The brain of a one-year-old baby is like a sponge, making this the perfect time to invest in some toys to aid in their development. The best educational toys can improve their fine motor skills and cognitive abilities, as well as keep their little face laughing and smiling.
We have sorted through all the options and made this list of the best educational toys for one-year-olds. We wanted to make sure our list featured only toys that come highly recommended by the parents who have used them, so we have weeded out the fake reviews.
Related: Best toys for 18 month year old and Activities and Games for One Year Olds
1Fisher-Price Classic Toys - The Farmer Says See 'N Say - Best Budget Option
This traditional toy is designed to help kids learn about animals and the sounds that they make. All they have to do is pull the string and it will spin the center pointer. When it lands, it says an animal and makes a corresponding noise.
What we love
- It features 12 animal sounds
- The pointer can be manually moved to different animals
What We Don't Like That Much
- It requires two AA batteries, but it only includes demo batteries
2LEGO DUPLO All-in-One-Box-of-Fun Building Kit 10572 - Best Quality Option
Just like most LEGO sets, this one comes with a variety of pieces designed in various shapes and colors. It contains an extra boy and dog Minifigure and it comes with special blocks that make it possible to build countless vehicles, buildings, and other accessories.
What we love
- The set contains 65 pieces
- It comes with a sturdy storage container
What We Don't Like That Much
- The set can go with other LEGO sets, but they are sold separately
3Activity Cube Toys 6-in-1 Play Center - Best Eco-Friendly Option
This activity cube is designed to provide kids with various educational experiences. Each side of the cube features a different type of developmental toy, and the entire base of the cube is made from sturdy and quality wood, which helps hand dexterity and other cognitive abilities like math and puzzle-solving skills.
What we love
- It has six different types of playable sides
- It uses non-toxic and lead-free materials
What We Don't Like That Much
- The box is a little heavy
4Cloth Book for Baby Soft Activity Books
These books are designed to entertain and teach kids a variety of fun facts. Each book in the set has a different theme. They are made from high-quality cloth material, which makes them safe for traveling.
What we love
- These books come in a pack of six
- They have brightly colored illustrations
What We Don't Like That Much
- There are multiple sets, which are sold separately
5Prextex My First Find and Match Easter Matching Eggs
This toy set is designed to look like a carton of eggs. Each egg separates and fits together with a specific shape and color, which makes them one of the best educational toys for one-year-olds.
What we love
- The carton looks like a real carton of eggs
- Each egg features a different color and shape in its middle
What We Don't Like That Much
- You can't choose what shapes and colors come in the set
6Woby Musical Flapping Yellow Duck
This playful duck is designed with fun sounds, flashing lights, and movement to help keep a child engaged. It has an easy pause and starts button on the top of its head and plays various songs, sounds, and melodies to keep children entertained. It even has a heart button that mimics the sound of a mother’s heartbeat.
What we love
- It has seven melodies, two sounds, and three sound effects
- Different parts of the duck move
What We Don't Like That Much
- It requires batteries, but it only includes a set of demo batteries
7Amy&Benton Kids Birthday Cake Toy
This toy is designed to look like a birthday cake. It is made from durable and safe materials and it uses sounds and lights to keep children interested. Each candle lights up and different buttons play various sounds for entertainment.
What we love
- It plays the “Happy Birthday” and “How Old Are You” songs
- It is designed to help with counting and motor skills
What We Don't Like That Much
- The blowhole could be a little bigger
8merka Educational Flash Cards
Flashcards are an excellent way to help teach kids the ABCs and their numbers. With this set, they can learn colors, shapes, numbers, and letters. Each card is made from high-quality material to make them durable, which is why these are one of the 20 best educational toys for one-year-olds.
What we love
- The set comes with 58 cards
- The cards are large and easy to hold
What We Don't Like That Much
- You aren't given the option to choose which flashcards are included in the set
9Tabbed Board Books: My First Numbers: Let's Get Counting!
This book is designed to help kids learn their numbers and count properly. It is full of bright and colorful illustrations and uses tabs to help kids maneuver through the pages.
What we love
- The book has a total of 28 pages
- It is made from durable board
What We Don't Like That Much
- This book is part of a series, but the other books are sold separately
10BleuZoo Rainbow Counting Bears
This counting set comes with everything kids will need to practice counting. The pieces are divided up into six colors that also help with learning their colors. It also includes two tweezers that they can use to pick up the bears and sort them into their matching cups while counting.
What we love
- The set includes 60 bears, six matching cups, and two tweezers
- It comes with a durable plastic container for storage
What We Don't Like That Much
- The provided ebook could come in physical form
11 26 Pieces Soft Alphabet Cards with Cloth Storage Bag
This set of alphabet cards comes with its cloth carrying bag and it is designed to teach kids their letters by using brightly colored illustrations on each card that depicts an item that collates with the letter on the card.
What we love
- The set contains a card for each letter of the alphabet
- The cards show both lower and upper case letters
What We Don't Like That Much
- The crinkle paper in the cards can shift over time
12ToyVelt Activity Cube
This cube is made from high-quality plastic and each side is designed to help with different developmental skills, like motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
What we love
- You can take apart the block and put it together in different ways
- It is lightweight and easy to carry around
What We Don't Like That Much
- The music function requires three AAA batteries, but they are not included
13Leapfrog Spin and Sing Alphabet Zoo
This device is designed to assist kids in learning their alphabet and it also teaches them fun songs and animal sounds. It can be purchased with a pink or blue base. It also includes a spin feature that makes it interactive and spontaneous.
What we love
- It covers the entire alphabet
- It has three play modes: animals, music, and letters
What We Don't Like That Much
- The included batteries need to be replaced before regular use
14Pinkfong Baby Shark Official Sound Book
With this activity book, kids can dive into the world of the ocean and join Baby Shark and all of his friends in their underwater adventure. The book comes with 10 interactive buttons and is made of a high-quality board that makes it easy to turn the pages.
What we love
- The book provides interactive sound buttons
- The book is full of bright illustrations
What We Don't Like That Much
- It is part of a series, but the other books are sold separately
15Kids 5-in-1 Multi Activity Table Set
This activity table is designed to provide kids with five different activity options. It includes a single chair and the tabletop can be removed to store the included building blocks.
Be sure to also look at the current range of imaginarium train tables that we recently reviewed as of 2021.
What we love
- The table is designed to be sturdy and difficult to tip over
- It contains 128 large building blocks
What We Don't Like That Much
- It only comes with a single chair
16Shape Size Sorting Puzzle Carrots Harvest
This toy is designed to be an interactive sorting puzzle that can provide kids with hours of fun. It is made from high-quality wood and includes the base and carrot figures that can be used to help develop a kid’s fine motor skills.
What we love
- It is designed with odorless wood and paint
- The carrots are designed to look like real carrots
What We Don't Like That Much
- It could use some sort of storage container
17Melissa & Doug Geometric Stacker
Unlike other stackable toys, this wooden toy provides three types of stackable blocks. It is made from high-quality wood, making it durable. It helps kids develop various skills by learning colors, shapes, and size differentiation.
What we love
- The blocks are brightly colored
- It has three types of stable blocks
What We Don't Like That Much
- This toy can be difficult to wash
18Boxiki kids Wooden Stacking Toys
This stacking toy can help kids learn how to stack things and it also can help them learn different shapes and colors. The base and blocks are designed to be easy to pick up and handle with little hands.
What we love
- The blocks and base are made from high-quality wood
- The pegs are designed to help develop hand-eye coordination
What We Don't Like That Much
- You can't purchase any extra blocks for the set if some are lost
