If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, SheKnows may receive an affiliate commission.
We know that children learn through play, especially the youngest toddlers and preschoolers, who aren’t exactly picking up a book to study its contents. That fact might be making some parents and caregivers — and the folks who love them — feel extra pressure when it comes to buying the best toys for 2 year olds. Will what you buy, or fail to buy, for a child this age destin them for success or failure? Is there some secret magical toy that will calm their terrible twos?
We turned to Dr. Jack Maypole, a pediatrician and educational advisory board member at The Goddard School for early childhood development, for some answers to those questions. (It’s the least we could do before enticing you with a gallery of beautiful shiny objects to purchase, right?) He is a big advocate of play, which doesn’t necessarily mean we need to be emptying our wallets to nurture tiny geniuses with learning toys for two year olds.
Related story
This $21 One-of-a-Kind Skin Tint Gives You a Filter-Like Glow & a ‘My Skin But Better’ Look In Less Than 5 Minutes
Best Gifts for 2-Year-Olds at a Glance
Best Outdoor Toy: Little Tikes Hide & Seek Climber and Swing, $130
Best Art Supply: Honeysticks Non-toxic Finger Paints, $32
Most Affordable: Hedstrom 15″ Ball, $3
Best Bathtime Toy: Munchkin Fleet Of Five Boats Bath Toy, $5
Best Montessori Toy: Skoolzy Montessori Sensory Pegboard 33 Piece Set, $19
Best Tricycle: Chillafish Bunzi 2-in-1 Toddler Balance Bike and Tricycle, $50
Best Floor Toy: Melissa & Doug Race Around the World Tracks Cardboard Jigsaw Floor Puzzle, $15
Best Musical Toy: ENNBOM Xylophone Glockenspiel 8 Notes Chromatic Resonator Bells, $33
Best Toy Truck: John Deere Big Scoop Sandbox Dump Truck Toy, $66
Best Ball Pit Toy: Kiddey Ball Pit Play Tent, $45
What Toys Should a 2-Year-Old Have?
“If you’re asking, ‘What do I get my 2-year-old boy or girl?’ My response is, tell me what your kid loves to do,” Maypole told SheKnows. “That’s going to be money better spent — just letting a kiddo enjoy themselves versus getting something for their enrichment.”
Kids grow and learn a whole lot from ages 2 to 3, both physically and emotionally, but they do so at many different rates from each other. Maypole said that some 15 percent of children this age might have a developmental delay. Even with those differences, he can sum up this year in terms of how a 2-year-old plays alone and with others:
“Play is a way in which kids are dress-rehearsing their social behaviors and their motor skills,” he said. “It’s really developing and finessing their gross- and fine-motor capacity for things they enjoy doing, or things that they might create a competency in, to be like the big kids. While that’s going on, there is this explosion of communication skills. They’re learning how to have a thought, articulate a thought, negotiate social encounters, and then move from parallel play to group play and start to do higher-order pretend play.”
When their communication skills have not caught up to their internal thoughts, they earn that “terrible twos” reputation. Toys can’t necessarily halt a tantrum, unfortunately, but outdoors toys for two year olds, and learning toys can help. Maypole says the first step in curbing a meltdown is to detect its cause — is the kid tired, frustrated by another child, overstimulated, or anxious? After they’ve calmed down is when you have a chance to use positive reinforcement and maybe a little distraction with toys.
“You can you can capitalize on a short attention span by showing up with something shiny,” he said.
What Do 2-Year-Olds Like to Play With the Most?
According to Julie Smith, an Academic Tutor Coordinator at Smile Tutor, the best toy gifts for this age group should stimulate these areas of growth. That means considering ones that hold their attention, much like Dr. Maypole echoed. Ahead, see what Smith recommends.
Wooden Shape Toys: “Wooden shape sorters and puzzles help toddlers develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and problem-solving abilities. The natural textures and durability of wooden toys also provide a tactile and long-lasting play experience,” Smith says.
Sensory Toys: Sensory toys, such as textured balls, play dough, and water tables, engage multiple senses and promote exploratory play. “These toys help with sensory processing, which is crucial for overall cognitive development and fine motor skills,” she explains.
