We independently review everything we recommend and only endorse products and services we genuinely believe in. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
Having a 2-year-old, I know this can be a tricky age to shop for. While my son loves dinosaurs, books, and puzzles, there are only so many of these you can gift repeatedly. If you’re unsure what to get for a 2-year-old, I’m sharing the best gifts for this age! These include items our kiddos can use all year long — because, let’s face it, we mamas don’t want to give or receive presents that only entertain them for the first hour of Christmas morning. Let’s make the most of these gifts for toddlers, shall we?
Gifts for 2-Year-Olds They’ll Love
1
Outdoor Play
Radio Flyer Trike: This ride-on bike can help your little one develop motor skills and coordination. Initially, they can use it to scoot around, and as they grow, you can extend the pedals and let them ride it. This is the perfect first trike for your little girl or boy.
Rody Bounce Horse: The Rody horse is a fun gift that your 2-year-old will love! It provides them with a workout and can help with their coordination. The Rody has been a favorite for years and is available in many fun colors, including yellow, blue, green, red, and pink.
Mini Trampoline: If your 2-year-old isn’t interested in bouncing on a Rody, this mini trampoline may be the perfect gift! It’s meant for ages 2 to 5, so it will last them a few years. It also has a waterproof mat and a handlebar and can be used indoors or outdoors.
Little Tikes First Slide: Here’s another indoor/outdoor toy that would make an excellent gift for your 2-year-old. Slides are so fun for kids, and this one from Little Tikes will keep them entertained outside. We especially love that you can fold it up for easy storage!
Bubble Lawn Mower: This is a fantastic toy that kids can push outdoors to release a stream of bubbles! You even get a 118-milliliter bottle of bubble solution to get started. Besides the green/blue color combo shown above, it comes in pink/purple and yellow/green.
2
Quiet Time Toys
Busy Board: Create hours of quiet play with this busy board that has 25 activities. It will provide them with an engaging, quiet time activity without making much noise. It can also easily be transported on the go!
Quiet Book: A book with engaging and practical activities? Sign me up! This “quiet book” is perfect for toddlers. It teaches life skills such as how to use a button or zipper. It also introduces them to many concepts, including telling time and tying shoelaces!
Dimpl Dots Toy: This is an excellent toy for when you’re on the go because it doesn’t take up much room, so it’s easy to keep in my car! Plus, it’s BPA-free and will help occupy your little one. They’ll have lots of fun popping the bubbles in and out.
My First Number Train Kit: This Lego Duplo train set can help your child learn how to count. It comes with 23 pieces, including two people figures and a black cat figure. This train is educational and fun, making it a great gift for your 2-year-old!
Magnetic Drawing Board: This erasable and magnetic drawing board table is a great toy to help children practice coloring, writing, drawing, and painting. It’s the perfect quiet-time toy to develop their creativity and imagination. It comes with stamps, a magnetic pen, and more.
3
Puzzles and Games
First Orchard Game: While there aren’t too many board games for 2-year-olds, some options are still available. For instance, this orchard game is specifically designed for ages 2+. It’s a great way to involve your toddler in family game night!
Melissa & Doug Wooden Peg Puzzle Set: This set comes with three puzzles and makes the perfect gift for your 2-year-old. We’re big fans of Melissa & Doug products because they are made from high-quality materials. Your toddler will love playing and learning with these puzzles!
Personalized Name Puzzle: Get a customized puzzle with your child’s name on it to help them practice spelling it and begin learning letters! Puzzles can also help with hand-eye coordination skills. While using this puzzle, they will learn animal names and shapes. A bonus is that the puzzle will look beautiful in any bedroom or playroom.
Wooden Jigsaw Animal Puzzle Set: This colorful puzzle set features a bear, ladybug, bee, owl, butterfly, and tortoise puzzle. It also comes with six cognitive cards with images of the real animals from the puzzles. This can help them learn to recognize the animals in real life!
4
Arts and Crafts
My First Crayola Double Doodle Board: If your 2-year-old has begun showing interest in coloring, this is a great gift! This drawing tablet has a wipeable surface and a space to hold crayons (it comes with a red, blue, and green crayon). It’s a tremendous packable toy to take with you to places like restaurants to keep them entertained.
Sticker Art Kit: Get those little hands moving with this sticker art set! It’s no mess and has eight sheets of reusable dot stickers in different colors. You also get five double-sided canvases to create unlimited art on.
Paint With Water Book: Allow your toddler to paint a masterpiece without making a mess! This paint-by-number water book includes built-in color palettes that you can activate with water. No more worrying about turning around for one second to find that the interior of your car or carpet has been colored bright red and blue!
Water Doodle Mat: It’s magic! This water painting pad is big enough for your child to paint alone or with siblings, friends, etc. The best part is that their drawings eventually disappear, leaving no mess behind! The set comes with markers, stencils, traceable shapes, and more.
5
Books
LeapFrog 100 Words Book: This is an excellent gift for 2-year-olds, especially if they are starting to show interest in educational-style books and toys. This interactive LeapFrog book features 100 different animals in 12 categories, including pets and activities. It’s fun, entertaining, and educational.
Chug Chug Tractor: This is probably my son’s favorite book! It has interactive flaps you can lift that reveal different things. The story is engaging but short and sweet enough to hold his attention. The last page lights up for a fun surprise!
Melissa & Doug Poke-a-Dot: Another favorite at our house! My son loves these books. They have great pictures and come in a board book style, making them durable. Each page has clear dots you can poke, and they make a subtle popping sound!
