23 Toys For 2 Year Olds (Developmentally-friendly)

Overview

What are the best toys to give a 2-year-old? There are thousands, perhaps even millions, to choose from, but how do you know if they’re ideal for this age group?

You’ll notice that many toys for 1-year-olds continue to be a popular choice for older children, although it’s rare for these toys to be interesting to 10-year-old kids.

Learning toys teach new skills, whether they’re wooden blocks or board books. Toys for imaginative play, such as kitchen sets, are also a good choice.

We’ve compiled a list of toys from various categories including Montessori and STEM-inspired* educational toys:

Montessori-inspired toys
Other STEM toys
Toys that help develop cognitive skills
Toys that promote hand-eye coordination
Toys that help develop problem-solving skills
Toys that develop gross motor skills
Pretend play or role-play toys
Art & crafts
Stuffed animals & dolls
Musical instruments
Bath toys

What factors should you consider when choosing toys and gifts for your 2-year-old? How many toys should your 2-year-old have? Which toddler toys grow with your child? Find out below.

*STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math.

These Are Our Top 23 Toy Picks For 2-Year-Olds

Montessori-Inspired Toys

LOVEVERY The Enthusiast Play Kit

Best features: Science experiments with weights and balance, learning about geometric shapes, and motor precision

Product safety: Free from heavy elements and phthalates

Materials: Sustainably-harvested wood and other child-safe materials

Type of toy: Educational (toy subscription)

Age range: 28-30 months

Extra features: Includes stacking peg puzzle, sticky shapes glue station, board book, and child-size squeegee cleaning set

Certification: FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)

Product recall: None

Cons: It can be pricey.

LOVEVERY The Investigator Play Kit

Best features: Basic science experiment kit, including lessons for liquid conservation and volume

Product safety: Free from heavy elements and phthalates

Materials: Sustainably-harvested wood and other child-safe materials

Type of toy: Educational (toy subscription)

Age range: 31-33 months

Extra features: Includes memory game, match-and-tap hammer box, countdown timer with color indicators, and board book

Certification: FSC

Product recall: None

Cons: It can be pricey.

Other STEM toys

Melissa & Doug 100 Piece Wood Blocks Set

Best features: 100 solid wood blocks in four colors and nine shapes

Product safety: Free from phthalates and lead

Materials: Sustainably sourced wood

Type of toy: Educational

Educational value: Introducing early math concepts, early engineering skills, fine motor skills and dexterity, and color and shape recognition

Age range: 2+ years old

Extra features: Box converts into a carrying case; toy is also great for 4-year-old kids and older

Certification: U.S. and E.U. conformity certificates, and FSC

Product recall: None

Cons: Some customers complained about the blocks being smaller than they expected.

Fat Brain Toys Count and Sort Stacking Tower

Best features: Color-coded sorting tower for learning about numbers

Product safety: Child-safe materials that meet US, European, and international safety standards

Materials: Wood

Type of toy: Educational

Educational value: Promotes sequencing, counting, and number recognition

Age range: 2+ years old

Extra features: 10 number tiles that match the stacking peg and 45 color-coded discs

Certification: ASTM, European Safety Standards Commission, International Council of Toy Industries, and CPSC

Product recall: None

Cons: Spare parts aren’t available so you can’t get new rings if you misplace any.

Toys That Help Develop Cognitive Skills

Hape Twist And Turnables

Best features: Unique blocks with screw-together shapes so they won’t tumble down

Product safety: Water-based paint

Materials: Wood

Type of toy: Educational

Educational value: Basic engineering skills and creative thinking

Age range: 24+ months

Extra features: Shapes that vary from the usual block shapes

Certification: Passed sharp point, bite force, tensile, small parts, chemical, and drop tests

Product recall: None

Cons: Some customers complained about the blocks having a bad smell.

Plantoys Miracle Pounding II

Best features: A new ball pops up in place after your child hits the other with a mallet.

Product safety: Water-based dyes and organic color pigment, free from formaldehyde, lead, or heavy metals

Materials: Recycled rubber plantation wood

Type of toy: Hammering set for cause and effect

Educational value: Develops fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and concentration ability

Age range: 2+ years

Extra features: Colorful balls

Certification: ASTM (USA) & EN71 (Europe)

Product recall: None

Cons: It can be pricey.

The Kiddo Toys Set of Cards (Words & Numbers)

Best features: Promotes speech development and math learning

Product safety: Non-toxic materials that meet rigorous safety inspections (US and European standards)

Materials: 100% natural wood and velcro

Type of toy: Educational toy

Age range: 2+ years

Extra features: Handcrafted, ethically-made toys

Certification: US and European standards of child safety

Product recall: None

Cons: Limited options to buy this toy from other sellers.

Toys That Promote Hand-Eye Coordination

Uncle Goose Cubelings Sea Blocks

Best features: Four blocks with different sea creatures

Product safety: Free from heavy metals

Materials: Sustainably sourced basswood or linden tree with non-toxic, mouth-safe inks

Type of toy: Educational blocks

Educational value: Imaginative play

Age range: 2+ years

Extra features: Includes four different paper environments for pretend play

Certification: ASTM F963 (US), EN71 (Europe), and Japanese ST Standards Parts 1-3 compliant

Product recall: None

Cons: It can be pricey.

