Wooden Instruments and Other Music Toys
There are such a great array of musical toys for kids of all ages starting with infants who can get exposed to classical music through Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes. Toddlers enjoy hands-on (and I mean Hands-On) playing and manipulating instruments. Preschool kids can make their own band either with clever toys or with friends. There are even authentic wooden instruments for young elementary school kids to try out before they start lessons.
I also have some stocking stuffer ideas of small instruments that also make great goody bag gifts.
p.s. My Holiday Gift Guides are all here. Popular ones include:
Gift Guide: Best Toys for Math and Science
Gift Guide: Best Toys for Arty Kids
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Top 10: Best Fun and Educational Board Games
Electronic Music Toys for Infants and Toddlers
Symphony in B, $78
Geared for preschoolers, this toy makes your child the conductor of an orchestra. 13 instruments on the toy can be used (up to 6 at a time) to create 15 glorious songs. This is a great way to introduce young children to the instruments of an orchestra and will perhaps inspire them to choose their favorite one to learn eventually.
Munchkin Mozart Music Cube, $19
Perfect for toddlers, each side of the Music Cube introduces an instrument: harp, French horn, piano, flute, and violin. The cube teaches how sounds can be combined to make eight Mozart pieces.
Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes, $9
The stroller set can have its own musical device which they can use to choose from seven classical melodies.
Music Blocks, $38
The five blocks with 6 sides each make up a myriad of sound combinations enabling your child to compose endlessly.
Make Your Own Band Instruments for Kids
Those kids who like to sing will enjoy the record and playback feature along with a microphone! Pick out a few easy piano songs for toddlers to encourage them to play and sing along to some tunes they recognize.
Melissa and Doug Band in a Box, $19
If you are enjoying Mommy and Me music classes, you can extend the fun by recreating at home. This set is especially fun to pull owoutn during playgroups!
Wooden Drum, $20
This brings back memories. We had this drum for years! It makes a nice sound and compliments any musical toy set you might already have.
Ukelele, $24
For kids who want to play guitar, the smaller size and less stringed Ukelele is a nice place to start. It’s priced less than a small guitar and is an authentic instrument. This one is made of high-quality wood construction with an authentic Hawaiian sound.
Drum Kit, $117
How brave are you? We were gifted this set when my son was young and he used it for years, eventually taking each piece apart to use for creative play. While he just banged on it as a toddler and preschooler, we had a friend who knew how to play drums try it out and it is capable of sounding good. It’s very popular during play dates as you might imagine!
Winfun Symphonic Toy Piano, $49
It looks like a grand piano with 37 keys and its own seat. Those kids who like to sing will enjoy the record and playback feature along with a microphone!
Musical Toys as Stocking Stuffers for Toddlers
Wood Block Instrument, $3.50
Toddlers love to make music and this woodblock makes a high-quality sound. Use it to tap along to music or combine with other instruments and playgroup friends for musical fun.
Eggshakers, $2 each
My kids loved egg shakers but were devastated when they came apart. This one is sturdy and produces a nice sound.
Woodblock, $3.50
We had this one in our music box collection and it was a favorite because it makes a deep rich sound. Kids love percussion instruments and this one is great for being portable as well!
Triangle, $9
It’s important that the Triangle dangle in order to get a nice sound.
Wrist Bells, $2.60
Jingle bells that kids can hold in their hands or wear on their wrists.
Rhythm Sticks, $6.50
I know that you must think that you can make them yourself! It’s just two sticks without splinters. You can but if you don’t have the time or the patience to sand, these are a nice set.
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I like the look of that wooden drum! And the Symphony in B toy is one I noticed on Amazon recently and was thinking it would be interesting to see in person…
Hi Maryanne,
We had that drum for years and it makes a lovely sound. My kids loved drums, egg shakers/maracas and the triangle when they were little. They’ve since moved on to piano and now flute for the girls. My son went from piano to guitar … but they ALL want to play real drums. I guess the drums is just universally appealing. I’m going to get a real drum kit in two years for them to learn. Dreading that a little though!
M & D Band in a Box is a great gift. We get so much use out of it. The kids are still playing with it at ages 8 & 10.
Hi Asian Mommy,
We held on to the toy musical instrument collection for such a long time too! I think I finally got rid of it at 12, 10 and 7 but mostly because I wanted to clean out the basement and the kids had moved on to musical instruments that they have to practice. It’s great your kids still enjoy them!
These are great! I’m loving that little ukelele.
Hi Jeanette,
My husband bought two Ukeleles for the girls when they were 3 and 1 and they never really used them. But then my son came along and played with them so much that they finally broke. First the little one, then the bigger Ukelele when got a little bigger. Then a toy guitar. Then he wanted to learn guitar so he got a nicer one. Which he cracked when he hit it with his fist when his sister made him mad. No resale value for that guitar but it still works fine! It’s a tiny guitar (1/4 size) so he will outgrow it in a year or two. The next guitar is not going to be very expensive given his track record! He loved the Ukelele though and the toy drum kit. He wants to start drums in 4th grade 2 years from now. I guess those music toys are foretelling!
These gifts are a great investment! I wouldn’t mind adding to our assortment with maybe the wooden drum and block. I think my husband is also going to get the kids ukes, they seem easier to learn than guitar.
Hi Ann,
We got a lot of use out the Ukeleles and my son thought they were a guitar for years! It was the right size for him too when he was little.
Hey Mia,
Thanks for putting together this amazing resource. I think we all agree that music can benefit a child in so many ways – so thanks for all the inspiring toys.
I know for a fact that the DeRose drum kit is a good one – and once the child grows taller and he / she takes an interest in drumming, the link below will outline some good-quality drum kits to get then.
Thanks for the article!
Best,
Yannick.
Thanks so much for your kind words Yannick!
We love Munchkin Mozart Music Cube! We got it for my son when he was 4 months old and at first he was only entertained with the fact that it made noise but no more than anything else that did.Now that he’s almost 6 months it’s been a new favorite of his.
Thanks for the thoughtful review!
Hi Christopher,
I’m so glad your son likes this musical toy! He sounds like he might love learning an instrument when he’s a little older.
Hi Mia,
Thanks for a very good article!
There’s no doubt that Musical Instruments are an excellent way for kids to learn and expand their creativity.
We recently published I guide focused on drum sets for kids.
Anyway, keep up the good work!
Thanks Diego!
I honestly believe having some sort of musical instrument when you are a child is absolutely essential. Not only does it provide fun to the child, it helps coordination, sensory development, and creativity! Excellent read.
Thanks Mike! We had a drum kit for our kids when they were young. They never learned to formally play the drums; they took piano lessons and then moved to different instruments. I know now that playing drums is not easy!