The 5 Best Pianos to buy Your Toddler

There’s a time in every child’s life when they want to make noise. In the ‘old days’ they were given a couple of metal pots and some wooden spoons.

These days kids and parents can enjoy something a little more interesting. We’re talking about musical teaching toys, such as pianos.

What once used to have an entire room devoted to its enormous size, pianos are now reduced to a size that even a toddler can handle. These days they’re more than just pianos. They are learning tools, entertainment toys, and music makers.

With this in mind, we searched for the best toddler piano. Based on features and overall usability, we’ve reviewed some of the best for you.

There are a couple of things to consider when purchasing a piano for a toddler. Do you want your toddler to simply enjoy it as a musical toy? Or give them a head start in the appreciation and skills of actually creating music?

The answer to these questions will help you in choosing the appropriate piano for your child.

Benefits of introducing music to young children

Years ago I bought my youngest son his first piano. It was an inexpensive keyboard that came with a learning mode. I was shocked to see how quickly he learned entire songs.

It wasn’t long before he was creating his own music! He was around 8 years old at the time, and I still wonder how quickly he might have progressed had I bought him one at an earlier age.

This just goes to show that, even if buying your little one a piano for the simple enjoyment of plunking on the keys, they may surprise you. You could very well be in the company of a future maestro!

It’s said that exposing young children to a vast array of stimuli, such as visual, sound, and other sensory experiences, helps their brain to grow and mature.

All these experiences create new pathways and neural connections in the brain. Not only will the act of simply listening to music create these new pathways, but experiencing the hands-on creation of beautiful sounds will also have a great impact on a child’s learning curve.

What to consider when choosing a piano for your toddler

Is a toddler too young to learn piano?

Some may think that teaching a child at such a young age would be too difficult, though that’s not entirely the case. Children often have a knack for picking things up faster than we give them credit for.

Some studies have shown that the earlier you teach a child a new skill, the easier it will become. When it comes to the ‘toddler’ age, parents should encourage piano skills if they show an interest.

If the child is more interested in simply making some noise with the keys, or just playing with the extra features, then they may not be ready to start learning the skill.

What size and how many keys?

The answer to this question all depends on your purpose for buying a piano for your little one. Perhaps you are hoping your child will develop a serious interest in piano play.

Maybe you’re simply buying a piano to be used as a musical toy, with no future plans for proper lessons. There are many small instuments available that can bring much delight to a toddler.

If your little one shows some aptitude in making music, along with a keen desire to learn more, then you may want to consider upgrading.

If their first piano was meant as a stepping stone towards future piano lessons, then teachers recommend you acquire a full-scale piano. While a small keyboard usually contains 61 to 76 notes, a full-scale piano possesses all 88 notes.

Whereas beginners may only practise on a small number of keys, as they gradually progress they’ll eventually be in need of them all.

Apps and features

There are so many different features a parent can get on a child’s piano that it’s almost mind-boggling. And, once again, it all depends on what you are aiming for with your child.

If planning on buying something solely for their entertainment, then there are keyboards featuring extra sounds, lights, karaoke, play and record, percussion, and microphones.

Kids can spend hours listening to songs while playing along. They can push different buttons that emit hilarious noises. They can record themselves playing while singing along to a voice changer. Each time they sit down to play can become a different experience.

For parents who want their child not only to play and listen but to learn at the same time, there are models that come with learning modes.

Some have modes that can teach a child shapes, colors, and numbers, while others have light-up keys that the child can follow along to the music. Both types of modes educate a child through fun and repetition so they won’t even realize that they’re learning!

Some parents may want features for their child’s piano that can lead them towards becoming a future musician. These types would be larger in size, have extra keys, and also have a tutorial feature.

These usually feature a large variety of songs to choose from. In learning mode, the song plays while the corresponding keys light up. It then becomes the child’s task to follow the keys and play along or, alternatively, to play by themselves.

And the winner is…

After some thought and debate, we concluded that the Amy & Benton Piano Keyboard Toy for Kids (check price on Amazon) is the roundup winner for the best pianos for toddlers.

It receives this honor because it fits the bill on a variety of levels. Whilst it’s simple for a toddler to enjoy and learn from, it also has the ability to grow with them.

Because it is larger than some of the other pianos and also has more keys, it’s an ideal starter instrument for a future pianist. Not only that, but it also features so many extras that it’s sure to provide endless hours of fun.