Best Gifts and Toys for 2-Year-Olds, According to Families
As a mother twice over, I’ve witnessed two kids take their second year by storm, and have seen first-hand how the right toys for 2-year-olds can unlock a whole new side of a rapidly changing toddler. As Christina Low Kapalu, PhD—a clinical child psychologist at Children’s Mercy Kansas City in Missouri—tells us, “[two-year-olds] are becoming social butterflies who are finding all kinds of new ways to communicate and move.”
While every toddler is unique and will hit their developmental milestones at slightly different times, one thing is for certain: Kids at this age learn and grow at a super rapid pace. To surround them with toys that support their progress, check out our top choices, recommended by parents across the country.
In this article:
The best toys for toddlers are items that encourage them to express their blossoming sense of self and of course, practice new skills. To hand-select our favorites:
- We consulted with a clinical child psychologist to understand key developmental priorities and safety considerations to keep top of mind.
- We surveyed over 400 parents within The Bump community regarding their experience with specific toys.
- Because no two families are alike, we conducted extensive market research, scouring external forums, reviews and message boards to see how these toys worked for a variety of children.
Editorial integrity is at the heart of everything we publish. Read about how The Bump develops and reviews all articles, including product reviews.
Classical music toy to encourage listening
- Easy to clean
- Extremely durable
- Two volume options
- Lacks a lights-only mode
This interactive cube features the sounds of five different instruments ranging from harp to piano, French horn, flute and violin. Your little one can work through the orchestra one by one or combine the sounds to compose one of eight classical songs. Our product tester Brianna loved this toy, telling us, “[my daughter] can learn the different sounds instruments make, colors and what the instruments are called all in one toy!”
The buttons light up with different colors to reflect the tempo (and keep your toddler on track for Carnegie Hall). “My child loves the cause and effect of hitting the buttons to make the music work and play,“ said Brianna, adding that the toy was fun and easy for her daughter to figure out. “My daughter loved the music it makes.”
Age range: 6m+ | Batteries required Y
Our community says:
It's an educational toy that helps her learn, which I am all for, as she's learning at a rapid rate at this age. – Brianna, mom of one
Spin toy for spatial awareness
- Develops brains and bodies
- Helps get the sillies out
- Self-explanatory to play with
- Assembly requires a smaller-than-standard screwdriver, and took our tester 45 minutes
- Works best on hard floors
- Interactive elements can be overstimulating
Two-year-olds are full of energy, and still learning how their motions fit into the world around them. The Leapfrog Letter-Go-Round takes the self-directed action of yesteryear’s spin toys, and gives it a battery-powered refresh with an interactive steering wheel your kiddo can use to learn their letters, animals, numbers and colors, all while spinning around and around and around. “[My children] learn how to use their arms to spin themselves around the wheel,” said our product tester Erin, “kind of like a merry-go-round concept. Which in my opinion is a great skill to have as they're learning the strength of one piece connected to another can still cause something to move.”
There are three modes of play to choose from—letters, colors and counting, and animal—in addition to drumming and of course simply turning the wheel to move the base (and child’s bottom). This last function alone makes this toy worth taking for a (literal) spin. “I like that it’s educational and somewhat active,” says Erin, adding that her children not only wanted to play with it right away, but return to it again and again for 10-plus-minute spurts.
Age range: 18+ months | Batteries required Y
Our community says:
If someone has a busy kid who would enjoy spinning on it and could also learn some educational things during that time, it would make for a great recommendation for a child. – Erin, mom of two
Subscription kit for cognitive development
- Aesthetic, durable, and high-quality
- Well-rounded toy selection takes the guesswork out of curation
- Simple set up
- Sustainably made and packaged with convenient storage bags
- Lots of pieces are easy to lose
Lovevery’s subscription kit series, which come in stages from newborn through 4 yaers old, is a favorite around The Bump offices. We asked our product tester Cam to try out the Helper Play Kit, and she told us, “Overall the kit is wonderful for 2 year olds. It allows them to explore their senses and have fun while doing it.”
