Introduce your child to music from an early age with musical toys. Both fun and educational, early learning games, nursery rhymes and musical instruments are part of children's musical education. Here is our list of 6 favorite musical toys!
There is nothing cuter than seeing baby swinging his hips to his favorite music. Fun and calming, music is also known for its benefits for toddlers.
From their first months, children develop their motor and mental capacities. To help them and accompany them in this learning, musical awakening toys, instruments and other accessories are their allies.
Piano, xylophone, guitar, musical table, maracas, nursery rhymes, they are spoiled for choice. Who knows, maybe they are future virtuosos? Here is a list of our 6 favorite musical toys.
- Musical early learning toys for babies
- Vtech's xylophone caterpillar
This bright and interactive xylophone will make baby a real maestro! With the stick, children hit the 8 musical keys and discover the musical notes and the first numbers. The 3 play modes as well as the 11 songs and 8 melodies stimulate baby's hearing and motor skills!
Characteristics :
- 3 game modes: free play, memorization and learning of melodies
- 11 songs and 8 melodies
- 8 illuminated keys
- Weight: 191 g
- For 2 years
- The 2 batteries supplied
Our opinion :
With this musical caterpillar from Vtech, baby can play, learn and create. It is the perfect gift for children from 2 to 4 years old: they can play and walk this baby caterpillar thanks to its small cord. Sound adjustment and automatic product shutdown protect children's hearing!
To know : This Vtech musical awakening toy is available on sale on Amazon, hurry up, the stock is dwindling fast!
- My first Fisher Price maracas
This set of 2 small Fisher Price maracas is suitable for the small hands of children from 3 months to 3 years old. The pom poms on the ends of the toys are designed not to hurt baby if he shakes them too hard. Thanks to the sounds of pearls, children understand that it is necessary to shake the maracas to make noise. In short, this set of two Fisher Price maracas allows children to play in complete safety.
Characteristics :
- 3 to 6 months
- The tips of the maracas are soft
- Light
- Short
Our opinion :
Lightweight and small in size, these two Fisher Price maracas are perfect for young children. In foam, they can be shaken in all directions without risking injuring baby. In addition, they help strengthen the auditory senses and motor skills. It’s the perfect birth gift!
- Vertbaudet's activity and musical awakening table
Children will love this Vertbaudet activity and musical awakening table. She introduces baby to the joys of music. From the age of 1, children will be able to develop their musical sense thanks to the many instruments: xylophone, maracas, cymbal, stacking tower … The sense of reflection will also be put to the test with the two other early learning activities: the labyrinth and the ball track.
Characteristics :
- 1 to 3 years
- Several musical activities
- Dimensions: 30 x 44 x 44 cm
- Promotes coordination
Our opinion :
The many musical toys on this awakening table (xylophone, ball drum, maracas, tom-tom, wooden stick, spinner wheel and cymbal) stimulate baby's coordination, musical sensitivity and dexterity. Strong, it will allow your child to stand up if they are not yet walking!
To know : available on the internet, delivery and in-store collection of this alarm clock is free!
- Instruments suitable for children
- Bontempi piano, 61-key numeric keyboard
From 5 years old, children can train and develop their musical talents with this 61-key digital piano. They will also be able to compose their own songs and use the 200 sounds, 200 rhythms and 60 songs already pre-recorded.
Characteristics :
- 61 keys,
- 200 sounds and rhythms available
- 2 learning levels
- 60 pre-recorded songs
- Integrated metronome
- A sequencer to record performances
- Automatic shutdown
- Socket for external audio source (headphones, smartphone)
- USB port
- Dimensions: 70 x 27 x 7 cm
- Weight: 60 kg
- The 6 batteries are not included
Our opinion :
This piano represents excellent value for money: for the many functions offered, the price of this product is not excessive. The functions allow children to discover music and learn to respect the rhythms of certain pieces. These budding musicians can even register to assess their room for improvement and keep their best performance. With this piano, Beethoven's succession is assured!
- The ukulele for beginners
Entirely made of wood, this easy-to-grip ukulele is fitted with copper frets to prevent scratches. To learn quickly and easily, ukulele lessons are available online and an instruction booklet is available. In addition, all the necessary accessories are provided: 1 tuner, 2 picks, cleaning wipes, finger guards and 1 strap.
Characteristics :
- Supplied accessories
- Made of wood
- Learning booklet as a gift
- From 5 years old
- Weight: 1.16 kg
Our opinion :
Lightweight and small in size, this beginner ukulele is a great travel companion. For both children and adults, its learning booklet makes it easy to get started. The many accessories included allow you to play it right from the reception. If you don't like its dark wood color you can opt for a light pink, a sky blue or a light wood!
- Vilac natural wood guitar
This real guitar for children has 6 nylon strings. From 3 years old, children will have the opportunity to do like the grown-ups and strum the strings. With this guitar adapted to the size of toddlers, they will have fun and improvise professional musicians!
Characteristics :
- From 3 years old
- Entirely made of wood
- 6 nylon strings
- Spare pick and string
Our opinion :
With this guitar adapted to its size, your child will develop his listening skills and his motor and artistic skills. Delivered with a spare string and a pick, this Vilac guitar is an original gift for a third birthday.
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Musical toys are the best way to entertain and stimulate children's hearing. But how do you choose the toy that will be as suitable for young children as it is for older children? Here is a small list of tips for finding the perfect product:
– age: Pay attention to the age indicated on the box of a toy. Not all musical games are suitable for all ages. For babies, opt for an interactive or stimulating toy. For older children, choose more elaborate games or small instruments.
– the sound volume: the toy should amuse baby but it should not create too loud sounds. They should be suitable for the sensitive hearing of young children. The International Organization for Standardization imposes a limit of 65dB for toys intended for young children and of 85db for other musical toys.
– the accessories : young children are not careful and put a lot of objects in their mouths. To avoid any risk of suffocation, check the size of the accessories and compliance with the toy's manufacturing standards.
– the price : don't panic, there is something for every budget. The most sophisticated toys aren't always the most expensive. However, don't pay a premium: with children, there is always a risk of breakage.
– the opinions of other parents: Before buying a toy online or in a store, it is very important to learn about the quality of the product (s).
Babies need to have fun and be stimulated. For this, musical toys are perfect. But which ones to choose? The simplest games are often the best. Among them are the maracas and the xylophone.
Two great musical games that have passed through the generations. Usually made of wood, their size is adapted to the age of the little ones, which allows them to play in complete safety.
Interactive toys are also very popular with young children. Phone, piano, book, guitar, caterpillar, car, they come in all forms. Just make sure that the sounds produced by the devices respect baby's hearing.
But what are the best brands of early learning toys? Those that stand out most often are Vtech, Hape, Fisher Price and Vertbaudet.
Learning to play an instrument at home is possible with the help of specialized music books. They explain, in child-friendly language, the basics of music and teach sheet music reading. They also offer the possibility of training thanks to the many exercises.
– for the piano: the “Beginner piano method” and “Piano reading, a method to enter reading step by step” are very good manuals to start. They explain how to read a score, the different notes, the different chords and offer simple exercises to perform. They can be used in addition to music theory lessons.
– for the guitar: The scores of the guitar are similar to those of the piano. However, a few notes differ. To know the basics of this string instrument, “The easy guitar, the method for children from 6 years old” and “I am starting to play the guitar for children” are the basic manuals. They teach the art of strumming the strings for harmonious sounds.
– for the ukulele: smaller than the guitar, the ukulele is not easier to play. To teach children to tame this little instrument, these two books will be perfect: “Ukulele for beginners” by Tom Fleming and “Le p’tit coup de Pouce”. They will allow children to learn the difference between a guitar and a ukulele, to read a sheet music and to play it. In addition to music lessons or self-taught, these guides will turn your children into real musicians!
Guitar, piano, ukulele, maracas, xylophone, flute, harp, which instrument will your child choose? Musical activities are known to develop listening, memory, creativity, musical ability and control over certain behaviors.
If your child has not yet opted for an instrument, do not force one on him. Solfeggio can be a good way for him to discover instruments and find the one that suits him. Here are some ideas that will help your child make up his mind:
– the piano : its imposing appearance and its many touches can be scary. But the truth is, it’s not that hard to play. You don't need to have a musical ear, you just need to know how to read sheet music and know the keys to create beautiful sounds. In addition to working memory, the piano works the muscles and joints of the hands.
– the guitar : adapted to the size of your child, it will allow him to stimulate his memory and the agility of his hands. Usually in wood, they can be electric or acoustic. For beginners, it is better to opt for an acoustic: the sounds will be less aggressive and the guitar will be easier to handle.
– the ukulele: smaller than the guitar, however, it handles the same. To be successful in playing this instrument, you have to be careful and patient. Small strings can easily get confused, so it takes patience to be able to memorize the spaces.