Between birth and the age of five, a child’s brain develops at a rapid rate. Because of this, more parents are paying attention to the toys that they allow their young children to play with.
Today we will be looking at the best toys to inspire and developmentally support your little two-year-olds in multiple aspects.
In the Post
- Best Toys for 2-year-old Babies
- 1. Little Tikes Activity Playset (best for gross motor skills)
- 2. VTech Drill and Learn Toolbox（best for fine motor skills）
- 3. Betheaces Water Drawing Mat (best for creativity)
- 4. LeapFrog 100 Words Book (ideal for language development)
- 5. LEGO Duplo Big Construction Site (best for cognitive development)
- 6. Hape Mighty Mini Band (best for sense of music)
- 7. Wooden Personalized Name Puzzle (best for problem solving)
- Why Do We Recommend These Toys?
- Consider These If You Wanted Other Toys…
- The End
Best Toys for 2-year-old Babies
As always, we did loads of homework to come up with this list of recommended toys. You will learn more about the science and experience that back our selections after the review.
However, it’s totally okay to check it out first by dragging down the page or taking this ‘elevator’.
Rest Assured
All toys we’ve selected are made of safe materials that won’t harm your babies’ health, which is of the greatest concern to you and us as parents.
1. Little Tikes Activity Playset (best for gross motor skills)
The playset is a multi-functional play center that assists toddlers in their motor skill development.
This is an excellent option for parents who are looking for a toy their child will play with both on their own, and during playdates with friends.
An ideal design to train stabilizer muscles
As stated earlier, this playset is designed to help toddlers develop their gross motor skills, but that is not all that it has to offer.
Without the use of any tools, this playset can transform into an open two-sided play yard where your child can crawl, play piano in and sort shapes.
In fact, we’d like to call it a “micro fort”. Your little soldiers can come across the door, open the window, and monitor the outside through the telescope.
Learning to work together
The best part is parents are able to help organize a tiny legion, where siblings or friends team up to fulfil different duties and defend their land.
This does good to nurture a sense of cooperation at an early age of your children.
Things you might not like
Although the play center has plenty of benefits, and its price is much lower than some similar toys, it does take up an amount of space, measuring about 33″ L x 25″ W when closed, and 50″ long when fully spread.
This can be a drawback for parents who do not have a lot of extra room. That said, you can always take it outside as the center isn’t that heavy, just 15 lbs or so.
Also read: Selected Ride-on Car Toys for Kids of 2 – 7+.
2. VTech Drill and Learn Toolbox（best for fine motor skills）
The toolbox is a fun and entertaining toy that your child will love to use and “fix things up”.
Ideal for kids between the ages of two to five, this two-layered toolbox features a hammer, wrench, nails, screws, and an electronic fix-it tray.
It is a great option for birthday or holiday gifts, and a toy that really breaks down traditional gender stereotypes, providing hours of play to both boys and girls.
A fabulous trainer to enhance fine motor skill
The toolbox is ideal for parents who want to give their child a fun experience while developing their fine motor skills.
The batter-powered working drill spins the gears and drills screws into the electronic tray’s holes, which requires your baby to grab the tool, hold it tight, and turn their wrist, stimulating small muscles that control such fine movements.
Good for cognitive development
More than a fine muscle trainer, the speaking electronic tray, which comes with instruction cards, also teaches kids about numbers and colors, and helps build their tools vocabulary while they pretend to make repairs.
Things you might not like
The reality is that, like many toys, the toolbox comes with numerous parts that can be easily misplaced or stepped on (ouch!) if not put away – and let’s be honest two-year-olds have not generally mastered cleaning up after themselves.
Related: Best baby walkers to help toddlers.
3. Betheaces Water Drawing Mat (best for creativity)
This magic drawing mat is a fun and creative outlet for children between two and six.
We know that most, if not all, children are fond of doodling and drawing at some point of their childhood. This no-mess canvas is the best for little artists and it allows children to explore and increase their artistic side.
Soft and comfy without messing up
The mat is made out of soft polyester material, which is non-toxic and eco-friendly. It’s easy for parents to set up and will keep your little one entertained for hours. All you have to do is fill the pen with clean water and then let your child draw on the mat.
Depending on the room temperature and humidity, the colors will magically disappear after about 3-7 minutes, so that our junior artists can draw on the mat over, and over again, without leaving you a tragic mess to clean up later.
A great giveaway
Engaging, light-weight and durable, the mat is a fantastic gift for both boys and girls. It comes in an easy to transport package with a bunch of accessories, and can be folded for countless times.
Things you might not like
There is no doubt that the mat offers many benefits and I bet you will be like “Fantastic! I don’t need to wrestle with thos stubborn paints any longer.”
However, there is one factor that could cause some frustration on your child’s (and sometimes your) part. That is the pen. Unlike most screw caps, you need to loosen the head of the pen in a clockwise direction in order to get it to work.
Related: Best pack and plays for your little one.
4. LeapFrog 100 Words Book (ideal for language development)
This bilingual book introduces your children to 100 age-appropriate words in English and Spanish.
