10 Best Ball Popper Toys for Kids Reviewed in 2024
Ana
Jessica Mentzer
Ball popping toys are wonderful for engaging your little ones. The action of the balls popping is super fun and the developmental benefits are amazing. Popping toys are great for developing motor skills, enhancing hand-eye coordination, and boosting cognitive development. Kids will love watching the balls pop all around as the either press a lever, toss a ball in, or push something around. This type of toy has a vast design variation and is appropriate for so many different age groups. This makes it a great toy to add to any collection. We have selected the best ball popper toys for kids that are in the current marketplace and created this list.
In a Hurry? The test winner after 20 hrs of research
Encourages children to be physically active.
Perfect for both boys and girls.
Solid construction will ensure this toy lasts longer than the baby stage.
Usable is cramped or tight spaces like apartments and patios.
10 Best Ball Popper Toys Reviewed
1. Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics
Encourages children to be physically active.
Perfect for both boys and girls.
Solid construction will ensure this toy lasts longer than the baby stage.
Usable is cramped or tight spaces like apartments and patios.
Make sure kids have a place where they can push this toy and not cause a ruckus for others.
The corn popper is an old-fashioned toy. This style has been around since 1957 when Fisher-Price created the first corn popper.
Read morePhysical Development
It is a popular toy that toddlers love because it pops balls as it is pushed around. It is small enough to be used indoors but not in cars. Kids love it because they are making the balls pop as they walk to push their toy.
Design
No batteries are needed to make the corns pop. This type of toy is 100% kid powered. It won’t go out of style anytime soon so it is a great holiday or birthday gift for a young kid. Boys and girls love this type of toy because it helps them to walk while they play.
Entertainment Value
Kids will run and walk for hours with their corn popper. There is a good reason this toy is still being manufactured since 1957.
2. Fisher-Price Go Baby Go Musical Dino
Makes noise to encourage children to play.
The softballs ensure minimal to no damage to home items or bodily harm.
This toy teaches children about cause and effect.
It's small and easy to put away.
Makes lots of noise when the baby is having fun.
This toy is so much fun for babies. Children as young as 9 months old enjoy the company of this cute dino.
Read morePhysical Development
This is a great way to instil a love of physical activity before baby is able to walk. Kids that are learning to crawl can have fun with this elephant too.Children at that age are working on their dexterity and have just started to master the art of grasping larger items.
Design
Kids that are younger than 9 months old have a hard time grabbing the balls the dino pops. When balls are escaping the dino, toddlers crawl around and try to get the ball. When they put the ball into the dino’s pin, it pops the ball back out again.
Entertainment Value
The perfect way to encourage your little rolly-polly to get moving. The adorable dragon rewards children for being active while encouraging them to crawl and chase the brightly colored balls. The 8 fun tunes and sounds also make play time with this sweet salamander much more fun for little ones.
3. Playskool Explore N' Grow Busy
Balls are fun for children to interact with.
Easy to clean.
Has few moving parts to break.
It only requires 4 D cell batteries to work.
Balls are easily lost.
Requires an adult pumping a plunger to get balls popping.
This fun ball popper is air powered and plays upbeat music that gets kids groovin. It comes with 5 balls, an output rack, the lower trough, and a cute color scheme.
Read morePhysical Development
Little ones love trying to swat the balls before they fall back into the tray and slide down the ramp for another run. While fun, it also promotes good hand-eye coordination and encourages physical activity.
Design
Replaceable balls can easily be found online for purchase. The balls fit the ball popper and the package is bought frequently together through Amazon.
Entertainment Value
An especially great toy for homes with two or more small kids because of the large ball capacity. Children get to watch the balls slide to the bottom of the trough before getting popped out the top.
4. Hog Wild Toys Squirrel
Handheld animal themed ball popper
Easy to ‘pop,’ the harder it is squeezed the further the balls go up to 20 feet
Set includes squirrel ball popper and six soft foam balls
Used indoors and outdoors
Great for any age group
Harder for younger children to squeeze it hard enough for the ball to fly
Makes loud ‘popping’ noise when squeezed
Handheld popping fun with this squirrel. It is the toy that the kids love playing with. They can pop the balls far, pop the balls short, and even pop the balls into the bowl of balls.
