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15 Best Toys for a 2-Year-Old

February 16, 2018 / 36 Comments

I can’t believe it, but my son is turning two this week! It happened so fast. With this new age, comes new challenges and milestones. I started looking into what toys are best for this new time in his life. Here I’ve compiled the best toys for 2-year-olds according to my own experience and those of my fellow moms!

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Some of these are educational, but I am a strong believer that kids should have a variety of toys. Some just for fun and entertainment, others that help them developmentally, and more that are educational. Now, I’ll admit, some of the age restrictions on these toys say 3+. I’ve always been a fan of getting toys that my son will grow into. When he is on the younger side, I simply make sure that he is monitored whenever he plays with them until he reaches the recommended age. If your child shows frustration, then simply remove the toy until their ability matches the activity.

That being said, here is my list of the 15 best toys for a 2-year-old!

1) Classic Radio Flyer Tricycle
This is what I got my son for his birthday. It is a great stepping stone to learning to ride a bike and builds leg strength and confidence. Plus, it’s just a lot of fun! Who doesn’t remember riding around on a trike like you were king or queen of the world! I have always been a fan of the radio flyer red. Not only is it stylish, it adjusts for different sized children. My son is on the smaller side and when the seat is put all the way down, he can reach the pedals easily. It also came with a bell and streamers for the handles! Just don’t forget to get a helmet!

 

2) Bilibo

This simple, versatile, and durable toy is great for open-ended play both indoors and outdoors. Your child with love standing on it, sitting in it, and spinning around in it. Fill it with water during the summer for some fun splashing around. In the winter, go sledding in it! It helps develop balance and coordination while promoting creativity and imagination. The possibilities are endless with the Bilibo!

3) Little People A-Z Learning Zoo Playset

This awesome playset is great for pretend play and learning. It includes 26 animal figures, zookeeper, car, food cart, two fences, waterfall, cave, a tree with swing and playmat. Kids learn their letters and can hear the sounds that the animals make. There is so much to do with this playset from sending animals down the slide to swinging on the tree swing. It also includes a tote for the figures.

4) Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Duplo Train Set

This is a perfect birthday gift for any 2-year-old. They get to build a birthday train with Mickey and Minnie Mouse, balloons, a candle, and a buildable birthday cake. Kids can develop construction skills and will love pulling the train along the floor while yelling “choo-choo”. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never met a kid that didn’t like trains and Mickey and Minnie Mouse!5) KidKraft Vintage Play Kitchen

Play kitchens have always been a popular pretend play toy. They are great for both boys and girls to learn about cooking and food. This is a simple, elegant design that is built out of wood so it is sturdy enough to stand up to heavy toddler play. There are some small parts so you should either remove these or only allow them when monitored until your child is closer to 3, but a 2-year-old will still get lots of play out of this. It has knobs that turn and click, doors to open and shut and lots of storage. Features include a removable sink (for easy cleaning), oven, cabinet, freezer, refrigerator, microwave, and cordless phone.

6) Magnatiles

These building tiles have magnets along each edge with the unique ability to attract in any position! They never repel. This reduces frustration since they will always connect. Building toys are great for developing fine motor skills. You can stack them, make flat designs, or build 3D creations! The only limit to their use is your imagination. The see-through, colorful design of the tiles makes a really cool effect when played in the sunlight. They should only be used with parents monitoring at this age as the magnets inside are small.


7) Bristle Blocks

These are a classic that I remember playing with as a kid myself. They are perfect for independent play and encourage creativity and imagination as kids can build and stack anything with them. Pushing the blocks together and pulling them apart develops fine motor skills as well as hand-eye coordination. They come in lots of different shapes and fun bright colors.

8) Baby Alive

Dolls are great for any kid. They encourage kindness and are perfect for pretend play. Many parents around the two-year mark start thinking about having another child. Having a doll to hold and take care of can help a toddler learn about the needs of their new sibling. They can learn how to hold a baby and how to be gentle with them. Both boys and girls will love playing with this doll.

9) Melissa and Doug Take-Along Wooden Doorbell Dollhouse

This take-along house is another great pretend play toy. It has four doorbells, four lock-and-key pairs, four play people, and four doors to open. It’s made of wood for sturdy construction. The keys are all attached to the house so you don’t have to worry about losing them. The doors have different colors and are labeled with numbers and shapes so kids can learn while they play.

10) Smart Games Bunny Peek a Boo

This one player game is great for any kids that like peek a boo (so all kids). There are 60 different challenges, or they can just play with the wooden blocks. They learn concepts like above/below while discovering 3D spatial perception. This is an early way to prepare for mathematical reasoning in a fun way. Your 2-year-old will only grow to love it more as they grow and develop and can explore more of the challenges it offers. Smart Games also offers more fun and educational games appropriate for young ages.

11) Uno

Ok, I know what you must be thinking. How can a 2-year-old play Uno? The key is color matching! You might not be playing it in the traditional sense, but it is still a fun way to learn to match. At this age, kids love looking for similarities and with Uno they can match colors and numbers. Then, after they go to sleep, you can play Uno yourself!

13) Peaceable Kingdom Friends and Neighbors Game

This is a fun matching game to play to develop empathy and compassion. It’s all about helping each other out! You read about the feelings and needs of different characters and kids learn to recognize these in others. Developing social and emotional skills is so important in young kids, and what better way than with a game! It’s designed to be frustration free as well!

13) Mr. Potato Head

This is another classic. Kids learn about body parts and where they belong and develop fine motor skills by practicing getting the pegs into the potato. It’s great for pretend play and another toy with almost limitless accessories! I always recommend getting more than you think you’ll need, you’d be surprised how easily they get lost.

 

14) Tickle Me Elmo

Find me a kid that doesn’t love Elmo and I’ll be shocked! Elmo is such a fun character. The Tickle Me Elmo is one of the best toys in my opinion. It’s great for pretend play, but it’s really just about fun! There honestly isn’t too much to say about this one since I feel everyone knows it! You push Elmo’s tummy or squeeze his feet and he laughs, vibrates, and talks.

15) Art Easel with Accessories

No gift list is complete without some sort of art supplies! I’m a huge fan of creative expression through art. I started fairly young with my son and we still do some sort of art project every day. Now that he is starting to be more independent, an art easel is a great gift. This bundle includes an easel, some supplies and a smock to try and keep clothes semi-clean. The easel has a dry-erase board, chalkboard, locking paper-roll holders, and child-safe cutter, and folds flat for easy storage. It also comes with enough art supplies to get you started with all of these surfaces. The smock is easy to clean and can be personalized with a dry-erase marker. Promote creativity and fine motor skills and create a masterpiece with this kit! It’s everything you need to get started.

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Lucy At Home UK gentle parenting blogger