Parents and Experts Rated These Educational Toys the Highest

On some level, all kids' toys are educational. Whether it gets them into pretend play, encourages turn-taking and sharing or fosters a sense of empathy, kids are always learning through playing, even if they're not working on academic subjects like math or reading. But we all feel better about letting a whole bunch of toys in the house if there is some sort of overt educational value. Then again, there's zero value in a toy that kids won't play with, so toys have to be fun, too.

To find toys that strike the right balance, the Good Housekeeping Institute Little Lab tests toys throughout the year. For parents, they look for quality of construction, ease of use and frustration level. For kids, they make sure that the toys are fun (the most important factor), and something kids return to and are engaged with for long periods of time. They're mostly geared for little ones but there are a few selections for older kids to keep in mind for the future (or for older siblings). If these aren't enough, you can also check the Good Housekeeping Institute's age-by-age guide to toys and gifts for more recommendations, including STEM toys, sensory toys, family board games, and gifts for 1-year-olds and 2-year-olds (including gifts for toddlers and even stocking stuffers for toddlers!) all the way up to gifts for teens.

These are the the best educational toys for toddlers, preschoolers and elementary school students in 2021: