109 Gifts for 2 Year Olds

2-year-olds are fun, curious, and full of imagination. They connect more with people around them and they crave a bit more independence as they start to explore the world. The best toys encourage their exploration and facilitate the new skills they’re learning. 

Choosing the best toys for 2 year olds

Toddlers reach many new and exciting developmental milestones as their motor and cognitive skills improve and their curiosity intensifies. They can say short sentences with several words, point to things that you name, sort shapes and colors, and recognize familiar people. 

Toys that encourage their exploration, stimulate their imaginations, and enhance their cognitive functioning, like creative game and tool sets, and language tools, will put them on the right learning and developmental path. They’re also reaching the age where they can kick a ball, they’re starting to run, and they can climb on and off furniture. Physical games and toys, like age-appropriate climbing sets, will challenge their fine-motor skills and strengthen them the more they play. 

How we identified the best toys for 2 year olds

Toddlers love games that allow them to use their imaginations and activities that test and improve their motor and cognitive skills. We identified toys that will best enhance and strengthen these abilities.

To stimulate their imaginations, we selected building toys and creative play sets, which they can use to build or explore unique worlds of their own. As 2-year-olds’ motor skills develop, outdoor and physical activities become important for strengthening these skills. We chose a variety of toys — for indoor or outdoor use — that will keep them physically active, build muscle strength, and fine-tune their hand-eye coordination. 

Toddlers are beginning to speak and language development becomes important at this age. We chose great age-appropriate language tools that will best facilitate their learning and lay a solid foundation for when they eventually enter preschool. 

Tips for buying the best toys for 2 year olds

1. Make learning engaging
   Toddlers’ attention spans are quite short. By selecting toys that are interactive and engaging, you can ensure that they’ll receive all the developmental benefits because they’ll play with them for longer periods of time and learn more as they do.
2. Consider their safety
   Children this age should never be left unsupervised when they’re playing with toys. There’s a risk of them swallowing smaller components or hurting themselves if a toy is not age-appropriate. It’s important to select toys that have been designed with a toddler’s abilities and safety in mind.
3. Get involved
   2-year-olds are eager to learn and explore. Choose toys that require a certain level of involvement and parental interaction — not only do you get to bond with your toddler, but you can help to give them the best possible learning experience.