Best Toys and Gifts for Two-Year-Olds
Children really start to become little people by the time they are two, with strong opinions on what they do and do not like. Most are walking and running around, often at high speeds, as well as climbing and pulling themselves up on anything they can reach. They are also constantly learning and developing physically, with fine and gross motor skills, along with verbally mastering new words every day.
"Two-year-olds learn through repeating the same action over and over again, so gifts that reward repetition are great," says Rachel Carrell, CEO of childcare company Koru Kids. From role-play kitchens and dressing-up to imaginative books and busy boards, there are many opportunities for this. Busy boards, for example, are full of simple repetitive games and tasks such as fastening buttons and zips and matching coloured stickers to shapes. Here we pick out 24 of the best gifts and toys for two-year-olds.
How I Selected
The huge range of different things two-year-olds enjoy is what makes it such a wonderful age, but it also means choosing a gift can seem overwhelming. To narrow it down, I spoke to parenting experts and parents of two-year-olds to find out which gifts they would personally recommend. I have two daughters, aged three and six, so I have included products they enjoyed when they were two, including toys they constantly returned to and those that lasted as they grew older. Some of my youngest daughter's friends also tested a few toys, and I have included their favourites. Most two-year-olds enjoy garishly bright and often offensively loud toys, but for the parents' sake, I have kept these to a minimum. All of these toys should keep a child at this age entertained for a few minutes, giving their parents a rare chance to drink a coffee while it is still hot.
Story Time
If you are looking for a big gift for a two-year-old, you cannot go wrong with a Toniebox audio player. It comes in a range of colours and is simple enough for a two-year-old to operate by themselves. Both my children have loved these little story boxes, and they have staying power; my six-year-old still uses hers. The little characters you can buy for them, called Tonies, are perfect for small fingers, and once you place the character on top of the box, their book or songs start playing. There are many to choose from, including classics such as Paddington, Mog, and the Gruffalo, as well as Disney and CBeebies characters, costing about £14.99 each, although often discounted in bundles.
Tea and Marmalade
A tea set puts the child in control, allowing them to host you, Paddington (included in the set), or their other toys or dolls. There are nine pieces, including teacups, a teapot, a milk jug and a sugar pot. It is ideal for small hands and, as everything can be stored in the included suitcase, it is quite handy for trips out of the house too.
Fawning Around
Soft toys are often bought for babies, but they can still be a great gift as children get older. Both of my daughters were obsessed with babies and dolls when they were two, but these often are not squishy or soft so are not the best for snuggling up to. This Lilliputiens soft fawn doll makes the perfect new friend for a two-year-old. Stella the fawn wears a colourful, flowery dress and is the perfect size for cuddles.
Bath Buddies
In my experience, bath toys have an annoying habit of breaking, discolouring or becoming a magnet for all kinds of dirt. This trio of toys has not only kept my youngest entertained in the bath, but can also be easily cleaned to avoid any mould buildup. The whale squirts water, the octopus creates a rainfall of water, and the polar bear lights up, creating a calm bath-time experience. The bear is battery-operated, and mine has been going strong for more than six months of baths on most days. Bonus points for the tonal colours too.
Bother That Cat
Judith Kerr's Mog is a firm favourite with small children, and this collection wraps three of the classic books into one hardback edition. Inside there is Mog the Forgetful Cat, Mog and the Baby, and Mog and Bunny. Hardback books are ideal for two-year-olds as they are better at withstanding wear and tear.
One Step, Two Step
"When children turn two, they start to 'parallel play' with other children but do not always interact with each other. Sturdy toys that teach balance and coordination are important to help build these skills, which they will develop further as they grow and start to play more with other children. Learning toys with numbers and alphabets can be introduced at this age too, such as tiles, stacking toys, and puzzles with four pieces." Annette Kellow, parenting and lifestyle expert.
Pizza Makes Everything Better
Role-play toys, such as kitchens and mini food sets, are great gifts for two-year-olds. They provide hours of entertainment, letting them whip up various meals for you and anyone else visiting your house. This one comes with a little oven, pizza tray and a plain dough base, with various toppings to suit even the fussiest pretend eaters. Toy kitchens are great too, but most are suitable from three years, so a smaller set like this works well for two-year-olds. It also takes up much less space than a full-size kitchen, which the parents will thank you for.
Keep Them Busy
"The perfect item for a child this age is just challenging enough that they can do it with mild frustration, but without getting overwhelmed. Two-year-olds are just at the beginning stage for 'busy books'; get one now, and they will use it in travel and restaurants for a couple of years." Rachel Carrell, CEO, Koru Kids.
Whose Hat Is It Anyway?
The Jon Klassen books have been a firm favourite with everyone in our house. There is not much text, so they are quick to get through before bed, and they are funny, even for adults. The large pictures and repeating themes make them ideal for two-year-olds. There are three in the series, and I would start with the original, I Want My Hat Back.
Be Kind
These soft toys from Cuddle + Kind are built to last, and buying one also helps to fight child hunger. Handmade by female artisans in Peru, providing them with a sustainable, fair trade income, the natural, high-quality cotton dolls are also soft and cuddly. For every doll bought, the company donates 10 meals to children in need around the world through a network of humanitarian agencies.
All Aboard!
You cannot go wrong with a toy with wheels, and this little wooden bus allows them to play with the eight animal passengers too. My children have spent hours placing these little figures on and off the bus, as well as their other toy vehicles, and loved to play pretend journeys where the passengers commuted between imaginary bus stops. This brightly coloured London bus is the perfect size for two-year-old hands and works as an early colour-matching game too; you can put the animals into the matching coloured seats. The top deck comes off so the child can choose where everyone sits, on the bottom or top deck, and it is made from sustainable wood, which is long-lasting and designed to sustain toddler handling.
Get Moving
Three-wheeled scooters are perfect for two-year-olds, giving them independence while helping them with balance and coordination. It is well worth buying one that folds; inevitably, you will be the one carrying it at some point. The range from Micro Scooters comes in lots of different colours and designs, all with light-up wheels. They are suitable for children aged two to five and come with a two-year warranty. I gave this to my youngest daughter as a big present when she was two, and it has been in constant use ever since. There is a range of accessories available, such as baskets, bells, and ribbons. As they are so popular, most of my daughter's friends have the same scooter, there are usually a few of these on secondhand websites, so it is worth checking places such as Vinted, Facebook Marketplace and eBay.
Go Bananas!
You cannot go wrong with a T-shirt, especially if it is covered in smiling bananas. These T-shirts are made from 100% organic cotton and are soft against small children's skin. The clothes from Polarn O Pyret, or Pop for short, are designed to be worn, washed and passed on, and that is true in my experience. They are made to a high quality and are robust. It is also worth checking the secondhand section of its website for discounted clothes. If the child you are buying for is not into bananas, maybe ice-creams or a dog on a skateboard would suit them better.
Colour Matching and Memory Games
This simple but fun game helps children match colours and develop memory skills, and it is ideal for Beatrix Potter fans. It was easy and quick to set up, and my testers loved it; they all picked a colour to collect and got involved with posting the coloured pieces through boxes. The cards are decorated with classic characters such as Tom Kitten, Mrs Tiggy-Winkle and Jemima Puddle-Duck, and they can be played independently or with others.
Wear Your Snacks
This Wexbaby Croissant Club sweatshirt is a fun piece of clothing. Not only do most two-year-olds love a buttery pastry, but its lovely soft cotton is kind on a young child's skin.
Sticker Dollies
Our house is frequently covered in stickers, and when I say house, I mean the walls, tables, floor and even the cat. The Usborne sticker books have always been popular with my daughters, providing a specific place for the stickers to go. It is 32 pages and comes with lots of brightly coloured stickers for placing on the different fairy drawings. This one is specifically for younger children, with larger stickers so that they can do most of the sticking themselves. They are also a nice screen-free way to keep kids entertained when you are out of the house, on a journey or waiting for a meal to arrive.
Building Bricks
This set creates a fire engine with a hose, a detachable trailer, a brick water tank and a rotating ladder with a basket, useful for all those rescues of a cat stuck in a tree. Created for small hands, Duplo was one of my daughter's favourite toys when she turned two. It is just the right age to play with it independently, creating both the set and their own designs afterwards. The firefighter figure, squirrel, tree and little fire brick lead to endless options for imaginative scenarios. It is bright, colourful and a great introductory toy to the world of Duplo and Lego.
Clothes to Get Messy In
Most two-year-olds are into everything messy or muddy, so practical waterproofs make a great gift that parents will thank you for later. They are ideal for wet weather and will keep children warm, dry and happy for longer, greatly extending the length of park trips for parents in need of fresh air and kids in need of tiring out. The clip fasteners make it easy for you to get children in and out of this dungarees set, making it perfect for potty-training, and it comes in four colours.
Hit the Decks
The Fisher-Price record player is a classic children's toy for a reason; not only does it last, my mum has mine from almost 40 years ago and it still plays a tune, but it is also something young children can easily operate on their own. First made in 1971, it is suitable from 18 months and up. With a choice of five playable records, which are stored inside the player, it is also compact enough to be taken out of the house.
Rainbow Towers
"A rainbow stacking tower is an appealing unisex toy to be enjoyed over and over again. This task-oriented game can aid social connection or independent play, but its real value is in encouraging cognitive development, supporting colour recognition and counting skills. Furthermore, it supports the development of balance, dexterity and fine motor skills." Candice O'Neil.
Link and Stack Them
"A great gift is something that helps their developing language and dexterity. Large blocks and bricks in various colours are versatile and can be played with in so many ways; you can play alongside your child, keeping up a commentary about colours and asking about what they are making. Good for spatial and motor skills and to develop their imagination." Becky Goddard, wellbeing author and child psychotherapist.
First Wheels
Balance bikes are an investment gift and a first introduction to riding a bike. The B'Twin 12in balance bikes sold at Decathlon are a great, affordable choice. They are also lightweight, which comes in handy when adults end up carrying them, and include lots of features specifically for small children, including a low frame and footrests. There are also fun accessories to choose from, including a brightly coloured horn and a bell decorated with a confetti design.
Time for Walkies
My sister gave my two-year-old a singing, walking Waffle the Wonder Dog, of CBeebies fame, for Christmas, and it was the best thing she opened on the day. It sings, walks and comes with a little brush and lead. It is a great gift for mini fans of the CBeebies programme, and it is much less offensive than other noisy toys. Waffle even made it into the car with us, so we all got the pleasure of listening to the theme tune for a long car journey too; I would not recommend this.
Welcome to the Bug Hotel
A bug hotel is a great gift for curious little minds, and it provides entertainment over a long period, as children can watch the bug hotel be installed and then filled with new guests. We have had one for a few years, and my daughters love inspecting it to see if there are any new inhabitants and if any holes have been filled with leaves or families. It is also a great way to inspire kids to get outside and to learn about the different insects living in their garden or outdoor space.
What You Need to Know
What to Buy for a Two-Year-Old
"The best gifts for young children are the ones that create memories or spark curiosity, rather than adding clutter to the house," says Clare Cahill, former primary schoolteacher and owner of the sustainable bird food and nature brand A Little Bird Co. "I have never been keen on stuff 'just for the sake of it'." Most parents and carers also know that children can be overwhelmed with toys and gifts, especially on birthdays or at Christmas, and often it is the smallest and simplest things that they play with the most, such as the cardboard box the toy came in. "Children aged two to six are natural explorers, and they love repetition, discovery, asking questions and doing things alongside adults," says Cahill. "Simple, open-ended gifts that grow with them, like nature kits, loose-parts play, or art materials, will usually last longest. Toys that direct play, the ones that light up, talk or have just one 'right' way to use them, might look exciting at first, but often get played with less."
What Do Two-Year-Olds Play With the Most?
"The simpler the toy, the deeper the play, and the longer it lasts," says Cahill. "The more active the toy, the more passively a child gets to play with it." From stacking toys and stepping stones to role-play kitchens and play food, "a well-made toy, made from natural materials, is tactile, durable and beautiful to keep," she says. Books make wonderful gifts too. They spark imagination, encourage conversation and can be enjoyed in so many different ways as children grow. "At two, children are deep in what we call transporting and connecting play schemas; they want to move things from one place to another, over and over again," says Roma Norriss, an attachment and nervous system specialist. "It is how their brains wire up cause and effect, sequencing, and a sense of agency." Gifts that encourage independent play and include repetition are perfect for this age range. But Norriss warns against "overcomplicated, noisy toys that interrupt their flow" as a "toddler wants to do, not be done to". Gifts that encourage interaction are also key, says Marc James, head of quality, learning and development at Tiney. "They learn and absorb so many things when we engage with them, whether that is singing, reading, playing or simply talking," he says. "So when you are considering a gift for under 3s, ask yourself: can we interact with this gift together? Can a sibling get involved? Will it open up their world or imagination? Or will they withdraw into another room with it, without much space for conversation or creativity? Ultimately, we want to support young children's development by engaging, not just entertaining, them."
