Gift Guide: Best-Selling Musical Toys for Young Players

Kids who already love the Danny Go! videos will recognise the three songs built into these light-up drumsticks. The soft foam tops make drumming on a couch cushion more forgiving for furniture. Reviewers like the look and value, but several report the sticks break easily.

A turntable, keyboard and recording function make this feel like a real DJ setup. Kids can remix 15 included songs or record their own loops. It connects wirelessly to a music player for remixing favorite tracks.

Stepping and tapping across the mat plays piano notes, animal sounds and 16 melodies across five play modes. The illustrated box includes eight music cards, which makes it a practical birthday or holiday present. Several buyers say it held their children's attention for hours, but some units broke within four months.

Three drum pads and a cymbal each make a different sound, and the drums light up as they teach letters and numbers. Nine melodies in rock, dance and pop styles keep older toddlers moving. Reviewers say it is great for toddlers, though the set is small and a few buyers say it never worked for them.

This 17-inch plastic guitar-style toy has four nylon strings and a coated surface that protects small fingers. It is light enough for small hands to hold easily. Opinions split on size and tuning, so check the details if a precise fit matters to you.

Eight piano keys, eight animal sounds and flashing lights make this a lively choice for toddlers. The colourful pictures help children name colours and animals as they play. It folds for travel, although some reviewers say the animal noises stopped working and others report it broke within a month.

This hand-held Bluetooth microphone has a voice changer, four sound modes and flashing LEDs that dance to the beat. It pairs quickly with phones, tablets and PCs and reaches up to 33 feet. Battery life is the main concern, as some reviewers say it lasts only about five minutes while others report long charges.

Strum the strings, tap the whammy bar and match the lights in a catch-the-light game. Four guitar styles, 30 melodies and a guitar strap make it feel like a real stage prop. A headphone jack allows quiet play, and it can connect wirelessly to a music player.

Twenty drum styles, from rock to jazz, plus a record button let kids capture and replay their own solos. Three games and Coach mode teach beats and fills. Reviewers praise the responsive sound, but some say it stopped working after a few hours or broke within a month.

One side has six instrument sounds and 13 piano keys, and the other has two drumsticks for drumming. The mat supports walking and jumping as well as hand play. Buyers say it is smaller than expected, and durability opinions are mixed, so measure the play space first.