Best Toys for 2-Year Olds – Top Gift Ideas!

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By the time a child turns two, they tend to get more excited about playing with friends, or sorting shapes and colors. He or she may even run around riding a tricycle or kicking and throwing balls. Toddlers are very active. If you’re not sure what types of toys your toddler needs, then this guide on the best toys and gifts for 2-year-olds will point you in the right direction and can ensure you purchase a new toy your toddler is sure to love.

When you shop for toys for a toddler, make sure you choose toys that match their interests and can also teach them something new. While it may seem like shopping for toys is pretty simple, there are so many options to choose from these days that you may find yourself a little overwhelmed when you’re trying to find the right gift for your 2-year-old. If you want to find a toy your child is sure to love, then read on and learn more about the top-rated toddler toys on the market.

ProductTypeMaterialEducational
Objective
Our Rating
WowWee Baby Shark
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TabletPlasticHand-eye
coordination
Fine motor skills
Spike the Fine Motor Hedgehog
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GamePlasticFine motor skills
LEGO DUPLO Train
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BuildingPlasticFine motor skills
LeapFrog Storytime Buddy
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Reading
comprehension
Plastic/
Polyester
Letters
Numbers
Fine motor skills
Let's Dance Elmo
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MusicalPlasticAnimals and colors
Melissa & Doug’s Peg Puzzles
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PuzzlesWoodAnimals
Shapes
Fine motor skills
Playmobil Noah´s Ark
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Play SetPlasticFine motor skills
Animals
Duplo Steam Train
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Train setPlasticFine motor skills
Animals
Radio Flyer Scoot About Sport
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Ride-onSteelGross motor skills
LeapFrog Scoop and Learn Cart
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Play SetPlasticGross motor skills
Colors
Flavors
Numbers

WowWee Baby Shark’s Big Show! Kids Tablet


Our Rating: (5/5)

This tablet by WowWee features five learning activities that can develop fine motor skills and memory. Your child will have fun learning about the different characters and creatures while they improve their hand-eye coordination. If your child is a fan of Baby Shark, they will also love singing along with Baby Shark’s Big Show songs. They can push buttons to learn letters and numbers, or they can press a character’s button and they’ll help your child learn their numbers and ABCs.

Pros

  • Develops hand-eye coordination
  • Improves fine motor skills
  • Includes songs and games
  • Durable
  • Long battery life
  • Adjustable volume control

Cons

  • Some buttons can be hard to press
  • Does not include carrying case

Conclusion

This tablet is built tough, and much stronger than a tablet designed for adults. It’s also loaded with a variety of games that will keep your child happy and engaged for hours on end. Parents will love the long battery life and adjustable volume control, while their toddler participates in games, practices their numbers, and letters, and sings along to their favorite songs.

Spike the Fine Motor Hedgehog


Our Rating: (4.5/5)

This fine motor skills game features chunky pegs that fit neatly into slots on the back of a colorful hedgehog. These plastic quills help a child improve their counting skills, sorting, and color recognition. The pieces are very easy to grasp and are the perfect size for smaller hands. This set includes a two-piece hedgehog and a total of twelve chunky quills. For simple storage, you can store the quills in the hedgehog’s back.

Pros

  • Durable
  • Pieces can be stored on hedgehog’s back
  • Improves fine motor skills
  • Teaches colors and sorting
  • Pieces are easy to maneuver
  • Low price

Cons

  • Not recommended for children who chew on toys
  • Quills are made out of a cheap plastic

Conclusion

This colorful game is perfect for boys and girls who love to sort. This game makes learning colors fun and is perfect for parents looking for a game that includes bigger pieces that are hard to lose and easy to store. The game is also designed to improve fine motor skills and can be played by one child or two at the same time.

Lego Duplo My First Number Train


Our Rating: (4.5/5)

This set will teach your child how to count and improves fine motor skills. This set comes with a cat figure, two child Duplo figures, bricks decorated with numbers one-nine, three wagons, and a locomotive. A child can build a colorful number train while using their imagination as they play with Duplo people and animals. The set is designed to encourage imaginative play and building skills in toddlers.

Pros

  • Includes two Duplo people and a cat
  • Comes with nine numbered bricks
  • Buildable locomotive
  • Colorful
  • Made out of durable ABS plastic
  • Low price

Cons

  • No carrying case
  • Pieces can easily be lost

Conclusion

This educational toy by Lego is easy to assemble, features fun Duplo characters, and teaches your child all about numbers while improving their fine motor skills. It’s a perfect starter set for younger children interested in trains, Legos, building and allows a child to easily learn and memorize their numbers.

LeapFrog Storytime Buddy


Our Rating: (4.5/5)

The Storytime Buddy allows your child to choose a book, pressing the corresponding number on the dog’s collar to enjoy five stories that include Buddy the dog and his friends. Each of the stories features different curriculum including opposites, colors, numbers, shapes, and emotions. Your child can press the ABC button to learn about the letters in their books or they can press the book button to listen to Buddy the dog ask reading comprehension questions.

Pros

  • Includes five stories
  • Teaches numbers and letters
  • Includes nightlight
  • Reading comprehension
  • Cuddly dog provides hours of entertainment

Cons

  • May be difficult for some 2-year-olds to learn how to use
  • Not washable

Conclusion

This toy is designed for children ages two to five. It features five stories, including bedtime stories and songs, a light up collar that can be used as a nightlight, and an interactive design that your child will love.

Let’s Dance Elmo


Our Rating: (4.5/5)

Let’s Dance Elmo allows kids to dance along with their favorite Sesame Street character who sings, dances, and plays music. Elmo can also shake his hips, tilt his head, and swing his arms. This toy features three musical modes: songs, animals, and colors. Your child can activate each of these modes by touching a button located on Elmo’s headphones. Elmo’s heart will beat with the music and changes colors. As your child dances, Elmo will say some encouraging phrases that will motivate your child to keep on dancing. Phrases include “Elmo is ready for a dance party” and “that was some great dancing”. Your child can explore colors and animals through phrases and songs that are meant to give their imagination a boost.

Pros

  • Teaches children colors and animals
  • Gets your child up and moving
  • Durable
  • Easy to use
  • Includes a variety of songs
  • Long battery life

Cons

  • Toy’s arms do not always work
  • Is easily knocked over

Conclusion

Dancing and singing with Elmo will keep your child active and entertained for hours. The simple design makes this toy suitable for children eighteen months and up. The easy to clean, durable exterior is a big selling point for parents, especially if their child is prone to throwing toys. Overall, this Elmo is a great buy for the family on a tight budget and the child that loves to sing and dance.

Melissa & Doug’s Wooden Peg Puzzles


Our Rating: (4.5/5)

This set includes three puzzles, each of which feature six pegged wooden pieces. The pieces are easy to grasp and teach children how to match the wooden pieces to the same illustrations located under every piece on the board. The puzzles are made out of high-quality wood materials for improved durability. These puzzles will teach a child about shapes, animals, matching, hand-eye coordination, can improve hand-eye coordination, and will also improve fine motor skills.

Pros

  • Includes three puzzles
  • Improves hand-eye coordination
  • Improves fine motor skills
  • Teaches children about shapes and animals
  • Low price
  • Made out of wood

Cons

  • Cannot be washed
  • Pieces are thin

Conclusion

This set includes three puzzles, each of which feature beautiful illustrations of animals. The wood material design adds to a puzzle’s durability, which will be a huge selling point for parents. This set is a must-have for any toddler and can help them improve fine motor skills, matching skills, all while teaching them about different shapes and animals.

Playmobil Noah´s Ark


Our Rating: (4.5/5)

This set will teach your child all about animals while improving their fine motor skills. A child can guide the animals up the ramp, two at a time, and store them neatly inside the ark. The set comes with larger animals such as lions, zebras, giraffes, and smaller animals including meerkats, orangutans, and chimpanzees.

Pros

  • Includes a wide variety of animals
  • Ark floats
  • Ark can be used to store animals once playtime is over
  • Teaches children about different types of animals
  • Improves fine motor skills

Cons

  • Price
  • Includes small pieces

Conclusion

This set exposes children to a wide variety of animals. The ark, which actually floats, can also be used to store the animals once playtime is over. The animals are durable, colorful, detailed, and allow your child to use their imagination as they organize and sort.

Duplo Steam Train


Our Rating: (4.5/5)

This set includes sixteen track pieces, with a steam train track toy and action bricks. This set is easy to build and designed to strengthen spatial thinking. The train includes sounds, lights, animal figures, children Duplo figures, a locomotive driver, and more. This train set improves fine motor skills, development in language, and cognitive ability in children ages two to five.

Pros

  • Free app
  • Includes action blocks
  • Improves spatial thinking
  • 59-piece set
  • Includes animals and people

Cons

  • Small pieces can get lost
  • Difficult for children to assemble

Conclusion

This train set for toddlers comes with a ton of pieces. Once the pieces are snapped together, the train is easy to move along the tracks. Parents can use the set’s app like a remote control and control some of the train’s functions such as the lights or the horn. The train’s included action bricks add another element of interactive plan and make the train do things such as toot. A fun, and very interactive train set that’s great for the whole family this 59-piece set is a steal for the price.

Radio Flyer Scoot About Sport


Our Rating: (4.5/5)

This ride-on toy features a sturdy steel frame that comes equipped with a front bumper that will protect the walls of your home and your furniture. The front wheels are wide set for stability and safety. The seat is adjustable, so it will grow with your child. Additionally, this ride-on toy also comes with a ringing bell, soft streamers, chrome handlebars, and real steering.

Pros

  • Real steering
  • Wide-set front wheels
  • Chrome handlebars
  • Front bumper
  • Sturdy steel frame

Cons

  • Seat can be uncomfortable
  • Difficult assembly

Conclusion

Your child can take this sporty scooter for a ride anywhere around the home or yard. The wide-set wheels will help improve your child’s stability as they ride, while the handlebars make steering a cinch. Under the seat, you’ll find a big storage compartment that’s perfect for storing some snacks and toys on the go.

LeapFrog Scoop and Learn Ice Cream Cart Deluxe


Our Rating: (4/5)

This ice cream cart features a magic scooper to scoop up the ice cream, while teaching your child about colors, shapes, and flavors. This set will help build a child’s memory and sequencing skills by following the included instructions found on six cards. The set features phrases that introduce flavors, numbers, and colors. Pushing the cart around will help improve a child’s gross motor skills as they listen to the included music.

Pros

  • Improves gross motor skills
  • Builds memory and sequencing skills
  • A child will learn about numbers, colors, and flavors
  • Colorful
  • Durable

Cons

  • Difficult to assemble
  • Price

Conclusion

This full-service ice cream cart can provide hours of entertainment for the kids. While it may be difficult for mom or dad to assemble, the effort is worth it. The colorful cart will improve a child’s gross motor skills, while the colorful ice cream and toppings will teach children about colors, flavors, and more.

Final Words

Choosing toys for children based on their age ensures you focus on areas that are still developing, such as fine motor skills and gross motor skills, while encouraging your child to learn things and get a head start before preschool. The toys in this guide are perfect for both boys and girls and can teach your child about colors, shapes, numbers, early reading comprehension, and much more.

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