The Best Toy Piano

Buying Guide

Psychologist Howard Gardner believes that fostering a child’s musical development is just as important as catering to their logical and emotional development. The National Association of Music Merchants Foundation agrees, as they report that learning a musical instrument has proven to advance a child’s mathematical skills, improve their reading and language arts skills and even increase their SAT scores.

Your child is never too young to get started with a love of music. There are plenty of toy pianos on the market that are sure to capture your child’s attention. As you shop for the best toy piano, you’ll first want to make sure the piano is constructed from and painted with materials that are non-toxic. Once you know the toy is safe, you’ll want to consider the following features.

Keep the toy piano’s recommended age range in mind when shopping. You can always start off with a model that is designed for babies age 6 months and up and then move on to a piano that is best for children ages 3 to 5. When shopping for a starter model, look for one that’s made from durable wood. Some also include three sheets of music that play a total of six songs.

Determine whether you want a toy piano that closely resembles a traditional piano or one that helps your child get their energy out. For example, the Click N’ Play Keyboard Play Mat Toy Piano rests on the floor while children stomp on the keys with their feet to play a song. This combines physical activity with music education, which may help tire your toddler out before nap time. Some pianos, on the other hand, come with a piano bench and are designed to be played more seriously.

Consider how many extra features the toy piano is able to offer. For example, some brands have color-coded keys that match an illustrated songbook. It’s an excellent way for children to learn how to play their first song. Other toy pianos are electric and have the ability to produce sounds from other instruments. They are even capable of recording songs and playing them back later.

• Check if any tools are needed to assemble the toy piano. Some come fully assembled, while others are a bit more complicated to put together.
• Watch your little one as he or she experiments with the toy piano. If your child shows an aptitude for music, you may want to introduce them to other instruments or even hire a music teacher to give your child music lessons at home.
• Some of the easiest songs for children to learn on a toy piano include “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” and “Old MacDonald Had a Farm.”
• There are plenty of instructional videos on YouTube that can help your child learn how to better play the piano if your child is more of a visual learner.
• Children can be quite messy, which means you’ll need to clean the toy piano from time to time. It’s important that you never spray a cleaner directly on the piano or you may damage the inner workings of the instrument. Instead, you’ll want to wet and ring out a rag that has been dipped in soapy dishwater. You could also spray a lint-free cloth with the cleaning product of your choice. Use this to wipe down the piano. Immediately dry the piano off afterward with a clean dry towel.
• When it comes to toy pianos, you’ll find there are plenty of models on the market to fit every budget. The Click N’ Play Keyboard Play Mat Toy Piano is the most affordable. You’ll pay the most for pianos that most closely resemble an adult’s piano.