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If you’re anything like me, you want the best toys for your toddler.
There are sooo many 2-year-old gifts that come up when you search Amazon, Target, etc., but which ones are actually worth while?
Which ones will your 2-year-old actually play with for more than 5 minutes?
That’s the real question, right?!
In this guide, I am going to lay out which gifts your 2-year-old is sure to love – and for more than just the day they receive it!
I will link each of the items we personally have, below!
1. Balance Bike
This is the best gift to use inside AND outside! Your toddler will be zooming around the house and on the sidewalk with this cute little bike. It improves their gross motor skills and spacial awareness but it also helps improve posture and muscle tone as well! This is a great, practical toy that will last a while and provide hours of endless fun. This was gifted to my toddler when she turned 1 and she started using it consistently around 1.5 years. It’s a great way to get energy out and it’s so fun to watch her steer it on her own, giving her a sense of independence. This is an absolute must-have for any toddler.
We LOVE this balance bike from Amazon. It is so cute and holds up really well!
2. Baby Doll
All toddlers have an interest in babies. They love to “take care” of something just like their parents take care of them! For a younger toddler, it may be best to start out with a totally soft baby doll. For a toddler 2 and up you could do a more realistic one with a soft body and plastic head/extremities. With a more life-like baby and a 2-year-old toddler, expect some scuffs on the head as they learn to take care of them. There’s a reason 2-year-olds aren’t parents, LOL! Nevertheless, the toddler in your life will love to feed, cuddle, and give a stuffy to their own sweet little babe.
We have this cute little baby doll by Melissa & Doug from Amazon! My tot has other baby doll’s as well but this one is her all time favorite.
3. A Ball
Yep, you read it right, regular old ball. Believe it or not, this will create endless fun for your toddler! Bouncing it, rolling it, throwing it, you name it! This is a great toy for inside or outside and it improves gross motor skills, hand-eye coordination, grasping skills, and balance. There are a lot of different balls you could get for your tot, but our toddler’s all-time favorite is just a regular old bouncy ball. The nice thing about a bouncy ball is it’s very light so there is little it can destroy inside the house (mom win!). The other fun thing is, you can make your toddler belly laugh by bouncing it off of their head! There is no doubt that a ball is a great gift for kids, but they are also kind of fun for us adults too!
We just have these super simple bouncy balls! They are a huge hit.
4. Nesting Dolls
This is one of those toys you may not think about to get a toddler but take it from me, they LOVE it! I remember playing with nesting dolls as a child and I had so much fun. The opening, the stacking, the fitting them back together just so! This is great for kids’ gross and fine motor skills, helps build language of comparisons (bigger, smaller), and helps them develop the understanding of prepositions (under, inside, outside). Not to mention, there are some seriously cute nesting dolls out there! This is a great gift that they will play with over and over, and as they get older, too!
We have a handmade Russian nesting doll that my tot loved playing with but I was afraid she was being too rough with it so we also got her this absolutely adorable nesting doll set from Amazon. The only thing I don’t love about this set is it can be tough to open/close them completely.
5. Wooden Activity Cube
There are so many options with this one guys! Again, I remember playing with these when I was younger, and wow, have they gotten so much cuter! There are so many different options to choose from with these and there are so many elements as well. From wooden beads, to peak a boo barnyards, to learning the alphabet, I mean the options really are endless with these. This is a great gift that will grow with your tot and provide an endless amount of fun.
We have this super fun activity cube from Amazon.
6. Bubbles
Bubbles – need I say more? This is an absolute classic, kids of all ages LOVE bubbles! There are lots of different options with these, but our favorites are Fubbles (no spill bubbles – which is a game changer) and any nontoxic bubbles (a toddler learning to blow bubbles will inevitably get it in their mouth). But really, you can’t go wrong with any sort of bubbles for your tot.
Another thing we love is the automatic bubble blowers. For these, I get a big container of nontoxic bubbles and watch as my toddler squeals with delight while hundreds of bubbles blow all around! It is pretty cool, I must admit.
Here is a link for Fubbles from Amazon!
7. Xylophone
What is one thing that kids love that parents might not? A xylophone! This is a great toy for kids that helps to stimulate their minds and boosts creativity and imagination while also improving gross and fine motor skills. However, full disclosure, sometimes it can be a tad bit annoying to hear the high-pitched banging that goes along with it. It’s for the kids, right?
This is the Xylophone we have and it is a must have! Seriously, go buy it. It has a couple different features and my tot LOVES to play with it!
8. Mr. Potato Head
Ok, Ok, now this IS a classic. Mr. Potato Head is super fun for kids and is a great learning tool as well. This little guy helps to tune fine motor skills, increase hand-eye coordination, and help develop body part recognition. There are so many different accessories you can get with this fun toy, the options are nearly endless! You could even add to the fun by also buying Mrs. Potato Head and making these taters a pair.
We have this Mr. Potato Head from Amazon, it comes with lots of accessories and the parts push in very easily, making it toddler frustration free!
9. Wooden Puzzles
These are definitely a favorite in our house! There are sooo many different options. Our tot especially loves the animal ones and loves to play with them independently as well. These are great for a multitude of reasons, such as increasing fine motor and problem-solving skills, honing hand-eye coordination, and using their memory, just to name a few! Kids of all ages love puzzles, and these are great for little toddler hands, you can’t go wrong with these!
We have several puzzles that are Melissa & Doug brand and this one in particular is my tots favorite!
10. Plush Barnyard Animal Toys
These cute plush farm animals in their barn are the perfect toy for toddlers. They have sound boxes in them that make the appropriate sounds as well. Our little tot loves to take the animals in and out of their barn and moo and cluck along with each animal. She loves that they can respond back to her, too! These plush toys are not only super cute but are a great learning tool about animals as well.
Click here to purchase from Amazon.
Ultimately, there are SO many great toys for 2-year-olds and these are just a few of ours.
I love toys that are educational for my child and that she can enjoy for more than just a short time.
Honestly, my toddler would be happy playing with a paper bag, so finding a toy to occupy her more than a couple of minutes is a win in my book!
These toys are timeless and are sure to satisfy any little in your life.
I would love to hear favorites of yours!
XOXO
Katie
