The Best Gifts for 2-Year-Olds, Recommended by Parents
As parents of young children we can both attest to how fun it is to watch 2-year-olds come into themselves. They suddenly have opinions — strong ones — and those opinions and preferences show in the toys they choose to play with. That’s how we came up with this gift guide; these are the toys we’ve seen our kids gravitate toward at two years old … and they’re still being enjoyed at four years old.
What to Look for in Toys for 2-Year-Olds
Despite the moniker “the terrible twos,” two-year-olds are such fun people. They’re so curious about the world, and they’re learning how to be a human. As such, they enjoy toys that mimic real life. The National Association for the Education of Young Children recommends toys for two-year-olds like puzzles, blocks, toy furniture, dolls, construction sets, water play sets, and toddler art supplies.
Most two-year-olds are now jumping, running, and talking up a storm. So our list includes toys that help develop language, gross motor skills, and fine motor skills. Many two-year-olds still put toys in their mouths, so stay away from anything labeled 3+ to prevent choking.
Cubby - Best Toys for 2 Year Olds Under $20
Puzzles are a great challenge for two-year-olds. They can help develop spatial reasoning, hand-eye coordination, and perseverance. Mudpuppy puzzles are particularly excellent for this age group thanks to the thick (read: toddler-proof!) pieces, fun and colorful designs, and the accompanying storage pouch. Big fan! —Cambria
Hape's harmonicas have great sound, and are easy for 2-year-olds to hold and play. I mean, they won't play it perfectly, but boy, will they ever have fun trying! The rave reviews on Amazon speak for themselves. —Cambria
Animal magnets were a big hit with my kids when they were around two years old. The magnets were especially helpful during dinner prep, when I needed something in the kitchen to keep them entertained. Voila! Magnets on the dishwasher and fridge! —Cambria
Another great animal-focused toy for 2-year-olds, this sorting barn is a huge hit among the toddler set, who love to push the animals through the shapes, then pop the top open to pull them back out. Repeat ad nauseam. —Cambria
This easy scavenger game will help your two-year-old burn off a little energy while also teaching them teaching shapes, colors, language, and turn-taking! —Alicia
Like everything from Green Toys, this dump truck is made of 100% recycled plastic. It's even dishwasher safe, so your kid can take it on all sorts of adventures and it will be easy to clean up at the end of the day. —Alicia
Cubby - Best Toys for 2 Year Olds Under $40
This cutting food set is the ideal toy to pull out when you’re trying to make dinner and need to keep your toddler occupied for a few minutes. They'll love feeling like they're doing just what you're doing, and the focus and coordination required by the cutting can also help develop some of the muscles they'll need later on to hold a pencil and write. —Alicia
Baby dolls are great gifts for all ages and genders; the play options are virtually endless. I particularly like Miniland's line of inclusive, diverse, and anatomically correct dolls, which are soft, flexible, and made in Europe to all the highest safety standards. —Cambria
Two years old is good age to introduce DUPLOs. This 65-piece set has everything they need to start building on their own, and honestly, you'll probably get years of play out of it before you'll even want or need to move to actual LEGOs. —Cambria
Haba does early toddler games so well. My girls loved this magnetic fishing game when they were really little, along with the Haba's First Orchard game. The playing pieces are big and easy to hold, and the games are simple enough for toddlers to play while also teaching early skills like taking turns, counting, and cooperative play. —Cambria
For parents (like myself) who are pro-creativity but wary of mess and staining, these washable, non-toxic paint sticks are ideal. Kids as young as two can use them, but they're great for all ages. No smocks, cups, water, or paint brushes required. Stock up on this art paper and you're good to go. —Cambria
This simple, carry-along lockbox works on motor and problem solving skills, but it also feels like a little treasure box to toddlers, who can put their own toys inside and then lock and unlock the box to their heart's content. —Cambria
Water play can be very calming and therapeutic, and the bathtub is a great place to take a two-year-old when they’re having a rough day. This bath toy makes bath time even more fun. The slide suctions to the side of the tub, and the penguins stack, float, and slide! —Alicia
Another mess-free art supply that doesn't skimp on the fun! 2-year-olds love this oversized doodle mat with the "magic" water pen that makes colors and shapes appear! —Cambria
Cubby - Best Toys for 2 Year Olds Over $40
Scooters are one of the best outdoor gross motor toys. This one is adjustable, and it comes in nine colors. It uses a lean to steer to design, which may be more intuitive for two-year-olds. Make sure you also get a helmet if you plan on buying a scooter! —Alicia
In the sea of cute wooden play kitchens, this Tender Leaf Toys kitchen is our top pick. Cubby contributor Cara Strickland bought it for her daughter when she was two years old, and wrote a whole review about it. As a result of her review, I bought it for my youngest as well and we've been very happy with it! It's well-constructed, well-priced (relatively, but fair for the quality), and comes with all the play kitchenware as well, which really makes it a solid buy. —Cambria
LovEvery's Block Set is a worthwhile investment, particularly when you consider its awesome versatility. The set comes with 70 solid wood blocks in 18 different colors, shapes, and tools, plus over 20 learning and developmental activities tailored to each developmental stage. We love the set so much we made it one of our Cubby ❤️ parent-approved picks! —Cambria
Another classic block set, these Uncle Goose blocks come in upper and lower case sets and, in addition to just being super cute and stackable, can help toddlers begin to recognize letters, numbers, names of animals, even math symbols. We had our set for almost eight years before passing it along! —Cambria
The European-made, hardwearing, basically indestructible road tracks are awesome. They might be a little tricky for a 2-year-old to put together, so a grownup or an older sibling might have to help — but then they can play, too! I love a toy that can grow with your child. —Cambria
This all-in-one indoor climbing structure will get your 2-year-old moving! They can use it as a ladder, a tunnel, a balance beam, a slide, or a climbing wall. The structure is quite sturdy (the most important party) but also pretty enough to leave out in your living room. —Cambria
KiwiCo's height-adjustable water and sand table is a fabulous choice for toddlers. It's more expensive than other sand and water tables, but it also comes with a ton of extras (water pipes! spinners! pitchers! washable paint crayons!) that make it an all-in-one, fun sensory experience. —Cambria
As I wrote about in my review, my kids — including my littlest ones! — play with these stepping stones every single day. They are a fantastic space-saving gross motor toy that also encourages imaginative play. —Alicia"
