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18 Gifts for 2 Year Olds (Even if they are sometimes “Terrible”)

18 Gifts for 2 Year Olds (Even if they are sometimes “Terrible”)

March 29, 2024 by Giving Assistant Editorial Team

While the “terrible twos” might get a bad rap amongst parents, it’s also a time of growth and learning. There’s no better feeling than helping your toddler to gain a grasp on the world around them. The right gift can provide hours of fun and enrichment for any toddler, but it’s not always easy to find the best toys for 2-year-olds. 

We’ve gone through and hand-selected some of the best gifts that are sure to bring a smile to any toddler’s face.  Read on to learn about some of the best gifts for 2 year olds on the market for 2021.

The Best Gift Ideas for 2-Year-Olds for 2023

You don’t have to spend hours searching through the toy section of your local superstore. Instead, find everything that you need online just a few clicks away.

1. Mini Piano Keyboard

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Help to foster a lifelong interest in music with this toddler-sized keyboard. With 31 keys and a variety of sound and volume controls, this keyboard offers a great introduction to musical instruments for young minds. Drumbeats and demonstrations make it easy for kids to gain a strong grasp of tone and rhythm. This mini keyboard even comes with a detachable microphone for budding performers. 

Savings Tip: Find Walmart promo codes here for the best deal.

2. Educational Play Tablet

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If your toddler is constantly asking to play on your phone, you can get them their very own play tablet. Unlike a game of Candy Crush, though, this tablet is designed to be both fun and educational. It teaches kids their letters and numbers using their favorite “Baby Shark” characters to make the learning process more exciting.

Savings Tip: Find Walmart promo codes for the best deal.

3. Play Kitchen Set

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As any parent knows, there’s nothing that toddlers like to do better than copy Mom and Dad as they go about their day. This kitchen playset lets your two-year-old cook, clean, and bake with more than 25 different accessories. An interactive stovetop lets kids feel like real chefs with light-up burners and motion-activated sounds.

Savings Tip: Find Kohl’s coupons here for the best deal.

4. Duplo Number Train

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This number train set from Duplo offers a great introduction to numbers for your favorite two-year-old. They can stack and sort ten blocks to help them learn their numbers as they play and create. The set comes with two Duplo figures and a puppy dog so that your toddler can let their imagination run wild.

Savings Tip: Find Lego coupons here for the best deal.

5. Laugh & Learn Puppy Plush

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The Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Smart Stages Puppy gives your toddler a fun and interactive way to learn about colors, shapes, counting, and more. The puppy responds to touch with more than 75 different songs, phrases, and sounds designed to help your two-year-old learn all about the world around them. What’s more, with its soft, cuddly body, the Puppy Plush is sure to be a favorite at naptime. 

Savings Tip: Find Walmart promo codes for the best deal.

6. Waterfall Discovery Wall

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When the weather gets warm out, let your two-year-old cool off with this waterfall discovery wall. Little engineers will have a blast setting up spinners, buckets, and more to see how water will flow through their creation. With two sides and over ten different obstacles to choose from, there’s no end to the fun that toddlers can have with this discovery wall. 

Savings Tip: Click here to find Kohl’s coupons for the best deal.

7. Crayola Doodle Board

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Toddlers and parents alike are sure to love the My First Crayola Double Doodle Board. The sealed screen offers a safe, non-toxic, and mess-free way to enjoy creating works of art. Your two-year-old can draw, color, fingerpaint, and more on the washable screen. An ergonomic design helps to encourage the development of fine motor skills in small hands.   

Savings Tip: Find Michael’s promo codes here for the best deal.

8. 3-in-1 Ride-On Scooter

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This adorable animal-themed Skip Hop Zoo scooter is the perfect size for toddlers of all ages to zip around the house or the backyard. It sizes up alongside your child, transforming from a wagon for new walkers, a riding function, and a scooter mode for more advanced toddlers. Your two-year-old will have a blast as they develop their balance, coordination, and motor skills. 

Savings Tip: Find Kohl’s coupons here for the best deal..

9. Lincoln Logs

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Plenty of parents nowadays remember Lincoln Logs from their own childhood. This classic makes one of the best gifts for 2 year olds who love to build. This 100th Anniversary ten features 111 building pieces, including roofs, chimneys, and even bonfires. Your toddler can embrace their creative side while building essential cognitive and fine motor skills. 

Savings Tip: Click here for Walmart promo codes for the best deal.

10. Play Workshop and Tool Bench

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Encourage the tiny builder in your life with this play workshop and bench. In addition to all the tools they see their parents using in the garage, this kit includes interlocking building blocks for toddlers to practice their DIY skills. There are even blueprint working plans to show kids how to build everything from boats to birdhouses. 

Savings Tip: Find Walmart promo codes here for the best deal.

11. Lil’ Snoopy Pull Puppy

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If your toddler has been begging you for a pet of their very own, you don’t necessarily need to head down to the pet store. The Lil’ Snoopy Pull Puppy offers a great way to introduce two-year-olds to pet ownership safely. As he moves, Lil’ Snoopy wags his tail, moves his ears, and barks just like a real dog. Encourage kids to get up, get moving, and develop their motor skills with this adorable pull puppy. 

Savings Tip: Click here for Kohl’s coupons for the best deal.

12. Little Golden Books Set

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Though two-year-olds might not be reading yet, they can greatly benefit from hearing their parents read aloud during playtime and before bed. This box set of iconic Little Golden Books offers a treasure trove of childhood classics to choose from during reading time. Help to foster a lifetime love of books with 12 of the best-loved children’s tales.

Savings Tip: Find Walmart promo codes here for the best deal.

13. 100 Piece Wooden Block Set

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Let toddlers build to their heart’s content with this wooden block set, featuring 100 brightly colored blocks in all different shapes and sizes. Blocks have long proven themselves to be one of the best gifts for 2 year olds, helping to build their imagination while developing stronger spatial and fine motor skills. 

Savings Tip: Click here for FatBrainToys promo codes for the best deal.

14. Laugh & Learn Sweet Manners Play Tea Set

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This play tea set from Fisher-Price does much more than just allow your two-year-old to host their perfect tea party. As they play, it teaches dinner manners with fun songs, sounds, and lights. This tea set also emphasizes shapes and numbers as well as vocabulary, offering endless hours of engagement and excitement for developing minds. 

Savings Tip: Go here to find Walmart promo codes for the best deal.

15. Toddler Teeter-Totter

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Teeter-totters, or see-saws, are a classic for young kids on the playground. This ergonomically designed teeter-totter works both indoors and outdoors, allowing two-year-olds to hone their motor skills alone or with a partner. It offers a great way to get toddlers up and moving together for hours of fun. What’s more, you can flip it upside-down to make a fun tunnel for a play setup or obstacle course.

Savings Tip: Click here for Kohl’s coupons for the best deal.

16. Husqvarna Toy Lawn Mower

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If your two-year-old has seen you outside pushing the lawnmower, there’s a good chance that they think it looks much more fun than you do. You can get them this replica toy lawnmower so that they can safely “help out” with the yard work. With realistic engine sounds and working lights, kids are sure to feel like they’re working right alongside Mom and Dad. 

Savings Tip: Click here for Tractor Supply Company promo codes for the best deal.

17. Wooden Peg Puzzle

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Help toddlers to strengthen their fine motor skills by giving them this wooden peg puzzle. You can choose between a puzzle featuring fruits or letters, both of which feature fun, colorful artwork that keeps kids engaged. Giant blocks and a non-toxic finish make this puzzle safe for even the most curious two-year-olds.

Savings Tip: Find Walmart promo codes here for the best deal.

18. Game Time Sports Climber

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This sports-themed climber from Step2 encourages an active lifestyle, with plenty of places for toddlers to climb, crawl, and play. It features a slide, a climbing wall, and a basketball hoop with a built-in timer. What’s more, the design is sturdy and compact enough for both indoor and outdoor use. 

Savings Tip: Find Kohl’s coupons here for the best deal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Let’s answer some questions to help make your shopping experience easier.

How Do I Pick Out a Toy That’s Safe for Two-Year-Olds?

When shopping for two-year-olds, it’s important to look for age-appropriate toys. Materials and components should all be safe for small hands and mouths. Avoid toys with small parts, as these can pose a choking hazard, and ensure that everything gets securely fastened together. Toys shouldn’t contain phthalates, BPA, or lead.

What Types of Toys Do Two-Year-Olds Like?

Two-year-olds enjoy having a wide variety of toys to play with, particularly those that stimulate their developing mind and motor skills. Toys that encourage creativity, such as arts and crafts sets, also make good gifts. When in doubt, no toddler can resist toys that let them imitate mom and dad, from play kitchens to pretend ATMs.

Can Two-Year-Olds Play With Toys for Older Children?

It’s always best to stick with toys within a child’s age range when shopping for gifts. Products marketed for older children may be too confusing or complex for a two-year-old to enjoy. What’s more, they may contain small components or detachable elements that pose a choking hazard for young children.

More Gift Ideas by Age