This robust, eight-part toy kit engages toddlers with imaginary play, sorting, fine motor skill practice, art and familiar routines. It includes felt flowers to pick or carefully place in an included wooden peg board (great for fine motor skills); a functional sink with flowing water for sensory play; a Connect Four-esque “dot catcher” with coins in five colors; a portable art set with five tempera paint sticks; a double-sided wooden puzzle; photo cards featuring children performing various routines and even a board book on making muffins. Cam says, “the learning elements were super fun and my daughter definitely got the most of each toy included.” But if you’re not sure where to start, the kit comes with a play guide on how to make the most of playtime with a toddler between the ages of 25 and 27 months.
Age range: 26 to 29 months | Batteries required Y
Our community says:
The kit is interactive and makes my daughter want to constantly play with it. It's worth the money and I would definitely get more kits the older she gets. – Cam, mom of one
Building toy to learn problem solving
- Frustration-free blocks stick together at almost any angle
- Great value for number of blocks
- Painful when (inevitably) stepped on, says our tester
- Lots of pieces to clean up
How do these blocks fit together? How high is too high to stack them? How do I make this car go? This Battat Bristle Block set provides 112 interlocking pieces—including 8 wheels—that encourage toddlers to ask and answer these questions and more. “There are a million ways to build them,” says Taryn, whose 2-year-old daughter spends a minimum of 30 minutes playing with her Bristle Blocks every time Taryn brings them out. She even uses them for pretend play with wooden and stuffed animals!
Age range: 2+ years | Batteries required N
Our community says:
There are a million uses for them, they can build so many various things. It's also great for fine motor skills. – Taryn, mom of two and The Bump survey respondent
Toy for language skills
- Helps with object identification
- Screen-free yet engaging for independent play
- Survey respondent found it a little loud
Sometimes toys are classics for a reason. “I had a See n’ Say when I was a child,” says Daniel C., dad of one and associate director of e-commerce content for The Bump, “and 30 years later my daughter had one too.” The toy connects farm animal faces to names and the sounds they make—toddlers simply turn the center arrow to choose from 16 different animals, then pull the lever to hear a “farmer” share that animal’s name, sound and other fun facts. There’s also a quiz and a song mode, with “Old MacDonald” and “Farmer in the Dell” for music lovers to enjoy. And it shouldn’t be a surprise that such an enduring toy is a hit with kids—Kathy*, a mom of one, tells us her toddler brings it to her for playtime!
Age range: 18+ months | Batteries required Y
Our community says:
I like that there's no screens, and it connects sounds to pictures of animals – Kathy*, mom of one and The Bump survey respondent
Imaginative toy
- Flexible, soft body, that’s easy to manipulate
- Unbeatable price
- Various skin and eye color options
- Joints don’t move
There comes a point in every toddler’s little life when they lock eyes with a baby doll and decide to adopt it. While kids can linger in this phase for moments or years, Maria, a mom of two, found her child in the latter camp: She found that the doll completely opened up imaginative play for her daughter, who changes the baby’s diaper and feeds it, racking up roughly two hours(!) of playtime a day. While this could have something to do with the doll’s approachable, 14-inch-long stature, our money is on its likeness: The doll comes in a variety of skin tones and eye colors so you can get one that looks just like your child.
Age range: 2+ years | Batteries required N
Our community says:
It’s cute and sweet looking. It opens up imaginative play. – Maria, mom of two and The Bump survey respondent
Play kitchen for independent play
- Recycling bin introduces eco-responsibility
- Multiple backdrops for play
- Functional buttons that beep
- Substantial footprint
- Pretend food sold separately
- Lacks a fridge and microwave
By 2 years old, children are starting to show more independence, and a greater capacity to entertain themselves without direction. This multi-use plastic play kitchen features a takeout window, coffee station, oven, stovetop, sink, and recycling center to provide endless opportunities for open-ended, imaginative play. The 25-piece set includes cookware and place settings for two, plus salt, pepper, and condiments. One survey respondents told us it entertained her son for up to 30 minutes at a time, during which he cooked, cleaned, and even made coffee and tea, freeing up his mom to take on these tasks in real life.
