Turning two is a big deal! Toddlers are growing, and their skills are developing at a rapid rate. Each day they expand their world and are capable of doing new things. We’ve done all the hard work to help you find the most unforgettable toddler gift.
Finding an age-appropriate gift for your toddler isn’t always easy, so we’ve created a list of educational toys for 2-year-olds that foster learning and fun!
Why Choosing the Right Gift Matters
Seeing the joy on your 2-year-old’s face when they open the perfect gift makes all the time you spent researching worth it! When you invest in the right toys for your child, you not only make their day, but you are contributing to their development.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “the right toys can improve cognitive development, language interactions, symbolic and pretend play, problem-solving, social interactions, and physical activity….”
Top Gift Ideas for 2-Year-Olds
Imaginative Play
Toys that are open-ended and encourage pretend play are great toddler gifts. Open-ended play has been shown to improve social engagement and helps children embrace their imagination.
Interactive Play
Two-year-olds love interactive toys, which help them learn to engage with their world and other people. Interactive play is considered play that involved 2 or more people and helps toddlers learn cooperation and to understand the roles of others.
Indoor Play
Physical activity is a critical part of a toddlers developmental and toys that support movement have a lot of benefits, including building confidence and cardiovascular endurance.
Outdoor Adventures
Outdoor toys let kids use and discover different senses. “If you unplug and you get out in nature, it forces you to engage different senses -- the sounds of water, the smell, the visual inputs -- and that engages different parts of your brain,” according to pediatrician Robert Zarr
Our Favorite Toys for 2-year-olds
Figgy Play Couch and Play Kitchen Panels
The Figgy play couch is a 6 or 7 piece play couch designed to turn into everything you can imagine! Figgy’s patent-pending velcro connectors make it different than anything on the market. Build a fort, a tunnel, stair slide or obstacle course. Kitchen play panels turn your Figgy into a play kitchen - just add play food! The Figgy is non-toxic, GREENGUARD Gold, Oeko-Tex, CertiPUR-US certified, and proudly built in the USA. Washable liners, changeable luxe covers, and machine washability make it a win for toddlers! The Figgy is designed to grow with your toddler through adulthood! Your two year old will love all the open-ended play options and incorporating it into daily play activities.
Brainrich Kids Indoor Gym
No opportunity to go outside and get the wiggles out? The Brainrich Kids Gym is perfect for any abode. Their indoor climbing gyms are customizable and made from the highest-quality materials. Now you can climb, swing, and monkey around INSIDE! Expand your set with add-ons like a sensory swing or an extra climbing rope. We love that they offer different mounting options - tensions or drilled in. With so many ways to play, your toddler won’t outgrow their Brainrich system. It’s excellent for building strength and coordination!
Wonder + Wise Gone Fishing Set
Wonder + Wise makes the cutest fishing set! It’s great for hand-eye coordination and pretend play. The set comes complete with a fabric boat your kids can climb in. The realistic rod and hook let you catch wooden fish that you can strategically place along side. It’s the perfect opportunity to teach your two year old about taking turns with a friend and how to have a pretend adventure. Your two year old will love rowing, searching for fish, and making it safely back to shore with the days catch.
Little Adventures Dress Up Sets
What two year old doesn’t love dress up?! Little Adventures has so many options for kids to turn into anything they can dream of…like a dragon or a firefighter. The durable, easy to put on costumes are designed for everyday play. Grown-ups and stuffies can even get in on the fun with specially designed matching outfits. The best part? The are all machine washable… the only trouble you’ll have is getting your toddler to agree to take it off!
Tonies
Screen-free fun for your toddler? A great option to checkout is Tonies. Tonies is an audiobox with the cutest figurines that tell stories. They have a massive library of favorites… from Paw Patrol to the classics, that your toddler will love. Designed for small hands, kids love being able to operate Tonies themselves. Let your toddler develop decision making stills by picking the Tonies they want to listen to. They are perfect for bedtime and car rides (did I mention they are rechargeable and portable!?). You’ll find yourself wanting to cuddle up to hear the story too!
Hape Mud Kitchen
Mud kitchens are the perfect place for kids to get messy outside! So what is a mud kitchen? Exactly what it sounds like. It’s an outdoor place for kids to make their own mudpies and creations. Designed to get wet and dirty, you don’t have to worry about cleaning up. They are easy to hose down and kids absolutely love pretend play. Make it interactive by asking your toddler to be the baker and you are the customer. The mud kitchen is loved by those big and small!
Staplestein Stepping Stones
These are one of the coolest new toys on the market! An open-ended stepping stone with many uses! German-designed and in a range of colors, toddlers love playing the floor is lava - practicing their balanciing skills or stacking the stones to make towers they can tumble over. You can play with them outside or inside making them extra versatile. Great for color recognition, gross motor development, counting and more! They come in a variety of sizes, too!
KiwiCo Panda Crate
KiwiCo makes one of the best subscriptions on the market. Their Panda Crate is designed for kids up to 36 months and come with age-appropriate crafts. You can even add a book on with your monthly subscription. KiwiCo thinks of everything and the crafts are simple enough for independent play or light assistance from a grown-up. When your child outgrows Panda, there is a new level waiting. Everything is non-toxic, fun and designed to be age appropriate.
Spotlight on the Figgy Play Couch
This kids fort kit is designed for endless play. Parents love its versatility, as it can be turned into a kids table, kids sofa, kids chair, a fort, obstacle course, stair slide, ramp and so much more. If your kid can dream it, they can create it (maybe with some grown-up help along the way).
The Figgy has waterproof liners, made from material similar to a mattress pad, so that they are soft and durable. These are perfect for stages where your kids are a bit more accident prone! You don’t have to fear potty training (or pet accidents) anymore. The covers are EasyCare, which means you can throw them in the washer and dryer which makes cleanup super easy. Figgy offers three fabric tiers, too. Choose from Performance+ Microsuede, Luxe Velvet, or Luxe Flatweave options.
Patent-pending Velcro connectors on the base cushions ensures there aren’t any tears over broken ramps or forts. What’s even cooler, is you can connect multiple Figgy sets. The Velcro connectors are fully covered when not in use and when in use.
The Figgy play couch prides itself on safety by rigorously using third party testing. They are GREENGUARD Gold, Oeko-Tex, and CertiPUR-US certified. The Figgy is built in South Carolina and ships quickly.
Figgy accessories are the perfect birthday gift add-on. The Biggie Wedge, Half-Moons, and Play Panel sets expand play opportunities for your kids as they grow.
How to Make the Birthday Extra Special
Here are some things that can make your birthday gift extra special. Consider how you can give a personalized toddler gift, whether it’s special wrapping paper or pre-setting up the present for your child. Think about a gift that can be enjoyed by your toddler and their siblings or grown-ups, so that everyone can get in on the fun together. It’s a great way to bond and build special memories.
If you are having a party, consider a party theme for your toddler that includes things they love. Some of our favorites are a crafting theme where kids can get creative; a indoor play zone, and rainbow theme that incorporates all sorts of colorful items!
Conclusion
Celebrating your toddler’s second birthday is a milestone! There are so many great ways to make it extra special and lots of perfect gift options to choose from.
If you are stressing, just remember the best toddler gift is the one that comes from your heart. Keep it simple and have fun!