotoplay.com

Yoto Mini Player

PHOTO: Yoto

$70$65 at Amazon$70 at TargetView on Yotoplay.com

This compact audio player is one ofthe best toys we’ve ever tried— and it’s screen-free, too! The tiny device allows kids to play music, stories, and custom recordings and drastically reduces kids’ struggle for screen time.

Intended Age:3 and up |Requires Batteries:No, USB-C rechargeable

LeapFrog LeapPad Educational TabletPHOTO: Amazon$100$79 at Amazon$84 at Target$100$79 at Walmart

LeapFrog LeapPad Educational Tablet

$100$79 at Amazon$84 at Target$100$79 at Walmart

This kid-approved tablet comes pre-loaded with 20 educational apps to improve reading, math, and science skills. Kids can play educational games, create digital art pieces, and even surf a limited web browser with kid-friendly websites and videos.

Intended Age:3 and up |Requires Batteries:Yes (includes rechargeable lithium-ion battery)

Viahart Brain Flakes 500 Piece Interlocking Plastic Disc SetPHOTO: Amazon$20 at Amazon$20 at Walmart

Viahart Brain Flakes 500 Piece Interlocking Plastic Disc Set

$20 at Amazon$20 at Walmart

Spark creativity with this 500-piece set of interlocking gear toys. It comes with a booklet of instructions to build guided creations, or kids can free-play and build anything their imagination can conjure.

PHOTO: PeoplePHOTO: People

Educational Insights GeoSafari Jr. Talking MicroscopePHOTO: Amazon$35 at Amazon$88 at Wayfair$55 at QVC

Educational Insights GeoSafari Jr. Talking Microscope

$35 at Amazon$88 at Wayfair$55 at QVC

“Honestly, this talking microscope has taughtmea lot as I’ve used it with my son. Did you know the wood ant has a huge family and lives with a few hundred thousand other ants? I didn’t!” —Kayla Kitts, shopping editor

Intended Age:3 and up |Requires Batteries:Yes (not included)

Thames and Kosmos Wow in The World Dino Dig and DioramaPHOTO: Amazon$30$19 at Amazon

Thames and Kosmos Wow in The World Dino Dig and Diorama

$30$19 at Amazon

Encourage kids to learn while getting their hands dirty with this fun, diggable diorama toy. The kit comes with 10 “dino” eggs, a cardboard diorama with stickers, and a rock hammer and chisel that’s rated for kids ages 4 and up.

Intended Age:4 and up |Requires Batteries:No

PHOTO: PeoplePHOTO: PeoplePHOTO: PeoplePHOTO: People

Best Educational Toys for 8-Year-Olds

What to Look ForFor elementary schoolers, Dr. Campbell says, toys that require more hands-on problem-solving are a great option. Think puzzles, science experiments, and building sets.

For elementary schoolers, Dr. Campbell says, toys that require more hands-on problem-solving are a great option. Think puzzles, science experiments, and building sets.

Elenco Snap Circuits 203 Electronics Exploration KitPHOTO: Amazon$47$38 at Amazon

Elenco Snap Circuits 203 Electronics Exploration Kit

$47$38 at Amazon

This circuit toy is a safe way to introduce kids to electricity, allowing them to follow an instruction booklet or free-play to create real working circuits that turn on lights, play sounds, and switch on and off.

PEOPLE shopping writerCai Cramerremembers playing with the Snap Circuits toy when she was a kid. “It kept me and my siblings occupied for hours! We played with this toy for years without getting bored,” she says.

Intended Age:8 and up |Requires Batteries:Yes (not included)

National Geographic Super Gross Chemistry SetPHOTO: Amazon$30 at Amazon$40 at Target$30$25 at Walmart

National Geographic Super Gross Chemistry Set

$30 at Amazon$40 at Target$30$25 at Walmart

Ever since slime toys came on the market, it seems like kids can’t get enough of them. This kit encourages kids to do science experiments and create their own slime, adding a creative learning component.

Intended Age:8 and up |Requires Batteries:No

Lucky Doug Solar Robot Kit 12-in-1 Science STEM Robot KitPHOTO: Amazon$35$25 at Amazon

Lucky Doug Solar Robot Kit 12-in-1 Science STEM Robot Kit

$35$25 at Amazon

No batteries are required for this robot-building kit — thanks to an included solar panel, kids can build creations that move with the power of the sun. It comes with an instruction book that labels projects as “entry-level” for kids ages 8 to 10 and “senior level” for kids 10 and up.

Choosing the Right Educational Toys

Babies:Simple, tactile toys are what Dr. Campbell recommends for babies. She recommends more passive toys that allow the child to use their own senses (rather than a bunch of flashing lights, sounds, and screens that do the “playing” for the child).Toddlers:“From two to three, kids go from parallel play to collaborative play,” Dr. Campbell says. “So a child that’s under 2.5 might sit with another child and be interested in being near them and watching them, but they’re not going to play collaboratively together.” But, around three years old, kids may become more interested in “playing games, building something together, and doing something collaboratively with other kids.”Preschoolers:​​For preschoolers, Dr. Campbell says, toys that inspire imagination and creativity are important. Dr. Campbell recommends “toys that help with the imagination and creativity, like dress up and dolls, so that kids can play pretend.” Dr. Campbell also recommends “puzzles, nesting bowls, water play, and Legos” for preschoolers.Elementary Schoolers:“Musical instruments are great as kids get older,” Dr. Campbell says. “They help with fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and listening.” She also recommends building toys and puzzles to encourage problem-solving and creativity.

Cai Crameris a shopping writer at PEOPLE and has previously worked as a nanny and a camp counselor for a combined 10 years. For this story, Cai spoke with a clinical psychologist to find out which educational toys are recommended to encourage development in children of all ages. She also relied on the results of real-life testing in which editors and their kids played with some of the most popular toys this year and provided in-depth feedback about the ease of setup, durability, and enjoyment of each toy. Cai also scoured Amazon’s most popular toy section to find out which educational toys are best-sellers.

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source: people.com