Buying a toddler music toy for your little one is sure to provide them with hours of fun, as well as helping them take their first steps in learning to play an instrument. There are so many great musical toys out there, so it can be difficult to determine which instrument is the best to start with. A toddler piano is a great place to start, for many reasons. It’s easy to make simple tunes with a piano, so they won’t get frustrated because the instrument is too difficult to learn. Keyboards tend to come with fun sound effects and built-in demo tunes, so toddlers will have something to dance around to, which is sure to add to the fun! Some even come with a microphone and the capability to record and playback audio. So, toddlers can have hours of fun recording and re-listening to their very own musical masterpieces!
Considerations When Choosing Pianos for Toddlers
When choosing a toddlers keyboard, there are a few things worth keeping in mind to ensure you choose the one which is right for your child. The first thing is the number of keys on the keyboard or piano. For a toddler who is just learning to play, it’s fine to choose something with not too many keys. However, you still want to ensure they can play a good range of tunes, so it’s important not to pick one which is too small. The piano should have both white and black keys to ensure it can play a wide range of notes. Also, check any additional features the toy might have which will appeal to your child. It could be a microphone, demo songs, different sound effects, or added accessories such as color-coded music sheets. Think about which things your toddler will be most interested in and choose accordingly.
Top 15 Toddler Keyboards
We will now take a look at some of the best picks when it comes to buying a toddler keyboard or piano. There are 15 different styles to choose from, so you are sure to find one to suit your child’s needs, tastes, and your budget.
1. Best Choice Products Mini Piano
The first kids piano for young players is this adorable miniature piano from Best Choice Products. It comes with 25 full-sized keys that are labeled with note stickers to help children learn their names. It comes with a music book to help toddlers learn to play their first tunes. The keys are full-sized which will help toddlers learn to place their fingers correctly in order to help them learn to play properly as they get older. The piano is made from durable wood to offer many years of fun and it is suitable for 12 months and up.
2. Amy & Benton Toy Grand Piano
This baby piano looks great, like a miniature grand piano! It has 31 keys which are labeled with color-coded note names. It comes with a karaoke microphone, over 20 built-in demo songs, MP3 input, and many different musical sound effects to experiment with for different sounds. The sound quality is great from the toy, and it has LED light-up keys which can help toddlers follow along to play some songs.
3. Amy & Benton Pink Piano
Kids pianos keyboards don’t come much cuter than this! It’s perfect for girly girls! This one features 24 keys and can play the sounds of 8 different percussion instruments as well as 4 other instrument sounds. There are 22 demo songs included for kids to play along with, to make their own accompaniments, or simply to enjoy listening and dancing to. The music can be recorded as your child plays, and they can also sing into the included microphone and record and play this back too. There are different rhythms to play along with, too. The piano requires four AA batteries for operation, so be sure to stock up!
4. Costzon 3-in-1 Piano
Pianos toys don’t get much more fun than this! It offers all the fun of three different instruments in one great toy. It can be used as a piano, xylophone, and drum, and it can also play the sounds of other instruments and even make animal noises. So, this toy is educational as well as loads of fun. It has other fun features such as whack-a-mole mode and flashing lights on the drum pads. Toddlers will be entertained for hours with this!
5. Picasso Tiles Piano Mat
Our next kids music piano is something a little different. It’s a 49-key roll-up mat that can easily be set up on a tabletop allowing kids to practice anywhere, any time! It is made from silicone which is easy to fold and roll, so storing this piano when not in use is easy. There are eight different tones and it’s possible to connect headphones for quieter practice. Toddlers are sure to be drawn to the lovely, bright rainbow colors, although a black and white version is also available if preferred.
6. Baby Einstein Magic Piano
This kid piano is perfect for even the very youngest players and can help them learn to play a simple tune from the age of one year and upwards. The keys are color-coded and the included music sheets show the same coloring, so it’s really easy for young players to follow along. Each tune doesn’t have many notes too, so they won’t lose focus halfway through a piece. The keys are wooden and make sounds as if by magic!
7. Lagrima Classical Piano
This is perhaps one of the best-looking toy pianos out there – it looks just like a miniature baby grand piano and the bright blue color is stunning. There are 30 keys, which produce a great sound, and a music stand for when kids start to learn to follow simple pieces of music. The piano comes with a coordinating stool to help them maintain the proper posture as they play. The top can be opened and closed just like a real piano, and there is a strong bracket to keep it open so it won’t cause injury. The piano is durable enough to be used for many years and is painted with a non-toxic finish.
8. B Toys Cat Piano
Our next toddler keyboard is really fun and cute, sure to bring a smile to your little one’s face! The piano can play 20 nursery rhymes as well as 7 fun cat songs, which will entertain your toddler no end! There are five different sounds to choose from – piano, organ, banjo, bells, or even meows! The piano comes with a microphone and it’s possible to record and playback.