Read morePhysical Development
Kids will learn physical coordination and motor skills. It is super cute. Most poppers are hard toys that sit on the ground and this toy is a handheld popper that the kids can carry around and actually play with. It is fun to make up games that you can use the popper to launch the balls with.
Design
Ball poppers are simple, but this one is even simpler. Kids love watching the balls pop and parents love when they are able to pop the balls on their own. The simple design of this popper makes it easy for any age group to have a popping good time. The ball will ‘pop’ in a shooting action in the direction it is facing towards. The popper is able to launch the ball up to 20 feet in the air. Each of the balls included with the set are constructed from soft foam and there are six included.
Entertainment Value
Kids will have a blast with this fun toy! Launching the ball is easy, but aiming is even easier. To control the force or how far the ball ‘pops’ all that has to be done it squeeze either hard or soft. The harder the squirrel's belly is squeezed the further the ball will go. This toy can be used indoors and outdoors. It is a simple toy with super ‘ ball popping’ launching action.
5. Fisher-Price Zoom 'n Crawl
Great toy for crawling toddlers
Encourages motor function
Will get kids actively moving
Make sounds
Doesn’t move too fast
The toy does not stop when it meets a solid object
This toy isn’t so much a ball “popper” as it is a ball “spinner”, but it still offers all the same benefits while spitting balls out at a slightly slower rate.
Read morePhysical Development
This is perfect for younger toddlers who are just beginning to crawl because they’ll easily be able to follow this toy around as it rolls across the floor. The idea is to place each ball in the monster’s mouth, where they’ll spin around and get “spit out” as this tiny monster rolls around. This encourages kids to work on their crawling skills to pick up all the balls, catch up their monster, and start it all over again! The tiny monster ball-spinner also makes noises when the balls are inserted and spun, making it a fully interactive toy that will have you, newly-crawling toddler, up and moving around in no time.
Design
Not all ball poppers come in the form of a push-toy, and some serve their purpose just as well by popping balls at a slower speed. The dialed-back pace of this toy helps to gradually encourage toddlers to crawl and their own speed while giving them the motivation to do it.
Entertainment Value
This toy is both fun and encouraging and will improve your toddler’s confidence in their ability to crawl and go from place to place. They’ll be delighted by the sounds this monster makes and will have a blast crawling after all the loose balls to “feed” their monster again.
6. Cool Toys 5 Layer Tower
Easy break down and set up
Three interactive balls with shapes and beads inside
Colors and sounds are attractive to young eyes and ears
Children will grow into being able to construct the set themselves
Made from durable PVC
There is no piece to catch the balls at the end, so they roll away frequently if children aren’t quick enough
With five tiers and three spinning activity balls to slide down these windy ramps, it’s no wonder that this Swirling Tower Toy keeps children awed and amazed for so long.
Read morePhysical Development
Each ramp is a different color and is labeled with numbers so that as children continue to develop their physical and numerical skills, they can build the tower themselves. A cute little cat adorns the top of the tower, and the interactive sounds, vibrant colors, and interesting shapes improve fine-motor and problem-solving skills.
Design
Each acrylic ball has tiny beads and colorful shapes inside that rattle merrily as they move. Children place the ball in the top hole and then follow its journey down the ramps. This toy is perfect for children ages 6 months and older, is made from durable PVC, and breaks down and sets up quickly and easily, so you can take it on the go with you.
Entertainment Value
This tower helps children to understand cause and effect, develop their hand-eye coordination, and work on their fine-motor skills. The little noises and bold primary colors will keep their interest as they figure out where to start the ball and how to follow its path down.
7. Fisher-Price Poppity Pop Turtle
Designed with bright color and reflecting surfaces
Handheld size for easy handling
Makes fun popping sound when rolled
Small balls ‘pop’ inside the bubble when pushed along
Promotes hand eye coordination development
Turtle has to be pushed in fast motion for ‘popping’ noise to take place
Smaller in size, much like a toy car design
Give your children one of the best possible starts with toys that always has to be played in a certain way. Let them explore with their minds and learn to create. Toys like this popper turtle are ideal for endless hours of creative playtime. It is an animal? It is a car? Does it make a noise? Does it have action? All these features and more can be enjoyed with this simple yet complex turtle pooper.
