So…you’ve noticed that your child or grandchild loves making noise music and are thinking about getting a toy drum kit for him/her.
You could head down to the nearest toy store and get a cheap toy drum set for below $20.
Or, you could probably spend a little more for something that could last the next two to five years. And sound a little better at the same time. (My deepest respect to all the patient parents out there, get you and your child some hearing protection too!)
Here, I share some of the best drum kits for toddlers for your consideration:
Compilation of the Best Drum Kits for Toddlers
| Drum Kits for Toddlers | Size | Durability | Noise Factor | Expected Damage | Our Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alesis CompactKit 4 | 19 x 11 x 7 in | ***** | * | $$$ | Best Drum Kit for Toddlers |
Ludwig Pocket Kit by Questlove | 41 x 47 in | **** | **** | $$$ | Best Acoustic Drum Kit for Toddlers |
Mendini by Cecilio Junior Drum Set | 16 x 15.5 x 15.25 in | *** | **** | $$ | |
Electronic Drum Set Roll Up Drum Kit | 12.8 x 16.93 x 2.36 in | *** | * | $$ | Best Budget Drum Kit for Toddlers |
Fun Central AT996 Drum Set | 5.5 x 1.8 x 2.8 in | ** | ***** | $ | Best Toy Drum Kit for Toddlers |
Best Drum Kit for Toddlers
After researching and listening to several options in preparation for this article, I would think that this is the best drum kit if you want to nurture your toddler’s drumming ability:
Alesis CompactKit 4
Here are the specifications, in a quick glance:
- Size: 19 x 11 x 7 in (can be set up on a table top)
- What’s included:
- 1 x Alesis CompactKit,
- 1 pair of drumsticks,
- Samson SR350 Headphones
- Durability: Very Good
- Noise Factor: Relatively Silent
- Expected Damage: $$$
The Alesis CompactKit 4 provides a great range of drumming features that is suitable for toddlers, kids and even adults to pick up drumming with. It is truly versatile and will definitely last, if treated with care.
This drum kit was selected as the best drum kit for toddlers for three main reasons;
- Useful learning features included in the kit
- Relatively quiet drum kit option
- Doesn’t require too much space
Size and Budget
The Alesis CompactKit 4 is a compact drum kit that can be easily set up on a small table. It can also be packed up easily when your toddler is not using it.
You are getting a pretty versatile drum for less than $100. I would definitely recommend the Alesis CompactKit 4 as the best drum kit for toddlers, if you are serious about developing your child’s sense of rhythm and their drumming ability.
What to expect?
Alesis is known for producing affordable drum kits that provide great value. One Alesis product that I absolutely love for its value is the Alesis Nitro.
Similarly, Alesis’ CompactKit 4 doesn’t disappoint with its features.
Learning Features
Built for beginners, the main reason that the Alesis Compact made it to the top of this list is its inclusion of learning features with the kit. Since you are hoping to nurture your child as a drummer, you’ll definitely find these features handy in the future.
Look out for play-along songs, coaching function and a game function that keeps the learning process fun.
You’ll be happy to note that it comes with 70 percussion voices and 10 effect voices. These will definitely keep your toddler interested as you configure and trigger different sounds from the drum pads. We all know how difficult it is to capture the attention of a toddler at times.
Check out the latest offers on the Alesis CompactKit 4 here.
Velocity Sensitivity Drum Pads
This simply means that the harder your toddler hits the pad, the louder the drum sound triggers.
A good-to-have feature of the Alesis CompactKit 4 is the velocity sensitivity drum pads that make it a tad more realistic. It also provides a great feedback for a toddler who is new to the drums. This realism sets your toddler up for an easy transition to a full acoustic drum kit in the future too.
Noise Level
Other than being a versatile drum kit, the next most important factor that makes Alesis CompactKit 4 our favorite, is its relatively quietness.
Alesis even included a pair of headphones with the CompactKit4! All your child needs to do is to plug in the headphones, turn on the power and have hours of fun.
This also means that you don’t have to endure minutes or hours of random drum hitting from an excited toddler. Win-win!
Do note there’ll still be noticeable tapping sounds as your toddler drums on the rubber pads. You might also want to note that the playable drum pad area is rather small, which means that your toddler might end up hitting the shell of the CompactKit 4.
Of course, please do your part to ensure that the volume on your child’s hearphones is within safe limits as loud volumes may affect their hearing in the long run.
My Thoughts
For the parent who want to nurture their child’s drumming ability and sense of rhythm on a drum kit that will last, this is the best drum kit for toddlers.
It also helps that the CompactKit4 is less than $100 (check latest pricing here). On top of that, it comes with a 1 year warranty too.
The icing on the cake is the inclusion of the fun library of percussion sounds and useful learning features. These will definitely help your child grow as a drummer too.
