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        our favorite toys for 2 year olds

        Gift Guide

        The 25 Best Toys for 2-Year-Olds Right Now

        They may be little, but there’s a lot going on developmentally at two. Toddlers are just getting into pretend play, building all the things and likely bouncing off the walls and leaving a path of destruction in their wake – um, great! The key to parenting at this age is to wear them out with toys that not only engage the mind but the body too. With that , we’ve rounded up an epic list of the 25 best toys for 2-year-olds that will save the day.
        Written By
        Elizabeth Mitchell Kadar

        The Best Wooden Toys for Toddlers

        Haba Basic Starter Blocks Set

        The building blocks of every playroom. This simple 26-piece set includes an assortment of different shapes and sizes for endless construction opportunities (castles, towers, garages!) and lessons in basic math. All blocks are made of solid natural, reforested and untreated beech wood.

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          Haba wood blocks for 2 year oldsHaba wood blocks for 2 year olds

          Bigjig Toys Figure Eight Train Set

          Choo choo! Toddlers and parents will get on board with this classic wooden train set equipped with a little engine, three carriages and more tiny signs and figures. Help them set it up and see where their imagination takes them.

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            Bigjig Toys Figure Eight Train Set for 2 year oldsBigjig Toys Figure Eight Train Set for 2 year olds

            Manhattan Toy Celestial Star Explorer Wooden Toddler Activity Center

            Your little astronaut will be over the moon with this epic activity center, ideal for mastering those motor skills. It features three levels and four fun quadrants to explore: wire bead runs, clacking doors, mini spinners, springy crescent moons and more. It’s big enough to enjoy with friends, helping foster cooperative play.

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              Manhattan Toy Celestial Start Explorer Wooden Toddler Activity Center Manhattan Toy Celestial Start Explorer Wooden Toddler Activity Center

              Sabo Wooden Rainbow

              Pure gold. Brighten their day with this iconic rainbow stacker toy in muted mustard hues parents will appreciate. There’s literally no end to the ways kiddos can play–seriously, it’s magic! Put it together like a puzzle, try to balance the arches on top of each other, or practice color recognition, counting and spatial awareness.

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                Sabo Wooden Rainbow for 2 year olds Sabo Wooden Rainbow for 2 year olds

                The Best Educational Toys for 2-Year-Olds

                M is for Me! Personalized Book

                Develop a love for reading and learning letters and numbers with this priceless keepsake book set, monogrammed with your child’s name.

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                  Signature Gifts Personalized Alphabet and Numbers Board Book Gift Set, for 2 year oldsSignature Gifts Personalized Alphabet and Numbers Board Book Gift Set, for 2 year olds

                  Tender Leaf Toys Color Me Happy

                  You can’t go wrong with this snazzy snake puzzle for 2-year-olds. Practice both colors and (3D!) shapes as–through trial and error–they learn to piece it together themselves. With a chic modern design, it also doubles as decor.

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                    Tender Leaf Toys Color Me Happy toy for 2 year oldsTender Leaf Toys Color Me Happy toy for 2 year olds

                    HABA My Very First Games - Here Fishy, Fishy!

                    This adorable first fishing game is sure to reel them right in. Kiddos can play with the sea creatures and fishing rods, creating their own underwater scenarios, or sit down with family and learn how to follow the rules (of the game). Fishing with magnetic rods is especially helpful in fostering hand-eye coordination and improving toddlers’ concentration.

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                      HABA My Very First Games - Here Fishy, Fishy! toy for 2 year oldsHABA My Very First Games - Here Fishy, Fishy! toy for 2 year olds

                      The Best Toys for Water Play

                      Honeysticks Bath Crayons

                      Whatever it takes to get them in the bath, right? Jumbo-sized for little hands, these non-toxic crayons are made with clean, 100% food-grade ingredients. They are built to last, unlike other comparable options. Just be sure to dry them out after each use.