9. Costzon Educational Keyboard Toy
This baby keyboard is adorable and is sure to bring hours of fun to younger children, although it’s not one to choose if you hope to teach your toddler to play properly. It has eight keys which are brightly colored, and a range of cute animal friends on top. There are five different instrument sounds to choose from, so toddlers can learn to recognize and name the different instruments. The animals move as the keys are pressed, so this toy is sure to hold their attention for a long time.
10. Musicube 37 Key Keyboard
Our next piano for toddlers is this keyboard with 37 keys. It is perfect for setting them up for learning to play the keyboard or piano properly later in life. It has a good number of keys, therefore allowing them to play a range of tunes easily, without running out of notes. There are built-in beats to play along to, and the keyboard also includes a microphone. These can be used for recording and playback for kids to make their own musical masterpieces!
11. Baoli Electric Organ
This toy keyboard piano comes with a little stool to ensure toddlers can sit comfortably as they play. It has 15 demo songs to listen to, and a range of different tones and rhythms to play along to. Kids will especially love the different dance rhythms! They’ll also enjoy using the attached microphone to sing along as they play their music. The notes are color-coded and labeled with their names.
12. Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Piano
This babies keyboard from top brand Fisher-Price is ideal for the youngest pianists to start practicing on! It has eight keys and they are each a different color, and also numbered from 1 – 8. So, this is ideal for helping little ones practice their counting and color recognition. Each key also has a different shape on it to help toddlers learn to name these also. The lights and sounds are sure to hold a young toddler’s attention for a while, and it even has a handle so it can easily be carried along for play on the go.
13. Melissa & Doug Learn to Play Piano
This colorful Melissa & Doug childs piano covers two full octaves, as it has 25 keys. Each is color-coded so kids can recognize which notes give the same sound. These colors are also used in the included songbook, so toddlers can easily copy along and play some simple songs. It’s made from durable wood to ensure it lasts for many years, and is safe. The songbook includes nine popular nursery rhymes – toddlers will love learning to play them!
14. OB Toys Electric Organ Toy
Nearing the end of our list of piano toys we have this fun electric organ with a matching stool. The color scheme of this one makes it more likely to appeal to little girls – they will love all the pink and purple! There are 37 keys covering three octaves, so toddlers will have plenty of notes to play their favorite songs and make up some fun compositions. The drum pads and microphone give more opportunities for toddlers to make music, and they will have hours of fun exploring the different functions and sounds.
15. Hape Happy Grand Piano
Our final toddler piano toy is this stunning grand piano from Hape. It gives excellent sound quality and has a lid that can be opened and closed. It comes with a stool and music stand and is painted with non-toxic finishes for safety. The piano is made from durable MDF wood and can withstand many years of use. It comes with stickers to label the notes correctly with their names, and also a songbook which will teach toddlers how to play their first songs. This piano is one of the most realistic picks and it is sure to bring years of joy to a youngster. It will look stunning in their playroom too.
Best Toddler Piano
Whether you are looking for a keyboard or a toddler grand piano will influence which is the best choice, but we have picked out what we feel is the best all-round pick. The Melissa & Doug piano is made from high-quality materials which will last for many years, and it also looks great in its bright, bold color scheme. It covers a wide range, two octaves, and has labeled notes to help toddlers follow the color-coded songbook, which is included. It’s sure to bring years of joy and set your child on the right track to becoming a pro in no time!
Best Budget Buy
If you are looking for a cheaper piano for a 3 year old and under, the Amy & Benton piano is an excellent pick. It has plenty of keys, a microphone, recording and playback functions, and even MP3 input for toddlers to play along to their favorite songs. There are many different tones and rhythms to play along with, so toddlers can have lots of fun experimenting with the different sounds. They’ll really love to sing along as they play, too!
How to Teach a Toddler to Play Piano?
Teaching toddlers keyboard piano songs is not too difficult with the right materials. If the piano has colored note name labels, it should be simple enough for them to follow along with the songbook, after a little practice. At this age, it is a bit early to start with formal lessons, so let them get used to the feel of the keys and encourage them to use all their fingers when playing.
When to Start Piano Lessons for Toddler?
As noted above, toddlers are a bit young to sit down for a proper piano lesson. They lack the necessary attention span, and keys can be too big for toddlers to play properly. In general, it’s best to start kids learning new skills at a relatively young age, as they can take in more when they are young. For piano, the best age to start is probably not before around 6 years old. By this age, children are more able to handle the size of the piano keys and have better motor skills to use their fingers independently. Of course, the only way to really find out is have a lesson or two and see how the child gets on. If they are not interested, or the teacher feels they are not ready yet, there’s no harm in leaving it and trying again at a later date when they are more developed.
How Much Does It Cost to Get a Piano for My Toddler?
A baby grand piano for toddlers is probably the most expensive type, they can cost around $100 or even a little more. At the cheaper end of the scale are the ‘toy’ keyboards, which can be picked up for around the $20 mark. The price you will pay depends on the features of the piano and the quality of the materials it is built with. More expensive models tend to give better sound quality, so keep this in mind when comparing the different options.
