The 9 Best Musical Toys for Kids of 2023

Kids Playing Musical Instruments — Getty Images / People Images

Musical toys are a great way toexpand a child'sinterest in musicwithout investing in formal musical training (yet). From rattles to drums to flutes and more, musical toys come in various styles, and choosing the best musical toy will largely depend on a child’s developmental level and what they're interested in. Little singers will love a microphone, while other kids may focus on a specific instrument. The best musical toys for children areage-appropriate, easy to use, durable, and match their musical interests.

In order to find the best musical toys for kids, we surveyed 875 parents about the toys their children play with, why they enjoy them, and how they play with them. We also reviewed guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) on thebenefits of music for mental health, learning, moods, and more.When reviewing products, we carefully considered age recommendations, toy safety, type of instruments, design, ease of use, and value. Lastly, a pediatrics physician on ourReview Boardalso reviewed this article for medical accuracy and integrity around what to look for in musical toys for children andhow music can benefit a child's development.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Manhattan Toy Musical Lili Llama at Amazon

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Best Beginner:

Buffalo Games TinkerTar One String Guitar at Amazon

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Most Versatile:

Baby Einstein Kickin' Tunes Play Gym at Amazon

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Best for Singing:

VTech Kidi Star Karaoke Machine at Amazon

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Best Educational:

Fisher-Price Think & Learn Rocktopus at Amazon

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Best STEM:

ZoZoplay STEM Toys Tube Locks at Amazon

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Best Set:

Boxiki Kids Musical Instrument Set at Amazon

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Best for Infants:

Munchkin Mozart Magic Cube at Amazon

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Best Single Instrument:

Pottery Barn Unicorn Instruments at Potterybarnkids.com

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In This Article

Our Picks
How We Selected and Tested
What to Look For
FAQs
Why Trust Verywell Family

Manhattan Toy

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The Manhattan Toy Musical Lili Llama isfull of different instruments, which is why it earns our top spot. On its back is a five-note xylophone, and the tail doubles as a maraca. There’s also a washboard, clappers, spinning gears, and two mallets.

The adorable, colorfulllama doubles as a wooden storage containerso you can neatly stow away the instruments. This single toy is full of ways for kids as young as 12 months to explore. It’s also really cute!

Price at time of publication: $61

Amazon

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For kids whowant to learn how to play guitar, the TinkerTar is a great introduction to playing the popular instrument. One of our writers received a free sample from the brand and loves how easy the instrument is to learn and play. Instead of six strings like most guitars, the TinkerTar features onlyone string and a color-coded fingerboard—a welcome sight to many kids (even adults) that doesn’t feel or look intimidating.

The TinkerTar includes amusical bookletfor kids ages 3 years and up to follow and play songs. For example, hold the string down on the green “5” circle and strum three times to start the classic “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” tune. If a string breaks from jamming too hard, thecompany includes two replacement strings. Moreover, an included guitar strap keeps the instrument close by during concerts.

From a heart to pizza, the TinkerTar is available inmultiple fun themeskids will love.

Price at time of publication: $25

Baby Einstein 4-in-1 Kickin' Tunes Music and Language Discovery Activity Play Gym

Amazon

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We love the Baby Einstein 4-in-1 Kickin’ Tunes Play Gym because itgrows with childrenfrom birth to 3 years old. The play gym features four modes of play: laying, sitting, tummy time, and take-along. Parents in our survey recommend this adorable activity mat because of the many detachable toys, like a triangle rattle and piano. An includedprop pillowprovides extra support during tummy time, and themat is machine-washablefor easy cleaning.

Price at time of publication: $50

Amazon

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If your child would rather use their voice instead of an instrument, then they’ll love singing along with the VTech Kidi Star Karaoke Machine. Made for kids between 5 and 9 years old, this toy is equipped witheight original songs, six built-in games, a voice changer, and sound effects.

You can also connect the toy to your phone so your child can sing along with their own personal favorite songs. The microphone has arecorderthat can save up to five minutes of sound, and the mic stand includes adisco lightthat changes colors for a real rockstar vibe.

Price at time of publication: $60

Amazon

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Kids between 3 and 6 years old can play music, dance, and learn math skills with this toy. It plays the sounds of15 different musical instruments in five different styles. The Fisher-Price Think & Learn Rocktopus starts out by playing a tempo, which the child can control, and then can play the sounds of up to six different instruments at a time.

Your child can then change up the music byadding and subtracting instrumentsto compose their very own masterpiece. Even better, this toy can be played in either math, music, or activity mode, offering your kiddo all the more fun.

Price at time of publication: $60

Amazon

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After thetoddler stagepasses, little ones start getting really interested in building and putting things together, which is why this tubular set is such a fun musical toy. It comes with72 pieces(or 64, 78, or 96)that can be put together in a variety of ways tocreate different horn instruments.

