8 Fun and Educational Toys That'll Get Your Little 1 Ready For Preschool

When I was a preschooler, I used to play with laminated flashcard versions of this, and it was one of my favorites. Using the colorful shapes, Melissa & Doug Pattern Blocks and Boards ($16) has kids place different shapes and colors to create mosaic art. This seemingly simple toy sure does a lot. The individual tiles can be used for counting, color recognition, shapes, and patterns, and the boards can help with animal identification.