Sound Toys: Smith also shares that gifts that produce sounds, such as musical instruments (xylophones and drums) and interactive sound books, are excellent for auditory development and rhythm recognition. They also encourage creative expression and can be used for interactive play with caregivers.
What Are Good Toy Gifts for 2-Year-Olds?
“Two-year-olds enjoy activities that allow them to explore, mimic adults, and engage in pretend play, Smith tells. “Some of their favorite playthings include building blocks. “These provide endless possibilities for creativity and construction, helping develop spatial awareness and fine motor skills.” Another option is interactive books. “Lift-the-flap books and touch-and-feel books captivate toddlers’ interest and promote early literacy skills,” Smith says. Also consider pretend play sets. Smith explains that items like toy kitchens, tool sets, and dollhouses “allow children to imitate adult activities, fostering social and cognitive development.”
Some of these shiny things might be just the ticket.
Little Tikes Hide & Seek Climber and Swing
Image Credit: Little Tikes. “Climbing play structures are always a great place for kids to work on their ya-yas and get some energy out,” Maypole told us.
Big-kid playgrounds can be scary for little ones, though, so you can instead let them get out those ya-yas at home with this Little Tikes set for ages 1 to 4.
Hide & Seek Climber and Swing$130
Honeysticks Finger Paint
Image Credit: Honeysticks Remember what we said about sensory toys? Toddlers will love getting their hands on Honeysticks Finger Paint. And you’ll love knowing the nontoxic formula (made from New Zealand beeswax!) will keep their fingers safe from harsh ingredients while they make their next masterpiece.
Honeysticks Finger Paint$32
Hedstrom 15″ Ball
Image Credit: Hedstrom. You don’t have to have big sports dreams for your child to appreciate that it’s just plain fun to roll and throw a ball with them. Sure, they’re practicing hand-eye coordination, but mostly they’re giggling and running.
Munchkin Fleet Of Five Boats Bath Toy
Image Credit: Munchkin Parents report that these adorable bathtime boats are “toddler-approved.” That’s because they’re easy for little hands to pick up, and each creates a challenge for them to take them apart and put them back together — fun and educational! The boats also dry quickly.
Munchkin Fleet Of Five Boats Bath Toy$5
Skoolzy Montessori Sensory Pegboard 33 Piece Set
Image Credit: Skoolzy For two-year-olds, Dr. Maypole recommends toys that aid in motor skill development. The Skoolzy Montessori Sensory Pegboard 33-Piece Set is an excellent option if you’re looking to stock up your toy stash. This toy not only entertains but also educates, with its 33 pieces that promote sorting, stacking, and color recognition. It’s also a way to keep your toddler engaged for hours on end.
Skoolzy Montessori Sensory Pegboard 33 Piece Set$19
Chillafish Bunzi 2-in-1 Toddler Balance Bike and Tricycle
Image Credit: Chillafish. One thing 2-year-olds really like to do is move fast. While Maypole thinks pedaling a tricycle might be a little beyond their coordination, they can start to scoot themselves around on wheels and learn how to steer. This tricycle turns into a balance bike, for the kids ready to go to the next level of motor skills.
Chillafish Bunzi 2-in-1 Toddler Balance Bike and Tricycle$50
Melissa & Doug Race Around the World Tracks Cardboard Jigsaw Floor Puzzle
Image Credit: Melissa & Doug This puzzle from Melissa & Doug provides 49 pieces that two-year-olds can complete with a parent’s help. It’s exciting to see it come together, plus it’s an excellent pick for spending time with them. The puzzle showcases fun and bright pictures that the included wind-up cars can move through.
Melissa & Doug Race Around the World Tracks Cardboard Jigsaw Floor Puzzle$15
ENNBOM Xylophone Glockenspiel 8 Notes Chromatic Resonator Bells
Image Credit: Amazon Yes, it might be hard on your eyes, but this Xylophone gives two-year-olds a musical outlet to create, compose, and perform the songs they make up. This toy includes several notes, all with various sounds they will love discovering.
John Deere Big Scoop Sandbox Dump Truck Toy
Image Credit: John Deere John Deere is known for its classic farm equipment, and now your truck enthusiast can have a play version at home to have fun with for hours. The toy truck has an awesome loader for picking up rocks and sand.