Read morePhysical Development
Allowing children to develop in their own ways and at their own time is the ideal schedule for development through their childhood. Providing them with the tools and resources to be able to develop at each stage is important in make sure they stay on track. The turtle popper provides a great tool for hand eye coordination development. It gets the child down on the floor pushing the turtle and watching the little balls pops as it moves along. These actions enforce the behavior and provide an enriching environment.
Design
Bright colors, bouncing balls, a shiny reflecting surface, and that popping sound. The design of this popping toy is so much fun. Kids will find so much joy in this simple handheld designed toy that it will be the toy that they take everywhere with them. As they push the toy along it has been designed to create a popping sound and the mechanics inside the turtle cause the balls to bounce around. It really encourages them to get down and play with the turtle.
Entertainment Value
At a young age, we learn about the cause and effect theory. It also plays a part in the act and reaction of play time. With this popping turtle, little ones will experience that first hand and they will love it. The rolling action causes the balls to pop up and down plus a fun little popping sound is made providing hours of endless playtime.
8. Playskool Tumble Top
Popping and spinning ball toy for kids
Simple action, press head of a giraffe and watch balls pop
Brightly colored with colorful balls
Kid friendly compact and contained design
Demonstrates cause and effect action
Easy for little ones to tip over
Dome gets a foggy look after a period of time
Oh, the spinning fun the kids will have with this toy. When your little one presses down on the top of the head of the giraffe the balls will go into spinning and popping fun.
Read morePhysical Development
The balls will swirl and pop exploding with color that will really catch their eye. It is worth a laugh. It is even more fun when they learn to press down repeatedly for a sequenced event of spinning, popping, and pressing. All of the bright colors on this toy and the friendly face of the giraffe plus the popping sounds make this toy engaging and their go to for some action packed fun.
Design
The design of the popping toy is compact, lightweight, sturdy, and contained. All of the balls are contained and sealed inside the toy, which means it is also safe for kids of all ages. It is great to introduce to babies and awesome for toddlers to get their popping on. The kid friendly design is appealing to even parents with the contained parts and pieces. No running around chasing balls everywhere with this toy.
Entertainment Value
The top of this toy has to be pressed down on to complete the action for the balls inside to pop around. Inside when the top is pressed it causes a disc to spin allowing the balls to pop all around. This is a wonderful way to introduce cause and effect to the little ones. The pressing of the giraffe head and then seeing the balls popping around creates that direct collation between the two.
9. VTech Pop-a-Balls Pop & Play Snail
Features a bouncing, popping, and spinning ball fun
Simple press of the snails head to get the motion started
Brightly colored with additional learning features
Teaches colors, number, and shape recognition
Introduces the relationship between cause and effect
No volume control
Hard to balance toy while pressing the head down for ball feature
Get your kids ready for a popping good time with this snail. It has so many actions and features that the kids will love engaging with this snail for some playtime fun. It sins, it pops, and there are learning features that teach through play that will have the kids love watching and playing with this popping playful snail.
Read morePhysical Development
Learning is so much fun with this popping snail. It teaches them all about cause and effect by demonstrating the relationship between cause and effect. When the cute little head of the snail is pressed down the shell starts to spin setting the balls into a popping motion. Once they learn the relationship between the pressing of the snails head and the popping fun they will not want to put it down.
Design
From the adorable smile of the snail's little face to the bright colors on the body of the snail this is truly a cute addition to any toy collection. The features of the popping balls with the body motion and the buttons on the top that introduce colors, shapes, and numbers, plus sounds and melodies the kids will have a fun time and time again learning and playing with this snail. It also asks simple questions that help reinforce color and number recognition.
Entertainment Value
Entertaining little ones can often be a challenge these days with all the distractions of the TV and other electronic devices. This popping toy brings a little electronic fun and learning fun together to create a truly engaging experience. Starting with the pressing of the head to create the ball motion to pressing the buttons on the top to learn the little ones will have fun each time they have an opportunity to play with this toy.
10. VTech Pop-a-Balls Push & Pop Bulldozer
Promotes learning colors and numbers
It requires no batteries, this toy is 100 percent kid-powered
It is small enough to be taken on trips, but not small enough to be used in the car
This toy makes fun sounds and tunes that kids enjoy
This toy is loud
Balls can easily be lost
This bulldozer is similar to an old-fashioned corn popper.