Including word categories such as clothes, fruit, my body, pets, vehicles, and outside, this book is ideal for kids of 18 months to four years and can be taken on the go, in the stroller, car or playpen.
Early days of an elocutionist
The book is fantastic for language development. Unlike a lot of other books, this one plays sounds and songs when your little one touches the appealing pictures. This makes it a more interactive experience and more entertaining for your two-year-old.
Things you might not like
While its price is reflected in the highly successful brand, and the interactive elements of the book, for some parents, the amount is quite significant for a book.
5. LEGO Duplo Big Construction Site (best for cognitive development)
Please introduce your toddler to LEGO with this miniature construction site. Your two-year-old will spend hours engaging in creative play with this new 67 piece set.
Your toddler can play with the toy dump truck (complete with tipping bucket), crane, bulldozer, wheelbarrow, and more! Subconsciously, they will develop some basic concepts about construction machinary and how they work on site – under their control.
For Parents of Babies in Their Mouthing Phase
Given the so many small pieces, you’d better keep an eye on your little one when they’re playing.
Cognitive and cooperative
This LEGO set is a fantastic choice for toddlers not only because it helps with their cognitive development, but also assist their social skills, as it comes with enough piece for your child to play either individually or with others.
Things you might not like
As with any LEGO kit, if it is not taken care of, pieces will go missing and may break. While this toy is suitable for children two to five years old, it does have small pieces so parents should watch children who have the habit of putting everything in their mouth.
6. Hape Mighty Mini Band (best for sense of music)
I bet you agree with me that music plays an important role for children’s growth, and this set introduces them to six instruments, including the drum, xylophone, clapper, and guiro.
It is size appropriate and your little ones can easily handle all instruments to spend hours making music and learning about different sounds and beats.
Award-winning design
Hape Mini Band is considered to be among the best toys on the market for nurturing toddlers’s sense of music and rhythm.
Reliable material
Made with high-quality, non-toxic wood and metal, the “band” is a safe option for little ones; and as you can see, it also wipes clean easily.
Things you might not like
This is a toy percussion that introduces and supports music knowledge, and can be quite noisy sometimes.
Related: What to wear to a baby shower?.
7. Wooden Personalized Name Puzzle (best for problem solving)
Made by Fat Brain Toys, a well-known educational toy manufacturer, this simple but durable toy may keep your little one busy for quite awhile.
This adorable puzzle is a great option for a birthday present or baby shower gift.
Large skill trainer
At the first glance, we thought these are small to medium wooden strips. But it turns out that the piece is about 26 inches long, taller than some small kids. This is somewhat comforting, considering the price tag.
The merit is that kids can practice their fine motor skills while solving their name puzzles letter by letter.
A good keepsake
Due to the fact that the puzzle is made to match your child’s name and spelling, it’s a fantastic idea to use it as a room decoration or a birthday gift.
Things you might not like
Although you can place customized orders, you have to keep the number of letters under 9, including space.
Some parents may argue that this puzzle is way simpler for a 2-year-old, but I think it’s also improtant to encourage our kids’ self-esteem with less challenging tasks. Plus, nine letters are not that easy to solve.
We’d be very glad if you agree with us as to the above selections, and we also have recommendations for babies and toddlers of 0-6 months, 1-year-old and 3-year-olds.
Why Do We Recommend These Toys?
The toys listed above are all excellent options that will support your toddler’s development in different ways.
In addition to our personal experience and comments of other parents, “development milestones” of 2-year-old are also taken into account.
About your 2-Year-Old
We’ve all heard the term, “the terrible twos,” but the truth is that there is a lot more going on in that little mind than simply throwing tantrums and emptying boxes of cereal.
In fact, your two-year-old is significantly more complex than people generally give them credit for. At this age, it is all about playtime, and your little one is a ball of energy and also likely, a ball of emotions.
Many parents actually notice that starting around this age, kids go through a cycle of being more agreeable and positive in the first six months following their birthday and then more strong-willed and assertive in the latter.
By this point, your child should be…
- Copying others, especially older children and adults they admire
- Able to follow certain instructions
- Learning to sort colors and shapes
- Able to stand on tiptoes
- Learning to kick a ball
- Repeating words overheard in conversation
Consider These If You Wanted Other Toys…
Based on days of research, we have put together a bunch of questions you’d better ask before rushing to any decisions:
- Materials – What are the toys made of? Do they have potentially harmful contents?
- Fun – Does my child like it? After all, the toy is to entertain, not to frustrate or challenge them.
- Stimulating – While this is optional, it’s not bad to hit two birds with one stone.
- Am I trapped in gender stereotype? – Is it really necessary to distinguish between toys for girls and boys?
- What about second hand toys?
- Is it a good idea to clutter the room with toys?
We answered them in detail and invite you to refer to our Best Toys for One-Year-Old guide.
The End
Regardless of how much money you have, or the size of home, play is something that vital for a child’s development. This is where they learn to cooperate with others, be independent and develop those crucial skills that will help them in the future.
Whether they are playing in their playpen, on the livingroom floor or in the backyard, allowing your child to play and grow into the person that they are meant to be.
Happy playing!
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