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                        Honeysticks Bath Crayons for 2 year oldsHoneysticks Bath Crayons for 2 year olds

                        Nothing But Fun Toys Spinning Turtle Sprinkler

                        Better than your basic sprinkler, this spinning turtle is great for cooling down (and burning some energy!) on a hot day. For more cautious toddlers, turn the water on low to create a gentle spray. Or crank up the action, and turn it on high to spray up to eight feet in all directions. Best 25 bucks you’ll ever spend.

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                          Nothing But Fun Toys Spinning Turtle Sprinkler for 2 year oldsNothing But Fun Toys Spinning Turtle Sprinkler for 2 year olds

                          The Best Toys to Burn Their Energy

                          Lily & River Little Rocker Rainbow

                          The indoor playground that does it all, literally. Designed to boost balance, fine-tune gross motor skills and encourage creativity, this elevated, 2-in-1 Rocker and Climber is great for hours of entertainment – one minute, it’s a fort, the next it’s a boat! Of course, it doesn’t hurt that it looks good in the playroom.

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                            Lily & River Little Rocker Rainbow for 2 year oldsLily & River Little Rocker Rainbow for 2 year olds

                            Bunny Hopkins Stepping Stones Diversity

                            Winner of the 2021 ASTRA Best Active toy award, this six-piece stepping stone set is diverse in both (skin) color and use: jump, spin, step, stack or create a mini obstacle course with the stones. Dr. Rebekah Diamond, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Columbia University and author of the book Parent Like a Pediatrician, says a key step to promoting  anti-racist play is paying attention to representation in the toys and games you provide your child.

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                              Bunny Hopkins Stepping Stones for 2 year oldsBunny Hopkins Stepping Stones for 2 year olds

                              Wonder & Wise by Asweets Hip Hopscotch Playmat

                              No chalk necessary. Complete the playroom with this parent-approved playmat featuring a fun hopscotch print for getting the wiggles out. Toddlers can jump from square to square, toss the three included bean bags around and even work on counting and mastering numbers as they get bigger.

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                                Wonder & Wise by Asweets Hip Hopscotch PlaymatWonder & Wise by Asweets Hip Hopscotch Playmat

                                The Best Arts & Crafts for 2-Year-Olds

                                OOLY Chunkies Paint Sticks, $15.50

                                If you’re the kind of parent that loathes arts and crafts, get these…now! They’re fast drying, smudge-free and don’t require all the clean-up of traditional paint. A thick barrel casing makes ‘em easy for little hands to grip and use too.

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                                  OOLY Chunkies Paint Sticks for 2 year oldsOOLY Chunkies Paint Sticks for 2 year olds

                                  Worldwide Buddies The Sticker Book

                                  Two-year-olds can never get enough stickers – just ask any parent! This book is full of 120+ diverse stickers to teach them about people, places and animals from around the world. A wonderful way to introduce and talk to your toddler about different cultures!

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                                    Worldwide Buddies The Sticker Book for 2 year oldsWorldwide Buddies The Sticker Book for 2 year olds

                                    The Best Toys for Pretend Play

                                    Teamson Kids Little Helper Cleaning Set

                                    Make actual messes disappear with one of our fave role-play toys for 2-year-olds: their very own wooden cleaning set. Um, genius! Don’t be surprised if you find yourself reaching for it too.

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                                      Teamson Kids Little Helper Cleaning Set for 2 year oldsTeamson Kids Little Helper Cleaning Set for 2 year olds

                                      Manhattan Toy Baby Stella

                                      The perfect first baby doll. Stella is soft, snuggly and has the cutest little baby belly. Your toddler will love playing parent, changing diapers and clothes, and popping the tiny magnetic pacifier back in when baby gets “fussy.”

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                                        Manhattan Toy Baby Stella for 2 year oldsManhattan Toy Baby Stella for 2 year olds

                                        Teamson Kids Little Chef Chelsea Modern Play Kitchen

                                        Another kitchen to clean, but hey, at least it’s a feast for the eyes. Toddlers love to imitate all the ordinary things their parents do, like spending hours in the kitchen cooking dinners their 2-year-olds refuse to eat – fun! The good news is, your toddler will use this on the daily so it’s worth the splurge.

