A 2-year-old is bursting with energy and curiosity, so you'll want to find activities that grab his attention. As he gets more mobile, he'll take an interest in toys he can push, pull, and drag around with him, like a pull-toy duck with flapping feet or a mini shopping cart with his favorite Barney safely installed in the seat. He'll also get a thrill out of things that challenge his mind, like tray puzzles or large construction blocks. Read on for our list of choice gifts for 2-year-olds.
TRICYCLE - Her first set of wheels
A toddler will delight in tooling around on her tricycle — great for building her sense of independence. All by herself she can go like the wind (or a light breeze) as she learns to pedal. Choose a model with a wide base for stability. Some have adjustable seats or other options like under-the-seat storage. You can also get a tricycle with a detachable push handle and a pull-down foot rest so Mom or Dad can take over when she gets tired.
WAGON - All aboard
What little one isn't charmed by a classic red or earthy green wagon? Tired from the park, she can sit back and enjoy the ride home while mom knows she's safe right behind. At home in the yard, she can push and pull the wagon herself or just pile her toys in it.
ART SUPPLIES - Set her genius in motion
How we treasure those early scribbles! They go on Grandma's refrigerator, and Mom's wall at work. So how better to encourage a budding O'Keeffe than with an art kit? Give her the tools she needs — markers, crayons, watercolors, and construction paper — and watch her go. Don't forget to check labels to make sure everything is nontoxic and washable.
PLAY KITCHEN - What's for dinner?
Get your child ready to be Rachael Ray, Jacques Pepin, or Emeril with a play kitchen. Toddlers enjoy playing with plastic fruits, vegetables, pots, and spatulas. Food toys let him imitate what grownups do in the kitchen and will hold his interest for a couple of years even as his play gets more sophisticated.
SAND TOYS - For beach or backyard fun
Sandbox time will be more fun with a pail and shovel — she can build a castle or just make piles. For added interest, consider a bright yellow dump truck or front-end loader. She'll have a grand time loading up trucks and dumping her cargo.
BOOKS - Reading treasures
A gift of a book is fitting at any age, but for a toddler you should be looking for books with more than just a few words on each page and more complicated story lines than basic baby books have. Search out some well-tested favorites, such as Eric Carle's Very Hungry Caterpillar, Dr. Seuss's There's a Wocket in My Pocket, or Laura Joffe Numeroff's If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. Or visit a bookstore and pick out something new that catches your eye.
BATH TOYS - The gift that makes a splash
It's easy to turn bath time into fun time (or even zoo time!). Beyond the requisite rubber duckies, you'll find bath toys that can help get a child clean. Look for hippo or tiger bath mitts or fish or bear soap. Also check out cheerful terrycloth penguins, turtles, and frogs from Gund.
LARGE CONSTRUCTION BLOCKS - Tools for the budding architect
A phenomenal favorite, blocks are perfect for building a toddler's growing skills — grabbing, stacking, and sorting. Make sure the pieces of the set you choose are big enough so a toddler can't fit them in his mouth. You want to avoid a choking hazard. He can experiment with how many blocks he can pile up before his tower topples, or just enjoy sorting by color and shape.
PULL TOYS - Here we go!
You might remember dragging an old chime toy around behind you — pull toys have endured as a universal toddler pleaser. Most of the toys in this set have at least one bell or whistle — some also have flapping ears, wagging tails, or slapping feet. It's a good bet that if you find one you like it will also appeal to the 2-year-old in your life.
PUZZLES - Making Connections
Toddlers take great delight in the intellectual challenge of puzzles, and he'll learn shapes and colors along the way. Choose one of the many beautiful wooden animal puzzles in your local toy store or check out a map of the United States puzzle, and give him a head start on geography.
TRICYCLE - Her first set of wheels
A toddler will delight in tooling around on her tricycle — great for building her sense of independence. All by herself she can go like the wind (or a light breeze) as she learns to pedal. Choose a model with a wide base for stability. Some have adjustable seats or other options like under-the-seat storage. You can also get a tricycle with a detachable push handle and a pull-down foot rest so Mom or Dad can take over when she gets tired.
WAGON - All aboard
What little one isn't charmed by a classic red or earthy green wagon? Tired from the park, she can sit back and enjoy the ride home while mom knows she's safe right behind. At home in the yard, she can push and pull the wagon herself or just pile her toys in it.
ART SUPPLIES - Set her genius in motion
How we treasure those early scribbles! They go on Grandma's refrigerator, and Mom's wall at work. So how better to encourage a budding O'Keeffe than with an art kit? Give her the tools she needs — markers, crayons, watercolors, and construction paper — and watch her go. Don't forget to check labels to make sure everything is nontoxic and washable.
PLAY KITCHEN - What's for dinner?
Get your child ready to be Rachael Ray, Jacques Pepin, or Emeril with a play kitchen. Toddlers enjoy playing with plastic fruits, vegetables, pots, and spatulas. Food toys let him imitate what grownups do in the kitchen and will hold his interest for a couple of years even as his play gets more sophisticated.
SAND TOYS - For beach or backyard fun
Sandbox time will be more fun with a pail and shovel — she can build a castle or just make piles. For added interest, consider a bright yellow dump truck or front-end loader. She'll have a grand time loading up trucks and dumping her cargo.
BOOKS - Reading treasures
A gift of a book is fitting at any age, but for a toddler you should be looking for books with more than just a few words on each page and more complicated story lines than basic baby books have. Search out some well-tested favorites, such as Eric Carle's Very Hungry Caterpillar, Dr. Seuss's There's a Wocket in My Pocket, or Laura Joffe Numeroff's If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. Or visit a bookstore and pick out something new that catches your eye.
BATH TOYS - The gift that makes a splash
It's easy to turn bath time into fun time (or even zoo time!). Beyond the requisite rubber duckies, you'll find bath toys that can help get a child clean. Look for hippo or tiger bath mitts or fish or bear soap. Also check out cheerful terrycloth penguins, turtles, and frogs from Gund.
LARGE CONSTRUCTION BLOCKS - Tools for the budding architect
A phenomenal favorite, blocks are perfect for building a toddler's growing skills — grabbing, stacking, and sorting. Make sure the pieces of the set you choose are big enough so a toddler can't fit them in his mouth. You want to avoid a choking hazard. He can experiment with how many blocks he can pile up before his tower topples, or just enjoy sorting by color and shape.
PULL TOYS - Here we go!
You might remember dragging an old chime toy around behind you — pull toys have endured as a universal toddler pleaser. Most of the toys in this set have at least one bell or whistle — some also have flapping ears, wagging tails, or slapping feet. It's a good bet that if you find one you like it will also appeal to the 2-year-old in your life.
PUZZLES - Making Connections
Toddlers take great delight in the intellectual challenge of puzzles, and he'll learn shapes and colors along the way. Choose one of the many beautiful wooden animal puzzles in your local toy store or check out a map of the United States puzzle, and give him a head start on geography.