Age range: 2+ years | Batteries required Y
Push-along train for cognitive flexibility
- Sturdy and durable
- Animals can be played with separately
- Can be used without batteries for quiet time
- Rather large
This multi-tasking toy push train engages young toddlers with engage with multiple senses—elementary lights and music stem from the smokestack, while three additional play modes that help your little one learn their letters, colors, shapes, opposites and animal sounds. And if your kiddo prefers less stimulating play? It also comes with five pint-sized animals and a conductor to set the stage for make believe—choo choo! “[My daughter] likes that she can push buttons to make the music play,” says Christelle, a mom of four, adding, “[she] also likes that she can … put the animals in and out.”
While it’s not designed to ride on, that didn’t stop our Christelle’s daughter, who particularly liked sitting on the train to play passenger. Her mom Christelle even noticed improvements in hand-eye coordination thanks to lots of practice seating the animal riders, too.
Age range: 1 to 5 years | Batteries required Y
Our community says:
She pushes the toy around our home and listens to the music. She also takes the Little People on and off their pegs in different configurations and sings with the songs. - Christelle, mom of four and The Bump survey respondent
Ride-on toy for gross motor skills
- Includes functional tailgate, door, gas cap and horn
- Removable floorboard
- Some parents report the decorative stickers fall off
Nothing makes a toddler feel more independent than their own set of wheels; this rugged pick-up truck can be pushed or driver-operated by padding feet on the floor or pavement, helping your little one work their legs and build their gross motor skills.
Chana, a mom of one, tells us her 2-year-old gravitated toward this toy daily, and it’s easy to see why—the toy is full of features to encourage imaginative play, like a functional gas cap, front door, wheel and horn, although Chana’s son uses the tailgate to store and tow toys. She loves that it helps him practice both gross motor skills (peddling with the feet) and fine motor skills (opening the door and turning a steering wheel).
Age range: 18+ months | Batteries required N
Our community says:
I like that it's something that gets him moving and helps him with his motor skills. – Chana, mom of one and The Bump survey respondent
Super soft plush for imaginative play
- Super soft fur
- Surface-washable
- “Easy to clean and pack,” according to tester
- Can be tough getting crumbs out of fur
This plush bunny from Melissa & Doug is impossibly soft and cuddly—Elizabeth, a mom of one, tells us her 2-year-old takes it with him everywhere. “He treats it like a pet, cuddles it, feeds it and talks to it,” she told us. At 10 inches long (if you count the ears), this bunny rabbit invites imaginative play—and who doesn’t need a little bunny buddy to stage a tea party, school lesson or restaurant? Elizabeth tells us this stuffy helped her son learn body parts, practice social skills, and play independently. Plus, it’s extremely cute.
Age: 1+ months | Batteries required N
Our community says:
It's soft and easy for him to carry around. – Elizabeth, mom of one and The Bump survey respondent
Realistic truck for inspiring curiosity
- Realistic and multifunctional
- Sturdy and well-made
- Noisy when rolled
- A bit pricey
This jumbo, front-loading garbage truck lifts and dumps trash bins and dumpsters just like the real thing, and comes with a variety of trash image cards to distribute among four trash containers. While this alone would be enough to keep a toddler occupied, the working headlights and horn sounds surely add to the fun. “It’s very sturdy and well-made,” reported Maia, a mom of two. “It is a good size truck for a toddler.” While she doesn’t love the sound the truck makes when pushed, she loves seeing her son practice fine motor skills while filling bins and hooking them to the truck, imagining where the trash goes once it enters the vehicle’s trash cavity.
Age range: 2+ years | Batteries required Y
Our community says:
He likes to fill out the garbage bins with smaller toys and then dumps everything out. He also likes to push it around. – Maia, mom of two and The Bump survey respondent
Interactive ride-on toy
- Quiet to push
- Comes in multiple colors
- Functional horn and frunk
- Handle folds to fit in real car trunk
- Survey respondent struggled to keep the handle cup holder in place
Little kids and ride-in cars make a great match—especially when you’re trying to transport said child without strapping them into the stroller (again). “I like that it’s an outdoor toy that gets the whole family on walks,” says Bailey*, a mom of two. “I think riding in the car makes kids feel more independent and engaged than sitting in a stroller.” I wholeheartedly agree—I’ve pushed the earlier, quite thunderous iteration of this vehicle around the block many times. During rides, both of my kids liked to turn the wheel with abandon during breaks in buckling and unbuckling themselves.