John Deere Big Scoop Sandbox Dump Truck Toy$66
Kiddey Ball Pit Play Tent
Image Credit: Amazon The Kiddey Ball Pit Play Tent is filled with 50 (included) balls for this foldable tent. The soft tent comes made with a washable fabric in case there’s a spill or accident, and doors that can be rolled up or left down. There’s plenty of room to roll around, jump, and roll!
Kiddey Ball Pit Play Tent$45
Ikea Play Tunnel
Image Credit: Ikea When rainy days call, you need something to keep antsy toddlers occupied. That’s why you need to snag this $20 Ikea indooor tunnel that sparks the imagination. It’s the perfect size for little ones to crawl through and still enjoy enough for parents to give chase. Plus, it’s made from soft fabrics that are gentle on the skin. Better yet, it’s easy to store for the next rainy day.
Treehole Whale Threading Toy
Image Credit: Treehole. At this age, children are getting better at manipulating smaller objects with their hands, so threading toys like this are fun and let them practice those fine motor skills.
By the way, if you don’t get toys like this for your kid, they will be OK. “Kids find ways to play,” Maypole said. “And it might be using stuff that they find outside, stacking stones or playing in a brook or playing in the yard or a lot next to where they live. That’s when imagination comes in.”
Skrtuan Wooden Whale Threading Toy$10
Toddler Busy Board
Image Credit: Amazon Kids like to figure out the puzzles of zippers, snaps, and buckles. Parents like that this is an easy, educational toy to bring along, and it will eventually teach them how to dress themselves.
Exorany Busy Board Montessori Toys$20
Lovevery The Enthusiast Play Kit
Image Credit: Amazon Parents who are really into research-backed toy buying have been big fans of these subscription boxes for babies and 1-year-olds, and now they’re aging into 2-year-old kits. The “Enthusiast” subscription includes STEM-based toys (like this scale), pretend play fun (a tea set), craft projects, and more. Prepay for three boxes for 10 percent off.
Lovevery The Enthusiast Play Kit$120 per kit
Madame Alexander Splash & Play Mermaid
Image Credit: Madame Alexander At around 2, children really start to get into pretend play, and it all starts with mimicking their parents, Maypole said. For some, that mimickry can include nurturing a doll the way they see their parents nurturing them or a younger sibling. This 12-inch mermaid from Madame Alexander is waterproof, so she can even join in on some bath-time fun.
Melissa & Doug Farm, Pets & Ocean Peg Puzzles
Image Credit: Melissa & Doug. Along with fine motor skills, these puzzles help kids start to sort shapes and think through what’s different, similar, and same. Grownups are thrilled to do this without loud, annoying, battery-powered noises.
Pets & Ocean Peg Puzzles$30
on Amazon.com
Top Bright Cars & Parking Ramp
Image Credit: Top Bright. These cars are another place where motor skills and pretend play intersect. Maybe those ramps help spur on a love of physics, too.
Top Bright Cars & Parking Ramp$25
Play-Doh 24-Pack
Image Credit: Hasbro. You can’t forget how much little ones get a kick out of sensory play and artistic expression. At this age, you probably want to be with them for all sculpting activities, just to make sure they don’t wind up eating it or grinding it into the carpet.
SplashEZ Splash Pad
Image Credit: SplashEZ. These inflatable splash pads are a great way to cool off without having to go to a public playground or spend all that tedious time filling a wading pool.
We also asked Maypole whether we should bother attempting to teach 2-year-olds how to identify letters of the alphabet (as this splash pad encourages us to do). “Any time you’re talking to your kids is time well spent,” he said. “I don’t know that you necessarily have to have them mastering the alphabet, but talking about things like colors or a shape like is all OK. … See which [letter] they’re drawn to and just start with that one, and then over time, you can add in others like their friends. It’s kind of stealth teaching.”
Hungry Caterpillar Play School
Image Credit: StoryToys. Yes, Maypole says it’s OK for you to hand over your phone or iPad to a 2-year-old once in a while — how else can adults survive in this world? We like this simple, age-appropriate app that uses Eric Carle books to interact with children and teach them reading, math, and more. The app is free to download, but the content requires a $7.99 monthly or $59.99 annual subscription.
Hungry Caterpillar Play School$Prices Vary
