It seems like just yesterday your little bean came into this world and now, here they are, celebrating yet another birthday. You’ve watched them grow, learn new things and played witness to their heartwarming milestones (remember the first time they tried real food?).

As they continue to develop their fine and gross motor skills, introducing them to fun, interactive and educational toys from VTech® and LeapFrog® can help them during this process. Unsure of where to start? We’ve created an easy-to-follow guide of the best gifts, categorized by price, to help you decide which toys will make them smile—and fire off those neurons!

Gifts Under $15


VTech® Click & Count Remote™

BUY NOW

Little ones will love mimicking mom and dad with the Click & Count Remote™ from VTech®. With nine different channels to explore, tots can learn numbers, colors and shapes, while also singing along to adorable songs, listening to fun melodies and watching the pretend news and weather.


VTech® Learning Lights Sudsy Soap™

BUY NOW

Say goodbye to a bathroom sink overflowing with water. VTech's play soap dispenser lets your kiddo wash their hands without all the mess. They can practice pump-pressing, which will project a musical light onto their hands, and learn healthy hygiene habits with a catchy 20-second song that teaches them the five steps to handwashing—the perfect amount of time for scrubbing away icky germs!


VTech® Spin & Learn Color Flashlight®

BUY NOW

This interactive flashlight not only functions like a real flashlight (fully loaded with six vibrant color settings!), but it also shines a light on how fun learning can be. Your little one will be informed when the flashlight has been turned on and off to introduce them to opposites and when they spin the magical color-changing ring, they'll learn about different colors and animals. They can also press the buttons on the side to listen to upbeat tunes and nature sounds, sing their ABCs or play an interactive game.

Gifts Under $25


LeapFrog® Ironing Time Learning Set™

BUY NOW

Who said ironing clothes can't be fun? LeapFrog's motion-activated iron set features over 10 educational activities that'll encourage your child to count to five, sing the alphabet and discover different colors, fabrics and heat settings as they iron out the wrinkles in the play clothing.


VTech® KidiBeats Drum Set™

BUY NOW

Let your toddler's inner rockstar shine with the VTech® KidiBeats Drum Set™, which features three drum pads and a cymbal that each play its own unique sound. Your little drummer can jam along to nine different styles of music, including rock, pop and dance, and also learn their letters and numbers along the way.


LeapFrog® Learning Friends® 100 Words Book™

BUY NOW

According to experts, parents should introduce their children to a second language as early as possible. With this interactive book, your kiddos can get a leg up on practicing over 100 words in both English and Spanish, including word categories such as animals, pets, colors, food, mealtime, activities, opposites, and more.

Gifts Under $35


LeapFrog® LeapLand Adventures™

BUY NOW

Your early learner's imagination can run wild with this video game that takes them on a quest for keys to unlock Clever Castle. The adorable adventure introduces early learning through the exploration of over 150 educational prompts, including letters, numbers, shapes and colors. Insert the plug-and-play HDMI game stick and USB power cable into the television and start playing the video game immediately using the wireless controller—no web connection, downloads or account setup required!


VTech® Pop-a-Balls™ Push & Pop Bulldozer™

BUY NOW

The Pop-a-Balls™ Push & Pop Bulldozer™ will boost your little builder's movement and motor skills, as they roll the toy across your living room floor. The colorful balls pop up through the chimney and fly back into the bucket as it moves to keep your toddler active and engaged. Plus: the fun buttons on the side will help them repeat colors, numbers and words for an educational spin.


LeapFrog® Pick Up & Count Vacuum™

BUY NOW

In need of a helper around the house? With the LeapFrog® Pick Up & Count Vacuum™, your child can join you during a deep clean by picking up ten colorful pieces. As your kiddo works to vacuum each pretend dust bunny, the smart toy will say the color aloud and count each one to encourage your kiddo to do the same.

Gifts Under $50


VTech® Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker™

BUY NOW

As your bundle of joy goes from crawling to walking, the VTech® Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker™ will grow right alongside them. Start off with the easy-to-remove learning center for ground-level play, which features five piano keys that play music, three shape sorters and three light-up buttons, two colorful spinning rollers and a pretend phone. Once your explorer is ready to make some moves, turn the panel center into a walker so your baby can be on the go.


VTech® Smart Shots Sports Center™

BUY NOW

If you have a budding athlete in the family, this 2-in-1 kids basketball hoop sports center is the perfect gift. Plus: The animated light-up scoreboard counts baskets up to 10 and plays encouraging animations, sounds and phrases.


LeapFrog® Scoop & Learn Ice Cream Cart™

BUY NOW

Forget about owning a lemonade stand when LeapFrog® will let you run your own ice cream cart. Watch your mini confectioner create imaginative and mouth-watering ice cream combinations with the adorable Scoop & Learn Ice Cream Cart™. Toss in extra sprinkles for us, please!

