9 Toy Train Sets Sure To Delight Tiny Conductors

In our rapidly changing world, it’s comforting to know that some things never change—such as the fact that kids love trains. Whether it’s a wooden set, an electric model or a ride-on locomotive, little ones love to play conductor. And between those giggles and the awe of the imaginative worlds they build, it’s easy to forget that the best train sets pull double duty—entertaining kiddos and supporting their development.

“Train sets are incredible tools for developing both fine and gross motor skills,” says Allison Mell, PT, DPT, a pediatric physical therapist and founder of Tots On Target. Plus, the pretend play that naturally comes with trains nurtures crucial early cognitive and emotional skills, she explains.

So, without further ado, all aboard the shopping express! We’ve rounded up a selection of train sets for kids that encourage learning, spark creativity and (major bonus!) make fantastic gifts.

How We Chose the Best Toy Train Sets

Toy train sets are a classic childhood toy, which means there are plenty of options on the market. Here’s how we selected the best train sets:

• We interviewed specialists in child development, including a pediatric physical therapist, a child development researcher, and an AOTA board-certified professor of pediatric occupational therapy.
• Based on our experts’ insights, we considered the needs and developmental milestones of every toddler age group, prioritizing larger, chunky trains for younger kiddos and more detailed sets for older tots.
• We considered all the different types of train sets for kids, from train tables to wooden train sets and electric toy trains. Our choices range from simple, no-batteries-required sets to those with all the bells and whistles (literally!).
• To find the best value train set for kids, we prioritized durability, expandability and compatibility. This involved checking the price of add-ons and considering whether the sets work with other major brands.
• We only included options from trusted brands and read hundreds of parent reviews—on retailer sites and in communities like The Bump forum. Nothing made the list unless it had consistently strong feedback and a minimum 4-star rating.
• Since many of us at The Bump are parents ourselves (myself included!), we drew on our own experience buying, testing and enjoying train sets at home.

Editorial integrity is at the heart of everything we publish. Read more about how The Bump develops our product reviews.

The Best Train Sets for Kids

Benefits of Train Toys for Kids

If it seems like your toddler has a one-track mind when it comes to trains, there’s a good reason for their obsession. “Train play encourages pretend and imaginative storytelling play,” explains Corinne Eggleston, PhD, manager of early childhood development research at the Fisher-Price Play Lab. Mell argues that imaginative play isn’t just fun—it helps build early executive functioning skills, which are the thinking skills we use to plan, problem-solve and adapt.

In train play, that looks like figuring out where the tracks go, deciding what happens next in the story or figuring out that pushing the train too fast might cause it to fall off the track. “As children build track layouts, complete multiple steps to activate features and reset mechanisms, they strengthen fine motor skills and develop problem-solving, designing and building skills,” Eggleston adds.

According to Mell, the setup you choose can help support different types of movement and learning, which can be a key consideration when deciding between a floor vs. tabletop train set:

• Floor train sets: This type encourages full-body movements that strengthen the core and improve coordination, including crawling, reaching and shifting weight. They’re also ideal for playdates or households with multiple siblings, since they’re easier for several children to share.
• Tabletop train sets: Tabletop sets help preschoolers improve hand skills and posture, and work well in small spaces where floor play isn’t practical.

“As a general rule, younger toddlers tend to benefit from floor play, while older preschoolers and early school-age kids often enjoy tabletop setups for more detailed designs,” Mell says.

Playing with trains also helps foster independence. As Eggleston points out, “kids control the railway action, and where their train goes!” Combine that with toddlers’ love of pretend play, and it’s easy to see why toy train sets have been a favorite for generations. “With train sets, preschoolers can bring to life the engines and all the exciting track-building, train-coupling, cargo-loading action they see on their favorite train TV shows, like Thomas & Friends, but with their own playful twist,” Eggleston explains.

About the writer:
Janelle Leeson is no stranger to pretend play or the STEM sciences. As a mom of one with a decade-long career in the sciences, she spends most days crawling on all fours meowing like a cat or having full-on conversations with Little People—just to see her daughter’s eyes light up. As a regular contributor to The Bump, Janelle shares her love of hands-on learning and the science of play to find the best toys for tots—like the train sets featured here—that promote silliness and foundational skills.