Best musical toys for kids: xylophones, pianos, guitars and DJ decks by age

A real instrument or an electronic music toy?

Wooden instruments make their own sound: a xylophone chimes when it is struck, a guitar's strings buzz when they are plucked. They reward a child who wants to work out a tune, and they need no batteries.

Electronic music toys play songs, sound effects and styles of music at a press or a turn, so even a very young child gets a satisfying result straight away. They suit a child who likes to sing and dance along, and they need batteries.

• Real instruments: Early Learning Centre's Baby Band and Wooden Glockenspiel, and Le Toy Van's xylophone, guitar and grand piano.
• Electronic: Early Learning Centre's Light and Sound Drum and Animal Piano Mat, and VTech's Sing Along Microphone and Mix It Up DJ.
• To build: LEGO's Music Decor Piano, for an older child.

Musical toys by age: 6 months to 9 and over

The youngest players start with things to shake and pat. Early Learning Centre lists its Baby Band from 6 months: a tambourine, a guitar and two maracas sized for small hands. Its Light and Sound Drum is marked from 9 months and plays beats when patted, then lights up and plays tunes when it rolls away across the floor.

From one, Early Learning Centre's Wooden Glockenspiel has eight rainbow keys and a mallet that stays attached, and VTech's Sing Along Microphone is best for ages 12 to 36 months, VTech says: turning its ring introduces animals and their sounds, and it doubles as a rattle. From 18 months, Le Toy Van's Rainbow Wooden Xylophone has metal keys that give a proper chime, and the Animal Piano Mat turns the floor into a keyboard.

From three, Le Toy Van marks its wooden guitar and grand piano 3+, and VTech says the Mix It Up DJ is best for ages 3 to 6 and not suitable for children under 36 months. The LEGO Music Decor Piano is marked 9+.

Wooden instruments that make a real sound

The xylophone is the simplest start: small, with metal keys in a cloud design and a beater. The guitar is about 53 cm long, with six tuneable pegs and strings, so an older child can try to bring it close to a tune.

Le Toy Van's Wooden Grand Piano is the showpiece: finished in black with gold stars and sold with nursery rhyme music sheets to play from. It is the largest present here, so check where it will stand before you buy.

Singing, mixing and recording

The Sing Along Microphone plays sing-along songs, and its style button switches between classical, jazzy and rock 'n' roll. It takes three AAA batteries.

The Mix It Up DJ has 25 buttons for sounds and music, eight piano keys, a turntable that sets off light and sound effects, and a recorder for playing back a child's own mixes. VTech says it controls volume and tempo, and it takes three AA batteries.

Two Early Learning Centre toys suit younger children. The Light and Sound Drum has three modes, four tunes and three silly sounds, and comes with its three AA batteries. The Animal Piano Mat has four modes, from plain piano notes to an animal concert, and needs three AAA batteries bought separately.

For an older child who loves music

Most music toys are made for the under-fives. For a nine-year-old who loves music, LEGO's Creator 3 in 1 Music Decor Piano is a different kind of present: 485 pieces that build a piano with a cat sitting on it, then rebuild as a boom box radio or a record player. Its keys press and its lid lifts, but it makes no sound; it is a model for the shelf of a child whose bedroom is full of music.

A child of that age who keeps asking to play is usually ready for a real beginner instrument, and that is a different purchase from a toy. The answer in the questions below covers it.

Noise, volume and where to play

Music toys are meant to be heard, so think about where they will be played. Electronic toys can be turned down or switched off; a wooden instrument is exactly as loud as the child playing it.

VTech says the batteries in its boxes are for demonstration, so keep spares. A wooden instrument has no batteries to run out, which makes it the easier choice for a long car journey or a quiet morning.

How these musical toys were chosen

The ten toys come from Early Learning Centre, Le Toy Van, VTech and LEGO. We read each one's age marking, battery needs and contents on the maker's own site, elc.co.uk, letoyvan.co.uk, vtech.co.uk or lego.com, on 6 or 24 October 2026. Le Toy Van sells its own toys through Awin and The Entertainer sells the rest, through links we have checked.

We have set them out from the youngest age marking up. That is not a TopTenToys ranking. For more toys for the youngest, see our guides to toys for babies and toys for toddlers.