Which toys are permitted to use on Shabbat?

Question: Is it permissible to allow young children to play with toys that make sounds on Shabbat, such as a doll that makes noise when shaken and the like? 

Answer: In the previous law we explained that it is forbidden to make sounds on Shabbat. For example, tapping on a page, or blowing a whistle and the like, on the Sabbath day. Only vocal singing is permitted on Shabbat. 

It is obvious that anything that makes sound using electrical power is forbidden to use on Shabbat, and the discussion here is only regarding items that make sound on their own, such as through a simple bell, but not something that operates using electricity. 

In light of the aforementioned, that it is forbidden to produce musical sounds on Shabbat, it seems clear that it is forbidden to make sounds on Shabbat using a "Miriam's drum," which is a drum that even without tapping on it, but just by shaking, produces a musical sound. It is certainly forbidden to use it on Shabbat, as its status is like other musical instruments. 

Therefore, it appears that it is forbidden to give young children such instruments to play with, and it is likewise forbidden to give young children whistles to play with, since it is prohibited to do so on Shabbat. And it is obligatory to educate young children to observe Shabbat. (This is aside from the fact that it is forbidden to allow a young child to do something that constitutes a Shabbat violation. For we are even commanded regarding animal rest, not to have work done through an animal on Shabbat. All the more so through a child. And this is explicitly stated in the Midrash. See Chazon Ovadia Part 3 page 101, and Part 4 page 119). 

However, several contemporary leading authorities have written, including Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Minchat Shlomo Part 1 Section 35), and Rabbi Ben-Zion Abba Shaul z"l (Or L'Tzion Part 2 Section 26), that toys that are not actual musical instruments, for example, a doll with a bell on it, a car that makes noise as it travels, and most toys that produce noise but not organized melodic musical sounds, and where there is no intention to play music with them, our Sages did not prohibit their use on Shabbat. And at least for young children, one may be lenient with this. 

Rabbi Shlomo Zalman added further that children are permitted to operate a spring-powered toy car on Shabbat. And although there are those who have written to be stringent with this, nevertheless, in practice, our master Rabbi Ovadia Yosef shlit"a ruled that one may be lenient in this matter. (As long as there are no sparks of fire). 

In summary: It is forbidden to give children musical instruments to play with them. Such as

drums, whistles and the like. But toys that do not produce musical sounds in a melody, but rather make noise, such as a car that makes noise when moving, or a doll with a bell and the like, it is permissible to give them to children on Shabbat to play with. (Until the age of Bar or Bat Mitzvah, and there is no muktzeh prohibition to touch these toys for the needs of the children).
 

(Published on the "Daily Halacha" website, from the rulings of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef)