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Toy Reviews
Discover honest, hands-on toy reviews for toddlers and preschoolers. We test popular educational tools and fine motor toys for durability, engagement, and real developmental value—helping you pick the best toys for your child and budget without the marketing hype.
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Learning Resources Farmer’s Market Color Sorting Set: a little market on the kitchen table
The pretend shop can open with just two baskets and a few foods.
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Hiking Play Set review: Make the packing part of an imaginary adventure
For some children, packing the bag is the adventure.
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Potato Head Create Your Family: a wonderfully mixed-up family
A nose in an unexpected place can start a whole conversation.
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New Sprouts Grow It review: Pretend planting without waiting for a crop
A child may want to put a flower in a pot, pull it out and begin again.
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Melissa & Doug Primary Lacing Beads: choose a colour, thread a little
There is a pleasing rhythm to choosing one bead and deciding what comes next.
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Counting Cookies review: Let the pretend snack come before the number lesson
If your child enjoys offering a pretend snack and putting it back in a jar, Counting Cookies has a familiar action to build on.
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Melissa & Doug Water Wow! Farm: a little farm, ready to reveal
A cow appears, then a patch of the farm around it.
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Mini ABC Pops review: Bring a few letters into a pretend shop
A pretend ice-pop shop can make letters available without making them the whole activity.
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Chuckle & Roar Seek & Find Bear: a bear for little noticing games
Finding one tiny object can be enough of a game.
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Noodle Knockout review: Decide whether the picking-up action is the attraction
Some children enjoy the challenge of picking up a slippery-looking piece with a tool; others want to make the pretend meal with their hands.