The Whisper Wheels upgrade cuts the road noise for both passengers and parents. It also includes the addition of three(!) cup holders, including one on the handle for thirsty pushers, and under-hood storage to make this vehicle quite functional for beyond-the-backyard use. And the fact that the handle folds so the whole thing can fit in your car trunk? chef’s kiss
Age range: N/A (up to 50 lbs.) | Batteries required N
Our community says:
[My child] loves going for walks with a drink in th cup holder, honking the horn. And then when allowed, pushing it home. – Bailey, mom of two and The Bump survey respondent
Balance beam
- Neutral colors
- Many ways to play
- Wood tested for over 10,000 chemicals
- Pricey
Despite a low center of gravity, toddlers don’t develop balance overnight. This build-your-own balance beam set keeps them low to the ground while challenging them to open-ended fun. Whether they use the four natural wood beams and five pegged connectors to walk heel-to-toe from the bathroom to bedroom after brushing, or they pull in other toys to stage a parade or traffic jam, this set is one they’ll return to again and again. And parents love the versatility of the pieces, which can be set up in a variety of formations, all of which are easy on the eyes.
Age range: 1+ year | Batteries required N
Fishing bath toy for fine motor skills
- Bright colors and cute design
- Items float with magnet up for easy catching
- Price is right
- Only one rod per set
Like many of the best gifts for 2-year-olds, this pick helps them solve a problem: How, praytell, do I get a scuba diver, octopus, and fish out of my bath?! This isn’t the lead to a bad joke, it's an excellent opportunity to develop motor skills and hand eye coordination by catching the floating bath toys with a magnetic fishing rod replete with sinker and wind-up line that reels catch in with a satisfying click.
Parents agree this smartly toy delivers on engaging toddlers during bath time and even in a kiddie pool—some even noted they had to buy two for shared bath time, lest one kid be left without a rod.
Age range: 2+ years | Batteries required N
Motion toy
- Footrest protects toes
- Lightweight yet sturdy
- Plush body
- Pricey
When your toddler needs an outlet to get their sillies out, a ride on this plush rocking dinosaur could be just the ticket. Along with roaring when you press the horn, it helps toddlers work on their balance skills atop a sturdy wooden frame with comfy seat. You can also hit play on your toddler’s favorite tunes to help them learn to rock to the beat.
Age range: 18+ months | Batteries required Y
Wooden counting toy
Of course, you can’t go wrong with timeless educational toys for 2-year-olds. Case in point: This wooden abacus with a sweet twist—the counting beads are shaped like fruits! This traditional toy introduces kids to mathematical concepts such as addition and subtraction.
Age range: 18+ months | Batteries required: N
Toothbrush storybook set
Teach kids healthy habits with this unique gift for 2-year-olds. The set comes with a storybook and a toothbrush that doubles as a finger-puppet to make brushing fun.
Age range: 4 weeks to 4 years | Batteries required: N
Lego learning toy set
Toddlers will love to build, demolish and rebuild this train. The chunky blocks are the perfect size for little hands, and the included figures will spark creative play. Plus, this toy for 2-year-olds will help introduce kids’ to numbers and counting.
Age range: 18+ months | Batteries required: N
Farm playset
It’s practically a universal fact that toddlers love animals, so look for toys for 2-year-olds that play into this truth, like this adorable toy barn. It features all of their favorite farm animals, plus doors and stalls they’ll love to open and close. Best of all, the whole kit folds closed for easy storage and includes a handle for playing on the go.
Plush bowling set
Teach toddlers about cause and effect using this fun bowling set by Melissa & Doug. This easily totable toddler bowling toy features adorable characters in a soft material that’s perfect for little ones. Once playtime is over you can pack everything away in the handy plastic storage bag.
Age range: 2 to 5 years | Batteries required: N
Wooden alphabet puzzle
By their second birthday, kids are ready to beef up their phonics understanding and vocabulary. Picking up this item is an easy decision if a few educational toys for 2-year-olds are still on your shopping list. This wooden alphabet puzzle will help toddlers match each letter to a word, helping them expand their language skills.
