The 9 Best Musical Toys for Children of All Ages of 2023

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Musical toys are a great way to expand a child's interest in music without investing in formal musical training. The best musical toys for children are age-appropriate, durable, and match their musical interests.

From rattles to drums to flutes and more, musical toys come in a variety of styles. Choosing the best musical toy will largely depend on their developmental level and what they're interested in. Little singers will love a microphone, while other kids may focus on a specific instrument. Once you've figured out which musical toy best suits your child, make sure to also consider ease of cleaning and volume control. We researched popular toys with these features in mind.

A pediatrics physician on our Review Board also reviewed this article for medical accuracy and integrity around surrounding what to look for in musical toys for children and how music can benefit a child's development.

Here are some of the best musical toys for children of all ages.

Boxiki Kids Musical Instrument Set 16 PCS

Boxiki Kids Musical Instrument Set 16 PCS

Amazon

We love this set because it allows budding musicians to try out a variety of instruments. The 16-piece set includes 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 them develop rhythm and other musical skills.

The wooden instruments are made with high-quality materials that 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. Reviewers 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 of the instruments fit in the included carrying case.

Price at time of publication: $44

Anthropologie Guitar Wooden Toy

Anthropologie Guitar Wooden Toy

Courtesy of Anthropologie

With this guitar, kids 4 years old and up can strengthen their fine motor skills while jamming out. The colorful string instrument is made from high-quality beech wood and steel, measures 8.5 inches by 5 inches, and features four strings with tuners. 

Munchkin Mozart Magic Cube

Munchkin Mozart Magic Cube

Amazon

Babies as young as a month old can start exploring music using this cube. When it’s turned on, lights flash as a steady tempo is played. Then, each time the baby touches a side of the cube, more music is added in with or removed from the tempo. The cube features music from a harp, French horn, piano, flute, and violin.

Price at time of publication: $28

Manhattan Toy Musical Lili Llama

Manhattan Toy Musical Lili Llama

Manhattan Toy

This wooden llama is full of different instruments. 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 colorful llama doubles as a storage container so that 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: $58

ZoZoplay STEM Toys Tube Locks 72 Piece

ZoZoplay STEM Toys Tube Locks 72 Piece

Amazon

After the toddler stage passes, 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 with 72 pieces that can be put together in a variety of ways to create different horn instruments.

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

Price at time of publication: $30

Pottery Barn Unicorn Instruments

Pottery Barn Kids Unicorn Instruments

Courtesy of Pottery Barn Kids

A tambourine is a simple instrument, but it sure is a lot cuter with a unicorn face. Made from wood, MDF, and metal, this musical unicorn features water-based paint that is totally safe for little ones. The whimsical toy is made for kids as young as 12 months old and is a part of a set with a matching unicorn xylophone (sold separately). 

Price at time of publication: $29

Alex Toys Rub a Dub Water Flutes

ALEX Tub Tunes Water Flutes

Courtesy of Jouets Lol Toys

Kids love music and playing in the water. This toy combines both of them. It comes with five flutes that can be filled with different amounts of water, leaving them each with their own unique sound.

Playing around with different notes is fun on its own, but kids as young as 3 years old can also use the included waterproof music sheet to guide them as they play “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” “It’s Raining, It’s Pouring,” “The Itsy Bitsy Spider,” and more.  

Price at time of publication: $20

Fisher-Price Think & Learn Rocktopus

Fisher-Price Think & Learn Rocktopus

Amazon

Kids between 3 and 6 years old can play music, dance, and learn math skills with this toy. It plays the sounds of 15 different musical instruments in five different styles. The toy 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 by adding and subtracting instruments to 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

VTech Kidi Star Karaoke Machine

VTech Kidi aStar Karaoke Machine

Amazon

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

You can also connect the toy with your phone so your child can sing along with their own personal favorite songs. The microphone is equipped with a recorder that can save up to five minutes of sound and the mic stand includes a disco light that changes colors for a real rockstar vibe. 

Price at time of publication: $60

Final Verdict

Each of these musical toys is great in its own way, but if you’re looking for the very best, you can go wrong with the Boxiki Kids Musical Instrument Set (view on Amazon) or the Fisher-Price Think & Learn Rocktopus (view on Amazon).

What to Look for in Music Toys for Kids

Age Level

To ensure that the toy you're choosing is both fun 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 actually musically inclined, they'll likely appreciate a toy that aligns with their interests and ability. 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 is important that they are 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 Ziegler is 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.

More Toys for Kids

When it comes to toys for kids, our team has you covered. The Verywell 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:

1 Source
Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. American Academy of Pediatrics. Music and mood.