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                                          Teamson Kids Little Chef Chelsea Modern Play Kitchen for 2 year oldsTeamson Kids Little Chef Chelsea Modern Play Kitchen for 2 year olds

                                          The Best Ride-On Toys for 2-Year-Olds

                                          Micro Kickboard Micro Mini Deluxe

                                          New whip, who this? Micro’s award-winning scooter has all the bells and whistles. Featuring a thick 3-wheel design and flexible fiberglass reinforced deck for an ultra-smooth ride, plus a height-adjustable T-bar that grows with them, you’ll get years of use out of this bad boy. And when they’re too big? Give it to a sibling.

                                          Micro Kickboard Micro Mini Deluxe for 2 year oldsMicro Kickboard Micro Mini Deluxe for 2 year olds

                                          Iimo USA 3-in-1 Folding Tricycle

                                          A luxury, lightweight ride for you and them too! This cool, contemporary trike can be used as their first bike or a chic stroller for daily walks to the park. We love the easy, one-handed steering, shock absorption wheels and the fact that it folds up to fit modern families’ on-the-go lifestyles.

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                                            Iimo USA 3-in-1 Folding Tricycle for 2 year oldsIimo USA 3-in-1 Folding Tricycle for 2 year olds

                                            Rody Horse With Pump

                                            Hop on it! A new favorite way to get around the house, Rody helps toddlers develop balance, movement skills and work on coordination. Purchase the removable base to turn him into a rocking or ride-on horse!

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                                              Rody Horse With Pump for 2 year oldsRody Horse With Pump for 2 year olds

                                              The Best Sensory Toys for Toddlers

                                              Dough Parlour Dinosaur Playbox

                                              The smarter way to do play dough. Made with 100% food grade, non-toxic ingredients, you’ll feel safe letting them squish, squeeze and sculpt, as they use their imagination to create dinosaurs (in delicious scents!) and all sorts of cool stuff.

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                                                Dough Parlour Dinosaur Playbox for 2 year oldsDough Parlour Dinosaur Playbox for 2 year olds

                                                Wonder & Wise by Asweets Sand and Water Table

                                                The ultimate, all-in-one sensory table for toddlers! Fill the three removable and collapsible bins with water, sand or whatever activity of the day you can dream up: water beads exploration, a mini Jurassic Park or a beans and rice sensory search. Made of sustainable bamboo, it comes with two reversible covers – a train track on one side and a chalkboard on the other.

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                                                  Wonder & Wise by Asweets Sand and Water Table for 2 year oldsWonder & Wise by Asweets Sand and Water Table for 2 year olds

                                                  Our Fave Toddler Toys Under $50

                                                  KidKraft Lil’ Symphony Wooden Play Guitar

                                                  The perfect gift for your little rockstar. Foster a love for music from an early age with this sleek wooden acoustic guitar with realistic-looking strings and tuning pegs for impromptu jam seshes.

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                                                    KidKraft Lil’ Symphony Wooden Play Guitar for 2 year oldsKidKraft Lil’ Symphony Wooden Play Guitar for 2 year olds

                                                    Jack Rabbit Creations Pull Back Mini Around Town Cars

                                                    Move over Hot Wheels! Toddlers will love racing these heirloom-quality cars all around their pretend town – just pull them back, release and watch them go. Playing with toy cars is great for building gross and fine motor skills, as well as strengthening cognitive development.

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                                                      Jack Rabbit Creations Pull Back Mini Around Town Cars for 2 year oldsJack Rabbit Creations Pull Back Mini Around Town Cars for 2 year olds

                                                      Bubble Maker

                                                      Best gift ever! Treat your tot to this super cute, battery-powered bubble maker, and then take a much-needed seat as they run around popping bubble after bubble. No mess or dumped solution to deal with is a major parent win.

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                                                        Good Banana Cupcake Bubble Maker for 2 year oldGood Banana Cupcake Bubble Maker for 2 year old

                                                        Elizabeth Mitchell Kadar

                                                        Elizabeth Mitchell Kadar is a seasoned freelance fashion, beauty and lifestyle writer and also a mom of three littles living in sunny California. She’s written for Brides, YouBeauty, She Knows, The Fashion Spot and many more.