For more birthday gift inspiration, visit vtechkids.com and leapfrog.com to discover other adorable toys that’ll promote learning and fun!

It seems like just yesterday your little bean came into this world and now, here they are, celebrating yet another birthday. You’ve watched them grow, learn new things and played witness to their heartwarming milestones (remember the first time they tried real food?).

As they continue to develop their fine and gross motor skills, introducing them to fun, interactive and educational toys from VTech® and LeapFrog® can help them during this process. Unsure of where to start? We’ve created an easy-to-follow guide of the best gifts, categorized by price, to help you decide which toys will make them smile—and fire off those neurons!

Gifts Under $15


VTech® Click & Count Remote™

BUY NOW

Little ones will love mimicking mom and dad with the Click & Count Remote™ from VTech®. With nine different channels to explore, tots can learn numbers, colors and shapes, while also singing along to adorable songs, listening to fun melodies and watching the pretend news and weather.


VTech® Learning Lights Sudsy Soap™

BUY NOW

Say goodbye to a bathroom sink overflowing with water. VTech's play soap dispenser lets your kiddo wash their hands without all the mess. They can practice pump-pressing, which will project a musical light onto their hands, and learn healthy hygiene habits with a catchy 20-second song that teaches them the five steps to handwashing—the perfect amount of time for scrubbing away icky germs!


VTech® Spin & Learn Color Flashlight®

BUY NOW

This interactive flashlight not only functions like a real flashlight (fully loaded with six vibrant color settings!), but it also shines a light on how fun learning can be. Your little one will be informed when the flashlight has been turned on and off to introduce them to opposites and when they spin the magical color-changing ring, they'll learn about different colors and animals. They can also press the buttons on the side to listen to upbeat tunes and nature sounds, sing their ABCs or play an interactive game.

Gifts Under $25


LeapFrog® Ironing Time Learning Set™

BUY NOW

Who said ironing clothes can't be fun? LeapFrog's motion-activated iron set features over 10 educational activities that'll encourage your child to count to five, sing the alphabet and discover different colors, fabrics and heat settings as they iron out the wrinkles in the play clothing.


VTech® KidiBeats Drum Set™

BUY NOW

Let your toddler's inner rockstar shine with the VTech® KidiBeats Drum Set™, which features three drum pads and a cymbal that each play its own unique sound. Your little drummer can jam along to nine different styles of music, including rock, pop and dance, and also learn their letters and numbers along the way.


LeapFrog® Learning Friends® 100 Words Book™

BUY NOW

According to experts, parents should introduce their children to a second language as early as possible. With this interactive book, your kiddos can get a leg up on practicing over 100 words in both English and Spanish, including word categories such as animals, pets, colors, food, mealtime, activities, opposites, and more.

Gifts Under $35


LeapFrog® LeapLand Adventures™

BUY NOW

Your early learner's imagination can run wild with this video game that takes them on a quest for keys to unlock Clever Castle. The adorable adventure introduces early learning through the exploration of over 150 educational prompts, including letters, numbers, shapes and colors. Insert the plug-and-play HDMI game stick and USB power cable into the television and start playing the video game immediately using the wireless controller—no web connection, downloads or account setup required!


VTech® Pop-a-Balls™ Push & Pop Bulldozer™

BUY NOW

The Pop-a-Balls™ Push & Pop Bulldozer™ will boost your little builder's movement and motor skills, as they roll the toy across your living room floor. The colorful balls pop up through the chimney and fly back into the bucket as it moves to keep your toddler active and engaged. Plus: the fun buttons on the side will help them repeat colors, numbers and words for an educational spin.


LeapFrog® Pick Up & Count Vacuum™

BUY NOW

In need of a helper around the house? With the LeapFrog® Pick Up & Count Vacuum™, your child can join you during a deep clean by picking up ten colorful pieces. As your kiddo works to vacuum each pretend dust bunny, the smart toy will say the color aloud and count each one to encourage your kiddo to do the same.

Gifts Under $50


VTech® Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker™

BUY NOW

As your bundle of joy goes from crawling to walking, the VTech® Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker™ will grow right alongside them. Start off with the easy-to-remove learning center for ground-level play, which features five piano keys that play music, three shape sorters and three light-up buttons, two colorful spinning rollers and a pretend phone. Once your explorer is ready to make some moves, turn the panel center into a walker so your baby can be on the go.


VTech® Smart Shots Sports Center™

BUY NOW

If you have a budding athlete in the family, this 2-in-1 kids basketball hoop sports center is the perfect gift. Plus: The animated light-up scoreboard counts baskets up to 10 and plays encouraging animations, sounds and phrases.