My First Library: Here’s an excellent set for your little reader. This fantastic boxed set contains 10 board books about topics like farm animals and pets, transportation, and fruits and vegetables. It is also packaged in a beautiful box, which makes it the perfect gift for your 2-year-old!
For more great books for kids, check out these articles:
- 26 of the Best Books for 2-Year-Olds
- Must Read Children’s Books
- Classic Books to Read to Your Child
- Books for Teaching Children About Diversity
- Books Your Kids Should Read This Summer
- 20 Books About Gratitude for Kids
6
Montessori
Lovevery Play Kits: I love these play kits for toddlers. They come with Montessori-inspired toys, providing educational-based play for 2-year-olds for hours. Many of these toys are made from sustainably sourced wood and organic cotton fabrics, making them a total win.
Rainbow Stacking Toy: Rainbows are all the rage right now, and this stacking tunnel isn’t just a fun gift for 2-year-olds. It also makes a beautiful playroom decor item, which, let’s face it, is a total toddler toy bonus! It’s great for toddlers learning to stack and balance things, but it can also be used for teaching colors. This toy will last for years!
Playsilk Scarves: Playsilks are such a multi-use item for your toybox. You can do many things with them, from adding them to a fort to playing dress-up or using them as part of a play scene with other toys. These enchanted playsilks come in a rainbow design, a starry night print, and more.
Animal Stacking Toy: This colorful animal stacking toy is a great early learning game that requires patience. Kids try to balance all the animals on top of the base without their tower falling over! There’s a farm animal set, an ocean animal set, and dino sets to choose from.
Wooden Sorting and Stacking Toy: Your toddler can sort by shape, color, or the number of holes for pegs with this Montessori toy for sorting and stacking. We love that it’s made with natural wood and non-toxic paint. It is a fun way for your child to practice counting and recognizing shapes and colors.
7
Sports
Smart Shots Sports Center: Switch up the sports your toddler is playing on a dime! With this set, they can go back and forth between basketball and soccer. It features over 50 encouraging and interactive songs and sounds, and the scoreboard lights up!
Kids Bowling Set: Set up a fun and quick game of bowling with this set! Each foam pin is colorful and numbered. The ball is bouncy and encourages hand-eye coordination and motor skills! This would be fun for you and your toddler to play together or for them to play independently.
Little Tikes Toy Sports T-Ball: Let your 2-year-old start practicing their swing for T-ball with this gift! This set lets your toddler hit a lightweight plastic baseball off a tee. It can easily be used inside or outside for hours of fun!
Little Tikes Basketball Set: This adjustable kids basketball hoop is perfect for outdoor and indoor play! Help your little one develop social and motor skills and coordination while having some fun shooting hoops. The height is adjustable to grow with your child and includes three small basketballs!
8
Pretend Play
Green Toys Truck: Green Toys offers toys made from 100% recycled plastic and free from BPA, phthalates, and PVC. They are also USA-made, and this brand has many fun toys for toddlers, such as this super cute green recycling truck. There’s something for every toddler you’re shopping for this year!
Cuddle + Kind Noah the Dog Doll: These hand-knit dolls are adorable and beautifully made; 10 meals are provided to children in need for every doll purchase. Artisans handcrafted these dolls in Peru with premium 100% cotton yarn. This Noah the Dog doll will become your child’s new favorite toy.
Manhattan Toy Wee Baby Stella: This doll set includes a bottle that attaches magnetically, a bedtime storybook, and a plush teddy bear. We love how Wee Baby Stella dolls come in various skin tones and hairstyles and how this one features a lavender scent you can smell when you hug Baby Stella. She’s the perfect first friend for your little one.
John Deere Set: This John Deere set features two sandbox vehicles and will surely be the favorite gift for 2-year-olds! It comes with a dump truck toy and a tractor toy with a functional front loader. Your toddler will have endless fun with this toy!
Play Shopping Cart: This realistic red shopping cart is perfect for pretend play. It’s very sturdy and includes a seat that fits 18-inch dolls. It also has 24 pieces of play food, so they can feel like they’re shopping for groceries!
9
Technology
LeapFrog 2-in-1 LeapTop Touch: This 2-in-1 device can be used as a tablet or a laptop. It has a keyboard with letters and numbers to help kids practice counting and spelling. There are five learning modes on this LeapTop: ABCs, numbers, games, music, and messages.
INNO Pad: This is an educational tablet that helps kids learn things like the alphabet, numbers, colors, animals, and lots more! It features 16 interactive lessons and can be put in four different modes: learn, basic quiz, advanced quiz, and music. It also comes with eight learning cards and is great for on-the-go.
LeapFrog Learning Lights Remote: Your 2-year-old will be entertained with this gift that helps teach them numbers, shapes, and first words! It comes in pink and green, has over 65 songs and learning responses, and has fun games for your child. This light-up remote also helps them learn about the weather.
VTech Music Player: This kid-friendly music player is an excellent way for your little one to listen to songs independently! It comes with headphones and over 100 songs, sounds, etc. It also has 10 music-based games to help kids learn about instruments, letters, time, and more.
This is a busy time of year, and holiday shopping can feel stressful. I hope this list of best gifts for a 2-year-old has helped spark some inspiration! Here’s to a happy and healthy holiday season and happy shopping!
Birthdays
Guides
Guides
Holidays
Toddlers: 2 yrs – 5 yrs