If you’re like me, you always want to find the perfect gift to give someone. But it can be difficult to know what to buy, especially toys for two-year-olds who seem to have every one known to man.
Between aunts and uncles, grandparents, hand-me-downs from friends, and more, children seem to have more toys now than ever before.
Given the piles of gifts and toys that children receive, I want the gifts I give to be memorable and not something that will be lost deep in the many bins of toys flooding kids’ playrooms.
Whether you are shopping for a birthday or Christmas gift, or maybe you are looking for a few more meaningful toys for your own kids, I am confident the two-year-olds on your list will LOVE this selection!
TIP: Gift a toy or product that the child will be ready for in 3-6 months. It’s easy for toys to get lost in the great big pile of new gifts. As a parent, I love pulling out new toys for my son a few months after his birthday or Christmas. It’s a win-win!
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Best Toys for Two-Year-Olds
1. Spike the Fine Motor Hedgehog
My favorite toys for kids are both fun and educational. Not only does Spike the Fine Motor Hedgehog help a child practice fine motor skills, but it can also build color recognition, sorting, and counting skills.
Most importantly, all the pieces can be stored inside the hedgehog!
2. LeapFrog Learning Friends 100 Words Book
Even as an adult I can recognize how cool this Words Book is! By touching the words and pictures, the book speaks the word and includes engaging sound effects, music, and fun facts.
The 100 age-appropriate words are separated into 12 categories, like pets, colors, vehicles, my body, etc.
The 100 Words Book’s most unique feature is “Bilingual Play”, or the ability to use/hear the book in English or Spanish.
3. Pop-up Tent & Tunnel
Before you look at this and think “I don’t have space for that”, hear me out. It all folds into a 21” carrying case!
I love that this Pop-up Tent & Tunnel fits in one of our drawers when not in use, but pops up to something big and exciting for playtime!
This playhouse has provided hours of entertainment at our house, and I love seeing all the imaginative ways my son thinks to use it!
>> Include this indoor playhouse for the next day you’re stuck inside entertaining the kids with Fun & Free Indoor Activities.
4. Crayola Color Wonder Mess-Free Coloring Kit
If you are anything like me, you may struggle with the internal battle of wanting to let your child experience things that are messy but also not enjoying cleaning up messes.
I love that this Coloring Kit allows children to color until their heart’s content but the color only shows up on their special paper.
That’s right! The markers will not appear on skin, clothing, furniture, or walls. Genius!
Kids obviously need to learn to keep the marker on the paper, but this mess-free coloring kit works well as you train them how to color.
5. Puzzles
Even as an adult, I personally find puzzles so therapeutic! Generation after generation of kids also love puzzles, and it’s a bonus that they encourage concentration and puzzle-solving skills.
These Wooden Puzzles in particular are especially great for toddlers because of their limited number of pieces, colorful design, and chunky pieces.
Aside from the typical puzzle, there are other unique learning puzzles, like this Shape/Color Sorting Puzzle.
6. Water Doodle Mat
Every parent can appreciate that this Water Doodle Mat requires no clean-up – no mess, no ink, no chemicals, no paint!
Just fill-up the magic pens with water and the doodles will disappear from the mat after 3-10 minutes.
This water mat could provide hours of entertainment, especially on rainy days.
>> If you’re looking for other indoor fun, check out 14 Fun & Free Indoor Activities for Kids!
Best of all, this Doodle Mat will grow with your child and not become obsolete after just 6 months. I LOVE toys that will remain meaningful for years to come, even as kids are ready for more challenges.
7. Bubble Lawn Mower
My son has always loved push toys, and this Lawn Mower is going to make that even more exciting with the addition of bubbles!
I don’t want to jinx myself by sharing this, but my son is obsessed with being a helper, especially with anything his daddy does. If his dad is stacking wood, the little guy wants to be right by his side dragging a (little) log.
I’m hoping this trait lasts forever, but in the meantime, it can’t hurt to train him to enjoy the Bubble Lawn Mower!