Best Acoustic Drum Kit for Toddlers
As drummers, acoustic drum kits will always be the standard kit to play on. If you want your toddler to learn to drum on the real deal, this is the option for you:
Ludwig Pocket Kit by Questlove
If you’re committed to nurture your child’s inner drummer, and are willing to put up with the noise, this kit will be the best option. Read my in-depth review of the Ludwig Pocket kit here.
The Pocket Kit is one that’s specifically built for toddlers and kids between ages 4 to 10. It is a complete acoustic kit built with quality parts to last. The only reason you’ll find your child needing a new kit is if they’ve improved tremendously and require a drum kit with wider range of drums.
This is how it sounds:
Here’re the specifications of the Pocket Kit, in a glance:
- Size: 41 x 47 in
- What’s included:
- 1 x 16″ Bass drum with foot pedal,
- 1 x 13″ Floor Tom
- 1 x 10″ Rack Tom
- 1 x 12″ Snare drum with stand
- 1 x 12″ Cymbal (crash and ride) with stand
- 1 x 10: Hi Hat with stand and pedal
- 1 x Drum Throne
- 1 x Drumsticks
- 1 x Drum Keys
Best of all? It comes with instructional videos on how you can set up the Pocket Kit for your child.
For an in-depth review of the Ludwig Pocket kit, read this.
Just remember, the Pocket Kit is an acoustic drum kit, which means you’ll have to put up with the drumming of your toddler, especially when they are just starting out.
And remember to get them some hearing protection!
You can also read what other parents think about the Pocket Kit here.
Mendini by Cecilio Junior Drum Set
Here are the specifications, in a quick glance:
- Size: 16 x 15.5 x 15.25 in
- What’s included:
- 1 x 13″ Bass Drum,
- 1 x 8″ Tom,
- 1 x 10″ Snare,
- 1 x 8″ Cymbal,
- Bass Drum Pedal,
- Drum Throne,
- 1 pair of drumsticks (wooden)
- Durability: Good
- Noise Factor: Loud
- Expected Damage: $$$
The Mendini Junior drum kit is a complete and functional drum kit, suitable for toddlers and children up to 8 years old.
A 3 piece junior drum kit is a great starting kit for anyone who is new to the instrument. And a perfect first drum kit for any young and aspiring drummer.
If you’re on a budget, want an acoustic drum kit and are limited by space, this is the go-to option for you.
Size and Budget
At below $100, you get a small drum kit that will provide your child with a good playing experience, without taking up too much space.
Assembly instructions are included as well. Therefore, you’ll not have to worry about struggling to set up the drum kit while your curious child stares at you.
It also comes with a 1 year warranty (against manufacturer’s defects). This should give you a peace of mind, as long as your child isn’t too destructive.
How much space do you need to set aside?
As mentioned above, the Mendini Junior drum kit is a small drum set. You’ll only need a small area of about 18″ by 18″.
If you are interested in planning ahead to bigger drum kits for your child, this article might be useful: How much floor space do I need for a drum kit?
What to expect?
The Mendini Junior drum kit is a fuss-free drum kit that comes with everything your child would need to start drumming.
Along with the drums, cymbals and required stands, you’ll also find a pair of wooden drum sticks, a bass drum pedal and a drum throne. All you need to do is to follow the assembly instructions provided in the box.
Comes in various color options too. You can find the latest offers for the Mendini Junior Drum Kit.
Noise Level
As with most junior drum kits, don’t expect to have the best sounding drum components at the bargain you’re getting.
Know that junior drum kits tend to come with crappy sounding cymbals. These tend to be characterized by piercing, fake sounding crashes (which children tend to enjoy, unfortunately).
You can expect the drum heads to last but don’t expect drum shells that produce comfortable, warm drum sounds. When played rhythmically, it should still sound comfortable to the untrained ear.
Finally, do note that the Mendini Junior Drum Kit is a functional drum kit that is capable of making great music at detectable volume. Hence, do limit your child’s practice times to the regular waking hours. Especially true if you do not want to make enemies in your neighborhood.
Here’s a sound demo of the Mendini Junior Drum Kit:
As your child improves or increases his/her drumming practice frequency, you may find the need to upgrade the drum kit to a better sounding kit.
For budget friendly solutions, I think you’ll find rdavidr’s youtube channel very useful, here’s a video to start from this:
My Thoughts
The Mendini by Cecilio brand is known for producing affordable drum kits that provide good value for their price points.
However, do note that you are getting the quality that you pay for. Hence don’t expect great sounding drum kits nor drum kits that will last a lifetime.
In fact, junior drum kits are known for being affordable but of a lower quality than the regular drum kits.
If you want to nurture the drummer in your child, I think it is a great idea to start with the Mendini Junior drum kit. However, you should be prepared to upgrade to a better kit when your child outgrows it.
Best Budget Drum Kit for Toddlers
It will not be surprising for parents or grandparents like yourself to want to stick to a smaller budget when choosing a drum kit for your toddler.
After all, you can not be sure that they will love the drums at this point.
