12 Exciting Toys That Promote Early Learning

The holidays are a great time to treat kids to toys they’ll love. Even better? If those toys encourage learning and development. Fisher-Price has got your family covered on both fronts with the perfect presents for every age this festive season.

The cherry on top? John Legend has teamed up with Fisher-Price on his debut children's album featuring songs from multiple toys in this year's catalogue. All songs are inspired by his experiences with his kids and his memories of playing with Fisher-Price toys as a child himself.

Here are 12 toys from the Fisher-Price catalogue that will make the holidays magical for your family. Plus, they'll keep the kids learning and entertained all year.

Laugh & Learn Wake Up & Learn Coffee Mug

Looks like a cup of joe is an ideal way to start the day at any age. For babies and toddlers, hold the caffeine and hand them this interactive toy disguised as a to-go coffee cup that will stimulate them just the same. Two colourful buttons reveal lights and more than 20 songs, sounds and phrases about the alphabet, counting and colours. This is the perfect toy for encouraging imaginative play and strengthening fine motor skills any time of day.

Glow & Grow Kick & Play Piano Gym

The most colourful, musical, multi-purpose gym on the market. Your baby is certain to glow as they grow by kicking and playing on their piano-gym playmat. The 3 Smart Stages learning levels include 85-plus songs, including John Legend's cover of "Maybe" also known as "The Purple Monkey Song". Plus, sounds and phrases will teach babies and toddlers about animals, colours, numbers and shapes, all while keeping them entertained. The playset comes with a removable piano with five multicoloured light-up keys, 10 repositionable linkable toys and one jingle ball.

Soothe & Settle Bunny

Doesn't this bunny look comfy? With long winter nights ahead, help your baby to sleep just as soundly. This plush, portable sound machine mimics yawning and falling asleep using sound and motion to help settle your baby in at bedtime. Select from five customizable sound options that will play for 30 minutes while the plush toy nods its head back and forth to the rhythm. This helps your baby develop their senses while providing a sense of security. This toy is machine-wash-friendly with electronics removed.

Smart Stages Puppy/Smart Stages Sis

Not only do these plush puppies make the perfect first pals for your little one, they're great teachers, too. Play with the five activation points on the puppy's hands, right foot, ear and light-up heart. Babies will learn more than 100 first words through more than 75 songs, tunes and phrases. This toy includes 3 Smart Stages that advance alongside your baby, introducing early concepts such as shapes, animals, colours and numbers—helping foster language development and a general understanding of the world around them.

Ultimate Playhouse

House maintenance and responsibilities have to start somewhere and the Ultimate Playhouse may be the perfect place. This electronic crawl-around activity center has four buttons inside the mock living area that will activate more than 200 learning songs, sounds and phrases. This playset is another Fisher-Price favourite that includes 3 Smart Stages—introducing the same early concepts as the Smart Stages Puppies and piano gym, as well as unique concepts such as opposites, greetings and weather. The set comes with make-believe furniture and other common household objects such as a desk, a light-up fishbowl, shape-sorting flowers and a thermostat dial. The Ultimate Playhouse encourages imaginative play and exploring exercise dexterity, balance and coordination.

Sit & Steer Driver

This electric vehicle-themed play center will put your little one in the driver's seat of their development. Mimicking the design of a real car, the Sit & Steer Driver includes a light-up dashboard, a nine-button keypad, a turning steering wheel and a horn that triggers more than 150 songs, sounds and phrases about the alphabet, shapes and counting. This make-believe automobile is a fun way to strengthen fine motor skills, encourage crawling and introduce your child to the concept of cause and effect—a hint of the responsibility of operating a real vehicle!

Wooden Animal Stack & Sort Animals

Bring the zoo to your living room this holiday with this cute, stackable critter-puzzle. The stacking set comes with 10 wood pieces (including the base) that your little one can use to build an alligator, lion and koala. Sorting and stacking help foster fine motor skill development and encourage problem-solving skills.

Wooden Pots & Pans Set

With 19 pieces in this play set, your little one will be properly prepped to play chef. The Wooden Pots & Pans set includes one pot, two pans, two lids, two cooking utensils, one pretend oven mitt, and 11 food pieces. And who knows, maybe by encouraging pretend play through this playset your little one will be ready sooner to start helping prepare holiday meals in the real kitchen!

Caring for Animals Farm

Keep your kid a-MOO-sed for hours with the interactive, electronic Caring For Animals Farm. This is another Fisher-Price 3 Smart Stages playset that teaches counting, opposites, animals and colours through more than 45 songs, sounds and phrases. With one farmer figure, four animal figures, two food play pieces and multiple play points, this toy encourages imaginative play and storytelling while strengthening fine motor skills.

Little Dream Camper

This Barbie-themed RV playset will make your kiddos happy campers this holiday season. Place one of the two Little People figures in the driver's seat, press the yellow star button on the side of the vehicle and activate lights and more than 35 songs, sounds and phrases. This set will strengthen fine and gross motor skills by encouraging storytelling and pretend play.

Spiral Stunt Speedway

Satisfy your kid's need for speed with the Hot Wheels Little People Spiral Stunt Speedway this holiday. With four different tracks and enough space for Wheelies cars, your racing fanatic will be immersed in imaginative play until they run out of fuel. Additional Wheelies vehicles are sold separately.

Darth Vader Bot

The STAR WARS Darth Vader Bot is guaranteed to be a force in many homes this year, especially since it towers at over 2 feet tall! Activate lights and sounds by placing the stormtrooper action figure character on the Bot's shoulder Power Pad. The Bot's torso will also reveal a hidden disk launcher. Equipped with a Lightsaber accessory, this action-packed toy encourages STAR WARS-inspired imaginative play and storytelling!