The Best Holiday Gifts for 2-Year-Olds
Your two-year-old has a HUGE cognitive growth spurt this year- saying new words, displaying higher level problem solving and fine motor abilities. These are the best toys for your two year old, because they keep them busy while challenging them to learn new skills!
This page may include affiliate links.
These are one of the best toys for your two-year-old’s problem solving skills. Your toddler can mix and match the heads and legs on these dinos while they build them-making for hours of creative play. While your toddler is building, they’re practicing bilateral coordination and hand dexterity-two skills that are so important to work into play at this age!
2. Pop-Up Toy
I’m obsessed with this, and so are all of my kids (ranging in age from 9 months to 4 years.) This toy requires your toddler to push down on the peg and slide their finger out of the way in time for it to POP! Then, your toddler will naturally challenge themself to chase and catch the peg. This is SO good for your child’s developing visual-motor coordination.
This toy is mesmerizing to every toddler. It’s perfect for practicing fine motor coordination while placing the cars onto the track, visual tracking skills (which will help your toddler learn to read in a few years), and problem-solving. Although this toy challenges several developmental skills, it’s simple enough that toddlers don’t tend to get frustrated playing with it.
This is every sensory-seeking toddler’s favorite toy (and HOW have most people never heard of these!). Your toddler can sit on it and bounce in one place, or bounce all over the house. While they bounce, they’re activating their core muscles and vestibular system. These are both regulating to your toddler’s nervous system!
5. Radio Flyer 4-in-1 Tricycle
If your toddler is starting get antsy in the stroller, but you still want to get your morning walk in – you want this! This tricycle adapts as your toddler grows and becomes more independent, so this one trike will last your little for a long time!
6. Play House
A play house is one toy that your toddler is going to use for years to come. At two, the house makes a great sensory calm-down space. Add a big pillow and a few stuffies and it makes a great, quiet reading nook. As your toddler grows into a preschooler, it’s the perfect spot for pretend play!
7. Lego Duplos
Teaching toddlers to love to build is one the THE best gifts you can give yourself – and them. While they build woth duplos, they are exercising so many important skills. Cognition, fine motor skills, problem-solving, creativity and hand-eye coordination – and that’s just a few. As your toddler grows, they’ll get more independent and creative with their builds – leading to hours of play.
8. Melissa & Doug Animal Puzzle
The developmental benefits of puzzles for toddlers are unmatched! This one offers animal noises when your toddler successfully manipulates a piece into place, which increases their motivation to keep problem-solving!
Puzzles are important for helping toddlers develop frustration tolerance. That’s how toddlers learn to problem-solve through a frustration without having a tantrum.