If you are on the fence but still want something that is functional as a drum kit, this is your option:
Electronic Drum Set Roll Up Drum Kit
Here are the specifications, in a quick glance:
- Size: 12.8 x 16.93 x 2.36 in
- What’s included:
- 1 x Roll up electronic drum kit,
- 1 pair of drumsticks (wooden),
- 2 foot pedals
- Durability: Good
- Noise Factor: Relatively Quiet
- Expected Damage: $$
This is an electric roll up drum mat that will give your child hours of fun while keeping you sane.
You’ll probably find many variations of this roll up drum kit as it is one of those OEM products being sold under various different brands. Heck, you may even find it at your local Walmart!
Size and Budget
If you do not have much space at home for an actual drum kit, this is a godsend.
All you need to do is to open up the box, unfold the drum kit, plug it to a power source and you are good to go. When your child is done, you can roll the drum kit up and keep it aside too.
At less than $70 (accurate at the point of writing, check latest prices here), I think this is a great deal especially if you are purchasing it for your child. It also comes with a useful metronome function that will help your child improve as a drummer.
What to expect?
Here’s a video walk-through of what you can expect:
If you don’t have the time to watch the video, here’s what to expect:
A full range electronic, rubber pad drum kit that is portable and easy to store. There are customization options that would allow your child to play a wide range of drums and component. It comes with a user manual so you don’t have to worry about figuring out on your own.
As an electronic drum kit, you’ll also find useful features like the metronome function which is very useful for building your child’s sense of rhythm.
If you are not sure where to start, we have some drum exercises that you might find useful here.
Noise Level
You can plug in a pair of headphones which allows your child to enjoy the drums, with little noise. This will definitely save you from hours of noise as your child explores the drums. Trust me, this is a key factor.
There will still be tapping sounds as your child plays on the roll up electronic drum kit, but that is way more bearable than the sounds your child can produce on an acoustic drum kit.
My Thoughts
Electronic drum kits have their advantages. You get a wide range of drum sounds and a relatively quiet drum kit in the house which makes it a win-win situation for both you (your neighbors) and your child.
The downside to learning on this roll up electronic drum kit is that it does not provide an accurate playing experience.
If your child were to pursue drumming as a hobby, he/she will need some time to get used to playing on an actual drum kit in the future.
Everything from position of the drums, height of the drums and the strength required to play an actual drum kit would be vastly different.
If you have a tight budget and still want some peace at home, I would think that this is the go-to choice for you.
Best Toy Drum Kit for Toddlers
If you’re thinking that the options provided above are way beyond what your toddler needs at the moment, then its time to look at toy drum kits.
I think this is a great option:
Fun Central AT996 Desktop Drum Set
Here are the specifications, in a quick glance:
- Size: 5.5 x 1.8 x 2.8 in
- What’s included:
- 2 x 4.5″ Toms,
- 1 x 6″ Toms,
- 1 metal cymbal,
- 1 pair of plastic drumsticks,
- 1 drum stand (plastic)
- Durability: Poor
- Noise Factor: Capable of causing a headache
- Expected Damage: $
*THIS IS REALLY REALLY SMALL, IT FITS ON A TABLE!*
This is basically a miniature acoustic drum kit, suitable for toddlers and small kids.
If you’re looking for a fun budget toy drum kit for your child (or maybe for the child of someone you dislike), this drum set will suffice.
At around $15 (accurate at the point of writing, check latest pricing here), your child can look forward to hours of fun on this mini drum kit.
However, be warned that this isn’t a drum kit that will nurture your child’s interest in music, it is a ‘toy’ after all.
Size
It’s a miniature toy drum kit that barely takes up space so you’ll never have to worry about space constrains.
It is super lightweight (10 ounces or 287 grams) which makes it easy to move around. Perfect for quick storage or for days when you have to mop or sweep the floor.
What to expect
At its price point, don’t expect too much from this toy drum kit.
If you’re simply looking for a toy that will allow your child to tap on and have fun, this will suffice. However, if you’re looking for something that could allow your child to explore music, this will not be sufficient.
Noise Level
It comes with 2 tom toms which are relatively quiet and bearable, and a metal cymbal that is rather loud.
You might want to limit play times on this toy drum kit, if your neighbor starts complaining about the noise.
You can find a video (and sound demo) of the drum kit here.
My thoughts
The Fun Central AT996 is a great toy that any toddler will enjoy. However, if you are looking to nurture the musician in your child, this is definitely not the drum kit that you should get.
If you’re seating on the fence and are not sure if you would like a toy drum kit or a full toddler drum kit, fret not because these guys proof that you can still make music with toys:
Jokes aside, the only reason this made the list is because the Fun Central AT996 is a very popular toy drum set.
You may even find similar toy drum kits under other brands at your local Walmart.
As parents, it may be prudent to start your child off a budget toy drum kit and monitor their interest in the instrument before committing to an actual drum kit for your toddler.
Conclusion
I hope you’ve found our picks of the best drum kits for toddlers useful and are in a better position to select a drum kit for your child and their needs.
You might find this useful if you need more help with choosing a drum kit for your child.