>> If you are looking for more outdoor toys, Glad To Be Mama has been my go-to for The Best Outdoor Toys for Toddlers!
8. Babybug Magazine Subscription
Do you remember opening the mailbox as a child with that feeling of anticipation and finding a Highlights or Ranger Rick magazine?! Or maybe you looked forward to reading something else.
Either way, two-year-olds will receive so much educational content from these Babybug magazines full of stories and other fun. It’s never too early to promote a love of reading!
TIP: It’s a few dollars cheaper if you purchase with the One Year Auto-Renewal. However, if you don’t intend to give the subscription year after year, just set yourself a reminder to cancel the renewal before one year.
9. Lego DUPLO My First Number Train
We are train-obsessed at my house! Seriously – any toy or tv show that involves a train will likely be used or played on excessive repeat.
Not only is this Number Train such a fun toy to build and rebuild, but it teaches number learning and counting.
10. Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Smart Stages Piggy Bank
The learning opportunities with this Fisher-Price Piggy Bank are endless! Here are just a few highlights:
- Coins teach animals, colors, and numbers
- Door teaches put-and-take play
- 40+ songs, tunes, and phrases
As a bonus, there are different levels of play that allow this piggy bank to advance the content as the child grows.
11. Mega Bloks Ride n’ Chomp Croc
We have owned Mega Bloks for a while, and my son absolutely loves playing with them (building, throwing, etc).
As a parent, I get frustrated that the blocks are thrown everywhere, and it is difficult (challenging, exhausting, emotionally draining – you get the idea) to get a two-year-old to clean up.
Enter the Ride n’ Chomp Croc! Not only is this toy a fun ride-on, but it also scoops up the blocks as the child rides over them.
Bonus: It triples as a toy, clean-up method, and storage solution. Sold!
12. Kitchen Learning Tower
This is definitely a pricier product for a two-year-old, but it is well worth the investment! My son uses his Kitchen Learning Tower every day as an alternative to climbing on our kitchen chairs.
He always wanted to be involved with what we were doing in the kitchen, and now he can with this learning tower.
We were fortunate enough to find one gently used, so you may still be able to add a learning tower to your collection even if the “new” price tag is a little steep.
I promise this is worth the investment, and best of all – it’s adjustable and will grow with your child!
13. Playskool Sit n’ Spin
I can’t help but smile when I look at this Sit n’ Spin and think back to all the great memories I had on one of these as a kid – even as a big kid.
It’s easy to look at this toy and think it’s just for fun, but it actually helps with balance, coordination, and motor skills too!
Get ready for all the giggles that are sure to accompany the spinning fun!
>> This is another toddler favorite that Glad to Be Mama recommends for Outdoor Toys!
14. Mini Trampoline
If you are buying this Mini Trampoline as a gift for a child other than your own, check with their parents first to make sure gifting a trampoline is acceptable.
The beauty of this specific trampoline for toddlers is the extra padding and secure handlebar.
Toddlers are notorious for having an abundance of energy and trampolines can help expel some of that natural energy – especially on cold or rainy days.
15. Step-A-Logs
I’ve searched long and hard for an alternative to this Foam Playset due to its high price. I know it’s wildly popular and everyone raves about it, but it just felt too expensive to me.
I found these Step-A-Logs that are about half the price of the Foam Playsets and are designed for toddlers to improve balance and coordination through gross motor play.
Best of all, the logs fit inside one another for compact storage!
>> If you read Mom’s Picks: 14 Must-Have Baby Registry Items, you know I have a knack for suggesting the best products!
Final Thoughts
Above all, choose toys for two-year-olds that are multi-purposed, grow with the child, encourage out-of-the-box thinking, and/or promote imaginative play.
These are the types of toys that will last the longest in the child’s toy rotation and find themselves at the top of the “Favorite Toys” list!
Do you know of other great toys for two-year-olds? Please share your ideas or go-to’s!
About the Author
These are such great ideas for toys! My daughter is almost 2 and I was starting to wonder what to get her for her birthday. Thanks for sharing!