When choosing for educational toys, look for products that match your child’s developmental stage and skill level. Toys that are too challenging may be discouraging. Consider options that can be played both alone or with friends and family so your child will use the toy more frequently. When reviewing toys for learning letters and numbers, we considered age-appropriateness, educational value, entertainment value, and learning concepts. We also looked for a mix of structured games and toys that provide opportunities for open-ended play while learning letters and numbers. Based on our reviews, these are the best toys for learning letters and numbers on the market today. Easy to learn with quick gameplay, Zingo Word Builder is our top pick for learning letters and building early reading skills. Designed for grades K-2, Zingo Word Builder is a bingo game using letters instead of numbers. Each player has a board featuring six unfinished three letter words. The object of the game is to fill in the missing letters on your board to build complete words. In each round, two new letters tiles are revealed, and each player tries to be the first to use one of those letters to finish a word on their board. What we love about Zingo Word Builder is that it’s both educational and genuinely entertaining. The lively gameplay empowers children to build letter recognition, spelling, and early reading skills. The double-sided game cards offer two different levels of play, and Zingo comes with six game cards, making it a great group game. Price at time of publication: $22 Price at time of publication: $13 Besides a nap time and alarm clock function, the clock also has some fun animations to give it a personality. Price at time of publication: $40 Price at time of publication: $13 Simply wipe the board clean with a damp cloth to erase and create all over again. The set all packs into a reusable zipper pouch, so it’s perfect for life on the go. The sized-just-right magnetic stylus pulls up the magnetic beads to create solid lines and complete the letters. With a light push of a finger, pop the magnetic beads down and start all over again. Price at time of publication: $29 The “asker” chooses the funniest answer and the player with the highest amount of funny responses wins! Parents should be warned, this game does include a lot of potty humor, so if that’s not going to be welcome, skip this choice. Price at time of publication: $30 The aim is to get five in a row, so your child will have a blast playing this fast-moving game while practicing phonics and relating the sounds with the uppercase and lowercase letters. Price at time of publication: $25 There are tons of themed MadLibs including Pokemon, superheroes, vacation fun, and so much more. Pick a theme that’ll engage your kiddo and get ready for some super-silly stories. Price at time of publication: $7 When considering their age, be sure to think about the learning concepts as well. Since these games are designed to strengthen letter and number skills, keep your child’s developmental age in mind. A letter or number toy for a preschooler will vary greatly compared to one for an 8-year-old.
Level of Challenge
Just like age appropriateness, look for toys or games that provide the right amount of challenge. Too easy, and it’ll get played with once. Too hard, it’s not motivating to keep playing. Get a sense of the level by playing the first time with your child. Many toys also come with instructions for multiple levels of play, so it’s easy to level up once they master a skill or game.
Entertainment Value
Perhaps the most important element: To encourage play, toys should be entertaining! It’s fun to have some toys for home and smaller ones for vacation, life on the go, or for downtime like waiting in a restaurant. It’s also helpful to have toys for solo and group play, so your child has options.
Why Trust Verywell Family
Maya Polton is a former marketing manager and current freelance writer who covers food, home, and parenting. She’s also the mom of an 11-year-old son, 8-year-old son, and 4-year old daughter. Maya loves games her kids can play without her (yes, Zingo!) and always has a stash of MadLibs and pencils wherever she goes. She’s had to implement some family rules to not include gross words or challenge her kids to only use them once per round.
More Toys for Kids
When it comes to toys for kids, our team has you covered. The Verywell Family team of editors (who are parents or have nieces and nephews of their own) have tested, gifted, and personally recommend every item we feature. Find more of our top toy picks for every developmental stage and personality phase here:
The Best Christmas Gifts for Kids The Best Developmental Toys for Babies The Best Tummy Time Toys The Best Active Toys for Toddlers The Best Outdoor Toys for Toddlers The Best Toys for Toddlers The Best Educational Toys for Toddlers The Best Phonics Toys for Preschoolers The Best Construction and Building Block Toys The Best Musical Toys for Children of All Ages The Best Montessori Toys to Encourage Thoughtful Play The Best Sesame Street Toys The Best Outdoor Toys for Kids of All Ages The Best Dinosaur Toys The Best Toys for Fine Motor Skills Development The Best Toys for Independent Play The Best Indoor Toys and Games for Active Play The Best Snow Toys for Kids The Best STEM Toys for Kids Best Laptop Toys for Kids The Best Social Emotional Learning Toys The Best Robot Toys The Best Ride-On Toys The Best Cleaning Toy Sets The Black-Owned Gift Guide
