31 Best Gifts for 2-Year-Olds, According to Their Parents 2024
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âThanks, I hate itâ is a reaction youâd never dream a sweet child could be capable of producingâbut have you met toddlers? The best gifts for 2-year-olds will help you avoid a seemingly unprovoked fit, general apathy or, worse, more clutter for their parent to cram into a storage bin. But you can ease up on the pressure: âAny parent of a 2-year-old will tell you that when it comes to presents, keep it simple,â says pediatrician Charlotte McKnight, MD, at Pediatric Associates of Richmond in Virginia. âMany have heard the old adage that the box the gift comes in is the most exciting toy for a toddler, and it really does ring true.â
If you’re looking for something a bit more thoughtful than a moving box, McKnight says that early toddlerhood comes with a developmental changes. âChildren start to shift to more imaginative play, which really opens the door to fun gift ideas.” Bouncy balls, stuffed animals, âlittle helperâ play sets, and toys with wheels are all fair game.
What shouldnât you get them? McKnight recommends passing up on anything too high-tech, electronic, or digital. She also cautions that if the parents have expressed they arenât ready to introduce screen time just yet, you probably shouldnât take the opportunity to do it yourself.
Without further ado, I’ve rounded up presents that have entertained my own two-year-old daughter, and her older sister, plus polled her little friends, and their parents, as well as educators to find unique presents even the most precocious tykes will love playing with.
The best gifts for 2-year-olds, at a glanceBest Simple Toy: Mudpuppy Sushi Friends Wooden Tray Puzzle, $20Best Stuffed Toy: Jellycat Bashful Beige Bunny Stuffed Animal, $29Best on Wheels: Green Toys Construction Trucks, $22Best Bath Toy: Tubby Todd The Bath Bomb Bundle, $20Best Musical Instrument: Hape Toy Guitar Wooden Ukulele Instrument, $32Best Personalized Gift: BusyPuzzle Personalized Puzzle Busy Board, $29PS: Shopping for more kids? Check out the best baby gifts, gifts for 1-year-olds, 3-year-olds, 4-year-olds, 5-year-olds, and 6-year-olds.
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Jellycat Bashful Beige Bunny Stuffed Animal
At this age, a doll or stuffed toy can help promote empathy in the little human. McKnight says that 2-year-olds may begin interacting by âpretending to feed the doll, talk to the stuffed animal, and even help put them to bed by snuggling them up with a blanket.â Jellycat makes some of the most popular ones out there, and this particular floppy-eared bunny has over 5,500 five-star reviews on Amazon.
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Lalo The Play Kitchen
Of course, if you want to wow the whole family, you can get the little tyke a kitchen of their very own. Itâs an investment, but the pretend-play stage lasts years (hint: this makes a great 3-year-old gift too)âand comes with the added bonus of no burners or knives lurking about.
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BusyPuzzle Personalized Puzzle Busy Board
This busy board was the most popular present in our guide to the best gifts for 1-year-olds, and itâs still developmentally appropriate for 2-year-olds, who are working on advancing those fine motor skills.
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Manhattan Toy Deep Sea Adventure
If the trip to the aquarium left them speechless, theyâll be floored by this underwater adventure in their very own home. And if you had any reservations: Itâs a best seller and one of Maisonetteâs most-wished-for items.
10/31
Melissa & Doug Jumbo Coloring Pads Set
Their toddler may be scribbling or enthusiastically whipping crayons across drywall by this point. These oversized coloring pages are a great way to release some of the budding Matisseâs creative energyâand theyâre also the perfect canvas for big stickers.
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Fisher-Price Little People Barbie Little Dreamcamper
Even though theyâre years away from getting their license, 2-year-olds are already obsessed with all things that go, go, go. This RV is anything but your standard ride with a pop-up roof, cozy beds for their mini figures, and 35+ fun songs and sounds.
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Mudpuppy Sushi Friends Wooden Tray Puzzle
Who says sushi is just for grown-ups? This adorable puzzle with bright, fun pieces that are easy for little hands to grab is perfect for the foodie in the making.
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Zeoddler Magnetic Wooden Animals Train Set
Thanks to easy-to-connect magnets, even the teeniest hands can snap the train together and build their own zoo on wheels. And since itâs a quiet toy (ahhhâŠ), itâs perfect for restaurants.
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Little Tikes Easy Score Basketball Set
As 2-year-olds start to nail hand-eye coordination, this basketball set is the perfect way to level up those skills. The adjustable hoop and oversized ball make it easy for tiny hands to handle.
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Trimate Toddler Sensory Sand and Water Table with Chair
Even if they donât have a ton of backyard space, this multipurpose sensory table lets the kiddo splash in water, dig in sand, and play with toys all in one spot. Big fun for them, breezy cleanup for parents.
22/31
Lego Duplo Town Truck & Tracked Excavator Construction Vehicle
With chunky building blocks designed for tiny hands, this LEGO DUPLO set is the ultimate combo of fun and skill-building. The best part? The excavatorâs arm actually movesâcue hours of scooping action.
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Gazillion Bubbles Hurricane Bubble Making Machine
Seriously, thereâs nothing that sparks childhood joy quite like bubbles. This machine makes literally a gazillion of them to turn outdoor playtime into a bubble wonderland.
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Guidecraft Classic Kitchen Helper Toddler Tower
Whether parents are ready or not, 2-year-olds are all about their âI-want-to-helpâ phase. This toddler tower gives them a safe boost so they can âhelpâ in the kitchenâwhile parents manage to get dinner on the table.
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Skip Hop 3-in-1 Push Walker to Toddler Scooter
To help keep the toy clutter under control, finding ones that grow with their kid is always a win. This versatile 3-in-1 lets 2-year-old push it as a wagon, ride on the seat, or master scooting.
