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What Is The Best Ukelele for Kids? (2021 Reviews)

A ukulele is an excellent introductory instrument for kids! It’s relatively simple to hold and play – even for toddlers. But not all ukuleles are the same. You want to find one which is designed for younger, beginning players who don’t have much musical experience.

Give your child the gift of music with a ukulele. We’ve rounded up the ten best for 2021. Plus, our complete guide has everything you need to know about this fun, kid-friendly instrument.

Our #1 Choice – Kid’s Wooden Toy Ukulele by Hape

Little kids can make a big sound with this toy ukulele from Hape. It features a sturdy but lightweight construction with a colorful blue and green design (painted with non-toxic paint).

The nylon strings are flexible with hidden ends, which helps avoid scratches. It’s also easy to tune. Overall, it’s a great introductory instrument for kids as young as 36 months.

Our #2 Choice – Learn to Play Ukulele Starter Kit by Kala

Kala’s soprano ukulele is an excellent teaching tool. Aside from the ukulele, two types of lessons are included. Young players can follow the clear, kid-friendly lessons in the included instruction booklet. They can also download the included app which features a tuner, play-along songs, and lessons.

A Soprano ukulele is perfect for kids because its small with a short scale length and tight fret spacing. It has a traditional Hawaiian design laser-etched onto the satin finish.

Our #3 Choice – Apelila 21-inch Soprano Ukulele

Apelila’s four-stringed, ukulele is made from a handsome Basswood with advanced patterns and high-quality nylon strings. It’s available in a variety of kid-friendly colors including pink, purple, green and more.

Aside from the ukulele, you also get a set of four strings, a carrying bag, and two finger picks. Plus, Apelila offers a 30-day unconditional money-back guarantee. The best ukuleles for kids are simple for most kids to learn to play.

Our #4 Choice – Yezi Classical Ukulele for Kids

Yezi’s toy ukulele for kids is a great introductory instrument for children as young as three. It’s made from ABS plastic with four carbon nylon strings. Lightweight and durable, it’s specifically designed to be simple to play. A coated surface even helps prevent accidental finger pinching.

It’s easy for little ones to pick up and play. Although it’s more of a toy than many of the other ukuleles on our list, kids can still learn basic notes and rhythmic patterns. It has a realistic feel slightly tweaked for little hands.

Our #5 Choice – Soprano Ukulele by Honsing

A colorful, floral petal pattern adorns this Hawaiian-style ukulele from Honsing. It’s 21 inches long with a matte finish and a pearl, black-and-white backside. With 12 frets and nylon strings, it’s simple to play and durable.

The all-natural maple is lightweight but long-lasting. Guitar-style gears allow for fast, accurate tuning. It’s a real musical instrument designed with kids in mind.

Our #6 Choice – Martin Smith UK-222-A Soprano Ukulele

Martin’s Smith ukulele for beginners is packed with quality features. The gear heads are made from metal for improved sound quality. Plus, the nylon strings are soft and easy on little fingers.

Live, online instruction makes learning easy. Kids can sign into the Martin Smith website for instant access to live teachers. Students can ask questions and receive instant feedback from a professional music teacher.

Our #7 Choice – Hola Music! HM-21MG Soprano Ukulele

Enjoy authentic Hawaiian sounds with this ukulele set from Hola! Music. It’s made from two types of wood: Maple for the body and walnut for the bridge and fingerboard. It also has white Aquila strings, silver gear tuners, and 12 silver-nickel frets.

You also get two months of free online lessons. All lessons include live video interaction with the instructor. You can ask questions and receive feedback in real time on your actual playing.

Our #8 Choice – Grocery House Mini Ukulele Toy for Kids

While the musical quality isn’t the best, this toy ukulele is fun to play with and incredibly durable. With plastic and article-aluminum construction, it’s difficult to damage, making it a good choice for toddlers.

Although the tunes will likely never quite be in tune, it’s a fun way to introduce younger children to music basics. Kids will learn how to strum the guitar, turn the gears, and play simple rhythms.

Our #9 Choice – Soprano Ukulele by Kuala

Ukualaa’s toy ukulele is made from durable ABS plastic with a faux-wooden surface. It looks like a classic wooden ukulele but won’t splinter or pinch skin.

It’s 17 inches long and 5.5 inches wide. Compact and lightweight, even toddlers will have no problem holding and playing it.

Our #10 Choice – Soprano Ukulele from Everjoys

This beginner’s kit includes a 21-inch ukulele, digital tuner, strap, instructional songbook, and a carrying bag. The ukulele has a basswood body, blackwood bridge, and solid-wood neck.

