We all know that kids learn best when they are engaged in play and they are having fun. But not all toys were created equal to provide the best opportunities for learning. As a mom, I carefully choose the toys that my daughter plays with and I always look for toys that are both fun and educational. Luckily for me, International Playthings is there for me and all the parents who look for the best educational toys out there.

International Playthings has been around for over 40 years now. They are a leader in providing innovative and high-quality toys for newborns all the way to 10+ years old. They carry many great brands that promote exploration, learning and creativity such as Early Learning Centre, Imaginetics, Kidoozie, and many more.

I was very lucky to be given the opportunity to review 2 toys from International Playthings: Playful Pals Piano and Fairy Treehouse.

Playful Pals Piano is a Kidoozie game for babies 12+ months. It’s a brightly colored piano with adorable animals that pop-up, swing and rock in time to the music. A baby can either play their own tune or push a button to hear an entire song. There are also 5 buttons to change instrument: piano, saxophone, bell, violin, accordion. There are 5 different pre-recorded songs, some are familiar tunes and some were new to me and reminded me of the upbeat tunes that would have been played on a mechanical piano.

My daughter loves this piano. She looks at the animals as they move and dances with them. It’s really cute to see. She also figured out which button plays entire songs and goes directly to it. She quickly learned how to turn it on and off even though the switch isn’t really big compared to the other buttons. It’s a great toy to learn cause-effect relationships (eg. I push a button, something fun happens), fine motor development, and creativity all in one.

The Fairy Treehouse is an Early Learning Centre toy for toddlers 18+ months. As the name suggests, it’s a house built in a beautiful tree with twisted branches. There are 3 levels: main floor with the entrance doors, a first floor with a staircase going up and a second floor living room. There are wooden bridges and a slide as well as a basket that can be winded up and down. The front and back doors open, the living room hideaway can be open and closed, and the gate swings open. The doorbell and front door even make magical sounds!

The Treehouse comes with 3 little people: a fairy dad, a fairy mom, and a fairy baby wrapped up in leaves. There are also 2 chairs, a table, and a fruit basket. A cute snail-drawn carriage completes the set.

This game has tons of learning potential. At this stage, my daughter is mostly exploring it: she opens the doors, rings the doorbell, etc. She will soon understand how the slide works. Later on, we’ll play with the snail carriage and learn how to wind up the basket. We’ll also learn to place the little people in their chairs or in the carriage and talk about them. In a few years, I expect that we’ll continue playing with the house, making the fairies talk and create endless scenarios for them. This toy is great for fine motor development, developing imagination and pretend-play skills. Even my 7 and 9-year-old nieces wanted to play with it!

Overall, I am very pleased with both toys. It’s great to see my daughter play and learn while having fun! I’m amazed at how quickly she learned how to use each toy. I really enjoy seeing her learn new skills and I can’t wait to get her more great toys from International Playthings. Head over to their website to find out more about International Playthings’ educational toys.

Rachel