"When my oldest son turned 2, I braced myself. After all, they must call it âterrible twosâ for a reason, right?
Well, not quite. Sure, 2-year-olds come with a healthy dose of frustration, exasperation, and general OMG-ness. But if you were still learning about the grown-up world and absolutely nothing made sense, wouldnât you too?
Year two in your little oneâs life comes with incredible growth. Youâll often see a language explosion, gross and fine motor skills expand, potty-learning begin, and play skills develop at a rapid pace. Itâs astounding to watch, and when you step back and think about just how much is going on in their little brains at once, all the tantrums and defiance make more sense, too.
If your kid is turning 2, get ready for hilarious conversations, much more involved play, and lots of sweet, sloppy kid hugs and kisses. As for what youâll need? Leave that to us. Our favorite items for 2-year-olds are all gathered in one place so you donât need to spend time lookingâand theyâre all Prime ready.
Toys for 2-Year-Olds
From toys to keep your little ones active inside or outside, to toys that encourage open-ended play and development, here are some of our favorites.
The perfect toy to use inside in the winter and bring outside when the weather gets warmer. This sports play set includes space to climbing, crawl, slide, and play basketball.
This wooden balance board is the epitome of creative play; it can be everything from a seesaw to a tunnel to a bridge. Fun for the whole family, this toy can be used indoors and outdoors.
The Step2 Roller Coasters were sold out everywhere last year, but this year, they've added new characters to the mix, like this rainbow unicorn.
This is one of those gifts that you'll love for getting out the wiggles indoors this winter, and you can bring it outside when the weather gets warmer.
Play this active game with little ones to help them learn gross motor skills, hand-eye coordination, imitation, and more!
An art easel you won't mind having in your home, this timeless set-up includes spots for a paper roll, chalkboard, and more.
Play-Doh may be polarizing for some parents (yes the dried crumbs can make a mess) BUT it offers endless options for sensory and open-ended play.
Doctor kits are a toddler favorite for check-ups on their stuffed animalsâor their parents.
Littles can practice their fine motor skills with this interactive and colorful wooden toolbox from Hape.
Remember sticker books as a kid? This set includes 400 reusable stickers to make the fun last longer!
Perfect for little engineers, this cargo railway set will help toddlers get creative and understand their surroundings.
These eight inch foam building blocks come 18 to a pack and encourage STEM development.
Fun and functional, these multicolored magnetic shapes will help with color and shape recognition while encouraging creative construction.
This special book helps teach toddlers about their emotions with 3D pop-ups on every page.
Work on fine motor skills with this busy board including, zippers, snaps, and more.
For mess-free coloring, look no farther than Crayola's Color Wonder line.
Teach little ones their ABC's while exploring the many careers they could grow up to haveâfrom engineer to writer, neurosurgeon to software engineer, and more.
LOs can practice their fine-motor skills safely with Plan Toys Velcro-connected wooden fruits and vegetables.
This classic set encourages open-ended building, perfect for your toddler's budding imagination.
Take these little wooden puzzles on the go to help your toddler develop shape recognition and concentration skills easily.
Bathtime Toys for 2-Year-Olds
Whether you have to coax your toddler into the tub or not, these favorites will keep bath time fun.
These pipe building bath toys introduce kids to science and engineering concepts at bath time.
Little ones will love loading and off-loading their vehicles with this ferry boat made from recycled plastic.
Also dishwasher-safe, so you don't need to worry about it getting moldy.
Strong suction cups hold this basketball hoop in place for plenty of bath time fun.
My kids love their critter hooded towels, like this soft and absorbant organic bamboo towel.
Make bathtime for little ones even more fun with these non-toxic bath color drops, made in New Zealand. And don't worry, the color just rinses away, leaving no mess behind!
Mealtime Essentials for 2-Year-Olds
Youâll find descriptors like âspill-proofâ throughout this list because, well, theyâre toddlers after all and manners may not be part of snack or mealtime.
Made from recycled milk jugs, Re-Play plates are perfect for little ones who appreciate some separation of their food. Plus they come in TONS of color combinations.
Toddlers just tend to eat better when food is fun! Use these cookie cutters to make creative-shaped sandwiches, snacks, and more.
This spill-proof bottle is easy to use and easy to clean. Best for kids who have already mastered a straw.
available in 14 patterns
Toddler-sized utensils can help kids feed themselves.
also available in green and blue
These cups automatically seal when your child stops drinking! Plus they have the dentist-recommended spoutless design.
This insulated stainless steel bowl keeps food warm while keeping baby's hands protected. Plus it has a silicone suction and top.
Spill-proof snack cups are pretty much a toddler must-have. This stainless steel version includes a soft, BPA-free plastic top with soft flaps for little hands.
Freeze juice, yogurt, fruit, or other healthy options in these popsicle molds to make snacking that much more fun!
This article was originally published in January 2021. It has been updated for timeliness.