LeapFrog® Scoop & Learn Ice Cream Cart™

BUY NOW

Forget about owning a lemonade stand when LeapFrog® will let you run your own ice cream cart. Watch your mini confectioner create imaginative and mouth-watering ice cream combinations with the adorable Scoop & Learn Ice Cream Cart™. Toss in extra sprinkles for us, please!

For more birthday gift inspiration, visit vtechkids.com and leapfrog.com to discover other adorable toys that’ll promote learning and fun!

New York City is full of entertaining characters, and not just in the subways or on the streets. Lucky for you, many of these talented individuals and aspiring musicians use their gift to perform at kiddie birthday parties. We found 10 local sing-along party people that will come to you and provide an awesome time for little ones and parents alike.

1. Live jukebox partyRockin’ with Andy sing-alongs are an awesome time for all. While your little ones will never tire of hearing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star or Itsy Bitsy Spider, you might so Andy’s gotcha covered with a variety of songs. When he’s finished rocking out with the little kids, he stays and jams with the big kids turning the party into a live jukebox. Ages 0-3; pricing starts at $350; Contact: info@rockinwithandy.com, 917-647-3611.

2. Celebrate with a MooseMarcia the Musical Moose is sure to bring a smile to your little one’s face and provide an awesome time for all your guests. In addition to a sing-along with favorite kid tunes such as Old MacDonald and Apples and Bananas, Marcia performs silly magic and animal puppet shows. If you like her Facebook page you’ll receive a discount. Ages 0-7; pricing starts at $295; Contact: marciathemoose@gmail.com, 212-567-0682 or 845-641-3068.

3. A musical extravaganza – If you have a pretty princess, rock ‘n roll star or jolly pirate and are looking for a high-energy, interactive, spectacular musical birthday party, Moey’s Music Party is the perfect choice. With a huge repertoire of classic kid tunes and original songs to sing-along, Moey and team will charm your birthday star and all your guests. Ages 0-5; pricing starts at $375; Contact: moey@moeymusicparty.com, 917-680-6789.

4. Have a Jam SessionRock out with a group of talented musicians and entertainers. Jam with Jamie and her team of talent provide an interactive jam session with all the classic kid favorites and oldies, rock, and top 40 tunes. Want to keep the party going? Add on face painting or clown services and an adult jam session to give the parents a real treat. Ages 0-6; pricing starts at $275; Contact: jamie@jamwithjamie.com, 917-822-0186.

5. Monkey around with musicEver watched one of the contagious videos that appear in between showings of Sesame Street and Curious George on PBS and thought how awesome it would be to have that girl perform at your little one’s birthday party? You’re in luck. Meredith LeVande of Monkey Monkey Music and her band are available to play at your next gig and engage you and your kids the same way she does on TV. Options are available for solo, duo and entire band performances. Ages 0-12; pricing starts at $350; Contact: meredith@monkeymonkeymusic.com, 212-673-6472.

6. A wild and crazy sing-along dance partyFavorite entertainer to the stars (and their kids), Bobby Doowah performs at more than 350 parties and events a year. You may recognize some of his original songs and dance moves because he creates programs for Kidville NY, Jodi’s Gym and other popular kid places. Come ready to groove to Bobby’s vast repertoire of well-known favorites as well as his original, upbeat tunes guaranteed to keep everyone singing and dancing. Ages 0-6; pricing starts at $295; Contact: 917-838-4527.

7. A Sing-along with RyanOne of the most sought-after performers on the kiddie party circuit, Ryan performs everything from the classics – Wheels on the Bus and B-I-N-G-O – to current chart toppers, and even favorite kid’s television theme songs. For an additional fee, Ryan will write a custom song for the birthday star based on information you provide him ahead of time. Ages 0-4; pricing starts at $250; Contact: asingalongwithryan@gmail.com, 646-373-5550.

8. Rock and Roll fantasy party – Give your little ones their first taste of rock and roll with a Little Rockers birthday party. You provide the kids and they provide the band to sing along to classic rock, indie, acoustic and electric guitar sessions giving everyone the ultimate rock star experience. No concert would be complete without t-shirts, mini guitars and stickers and all are available for an additional fee. Ages 0-7; pricing starts at $200; Contact: rockout@littlerockersmusic.com, 732-872-4354.

9. High-energy toddler concert  – If you love the musical performances at New York City’s top play spaces such as Apple Seeds, NY Kids Club and the J.C.C. you will love BrettBand, and chances are you’ve already seen him perform. Now on his own, Brett brings everything you love about him and more to sing-along parties for little ones with a mix of classic kids songs, some famous rock and roll tunes, and original songs. And if you behave he’ll bring bubbles too. Ages 0-4; pricing starts at $350; Contact: brett@brettband.com   

Images courtesy of Sarah Miles, Moey’s Music Party, Bobby Doowah and BrettBand’s Facebook

Have you ever hired entertainment for a kid’s birthday party? Share your story in a comment.

–Judy Cohen