With a dizzying array of options on the market, finding a musical toy that your child will love can be a bewildering undertaking. We've gathered together the top ten musical toys and gadgets for children of all ages that, in our opinion, stand out from the rest. Enjoy our round-up of the best music toys for kids!
We've got more ideas in our rundown of great music gifts for kids.
Best musical toys for children
Winnie the Pooh music box
Babies and toddlers will be hypnotised by this old-fashioned wooden music box, which features Pooh Bear and Piglet figurines spinning to the tune of a well-known lullaby. My local GP surgery used to keep one of musical toys in every consultation room, to distract children during routine vaccinations. And it did the trick. Buy one of these and sample the hypnotic power for yourself.
Baby Einstein Guitar Musical Wooden Toy
Budding musicians can strum along to over thirty melodies or create their own hit with this guitar, which turns beginners into instant pros. All your toddler need do is strum a note, and the instrument will automatically fill in the rest of the chord. Or they can switch to 'play along' mode and their touch will match the tune. It's great for those wanting to see a quick reward for their efforts. And, let's face it, who doesn't?
Munchkin Mozart magic cube
This educational toy teaches children how instrumental sounds combine to create orchestral works - in this case eight masterpieces by Mozart. It includes harp, violin, French horn, piano and flute sounds, which can play individually or in any combination simply by pressing the sides of the cube.
The result is an opportunity to lay out the nuts and bolts of an orchestra, and to discover the joy of 'composing' music. One of those gifts that engage both children and adults alike. As such, one of the better music toys for kids on the market.
VTech Kidi DJ Mix
Slightly older children (age 6+) can DJ along to 15 built-in tracks in four different styles of music with this snazzy piece of kit, which even includes multicoloured disco lights that synch to the music. Or, to access your whole music library, you can connect an external music player via Bluetooth. Great for a kitchen rave. Children (and parents) after the more party-starting musical toys should start here.
Click n' Play Tox Saxophone
With its colourful sequence of keys, this click n'play saxophone and trumpet set makes it easy for kids aged 3+ to start learning - and the reproduced brass sound is pretty realistic! For those wanting to get stuck straight in, each instrument comes with songs printed on the back of the box, colour-coded with the keys to keep things simple.
We also included this in our round-up of the best musical instruments for kids, if you've got a budding young musician in the family.
More great musical toys for children
Pick a Palooza pick kit
This DIY guitar pick kit is great for teenagers who are constantly losing their guitar picks, allowing them to make something totally personalized. It comes with a punch for making the picks, along with 15 plastic strips, a guitar-shaped file for smoothing down rough edges and a guitar-holder that will attach to a key chain. And once the plastic strips run out, you can still use the punch on any other piece of plastic you find lying around the house, eg old membership cards. An unusual music gift for kids, and certainly one they'll thank you for.
Bluetooth Music Hat
Teenagers facing the dilemma of whether to wear a beanie without headphones or headphones without a beanie will love this music hat, which is basically a beanie with a pair of small Bluetooth speakers tucked into its brim and positioned near each ear. It can pair with a mobile, tablet or other music device and can also be used to answer calls. To clean the beanie, simply remove the headset and battery.
Toy accordion
This bright and fun starter accordion helps children to begin exploring melody and rhythm. With seven keys and three bass buttons, it's easy to play. It also makes a surprisingly big sound for a fairly small instrument. Plus it's durable enough to withstand many crashes. One of the better toys for children just starting out on their musical adventures.
Yoto Player
This audio player can play songs, books or games, which come in the form of user-friendly cards. It also has a timer sleep function so that your children can fall asleep while listening. Of the hundreds of titles available for children of all ages and stages, we recommend My First Classical Music Collection. This includes all ten cards of the 'My First' classical music series, such as 'My First Orchestra Album', 'My First Tchaikovsky Album' and 'My First Ballet Album'.
Electronic Drum Mat
Suitable for children and older beginners, this drum mat allows you to get into beats and rhythms. There are pads for snare, 3 toms, crash cymbal and ride cymbal. You've also got two foot pedals for High Hat and Bass Drum. In other words, it's a proper bells-and-whistles drum kit, but it can also be rolled up and stored away. Plus, the record function allows you to play along with yourself. A worthy finale on our list of great music toys for kids.