Each string is multi-colored. Different colors represent notes to help kids learn. The nylon strings are comfortable to pluck and won’t pinch fingers.

Check out some of the most commonly asked questions about ukuleles to help you decide if it’s the best instrument for your kid.

Is the Ukulele a Good Instrument for Kids?

Absolutely! Although the ukulele might not be the most obvious choice, it’s often a great way to introduce young kids to the world of music and musical instruments.

Ukuleles are small, lightweight, and compact. Even toddlers can hold them comfortably. Instead of struggling with the instrument, kids can focus on playing and finger positioning.

Additionally, ukuleles are relatively simple to play. They only have a few strings and gear tuners. Most kids (and adults) can learn the basics fairly quickly.

The best ukuleles for kids come with special kid-friendly features. An extended fingerboard gives kids extra space to place their fingers. Fingerboards can also be marked with fret locations to help older kids learn more advanced concepts.

What Features Should the Ukulele Have?

Although ukuleles all generally look the same, each type will have slight variations which can make a big difference. Consider the following features:

Materials

Ukuleles are typically made from either wood or plastic.

Wooden ukuleles are the traditional type. Mahogany, spruce wood, and maple are commonly used. The wood creates a classic sound. Plus, wood is generally durable. It should be able to withstand a few knocks.

Plastic ukuleles are also common. Look for non-toxic ABS plastic, which is safe for kids to play with.

Plastic ukuleles are lightweight and usually fairly durable. However, they do produce a smaller sound than the wood type. Most plastic ukuleles are considered to be closer to toys than true musical instruments. However, kids can still learn the basics of strumming, tuning, and more.

Instructions

Many ukuleles for kids include playing lessons. Instruction booklets are the most common teaching tools, although multimedia lessons are increasingly popular.

If you’re interested in the best lessons, consider internet-based instructions. The child interacts with a live instructor online. Instruction can be specifically tailored to the child’s ability. However, online instructions usually work best for older kids who can sit still and listen for the duration of the class.

Type of Ukelele

Ukuleles have four different types:

Soprano

At 21 inches, the Soprano is considered the traditional ukulele size. It produces the classic ukulele sound. Compact and easy to hold, a Soprano ukulele is usually the best choice for kids.

Concert

The next size up is the 23-inch Concert ukulele. It produces a slightly louder, deeper sound. A Concert ukulele is usually a good option if your child already has a year or so of experience playing the Soprano.

Tenor

At 26 inches, the Tenor ukulele creates a deep sound. It has a large fingerboard, which makes it a good option for fairly experienced players who want to learn more about playing chords.

Baritone

A baritone ukulele has a deep bass sound which is similar to a guitar. At 30 inches, it’s too large for beginners. However, a baritone ukulele is a great transition instrument for kids interested in playing the guitar.

Shape

Ukuleles for kids have three different shapes:

Guitar

The guitar shape is the most common and traditional. It has a waist, also known as a dip, in the middle of the body.

Pineapple

Unlike the guitar shape, pineapple ukuleles have no waist. Instead, they’re completely round. Originally created in Hawaii, they’re the second-most-popular type of ukulele. However, they can be a bit harder to hold than the guitar-shaped type, so they’re not the best choice for beginning players.

Boat Paddle

Resembling, naturally, a boat paddle, this is the rarest type of ukulele. It’s fun to look at but is a little too advanced for most kids.

What are the Benefits of Playing the Ukulele?

A ukulele is an awesome introductory instrument because it’s fun and easy to play. Kids can learn the basics quickly. Generally, a kids ukulele isn’t frustrating to play, so kids are likely to stick with it for a while.

Musical toys and instruments have many significant benefits for kids:

Music instruments help kids develop perseverance. Daily practice results in improvement and mastery over time.

As their musical abilities improve, kids often develop pride in their accomplishments. Playing the ukulele for toddler development is often a great source of healthy self-esteem.

Also, learning to play music with a kids ukulele helps improve math and reading comprehension. Music and math connect on a fundamental level. Kids who understand music often also understand how to divide numbers, create fractions, and recognize numerical patterns.

Final Thoughts

Ukuleles aren’t quite as popular of a childhood toy as they really should be. They’re an easy, fun introduction to music. Even toddlers can pick up and play a soprano ukulele quickly. These tiny stringed instruments are fun, educational, and just downright delightful.

And remember that even the best ukulele will still require practice to play well. Encourage your young musicians to be diligent!