Early Education

LEARN TO WALK.

Teach your tot not just how to walk but how to balance too with the physician-invented Delta Children First Steps Learn2Walk Balancer. Bungee technology helps little ones safely maintain center of gravity, while interactive features and “play mode” also help build fine motor skills. Ages 6 months to 2 years. Available at buybuy Baby, West Long Branch, 732.542.1953.

Learning Curve!

These toys promise to help your little one build knowledge through everyday fun.

Babies and toddlers have no official schoolwork, but their “curriculum” is the most ambitious one going: the world itself. Playing is their way of discovering, and toys can facilitate that process. The eight educational products here have been handpicked by our editors (hey, some of us are parents too!) to foster your child’s skills and imagination in a way that’s both fun and engaging. Help your youngster...

LEARN TO PLAY MUSIC.

Inspire your rockstar-in-the-making to get strumming with the Loog Mini acoustic guitar, which has three strings to make learning to play a breeze. It even comes with an app and flash cards that teach kids how to form chords. Ages 3 and up. Available at loogguitars.com.

LEARN THE ALPHABET.

With this one your child will surely get an “A”—and all the other letters too. A bilingual baby? Si, Señor, with the Musical Turtle Toy in English and Spanish from iPlay iLearn. This little guy has four modes: numbers, letters, happy laughter and “crawl and chase,” the last of which is perfect once your tyke starts moving. Ages 6 months to 6 years. Available at iplayilearn.com.

LEARN TO STRATEGIZE.

Young children may not be quite ready for a game of Risk, but they can learn strategy via Monza, a classic racing-car board game from Haba in which the goal is to be the first one to the finish line. The 20th-anniversary version comes in a limited-edition, metalembossed tin with metallic painted dice and a new track. Ages 5 and up. Available at Toybox, Colts Neck, 732.866.6676

LEARN TO COUNT.

Numbers, hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills are among the things toddlers will finesse with the Haba Rainbow Caterpillar Threading Game. Bonus: The “sewing” will keep them busy and concentrating so hard they’ll pretty much forget about their iPads. Ages 3 and up. Available at Quinnderella’s Toys, Manasquan, 732.223.1124.

LEARN TO BUILD.

Focus and patience are the names of the game with Plus-Plus GO! Monster Trucks, which let your kid’s imagination run (or race?) wild. This kit contains 600 pieces, 10 wheels and three chassis baseplates to allow for customization of each vehicle. Ages 5 to 12. Available at Target, Middletown, 732.706.9222.

LEARN THROUGH ROLE PLAYING.

The LittiCity Pretend Play Teachers Set gets a gold star for creativity. The play set comes with a dry-erase board, classroom posters, reward stickers, a school bell and more props, teaching aspiring educators their numbers and letters through role play and dress-up. Ages 3 and up. Available at Walmart, Freehold, 732.780.3048.

LEARN TO BE HEALTHY.

Mask-wearing and hand-sanitizing this year didn’t teach kids enough about germs, right? They’ll learn even more about how to protect their bodies with MEandMine’s Fish Out Germs, which includes a fishing game, a book and a trio of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) projects. The goal of the fishing game is to build up white blood cells and “fish out” germs through sensory play and building. Ages 5 to 8. Available at amazon.com.