Top Educational and Stimulating Toys for Toddlers

Anyone who has ever had kids can understand the feeling of letdown hours after a Christmas or Birthday celebration when our kids have forgotten or shunned away the toys we so excitedly bought for them. They look at the wrapping, tear it apart, gasp at the great new gift, play with 9it and then discard it for another one or better yet, an old one from their infant years.

Now with that in mind wouldn't it be great to have a panel of children around to test out all the toys before you purchased them. Well, I think I can help. MSNBC did just that. They tested the top toys for toddlers and found that most were duds. Of all the toys they tested, three came out on top as really enjoyable toys.

The BRISTLE BLOCKS TWIRLIE BLOCK SET is age appropriate for 18 months and up. The set is made up of classic blocks with a new color scheme adding flare. The swivel bases on the blocks add movement to your child's creations almost bringing them to life. There are silly faces on some of the blocks and the set even comes with a tub and lid perfect for use as a building table. The set can be purchased at Target for $29.99.

The TALKING VIDEO PHONE is geared toward 18 months and up as well. This phone is one of four bilingual toys released by Chicco. The video phone helps your child to learn communication skills through language by introducing the sounds of words in both English and Spanish. Counting and Picture Recognition are also fun features of the phone. Fun songs and music round out this toy and are sure to keep your child entertained longer than you thought it would. The phone retails at Wal-Mart for $34.64.

The SMARTVILLE ALPHABET TRAIN STATION has an age range of 12 months and up. Unlike any other toy I have seen on the market, this toy teaches and entertains your child through interactive building pieces. "Smart Parts" talk and teach your child about time, letter recognition and color recognition when they are placed in the fun spots throughout the set. The set also incorporates phonics, colors, shapes, animals, animal sounds and music as the train moves from station to station. This set retails for $39.84 at Wal-Mart.

While as parents we all know there will never be a perfect toy. These toys are sure to keep the imaginations of your toddlers at bay for a short while. Anything longer than that can never be a guarantee.