50+ Gift Ideas for 2-Year-Olds That Are Fun, Educational & Safe

By the time your little one turns two, it may feel like you’ve accumulated just about every toy they could possibly need. And the funniest thing is that most 2-year-olds will play with a cardboard box just as happily as they’ll play with an expensive toy.

When buying gifts for a two-year-old, the key is to buy toys that will keep up with their developing imagination and curiosity. Toys and items that will encourage motor skill development, imagination, and pretend play are sure to get a lot of use.

Here is a list of some of the best toys for 2-year-olds. All of these toys are age-appropriate and good for your child’s development. They’re sure to be a hit!

1. Trampoline

If your child tends to be more energetic than pretend-play oriented, a trampoline is a great way to let them bounce to their hearts’ content. This Little Tikes trampoline is a perfect gift for holiday gift-giving and birthdays.

It features a nice jumping space as well as a handlebar for extra stability. If you have a jumping bean, this gift will be a huge hit!

2. Giant Play Silks

There is no better open-ended toy than a play silk. You can do anything with silks, including building a house, a fort, playing pretend, or anything else that comes to mind.

I recommend the giant play silks by Sarah’s Silks. Made with real silk and gentle dyes, they are a wonderful gift idea for any toddler!

3. Magna-Tiles

Magna-Tiles are a bit easier to use than classic blocks, and you can build more things with them because of how the pieces connect. There are many different sets available, and I always like to gift one of the bigger sets for birthdays or holidays.

Magna-Tiles have gotten plenty of use in our home on a daily basis…for years now! They are such a great gift for 2 years and up. Just be sure to supervise playtime with these tiles because they do contain magnets (though we have never had an issue with a single one breaking in 3+ years).

4. Balance Bike

Two is the perfect age to introduce a balance bike. These innovative bikes allow toddlers to gain confidence in riding a bike—without pedals or training wheels. A balance bike still helps develop their motor skills as they learn to use their core to stride along while riding their bike.

I highly recommend balance bikes instead of bikes with training wheels for toddlers. My kids have used both and the difference is night and day—the balance bike seems to encourage the body’s natural abilities while training wheels can be awkward and clunky. A wonderful gift under a Christmas tree or on a second birthday!

5. Suction Cups

Suction cups are a wonderful toy for most 2-year-olds. They stick to many different surfaces and are very open-ended. These cups from Fat Brain Toys are made from silicone and can also be used for fun bathtime play.

6. Alphabet Puzzle

Alphabet puzzles are great for teaching the alphabet, even before your little one is ready for preschool. Encourage early letter and sound recognition by doing the puzzle along with your little one and calling out the letters as you play. Plus, this is the perfect age to introduce basic puzzles. 

7. Scooter

While 2-year-olds are a bit too young for tricycles, many of them can use a scooter with a bit of practice. This is a good age to begin introducing a scooter, though your little one may take until age 3 to really grasp the skills needed to ride freely. This particular scooter is the best on the market—the handlebars don’t turn and that is key for helping beginner riders gain their confidence and ride in stride.

8. Wooden Tea Set

A tea seat is perfect for 2-year-olds because most love to play pretend. This age is a good time to introduce imaginative play items, like the Hape tea set. Sit down to tea and enjoy pretending to sip and chat!

9. Lovevery Play Kits Subscription

Lovevery sells play kits for newborns up to 3-year-olds. Every other month, your toddler will get a box full of new, age-appropriate toys that are centered around their development. The most unique part of these boxes is not only the expertise behind each box but the multifunctional nature of each toy. Your toddler will be able to play with these toys in a variety of ways, so they won’t get bored and will continue to learn new things! Moms RAVE about Lovevery’s play kits.

Lovevery Play Kit

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10. A Floral Arrangement Set

The build a bouquet toy from Green Toys is a massive win in this age group. Thanks to its unique design, it can help with gross and fine motor skill development as well. Thanks to their unique use of recycled milk jugs, Green Toys makes safe plastic toys for babies and toddlers.

11. Koala Crate Subscription

I love that the Koala Crate by KiwiCo provides age-appropriate, fun activities every month. Every other month, your child will receive a curated box of age-appropriate activities to inspire and promote new skills. These activities are fun collaborative projects to do with your child – and I promise you both will have fun! Included in each box are activity cards that give directions as well as ideas to further explore concepts. The price is very fair as well, making this one of the best subscription boxes for the money.

12. Wooden Shopping Cart

Along with play food, a nice wooden shopping cart provides the opportunity for tons of open-ended play. Children can “shop” and use the cart to lug around their toys or play food.

This is a great gift for toddlers turning 2! It’s also a nice alternative to the metal one by Melissa & Doug. We’ve played with that one and it is so heavy that it always stressed me out.

13. A Learning Tower

Learning Towers are a safe way for children to join you at the kitchen counter. They give curious toddlers a front-row seat as you prepare meals. This is a great gift that helps foster bonding, hands-on time in the kitchen, and the opportunity to feel like a big deal at a young age.

14. Dimpl Toy

If your little one likes to fidget, the Dimpl Toy by Fat Brain Toys is a great toy that will hold their focus. It is a simple toy that encourages fine motor development. We often kept this in the car for long drives, and it would also end up playing restaurant duty, helping us keep our toddlers busy while waiting for their meals. There’s just something special and fun about these toys.

15. Wooden Slide

What child doesn’t love slides? This wooden toddler slide is a high-quality indoor slide that can easily take up hours of your child’s time.

16. Green Toys Dump Truck

Another favorite from Green Toys is their dump truck. This is a perfect toy for playing in the sandbox or for inside play; my kids would fill the truck with cotton balls, Duplos, or other small toys.

17. LEGO Duplo Set

LEGO Duplos are LEGO sets made for toddlers and young children. They’re larger than traditional LEGO pieces, so they’re easier to use and not a choking hazard. They are made from ABS plastic, which is mostly a stable plastic. For this reason, my kids have loved playing with Duplos. Duplo sets come in a variety of different options, and we love their starter sets!

18. Personalized Wooden Name Puzzles

Fat Brain toys offer personalized wooden name puzzles that can help with your child’s spatial reasoning and name recognition. This is a wonderful gift for toddlers! (If you’re gifting this to a friend, make sure their little one doesn’t already have a name puzzle—these are commonly gifted).

19. Fire Kid’s Tablet

If you’re open to the idea of introducing selective screen time at this age, a 2-year-old is just old enough to begin enjoying a kid’s kindle. These devices come with a year subscription to Amazon Freeplay and a lifetime warranty.

We’ve always been quite strict about screen time in our home, but I like that you can dim the screen, limit usage with parental controls, and find educational apps that are age-appropriate.

20. Play Food

Play food is another excellent pretend-play toy that is perfect for this age. Children can play restaurant, grocery store, or kitchen play. What I particularly like about this set from Hape is that the food is made from wood with non-toxic finishes, and can be sliced with the included wooden knife.

21. Wooden Doll Stroller

Wooden doll strollers are the perfect toy for this age. Many children love to pretend to be “mommies” and “daddies.” If they have a sibling on the way, this can also be a good way to teach baby etiquette. The Hape babydoll stroller is made of sustainable wood and all non-toxic finishes.

22. Baby Cradles

Along with the wooden toy stroller, a baby cradle like the Hape Baby Cradle is another great choice. Your two-year-old will love playing pretend! These kinds of toys can help little ones to develop nurturing and empathy skills.

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23. Silk Streamers

Silk streamers are very similar to play silks. However, they can be used for other sorts of pretend play opportunities. Your toddler will love to run, twirl, and jump with this streamer in hand both indoors and outdoors. Imagine the toddler dance parties with silk streamers in hand!

24. A Play Dish Set

If your child has a tea set or a play food set already, a dish set may be a perfect option. I particularly like this dish set by Green Toys. It comes with 4 place settings, including utensils! Made of recycled milk jugs, the plastic is non-toxic and food-safe. We have this dish set, and it has stayed in great condition despite lots of use over the years!

25. Race Car Set

Children often love ramps and cars. This Top Bright Car Ramp combines these two interests together for a toy they’re sure to love. Top Bright has produced a really durable, non-toxic car race track that is perfect for this age group. Toddlers love to watch the bright-colored cars blaze through the track. And while having fun, they’ll also be working on dexterity and hand-eye coordination. Your toddler’s eyes will light up as they watch the toy cars drive from level to level.

26. A Toy Van

At this age, children love to play with smaller dolls to act out a scene. This camper van by Hape includes two small dolls and a few accessories for your toddler to play with. Your child will love putting the family into the van and driving them around the house!

27. Tool Box

Children love to copy their parents. This tool box lets them work alongside you with their very own set of tools. My boys have absolutely loved playing construction worker and mimicking dad as he fixes things around the house.

28. Hape Go-To-Caddy

For children who love constructive play, the Hape Go-To-Caddy is a solid option. It comes with 72-pieces to allow your child to build all sorts of things and tinker at their own pace. It includes a build-on box, screwdriver, wrench, and vice. All made of non-toxic, child-safe materials.

29. Wagon

A wagon allows children to collect and haul around all their different toys inside or outside. It gives a sense of ownership as your little one tugs their toys around the house in their wagon. Both sturdy and low to the ground, this is sure to be a favorite!

30. Musical Instruments

Most 2-year-olds love to make music, so this is a perfect age to get them an instrument set of their own. This particular set from Hape is a one-stop-shop for toddlers wanting to put on a musical show for you.

31. Kitchen Set

Kitchen sets include everything your child needs to “cook.” While the large play kitchens are great, you can also look into this cooking set by Hape. It’s small and portable while still providing your toddler with lots of pretend kitchen play. A great idea is to have this (or a full-sized kitchen) in the living room for play while mom or dad prepare meals in the kitchen.

32. Cleaning Set

As we’ve covered, children at this age love to mimic adults. Not surprisingly, many two-year-olds take an interest in cleaning. This cleaning set for kids has 6 cleaning supplies that let them join in the cleaning fun! Included is a broom, duster, mop, dustpan, hand brush, and a storage hanger. It’s perfect for pretend play, building confidence, and promoting responsibility.

33. A Microphone

Microphones are a hit with this age group. From singing to just hearing the echo of their own voice, microphones can lead to hours of entertainment. There are many great options available on the market, including the one by Hape and the Little Pretenders Kids Karaoke Mic, which is similar to the microphone I first gave my oldest son when he was 2.

Believe it or not, this is one gift that we have used for over 4 years in our house. They are just so much fun to play with, even as your toddler grows!

34. An Abacus

You may be surprised by how much children love alphabet abacuses. Even at such a young age, a 2-year-old will get plenty of focused play out of this as they spin the letters.

Plus, this is a wonderful way to build their letter skills as they grow. An abacus is a must-have!

35. Mini Playhouse

A playhouse is a fantastic gift for young toddlers. If you don’t have the space for a full-sized playhouse, I highly recommend picking up this one by Green Toys. Similar to a dollhouse, this features a multilevel house, two mice characters, a yellow convertible car, a bed, a bathtub, a table, and two chairs. This set is great for collaborative play and is definitely a good one to pull out if you are hosting a play date.

36. Railway

Kids and trains seem to go together like mac and cheese. My boys began their love of trains at an early age and went on to collect hundreds of pieces of wooden railways and trains.

This railway by Hape is a solid option for those that want a smaller but complete set. The Hape Railway Construction Set features 60 pieces that your toddler will love to put together to build a complete railroad adventure and enjoy moving the cargo across bridges and down hills.

37. A Play Salad Set

More pretend food! Toddlers just love it! This garden salad play set is another great opportunity for open-ended pretend play. Durable and made of all non-toxic materials, this is a great addition to a play kitchen!

38. LEGO Duplo Classic Brick Set

Another Duplo set to consider is a simple, classic brick set. This set includes 85 pieces that are ready for creative building. Consider this one as a great starter set!

39. Green Toys Play Dough

My kids love the Green Toys dough pack. It’s a great alternative for those times when you just don’t have time to DIY your own play-dough. This is a 10-pack of play dough and features five different colors. This is perfect for sensory play!

40. Recycling Truck

Toddlers love playing with this recycling truck. It’s large enough that your child can actually fit small toys inside and can practice recycling while learning about the environment. It features a movable truck bed and rear door.

41. A Toy Airplane

Kids at this age can often be fascinated by airplanes. Green Toys makes a very toddler-friendly airplane for your aviation-loving child! It’s lightweight for easy flying and features a spinning propeller and two wheels that will roll.

42. An Ambulance and Doctor’s Kit

2-year-olds often love to play doctor with their stuffed animal or dolls. This doctor’s kit features all the tools necessary for your doctor-in-training: a stethoscope, reflex hammer, syringe, forceps, thermometer, and otoscope. All of these parts can be stored in the ambulance truck as well.

43. Train and Storybook Set

Books are always a great gift for children. This gift set comes with a book and a matching train for plenty of pretend play after the story is over. You might even find that your child likes to pretend with the train alongside the story as it’s read.

44. Dyson Replica Vacuum

This Dyson Replica Vacuum is a good option for children who love to help. It actually uses suction and can collect a little dust. It even makes a real vacuum sound!

46. Count Your Chickens Board Game

The Count Your Chickens game is simple enough for 2-year-olds to play with some help. It improves early math skills and introduces the concept of games. What I also love about this game is that it is collaborative, meaning that the players aren’t competing with one another, but are playing together. The object of the game is to get all the little chickies back home in their coop before mama gets home.

47. Golf Clubs

Tiny Golf Clubs are adorable and well-loved by toddlers. This is also another fun gift idea for 2-year-olds and it really does help introduce kids to a great sport at an early age.

48. Duck Duck Dance

We liked Duck Duck Dance game as well. It is perfect for ages two and up. Involves lots of dancing and wiggling around! Perfect for those rainy, cold days when your little one still has lots of energy!

49. Step2 Sports Climber

Some children love to climb, especially kids who are sensory-seeking. If your child falls into this group, the Step2 Climber is a perfect option for indoor play. It provides the perfect outlet for your children to wear themselves out while having lots of fun.

50. Radio Flyer Classic Wagon

The Radio Flyer Classic Wagon is a great open-ended toy. Children can use it to do many different things, whether they turn it into a baby cradle or a race car. Note that this can also be used as a push walker for younger toddlers as they learn to walk on their own.

51. Basketball Set

Basketball is often a great game for young toddlers. This basketball set is a great way to introduce little kids to the concept of playing sports. Adjustable from 2.5 feet to 4 feet, this should be just the right size for now and later. The base can be weighted for stability as well to prevent it from falling over. The rim is oversized, and it comes with three small balls.

52. Water Wow Books

Water Wow books are a simple and easy way to keep your child entertained without the mess of painting. All you need to do is fill the brush pen with water, and the images magically grow into colorful pictures!

This activity helps develop your child’s fine motor skills and are just lots of fun overall. Great for on-the-go, especially for travel. Note that these may not be great for sensitive kids, including those with a soy allergy.

53. Books and More Books

One of the best gifts for any two-year-old is the gift of reading. Lots and lots of books is a great way to go! There are a few I particularly love to read to my boys.

Don’t Push the Button is a wonderful book for toddlers that’s all about not pushing the big red button! It’s super funny, making it perfect for children who love a bit of humor.

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie—along with all of the other books in the Mouse series—is a wonderful book to gift to a toddler.

Dragons Love Tacos is another fun story that toddlers will enjoy. This book is well-illustrated and perfect for reading in a silly voice.

54. A Bilibo Seat

A Bilibo is a fun toddler seat that can be used for countless motor activities that stimulate fun imaginative play. This is also great for kids with sensory needs.

55. Wooden Wobble Board

Wooden Wobble Boards are a classic toy, and there is a reason they’ve persisted for so long. Children love them, and they provide the same sensory input as a swing. They are really great for helping children calm down and build their motor skills.

Which Gifts Should You Pick For Your 2 Year Old?

In all honesty, any 2-year-old will love all of the toys on this list!

You can base your choice on their likes and on the occasion. I always recommend thinking about what your child likes to do the most. Try to base your toy selection on those interests.

From trucks or dolls to pretend play or physical interactive play—this list has got it covered! You can also consider picking out a toy that has nothing to do with his or her current interests to see if that inspires them towards further exploration!

In the end, though, your child will love just about any toy on this list. Happy gifting!