The Best Gifts for 2 Year Olds |2024
Based on Age and Development and Notes on Why They Work | 2024
New to the list: SmartMax My First Dinosaur Magnetic Discovery Set, Green Toys Dough, and Hand2Mind Mindful Maze. For insights on the developmental benefits of these and other GGGT picks read on.
SmartMax My First Dinosaur Magnetic Discovery Set
Made up of 14 easy-to-grasp, colorful pieces, this set promotes open-ended and creative play. Some children will want to match the colors to create monochromatic dinosaurs, while others will enjoy the silly combinations they can create. Regardless of the child’s building preference, this set offers excellent fine motor practice and opportunities for authentic language development. The conversation prompts feel endless: an introduction to the force of magnetism, creative storytelling, color words, size words, counting of parts,and so much more.
Green Toys Dough
Appropriate and safe for even the youngest hands, Green Toys’ Tool Essentials Dough Set includes many of the basic tools you would find in any dough set; what makes it different is the high-quality recycled plastic the tools are made from. These are hand-me-down quality pieces without any of the unwanted stuff often found in plastics. Two-year-olds love to experiment and explore with new materials and this is a wonderful open-ended way to do just that. In addition to the sensory experience and fine motor practice that the toy provides, it sets up the caretaker and child for a wonderful chance to free build or to use the farm-themed activity mat to elaborate on the scene and build vocabulary.
Hand 2 Mind Mindful Maze
Feeling anxious and overwhelmed is not unique to grown-up life; children experience these feelings every day too, and like any other skill in life, practicing how to deal with these emotions builds a skill they will use forever. The Mindful Mazes from Hand2Mind are GGGT favorites for any age. They are simple, durable, portable, and universal — great for any of us, really. They engage the user's sense of touch and guide them through deep breathing exercises with the use of tactile, undulating groves, empty spaces, and dots. The Mindful Mazes require focus and concentration in order for a child to connect what he or she is feeling with their fingers and with each breath. This level of focus can in turn bring a sense of calm and relaxation to the child, helping them to overcome a stressful situation. As an added bonus, the pack comes with an informative guide on why and how to use the mazes and even includes a section on how to extend this practice.
Educational Insights’ Bears in Pairs
Educational Insights toys are meticulously and intentionally designed. Bears in Pairs is no exception. This three-dimensional matching game is designed to help kids build positive relationships through collaboration, it develops social skills like turn-taking, and it hones important cognitive skills such as visual discrimination, memory, and fine motor work, all while kids have a great time playing the game!
Routine Cards
A visual schedule is a great way to help a toddler predict the expectations of the day and enable them to excel in its rhythm. Visual routine cards also teach sequencing skills and early literacy skills – the pictures have order and meaning similar to that of a story. These hook-and-eye visual cards make for easy rearranging to set up endless variations for a day. Bonus: Helping a toddler prepare for what is to come next is a great way to help with transitions between activities and facilitate a smoother day.
LEGO DUPLO Classic Brick Box
A classic building toy that inspires open-ended play for the youngest members of the family, these colorful LEGO bricks come in a convenient storage box for easy cleanup and can be combined in endless combinations for unique play each time.
Tiny Lands Play Kitchen
This play, kitchen with multiple working parts, is an engaging way for toddlers to play creatively and practice the real-life skills they see around the home. Its streamlined design is an approachable setup for two year olds and comes with accessories such as play food, a chef’s hat, and an apron.
Crayola Color Wonder Mess-Free Coloring
Made with toddlers in mind, Crayola’s Mess-Free products are invisible art supplies. Well, that is, until the markers are activated upon touch to the special Color Wonder paper. Then they create vibrant strokes of color allowing young artists to explore their creativity without the worry of stains on the walls or couch. And if you choose the Stow & Go option the toddler will have their very own “desk” to work on.
Wonder Space Ball Pit
A perfect size for toddlers, this exciting toy will keep them entertained for hours with plenty of opportunity for gross motor practice. The soft-sided walls, removable cover for washing, and non-slip bottom make it an even better fit for young ones. This ball pit fits up to 500 balls — but note that you need to purchase the balls separately — and offers a great opportunity to customize the color according to your toddler’s preferences. Here’s an affordable option for a pack of 400 balls in multiple colors, or if you prefer to pick a more specific color-way, pick up a few bags of these.
Boon Bathtime Engineer
This exciting bath toy is great for toddlers as young as two but will continue to grow with the child for years to come. Boone‘s 13-piece set includes toy pipes, cogs, and tubes for creative bath or shower fun. The multicolor pieces can be paired in endless combinations for early exploration in engineering water play.
Strider Balance Bike
The Strider Balance Bike, like all other balance bikes, has no pedals. The balance bike theory of teaching a child to ride first focuses on learning to balance and steer the bike, and then later, once the child moves to a bike with pedals, they add in the skill of pedaling and brakes. What makes Strider’s balance bike an excellent choice is both its adjustable seat and handlebars, accommodating children as young as 18 months (seat height begins at 11”) to those as old as five, and its six-pound lightweight frame, which makes the bike easy to maneuver as the young child learns to ride.
Mudpuppy 12 Piece Pouch Puzzle
A 12-piece puzzle is the perfect size for a two year old to find success. Mudpuppy’s colorful pieces and exciting Woodland Picnic theme is made using extra thick cardboard, so tiny hands can manipulate the pieces all by themselves. And its pouch packaging makes it easy to travel with, clean up, and it takes up less room in the toy box or cabinet.
Bubble Machine
A durable bubble machine is a toy that will be a hit for years to come. This model is either battery-operated or plugged into the wall, making it perfect for wherever and whenever you need bubbles. Plus its large capacity allows for continuous use for up to 30 minutes.
Water Play Kitchen Sink with Working Faucet by Cute Stone
Children of all ages love to play with water, a wonderful sensory activity involving splashing, pouring, and spraying. The realistic continuous flowing sink includes dishes and cups that change color based on the water temperature. It creates opportunities for imaginative play both independently and side-by-side “helping” in the kitchen during meal time.
Step2 Roller Coaster
A thrilling gift from the minute it’s spotted, the Step2 Up and Down Roller Coaster is bound to provide hours of independent play for the young children (and older ones too) on your gift list. It can be used indoors or outdoors, and since it has steps leading to a side-boarding boarding platform, it is accessible for children as young as two. And when they are done playing and practicing their motor skills and balance, the sections easily come apart for more compact storage.
Washable Tempera Paint Sticks
Non-toxic paint sticks create vibrant color and dry in less than two minutes for a young one’s endless creative endeavors. No cups, water, or brushes are needed to make these vibrant colors appear on paper, canvas, cardboard, or even wood.