Each configuration has the potential to make a totallydifferent noise from the last, so kids between 3 and 10 years old can make endless unique designs.

价格在出版时间:35美元(72 -块集)

Boxiki-kids-musical-instrument-set-16-pcs

Amazon

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We love this set because it allows budding musicians to try out a variety of instruments. The16-piece setincludes maracas, a tambourine, shaker eggs, claves, wrist bells, finger and hand castanets, a wooden sounder, a triangle, and a large jingle bell. The set is recommended for kids between 3 and 6 years old and will help themdevelop rhythm and other musical skills.

The wooden instruments are made withhigh-quality materialsthat will stand up to wear and tear, and they have soft and smooth surfaces, so you don't have to worry about your kid getting splinters or cuts. We want to note that they are loud, so this toy is best used in a space where noise is welcome. When it's time to clean up, all instruments fit in the included carrying case.

Price at time of publication: $40

Amazon

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新生儿,可以开始探索music with the Munchkin Mozart Magic Cube. When it’s turned on,lights flashas a steady tempo is played. Then,each time the baby touchesa side of the cube, more music is added in with or removed from the tempo. The cube featuresmusic from a harp, French horn, piano, flute, and violin.

Price at time of publication: $29

Pottery Barn

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A tambourine and xylophone are simple instruments, but it sure is a lot cuter with a unicorn face. Made from wood, MDF, and metal, these musical unicorns (sold separately from each other) featurewater-based paintthat is totally safe for little ones. The whimsical toy is made for kids as young as 12 months old.

Price at time of publication: $49

How We Selected and Tested Kids' Musical Toys

To begin our research of the best musical toys for children, we reviewed guidance from the AAP on the benefits of music and how it affects mental health, learning, moods, and more.我们也调查了875名父母什么品牌families like to buy from and why they purchase from them year after year. Moreover, we asked parents what toys their children love to play with, detailing how kids use them and why they love them.

Following guidance from the AAP and parent recommendations, we studied the design and features of more than 30 musical toys on the market before narrowing down our list. We researched reviews from customers and competitors and monitored the latest shopping trends to find the best and most recent offerings on musical toys for kids. When reviewing products, we carefully considered age recommendations, type of instrument, design, toy safety, ease of use, and value.

What to Look for in Music Toys for Kids

Age Level:确保你选择的玩具是有趣的and safe for your kiddo, it is essential to keep their age in mind. If the toy is geared for toddlers, it will quickly become boring for a bigger child, and little kids will end up frustrated with a toy designed for an older kid. Plus, toys for younger children have important safety features.
Ability:If your child is musically inclined, they'll likely appreciate a toy that aligns with their interests and abilities. For your little singer, a karaoke machine will be perfect, while a guitar will be best for your mini rockstar.
Durability:Most of your child's toys will be put through the wringer. Music toys are designed to be pulled, strummed, and banged on, so it's important they're made from durable, long-lasting, high-quality material.

Frequently Asked Questions

When can a child start learning a musical instrument?

When a child is ready to learn a musical instrument depends on the child and the complexity of the instrument. Many babies start making music with their first shake of a rattle. Toddlers enjoy toys that make noise when they play with them. Traditional instruments may need to wait until the elementary school years, although some kids will have the patience and inclination as preschoolers.
How does music benefit a child's brain?

Music offers many benefits for a child's brain. Studies show that music aids with learning, helps to boost mood, and relieves stress. Music has also been shown to improve sleep and a variety of mental health conditions, such as anxiety.
Does music help a child's memory?

Studies show that music may help improve a child's memory and attention. In fact, many schools incorporate music and movement into academic activities as a way to promote learning and retention of information. For example, think of the ABC song and how that helps kids remember their letters.

Why Trust Verywell Family

Ashley Ziegleris a staff and freelance writer who covers lifestyle, home, parenting, and commerce content for a variety of platforms. She’s a mom to 1-year-old and 4-year-old daughters and an aunt to 3 nieces and 2 nephews ranging from 5 to 11 years old. In addition to regularly scouring the internet to find the best things for herself, Ashley spends multiple hours a week researching, comparing, and writing about products specifically for kids and families.

Additional reporting by:

Katrina Cosseyis a commerce writer, enthusiastic shopper, and devoted mom. She spent several years in broadcast journalism but found her true passion in writing about the best products for families, pregnant people, and kids of all ages. She’s researched thousands of baby products, toys, gifts, and more and personally tested many of them. In her spare time, you’ll likely find her in the beautiful outdoors of Oklahoma with her husband and 3-year-old son. Katrina tried theTinkerTarand can't recommend it enough for kids ready to play a real instrument. The one-string design and color-coded fingerboard make learning the instrument easy.

More Toys for Kids

When it comes to toys for kids, our team has you covered. TheVerywell Family team of editors(who are parents or have nieces and nephews of their own) have tested, gifted, and personally recommend every item we feature. Find more of our top toy picks for every developmental stage and personality phase here: