Whether you’re buying a gift for their second birthday, or as a Christmas present - choosing the right present for a two-year-old is a different proposition to a year ago.
Two-year-olds have begun to explore their independence, are beginning to understand properly how their body works while being especially inquisitive about their environment.
Role-playing can play a big part in their grasping of the world around them. They look to learn through replication and mimicking what they see their parents, and other adults around them doing, really sets in now.
Playing with them becomes more interactive, as they're understanding more concepts (such as putting blocks on top of one-another) and those sponge-like brains are able to put this newly-found knowledge into practice.
Table Of Contents
Our top three gifts for two-year-olds
Developmental benefits
At two, children’s brains have really begun to put order into the world around them, and their bodies are getting to grips with some more intricate tasks.
They're beginning to sort shapes and colours - meaning toys can become a lot more interactive; there are plenty of options out there to help with that. They're also able to recognise when something is hidden under multiple layers, leading to your first mutual hide-and-seek experiences!
Meanwhile, imagination is kicking into gear, leading to an increase in simple make-believe games. Mimicking their surroundings with doctor kits, uniforms or toy kitchens, is a great way to encourage this.
As their fine-motor-skills increase in dexterity, their ability to build larger towers grows. Blocks are rarely a bad gift in the early years and now they start to come into their own.
You may also notice that they’re favouring one hand over the other - although this doesn't mean anything's set in stone yet!
What to look out for in a two-year-old's gift
When your child is two, you’re looking for toys and activity sets that engage and excite. Something that utilises their burgeoning motor-skills and curiosity with the outside world.
There’s an increased level of wanting to be involved, whether it’s helping out with folding the clothes or having an interactive game. Toys that mimic ‘adult’ activities are wonderful as they offer the feeling of helping with certain activities (such as cleaning) that they may not be ready for just yet!
Books that have colours, shapes, numbers and letters are fantastic ways of introducing names to core areas of growth, and allow increased interaction. We have a guide on the best books for two-year-olds right here.
Wooden toys are always popular, especially those with puzzle shapes to boost their fine motor skills, and colouring books.
Art supplies such as crayons and markers are fantastic to stoke their creative expression. Now is a great time to begin introducing basic puzzles, as it helps with problem-solving and fine-motor-skills.
Finally - anything to make outdoor play more exciting than running around - balls and bubbles - perhaps gardening equipment to help them explore whilst out and about.
Prices can begin to creep up as the toys become more intricate. Kitchen sets, for example, can get quite pricy. Puzzles are a good option at the lower end.
The 20 best gifts for two-year-olds
Editor's Review
"The Fisher-Price Dj Bouncin’ Beats Learning Toy is a fantastic addition to any baby or toddler's playtime routine. Its combination of music, lights, and bouncing action provides a multi-sensory experience that promotes learning and development."
An interactive musical learning toy with a spring bottom for motorised bouncing action as babies play. It has three learning levels which teach the alphabet, colours, counting 1-10, and opposites. It includes 75+ songs, sounds and phrases and a built-in mic which offers remix effects.
Suitable from: Nine months plus
Key features
- Multiple teaching modes
- Inbuilt mic
- Move-along dance mode!
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Editor's Review
"This is a cool developmental toy because it allows for different ways of putting together the blocks to set the train up. The beauty of this toy is that you can use it for different things...teaching colours, shapes, and orientation of putting blocks on pegs, because some of them have holes in directions children may not expect."
Load up the train with bright, colourful shapes and get learning off to a rolling start! The 15 easy-to-grasp wooden blocks slot onto rods on the flatcars, providing a great opportunity to practice fine motor skills. The blocks can also be used for stacking, building, and sorting, and the smooth-rolling train cars detach to shorten the train or let children play with the cars individually. The engine and two train cars comes loaded with 15 brightly coloured wooden blocks come in red, yellow, green, and blue.
Suitable from: This makes an ideal gift for kids aged two to four.
Key features
- Detachable train carriages - play apart or together
- Multiple shapes and ways of putting them on
- 15 blocks to stack on the trains
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Editor's Review
"I was pleasantly surprised at the quality and quantity of characters received from this toy. The music volume was exactly the right height so as not to be considered annoying but where my kids enjoyed pressing the button and singing along over and over. It has been over 2 months and they still play with it almost every day. If your kid loves Cocomelon then you can't go wrong with this toy."
If your child is like most, CoComelon is a firm favourite during quiet time. With this play house, they can play with JJ, family, friends, and even Bingo, the pup! Along with all their favourite characters and furniture for the house, there’s an activity sheet to help spark playtime ideas.
Roleplay games help expand a child’s imagination, an activity and skill that is important to develop during their formative years.
Suitable from: This makes an ideal gift for kids aged two to four.
Key features
- A fully-featured dolls house for role-play
- Has a carry-handle to allow easy transport
- Activity sheet to enhance play options
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4. Play-Doh
Editor's Review
"Play-Doh has been a household staple in my house since I was a child so it is only natural that I purchase it for my children. The consistency and product standards are still the same and exceed my high expectations. I can't say I enjoy cleaning it up! I can say that my children play with it for hours on end."
Relive your childhood with this Play-Doh four-pack. Squish, bend, shape and make with only your imagination to limit you. Just mind that carpet! A great way to introduce your toddler to new textures, colours and a world full of squidge and fun.
Suitable from: This makes an ideal gift for kids aged two to four.
Key features
- This pack feature four different colours
- It's Play-Doh!
- Hours of creativity ahead
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Editor's Review
"This might be my daughter's favourite toy now. The pieces end up all over, but we’ve never actually lost any because they’re big enough. She loves to be ice cream man and make orders, the little cards are great giving instructions, and they know she picks up the right ones with the scoop somehow."
A cool way to spend time. Encourage your child's entrepreneurial skills and enjoy their burgeoning roleplay with this tasty ice-cream cart.
Customers can order ice cream or ice pops in a variety of imaginative and tasty-looking combinations directly from your little one's ice cream stand. Use the magic scooper to scoop up one of the four ice cream flavours and add one of threetoppings to build customer orders. Once finished, add pretend syrup. There are a number of animal cards, each with an order to follow
Suitable from: Two years upwards
Key features
- Multiple ice cream or ice pop options
- Roll the cart along for musical accompaniment
- Includes prompts to encourage memory skills
- The cart knows the orders!
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Editor's Review
"My daughter loves this toy! It’s very sturdy but also lightweight - my 18 month old can pull it off the shelf herself with one hand. It may be a little frustrating if your kiddo doesn’t have fine motor skills yet, as the cars do not self-correct. They won’t go down the ramp unless they’re placed perfectly straight on the ramp. It took my daughter a few tries and me showing her, but now that she gets it it’s a lot of fun! A good purchase all around!"
Choose your car, release it from the top of the ramp and let the racing begin. Each car jumps out at the end of the track and then continues to the next track.
It's a simple but effective way to spend time - and the winners of the race can surprise you. It comes with a neat little "car park" which sits at the bottom for the cars to race to.
Suitable from: 18 months upwards
Key features
- Comes with seven cars
- Wooden tracks
- Separate carpark
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7. Tonie Box
Editor's Review
" I love sharing old, scratchy children’s records with my toddler (the ones I listened to as a child and now can only find at thrift stores) and this feels similar for me.
Our 2 year old LOVES it and refers to it as her “radio”. We aren’t too focused on the rewind/whack/tilt functions. She puts the figure on top and listens to the stories or songs. Best gift under the tree. By far. "
Similar in style to a Yoto - the Toniebox is a new audio system designed for little listeners. Rather than cards, a Toniebox uses 'Tonies" - little characters placed on top and contain the story or songs.
Tonies bring your family a screen-free, imagination-building experience, and each one brings new stories or songs! The included Playtime Puppy Tonie features some of the most popular songs for playtime, including Wheels on the Bus, If You're Happy and You Know It, and others.
This set also includes a charging station to power your Toniebox battery (lasts up to seven hours).
Suitable from: Two years upwards (although may also work for an 18 month)
Key features
- Screen-free listening experience that inspires your kids’ imagination
- Playback starts automatically when Tonies audio characters are placed on the Toniebox. Pressing the ears changes the volume. Tapping the sides changes tracks.
- This starter set includes the Toniebox, charging station and Playtime Puppy Tonie
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Editor's Review
"This is such a cute toy set that introduces building and following directions at a beginners level. Building the different vehicles is good fine motor, but the pieces and connection holes are big enough for little hands to handle and fit together. When the vehicle is put together it stays together well so that my son can then play with it. He loved it and is obsessed with the driver/pilot/captain that he calls "man.""
A fun way to introduce the idea of more complicated construction, this 3-in-1 toy will provide hours of fun. Expand your little one’s building and problem-solving skills with three different vehicles to build - after which they can play, and build again!
Suitable from: Two to four years
Key features
- Build three different modes of transportation
- Mix-and-match pieces
- Driver figure doubles as a screwdriver
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Editor's Review
"My son loves them. Builds little buildings and random stuff all day long with them. He plays with them in the living room watching TV. He plays with them in the kitchen, while having dinner, he even builds with them in the bathtub!"
The 80 piece Maxi Blocks Classic Bag by Mega Bloks is the perfect toy for your little building fan who is just learning how to build with their own two hands. Give them the opportunity to stimulate his imagination and learning skills while encouraging discovery, fine motor skills and open-ended play. The practical storage bag keeps all of the pieces securely in one place and comes with a hand-strap to make carrying the blocks a snap.
Suitable from: This makes an ideal gift for kids over the age of one
Key features
80 multicoloured blocks of different sizes
Great introduction to construction
Multiple options to create whatever they want
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Editor's Review
“My two-year-old loves this puzzle. He has some experience with puzzles, but this is a challenge for him having only recently turned two, so I think it will provide lots of fun. Great pieces, very nice picture, excellent quality."
Big Alphabet is a great way to make learning the letters of the alphabet fun and engaging. Children can be encouraged to say the letters of the alphabet out loud as they piece together the colourful puzzle and can become familiar with a word associated with each letter. Meanwhile, the fun learning guide on the back of the box is a great way to get little children talking.
Suitable from: This makes an ideal gift for kids aged two and up
Key features
- 26 chunky puzzle pieces with all the alphabet on
- Additional poster to help with learning
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Editor's Review
“This has been a great addition to the play kitchen. We have another kit very similar to this one but had different foods included so when I saw this one I knew we needed it. With the included baskets, kiddo can now go shopping and put together grocery runs in the wagon/tricycle."
Let your children help you prep for dinner or a healthy lunch with their very own set of choppable fruit. Each piece of fruit splits into two and can be reattached via the inbuilt velcro. All the fruit has been 3D modelled on actual fruit for increased realism. Come with shopping baskets and chopping board.
Suitable from: This makes an ideal gift for kids aged two and upwards
Key features
35 types of fruit
Two grocery baskets
Eight dinner plates
Four child-safe plastic knives/chopping board
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Editor's Review
“This John Deere toolbelt has brought endless fun to my son's day! Watching him engage with the tools and pretend to help us with household projects is so cute. He knows all the names of each tool and insists on correcting anyone who gets them wrong! Even my 1 year old daughter has started joining in on the fun, exploring the various tools."
The John Deere Deluxe Talking Tool Belt is the perfect toy tool set for your little fixer-upper! This complete seven-piece set includes a hammer, wrench, screwdriver, pliers, ratchet and tape measure to get the job done just like mum and dad. The adjustable belt features a slot for each tool and an electronic belt buckle with three tool sounds and two fun phrases.
Suitable from: This makes an ideal gift for kids aged two to five.
Key features
Six tools
Electronic toolbelt
Tool sounds and fun phrases
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Editor's Review
“I got these for my daughter. She loves them. They are a good size for her to play with as she grows. They’re soft bodied and not too heavy compared to some others we have. The quality is great too. She especially likes that the eyes open and close."
Children love looking after babies, and this twin-set of baby dolls are an excellent pairing. No gimmicks, just cute, cuddly dolls with dummies for your little one to care for. They'll help with developing emotional and social skills and provide hours of entertainment.
Suitable from: This makes an ideal gift for kids 18 months to 5 years
Key features
Two dolls
Two pacifiers
Two caps/rompers
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Editor's Review
“Wonderful, classic toy that is too cute! My 2-year-old son pulls this croc on the pavement, in the mall, around a parking lot and gets more attention and giggles from everyone. The croc wiggles his tail as he walks. Such great quality for the price. This will last a lifetime, no doubt!"
Toddlers will enjoy taking this colourful croc for long walks. Encourages imitative and imaginary play; promotes fantasy story telling, role playing, and creativity. Rubber rimmed wheels to protect floor surfaces. Durable child safe paint finish and solid wood construction.
Suitable from: This makes an ideal gift for kids 12 months and older
Key features
Walkable crocodile
Bendy body to help when moving around
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Editor's Review
“My 18 month and 4 year old both loved it, although it does come with a lot of pieces! The four year old could manoeuvre the pieces and put them in place at will. The 18-month-old was able to get a few pieces in place, but mostly dropped the smaller piece through the larger holes. Once he noticed that the bud actually rolled on its wheels, he enjoyed pushing it around. The toy is great for motor skills, but the little magnet on the fishing rod doesn’t catch the pieces without help."
This well constructed wooden toy has many functions to help with imagination, and play-time, including a truck, three fruit animal blocks, one farmer, eight carrots, six cute worms, four fish blocks and a magnetic fishing toy boom to catch them!
Drive the car around the house, sort the vegetables into the correct slots or even play fishing to help fine tune those fine-motor skills!
Suitable from: This makes an ideal gift for kids 18 months to four years.
Key features
Conforms to Montessori ideals - assisting in active learning
Multiple activities from one toy
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Editor's Review
“Enjoyed the fact that the item was not bulky at all for my 18 month old daughter to pick up and carry. It had enough notes in order to play a couple of well known nursery tunes with the help of easy to read colour coded music sheets. I like there is a storage for the two wooden mallets within the instrument itself for keeping all pieces together and not lost."
Set up a musical future with this beautiful xylophone. Featuring metal keys and two wooden mallets to hit - it also comes with music cards to help learn some children’s favourite tunes! Help encourage an understanding of sound with a fun and useful toy.
This will also assist with their fine and gross motor-skills - and helping with their understanding of 'cause-and-effect'. It's a great introduction to musical instruments.
Suitable from: This makes an ideal gift for kids two years and older
Key features
Solid construction
Eight bars in a c major scale
Two song sheets
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Editor's Review
"This book is awesome with stories from my own childhood! The pictures are bold, and colourful! I absolutely adore the book cover, it gives off a sense of nostalgia. I think I'll start a "collection" of all the age series of these books! I look forward to passing down and reading stories I grew up on."
Snuggle up to your favourite nursery rhymes and drift into the magical worlds of all your most beloved fairy-tale characters with this unique collection of enchanting stories carefully selected to enthral two-year-olds.
Enjoy the classic tales of The Three Little Pigs and Goldilocks along with exciting new stories and rhymes in this sturdy collectible format filled with playful illustrations your toddler will adore. A perfect book to celebrate your favourite two-year-old!
If you want any other book recommendations, check out our list of the best books for two-year olds.
Suitable from: This makes an ideal gift for kids two years upwards
Key features
A mixture of long and short stories
Also includes nursery rhymes
Wonderful illustrations
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Editor's Review
"The sturdy pages and bright, colourful illustrations capture children's attention and make the learning process enjoyable. Each page offers a tactile experience, allowing kids to practice their fine motor skills while mastering number recognition. This book is an excellent tool for early childhood development, combining learning with play excitingly. A must-have for any little learner's library."
This unique, innovative trace-and-flip book offers an engaging new way for children to discover numbers 1-20, and learn to count. Young readers can trace each number by following the tracks with a finger to become familiar with its shape - a method designed to assist with remembering.
A colourful lift-the-flap on every sturdy board page includes one of the featured objects to encourage counting and make it an enjoyable activity for everyone.
Suitable from: This makes an ideal gift for kids aged one to four
Key features
26 pages
Unique approach to learning letters
Trace the letter then point to relevant pictures
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Editor's Review
"This is a cool puzzle. Super pretty, challenging and fun. It’s challenging because it’s double-sides and the pieces sometimes are not exactly in order as it twists around to make the butterfly. Recommend for kids that like puzzle and creativity, too!"
Whether getting lost in the letters shown on each piece or scheming and storytelling about this super stegosaurus, a world of exploration awaits in this children’s puzzle, educational game and dinosaur toy, all-in-one.
Handcrafted from plantation-grown, sustainable rubberwood, and stained with child-safe, non-toxic dyes
Suitable from: This makes an ideal gift for kids aged one to four
Key features
Upper case on one side, lower case on the other
26 pieces
Eco-friendly production
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Editor's Review
"This teepee is great quality. The fabric is a thick cotton canvas that is sturdy and well sewn. The teepee legs are solid wood with screw-in, wood-colored plastic connectors. The quilted mat is thick with silicone dots on the bottom to prevent moving/slipping. The window is a nice touch and well-sewn. Each wooden rod has a clear rubber cap to help prevent sliding/slipping. The lights are a nice touch but I’m going to hold off on these till my son is older. He loves playing peekaboo with it, and I can get in (halfway) with him to enjoy a book together."
Teepee tents are a great way to give your child their own space. With this Teepee tent, they can create their own play-area, reading nook or hideaway. It has its own blanket - although you may want to get a cosier one - and the provided string-lights add an additional element of magic. There are pricier options out there but this a good mid-range.
Suitable from: This makes an ideal gift for kids two upwards
Key features
Spacious play area - suitable for three children
Two internal pockets for toys or books
Two year warranty
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FAQs
What type of gift is best for a two-year-old?
Toys that promote learning, such as building blocks, shape sorters, or puzzles are excellent ideas. Any of the role play options above will be a huge hit.
Alternatively, activity or interactive books - colourful pages with textures and flaps can engage their curiosity and help them learn at the same time.
You can never go wrong with a stuffed animal: They’ll always welcome a cuddly companion to help look after them.
Can I buy a gift that’s suitable for older than two year olds?
Yes, but bear in mind their developmental age. Toys with small parts or complex features might be frustrating for a two-year-old - not to mention act as a potential hazard - so consider the individual before purchase.
What’s the best gift for a two-year-old boy?
Any toy that will engage them and help develop motors skills! Don’t feel beholden to gender-specific entertainment. Some traditional options include cars and trucks, building blocks and animal or action figures.
What’s the best gift for a two-year-old girl?
As with boys - it’s more important to get them engaging their developing brains and physical skills. Classic options include dolls, dress-up clothes or building blocks.
What's STEM learning?
STEM Education means educating students in four specific disciplines, namely, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (collectively shortened as STEM). It's useful to begin adding STEM concepts into learning from about two to assist with understanding the world.