Read morePhysical Development
This bulldozer-shaped ball popper is ideal for your little mover. Not only will it entertain them for hours, but it will also help them learn their numbers and colors, all with fun music playing along as the child pushes the toy across the room.
Design
The chunky handle also means tiny hands have stability as they learn to walk. This toy is similar to an old time corn popper, but with an added bulldozer design. Toddlers and kids will love this, and even though it is a bulldozer, girls and boys alike will like this toy too.
Entertainment Value
It can be pushed to make the balls pop around. Except this bulldozer is special because the balls pop out of the bulldozer and onto the ground. Kids pick up the balls and drop them back into their bulldozer. As they walk around pushing their machine, it pops more balls out.
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Physical Development
The ball poppers on our list are fun and safe to use for children. The toys are well-made and are crafted by top-notch companies with good reputations in toy making. The launching mechanisms are all attractive to kids. They look nice and shiny, and they have good details. Some of the poppers on our list will be more for boys, and others will be more focused on girls. Some poppers can be used by either boys or girls and a few are meant for toddlers.
Design
The No. 1 ball popper on our list is a corn popper from Fisher-Price. That toy is meant for toddlers and young kids (boys or girls) to use. The design is gender-neutral and the mechanics of the toy are simple. This toy is perfect for kids who have just started to walk and sometimes fall. The lever helps keeps kids steady and helps them work out their legs and arm muscles as they push and make the balls pop.
Entertainment Value
Toy No. 9 is an elephant ball popper. That toy is also gender-neutral, even though the elephant is blue. Boys and girls love this toy and rightfully so. The elephant ball popper is an award-winning toy that continues to win the hearts of families. It is a game that several children can play, and parents can get into the action too.
Physical Development Design Entertainment Value 
Toy No. 10 is the bulldozer. This is a toy that is intended more for boys to play with. But that doesn’t mean girls can play with this toy. It is a construction toy truck with push buttons and a push lever. The advertisements show little boys playing with their truck and its accessories.
Other Factors to Consider
Sensory Stimulation
In speech therapy, ball poppers help patients by answering the therapist’s questions. Like telling the therapist where the ball landed. “Did the ball fall behind the chair or next to the chair?” If they do a good job, patients like kids are awarded more balls to pop. Kids also recite back the directions for how to use their toy to pop the balls. And then the fun begins when they begin to pop all of the balls.
Frequently Asked Questions
q: What do toddlers find so funny about ball poppers?
The popping sound is addictive. When a little kid releases the ball, they are surprised every time. The popping sounds excite them and that is why they go bananas every time they successfully use their toy.
q: Do adults use ball poppers?
The sale and advertisement of ball poppers are directed toward children. But ball poppers are used for other types of groups like physical therapists. They use ball poppers as a tool for speech and language therapy. They have their patients try and count the number of times they popped a ball while they are working on their dexterity and hand-eye coordination.
q: Are all ball popper balls safe to use for kids?
Unfortunately no. There are some toy balls that are a nightmare for parents. Take a look at this image. Who to feel sorry for the most? The kid with all those balls stuck in her hair or the parent that has to gently pull them all out? The ball poppers on our list are safe for kids to use. But, it is always advised to keep an eye on kids because they can make any toy into a hazardous toy. Kids might still try and swallow those balls or chew on their launcher.
q: Other than kids, who else uses ball poppers?
Ball poppers are used at work and during study time. Adults at a desk often need something to do with their hands. Call-center employees are a good example because they are required to be at their desk for the entirety of their shift. They are known to bring yo-yos, coloring books, toy launchers, sketchbooks, etc.
q: How early can parents introduce the corn popper to babies?
Parents can let their kids play with corn poppers from a very early age. But it is recommended that kids as early as 1-year-old be allowed to play with this toy. Any younger and kids can get hurt because they don’t have better control of their limbs yet.
Sources
- , PLAYSKOOL POPPIN’ PARK ELEFUN BUSY BALL POPPER Toy Wins Infant/Toddler Toy of the Year , Information Page
- , Corn Popper, Wikipedia Page
- , Ideas for Ball Poppers in Speech Therapy, Informative Article
- , Parents warning of nightmare experiences with popular 'balls from hell' toy, Online News Article
- , Corn Popper, Informative Online Article
