These genius toys double as learning tools for toddlers about to start preschool

Originally $19.99, now $14.99

What do kids love almost as much as candy? Noodles of course! Hone your child’s counting and color recognition skills (as well as fine motor development—like holding chopsticks!) with Noodle Knockout. Suitable for children 4 to 7 years old, players grab oodles of noodles and toppings to make the ultimate ramen bowl (and try to win the game!)

Originally $21.99, now $17.99

These Melissa & Doug letter board puzzles are the perfect educational gift for your little learner who’s excited about letters, numbers, and spelling. Your child will see an animal or object they recognize—like a frog, bus, or cow—but now they’re going to learn how to spell it! They’ll be so proud to show you that they know F-I-S-H spells fish! Plus, these See & Spell boards don’t just teach letters and beginning spelling concepts—they’re also wooden puzzles, which help fine motor skill development and memory skills.

Originally $10.99, now $8.19

Social-emotional skills are just as important in a child’s development as learning to hold a pencil and write their name. We love this Big Feelings Pineapple toy from Learning Resources that comes with 26 face pieces. Similar to the Mr. Potato Head concept we grew up with, children can make their Big Feelings Pineapple happy, sad, anxious, confused, or any other emotion they are feeling, which will hopefully spark important conversations about “big feelings.” This toy is appropriate for ages 3+ due to small pieces.

Originally $37.99, now $23.99

Get your little one excited about taking care of their teeth while also inspiring them to possibly have a future in dentistry! This Melissa & Doug 25-piece dental care play set comes with an oversized set of pretend teeth that can be cleaned, treated for cavities, and even fitted with braces and retainers! Other items include examination tools, a toothbrush, a toothpaste tube, a dental rinse bottle and cup, retainers and braces. Whoa! This kit has everything your little dentist could want to open up their own dentistry right there in your living room.

How many of us remember the excitement of getting a microscope as a kid? Now imagine if it talked! This STEM toy is a hot item for preschoolers this year, and it’s easy to see why. With 20 total prepared slides that are chock full of cool facts about animals, plants, and household items, plus—a fun surprise—the voice of Bindi Irwin, Wildlife Warrior, the GeoSafari Jr. Talking Microscope offers hours upon hours of educational fun.

Splish-Splash! Any parent of toddlers can attest to the power of the water table. Something about splashing in water makes little hearts happy, which means Mom and Dad are happy too. Step2’s Rain Showers Splash Pond Water Table has a two-tiered design as well as buckets, spinners, and ramps on all sides, which means you can have multiple kiddos joining in the fun at once! We also love additional features like a hole for an umbrella to protect your littles ones from harmful sun rays and a drain plug for easy water removal when playtime has ended.

Originally $139.99, now $99.99

Enhance your child’s auditory skills while also providing quiet time entertainment! The Toniebox comes to life when your child places a magnetic Tonie figurine on top (this one comes with Chase!) and from that moment, your child can listen to stories and sing songs with their favorite TV or movie character. Other collectible Tonies (sold separately) include Cocomelon, Disney princesses like Ariel and Belle, and Marvel superheroes too!

Originally $24.95, now $19.99

Kids love rockets (and so do parents!) and the magic of the stomp rocket is just that—all you have to do is stomp to send it flying. The Stomp Rocket Jr. Glow Launcher includes 7 foam rockets that can soar to up to 100 feet in the air. Kids may not realize it, but they’re actually learning about trajectory, force, and aerodynamics while shooting glow-in-the-dark rockets into the sky. Just save one for Dad—he’s going to want to stomp too!

Geared towards kiddos ages 3-5, these reusable Water Wow! pads are a must-have for road trips and airplane travel. Or, for just tossing into the toy bag for when kids are bored at restaurants or in the waiting room at the doctor’s office. The reusable pad comes with a no-leak water pen that allows kids to bring each page to life with vibrant colors. Then, they let the page dry, and they can do it all over again! This one is a Melissa & Doug favorite as it’s eco-friendly, educational, and keeps little minds and hands busy and entertained.

Originally $229.99, now $191.99

Pretend play is a vital part of child development, so enhance your child’s creative imagination and love for pretend play with their very own grocery store from Melissa & Doug! Made from durable, eco-friendly wood, this Fresh Mart Grocery Store comes with a beeping scanner, a hand-crank conveyor belt, a card-swiping machine, a keypad/calculator, and a cash drawer. Best for ages 3+, you can imagine how excited your preschooler will be to “play” grocery store and ring up groceries for all their happy shoppers.