If I put this ball in this slot, it rolls down the chute and hits the penguin. Not a terribly difficult concept to grasp, but for toddlers, an important one. Cause and effect -- if A then B -- is an important lesson that young children start to understand around age one or two.
The Super Spiral Play Tower (compare prices) from International Playthings offers many ways for your little one to test out the science. With the aforementioned penguin, a frog and two weighted balls, there are plenty of opportunities and permutations to play with.
Brightly colored, sturdy and with pieces designed for little hands, I'm a big fan of this toy. It's one of those playthings that the child is having fun, sure, but they are also learning important skills, whether they realize it or not.
What types of learning toys does your toddler play with?
Related: Top Educational Toys for Toddlers
Image © International Playthings/PriceGrabber