8 Best Lock and Key Toys for Toddlers

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8 Best Lock and Key Toys for Toddlers

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All kinds of toys out there mimic real-life for kids. They can cook, clean, pretend to have a computer, and pretend to open and close things with a lock and key. Lock-and-key toys for toddlers are fun and educational at the same time.

Toddlers see their parents use keys to unlock the house, cars and often want to copy those actions. Lock-and-key toys let them do just that. Plus, they won’t be taking your keys if they have their own key toys to play with!

Let’s take a look at some other benefits as we unlock the best ones on the market.

Short On Time? Here Are Our Top 3 Choices

	Title	Price	Prime	Buy
Top	Melissa & Doug Doorbell House		PrimeEligible	Buy Now
	IQ Toys ABC Learning Locks Educational Alphabet Set		PrimeEligible	Buy Now
	Battat – Shape Sorter House – Color and Shape Sorting Toy		PrimeEligible	Buy Now

Benefits of Lock and Key Toys

Lock-and-key toys do more than let toddlers open and close objects. Many toys teach kids about colors, shapes, or other things of value. Toddlers often get into an activity and like to do it over and over again.

Lock-and-key toys let them practice this skill until they become little masters. It can also help them develop fine motor skills. These skills can help them become better prepared for school.

Other benefits of lock-and-key toys include:

• Developing problem-solving skills
• Looking at cause and effect
• Fostering independence as they learn a new skill
• Self-guided play
• Introducing colors, numbers, letters, and shapes

These benefits make the lock-and-key toys fun and help them with other important developmental milestones.

What Are Lock Toys? Why Do Toddlers Love Them?

To adults, a lock-and-key toy may not mean much. However, toddlers will have a big fascination with them. Many kids find them fascinating because of the cause and effect features. It’s exciting to use a key and see that it unlocks something else!

Parents can love these toys too, because many teach colors, numbers, and letters. Kids may not even realize it, but when they start being able to distinguish between red and blue and can point out different letters of the alphabet, the light bulb goes off.

Toys like these are beneficial because they help kids learn at a young age as they prepare for school.

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Best Lock and Key Toys for Toddlers

Now that you’re aware of the benefits of lock and key toys for toddlers, it’s time to take a look at the best ones out there.

1. Melissa & Doug Doorbell House
2. IQ Toys ABC Learning Locks Alphabet Set
3. Battat Shape Sorter House with Color and Shaper Sorting Toys with 6 Keys
4. VTech Latches and Doors Busy Board
5. Melissa & Doug Locks and Latches Board
6. Battat 3-Car Garage Shape Sorting Toy with Keys
7. Ambi Toys Lock a Block
8. B. Toys FunKeys Toy

1. Melissa & Doug Doorbell House

What better way to learn about locks and keys than to have a cute little house to try it with?

This Take-Along Wooden Doorbell includes four doorbells that actually ring and doors that open on hinges with four lock-and-key pairs.

There are even four little people to move in and out of the house. Kids will have fun unlocking the doors for these little people.

Melissa & Doug products are known for their durability and quality, so it should come as no surprise that this toy checks that box. It’s made from high-quality wood, which means it should be able to hold up when your child drops it or bangs it around.

It’s also portable so your child can take it to grandma’s house or wherever else they may go where they want some entertainment. Sure, it would take up a lot of space, but, in return, it should take up a lot of your child’s playtime, so that’s a plus for sure!

This is an excellent gift for kids ages 3-5. They’ll be able to work on their motor skills while they use their creativity for imaginary play with their little people.

We also like this toy because it’s reasonably priced for the quality it gives.

Pros:

• Durable
• Portable
• Four lock-and-key pairs to play with

Cons:

• Best for younger kids in the recommended age group, kids around five could get bored

2. IQ Toys ABC Learning Locks Alphabet Set

This toy is one of the best lock-and-key toys for toddlers because it’s not only fun for them to play but also helps them learn the alphabet. It comes with 26 locks and keys for all the letters of the alphabet and four key rings.

The locks have both uppercase letters and lowercase letters on them while the keys have uppercase letters on one side and lowercase letters on the other.

Kids can match the key to the letter or the picture on the lock to unlock it. The locks are large enough for their little hands, so they shouldn’t get frustrated with them. They’re also durable just in case your little one drops them or throws them around a bit!

While this toy is a bit more expensive, we love it because of all the pieces that come with it.

Pros:

• Helps to teach the alphabet and fine motor skills
• Comes with 26 locks and keys
• Should keep kids busy for a while

Cons:

• Best for the little ones as older kids could get bored
• A bit more expensive

3. Battat Shape Sorter House with Color and Shaper Sorting Toys with 6 Keys

The Battat Shape Sorter House comes with a 14-piece shape sorting house that lets kids match the shapes of the blocks. Once the shapes are in, they can unlock the doors with the bright-colored key and start all over again.

There are twelve different shapes so that kids will learn about squares and circles and other fun shapes like cats and stars. There are six color-coded keys, so kids need to figure out which color matches which lock to get it open.

The keys even come on their little key chain so your child will feel like a big kid with this toy. Because this toy has so many different pieces and features, it teaches colors and shapes while also learning things like cause-and-effect and fine motor skills.

This toy is durable and perfect for that trip to grandma’s house. Just put all of the pieces in the house, and you’re off. It offers a lot of features for its low price, which is why we like it so much.