Age range: 18+ months | Batteries required: N
Plush doll
Plush toys make fantastic gift ideas for 2-year-old girls and boys—a special doll or teddy bear will help them self-soothe when they’re feeling emotional. There are tons of options to choose from, but we like this pick by Manhattan Toy. It’s super-soft, with embroidered features (meaning there are no loose parts), and the best part is it’s machine-washable.
Age range: N/A | Batteries required: N
Toy tractor
This gift for 2-year-olds is actually two presents in one—little engineers will relish building the tractor before playing with the finished product. The set, which comes complete with a battery-powered toy drill, plus all the equipment needed to piece the vehicle together, is sure to get your tot’s cogs turning and their imagination all fired up.
Age range: 18+ months | Batteries required: Y
Interactive cookie jar toy
Here’s when you’ll want to catch your kid with a hand in the cookie jar. Before you know it, your little one will be counting to 10 and recognizing numbers. It takes a bit of strategy to get a cookie in the jar the right way (fine motor skills at work), but when they do, they’ll hear the number representing the chips on that cookie. This toy is worth a look if you need ideas for budget-friendly, educational toys for 2-year-olds.
Age range: 2+ years | Batteries required: Y
Sports activity center
The concept of playing with a pal is just taking hold at age 2—so bring on team sports! Not only does this soccer and basketball combo toy let your kiddo kick and shoot hoops to their heart’s content, but it also keeps score and plays engaging songs. It’s easily one of the best gifts for 2-year-olds who love to kick, throw and run.
Wobble board
This seemingly simple piece of wood can be a surfboard, a bridge, a slide or a mountain—the only limit is your little one’s imagination. When standing, sitting or sliding on the board, toddlers will improve their balance and strength too, making this one of the best toys for 2-year-olds to work on gross motor skills. To prevent tumbles, always supervise your child while using the wobble board.
Age range: 6 months to 6 years | Batteries required: N
*Note: Some names have been changed due to privacy requests.
Your tot’s burgeoning abilities should guide your selection of toys. So what skills are they generally honing right now? At 24 months, your toddler is changing in all kinds of ways! Your child is probably walking confidently and quite possibly running with ease. You’ll notice other new gross motor skills too. “They can now carry items around, push and pull toys, kick a ball, climb on and off objects and walk up and down steps,” says Low Kapalu.
Toddlers’ fine motor skills are also blossoming at this age. “They can most likely manipulate containers to pour items out, build small towers and create something resembling art on paper,” Low Kapalu says—so construction and craft supplies are a good go-to gift.
Kids who have just wrapped up their second year of life can usually sort items by shape and color, follow simple directions and identify named items or people. “These little language sponges are absorbing new words daily,” Low Kapula adds, so books you can read with your tot to help build their growing vocabulary are also among the best gifts for 2-year-old girls and boys.
Plus, kids this age can now actually play with a little pal instead of just side by side, and may even begin to show a preference for one playmate over another. They might start to work in some make-believe into their play, so open-ended toys—like animal figurines and dress-up clothing—that encourage kids to flex their imaginations are good bets.
Remember, every toddler is unique and will hit developmental milestones at slightly different times—but regardless, tots at this age are learning and growing at a rapid pace. “Take advantage of your toddler’s ‘learning renaissance’ when selecting toys,” Low Kapula recommends. “Musical instruments, ball-popping toys, hammer and peg sets and building blocks are all likely to be enjoyed.”
About the writer
Elizabeth Narins is a Brooklyn-based mother of two and freelance writer who has previously held staff positions at Cosmo and Women’s Health. Her work has appeared in Scary Mommy, What to Expect, Parents, Health, Babycenter, and more. She’s also the author of More Than Mom, a Substack about parenting, identity, and all the other stuff that keeps new-ish parents up at night.
Plus, more from The Bump:
Christina Low Kapalu, PhD, is a clinical child psychologist at Children’s Mercy Kansas City in Missouri. She received her PhD from Washington State University and completed her fellowship in pediatric psychology at Children's Mercy Kansas City.
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