Pros:

• Teaches colors and shapes
• Comes with six color-coded keys and key ring
• Portable
• Low-price

Cons:

• Many pieces to keep track of
• Best suited for kids two and up, older kids may get bored

4. VTech Latches and Doors Busy Board

VTech makes some great toys for kids, which is why it has one of the best lock-and-key toys for toddlers. Besides teaching kids how to use a lock and key, VTech uses fun sounds to keep kids engaged and entertained.

When kids put the toy in learning mode, a cute voice introduces them to the little family in the windows and their pets while teaching numbers 1-5. When it’s in music mode, the toy plays fun songs and sound effects.

As soon as they press three colorful buttons, their toy will start singing about the alphabet, numbers, and a song about the house.

VTech helps kids to work on their motor skills as they move the latches, switches, and keys so they can see who is behind each window and door.

We like this toy because it’s recommended for kids 12-36 months so that learning can start at a very young age. With its reasonable price, it makes it a great gift.

Pros:

• Helps teach numbers and the alphabet
• Helps kids work on motor skills
• Easy to clean
• Reasonably priced

Cons:

• Keep batteries on hand as this toy requires two AA batteries

5. Melissa & Doug Locks and Latches Board

Here’s another winner from Melissa & Doug when it comes to lock-and-key toys for toddlers. It’s fun, entertaining, and educational. I don’t know about you, but that sounds like a perfect toy for kids.

As they open and close the doors on the board with latches and locks, they can work on their dexterity as they discover colors, numbers, and different animals. They can also improve their fine and gross motor skills with this toy.

The toy is made from a smoothly sanded solid-wood material, so it’s safe for kids to play with. It’s also suitable for the car ride or if you’re going to someone’s house. There are no tiny pieces to keep track of since everything is on the board.

This toy is recommended for ages three and up, but older kids could get bored, so keep that in mind if you’re buying this as a gift. If you are purchasing this as a gift, it is reasonably priced, so that’s a plus!

Pros:

• Teaches fine and gross motor skills
• Helps kids discover colors and numbers
• Built from a smooth wood material
• No tiny pieces

Cons:

• Older kids could get bored after a while

6. Battat 3-Car Garage Shape Sorting Toy with Keys

Little ones will quickly learn what happens when you put the right key in the lock with this toy. This garage playset comes with a three-car garage, three push vehicles, and one set of three keys. Each key corresponds to a colored door as well as a specific shape.

It’s perfect for tiny hands as it’s easy for them to hold on to the keys and try them in each of the locks. Once they get the right key in the right garage, they push a button to see the car leave the garage. It’s a great example of a cause and effect toy that’s very interactive. It also helps to teach motor skills while keeping kids entertained.

Since there aren’t many pieces, it also makes a good grab-and-go toy. Since it’s made from durable and robust plastic, this toy can withstand any rough play! It’s also reasonably priced, making a great gift.

Pros:

• Teaches fine motor skills and cause and effect
• Not many pieces
• Strong and durable

Cons:

• Kids could get bored after they figure out the combinations

7. Ambi Toys Lock a Block

If you’re looking for a simple lock-and-key toy for toddlers, this one could be on your list. This toy gets kids going on the basics of locks and keys at a young age. It’s recommended for kids ages 12 months and up, so it’s a perfect beginner toy.

The Ambi Toys Lock a Block comes with one lockable box and two sets of three-dimensional sorting blocks. There is a circle, square, and triangle on the top to help introduce and teach basic shapes. Kids can learn which shapes match up as well as which colors.

By getting the shapes into the right compartments, they are working on their manual dexterity and color awareness. Some people may find this toy a little expensive for what it has to offer, but it’s a good starter toy for the little ones.

Pros:

• Teaches manual dexterity and color awareness
• Teaches shapes
• Good beginner lock and key toy

Cons:

• A bit expensive for what it offers

8. B. Toys FunKeys Toy

Your child won’t forget her keys with this fun toy key ring. It’s so realistic that you may even mistake it for yours! Three keys are hanging from a functional purple remote, so kids can feel like they are going for a ride.

The purple remote comes with four fun car sounds. As they push on each key, they can hear the unique sounds. The key chain also has a push-button flashlight.

Just be sure the child doesn’t press the button and point the light in their eyes. That’s not going to be fun for anyone!

While this toy has no locks that come along with it, we like it as one of our favorites because it’s so realistic and teaches kids what happens when they press the buttons on a keyless remote.

Chances are they’ve pushed mom’s and dad’s a few times already. This time they can do it without getting in trouble!

Since this toy is small, it’s perfect for on-the-go. Kids can easily carry them along or put them in their pockets, just like real keys.

Pros:

• Keychain remote has four working buttons with fun sounds
• Realistic, so kids feel like they’re in the driver’s seat

Cons:

• Does not come with locks
• Older kids could get bored

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Bottom Line

When it comes to the best lock-and-key toys for toddlers, any toys that can combine fun and learning are big winners for parents and kids.

The kids will love to see what happens when they open the lock with the right key, while parents will appreciate any learning that can go along with it.

This is why we chose the Melissa & Doug Doorbell House as our favorite pick. It does an excellent job of teaching the cause and effect of locks and keys while providing fun doorbells that ring.

We also like the fact that it comes with little people to play with inside the house. Because of its size, it’s also small enough to bring along for playtime at grandma’s house.

Since it is a Melissa & Doug product, quality is never an issue, which is great for kids who may be a little tough on their toys.

Lock-and-key toys for toddlers are a great idea because they teach basic skills while providing kids with fun and entertainment. If you’re lucky enough to find a toy that’s portable without too many pieces that could go missing, that’s a bonus!

Happy shopping!