Toys That Help Develop Problem-Solving Skills

Maple Landmark Shape Sorter Bench

Best features: Twelve blocks with four shape holes

Product safety: Free from any paint or dye

Materials: Unfinished, sustainably harvested maple hardwood

Type of toy: Shape-sorter puzzle toy

Educational value: Problem-solving skills

Age range: 2+ years

Extra features: Includes a pouch for storing the pieces when not in use

Certification: CPSC

Product recall: None

Cons: It can be pricey.

Begin Again Balance Boat Shapes & Colors

Best features: Shape-sorter with different shapes and colors

Product safety: Eco-friendly water-based stains

Materials: Eco-friendly rubberwood

Type of toy: Shape sorter

Educational value: Problem-solving skills, spatial awareness, and imaginative play

Age range: 2+ years

Extra features: The brown sorter can be used as a boat where the other shapes can ride

Product recall: None

Cons: Some complaints about the toy being smaller than expected.

Toys That Develop Gross Motor Skills

Strider 12 Sport Balance Bike

Best features: Unique balance bike without pedals

Materials: Steel frame with flat-free foam rubber wheels

Type of toy: Ride-on toy

Educational value: Balance, coordination, and gross motor skills

Age range: 18+ months

Extra features: Adjustable seat height

Product recall: None

Cons: The lack of pedals can make it challenging to use this bike.

Green Toys Wagon

Best features: Pull-along wagon with 100% cotton rope handle that tucks inside the wagon for storage

Product safety: Free from BPA (bisphenol-A), phthalates, and PVC (polyvinyl chloride)

Materials: 100% food-grade recycled plastic with soy-based inks

Type of toy: Pull-along toy

Educational value: Gross motor skills

Age range: 18+ months

Extra features: Can carry your little one’s toys

Product recall: None

Cons: Many complaints that the wagon is too small and the rope is too short.

Radio Flyer 4-in-1 Stroll ‘N Trike

Best features: Convertible trike (from push stroller to regular tricycle)

Product safety: With a safety harness and a removable UV-protection canopy for shade

Materials: Steel frame with plastic and rubber parts from sustainable sources

Type of toy: Ride-on toy

Educational value: Speed and gross motor skills

Age range: 2-5 years

Extra features: Music, lights, and a ‘walkie-talkie’

Product recall: None

Cons: It can be pricey. For example, Fisher-Price Nickelodeon PAW Patrol Lights & Sounds Trike only costs $84.99 (but it isn’t convertible).

Pretend Play Or Role-Play Toys

Little Tikes Picnic on the Patio Playhouse

Best features: Playhouse set with a table and benches

Product safety: Free from BPA, latex, PVC, phthalates, lead, and other heavy metals

Materials: Child-safe plastic

Type of toy: Playhouse

Educational value: Imaginative play and social interaction

Age range: 18+ months to 5 years

Extra features: Includes dishes, some play food, and a pretend phone

Certification: ASTM F963 (US) and EN-71 (Europe)

Product recall: None

Cons: It’s bulky and pricey.

Under the Nile Veggie Crate Gift Set

Best features: Wooden toy crate with vegetable plushies

Product safety: Free from AZO dyes, BPA, formaldehyde, fragrance, flame retardants, PVC, and lead

Materials: 100% organic Egyptian cotton and raw, untreated natural wood

Type of toy: Pretend toy

Educational value: Imaginative play

Age range: 2+ years old

Extra features: Sustainably made using scraps from clothing production leftovers

Certification: GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) and Gold Egyptian Seal of authenticity (it’s made of 100% organic Egyptian cotton)

Product recall: None

Cons: Some complaints about the plushies being smaller than they expected.

Le Toy Van Egg Cup

Best features: Six-piece wooden egg cup set

Product safety: Non-toxic water-based paints

Materials: Sustainably sourced wood

Type of toy: Pretend toy

Educational value: Imaginative play, social interaction, and fine motor skills

Age range: 2+ years

Extra features: Includes two hand-painted wooden ‘soldiers’

Certification: FSC

Product recall: None

Cons: Some complaints about the toy being too pricey. For example, a 50-piece pack of plastic eggs only costs $13.99 on Amazon. (Just be sure to check for child-safe materials before buying these plastic toys.)

Arts & Crafts

Honeysticks Originals

Best features: 12 jumbo crayons for little hands

Product safety: 100% natural and non-toxic food-grade ingredients

Materials: Beeswax

Type of toy: Crayon

Educational value: Creative learning

Age range: Suitable for all ages

Extra features: Difficult to snap

Product recall: None

Cons: It can be pricey. For example, a pack of 16-color Crayola jumbo crayons only costs $6.19 at Target (but Crayola isn’t organic).

Imagine Childhood Eco-Dough

Best features: Child-safe playdough

Product safety: Eco-friendly and organic

Materials: Flour, cream of tartar, organic rosemary oil, salt, vitamin E oil, soybean oil, coconut oil, citric acid, potassium sorbate

Type of toy: Playdough

Educational value: Sensory and imaginative play

Age range: 2+ years

Extra features: Five colors in each tube, with coloring materials sourced natural extracts from beets, spinach, paprika, carrots, red cabbage, purple sweet potato, blueberries, and tomatoes

Certification: ASTM D-4236 and CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act)

Product recall: None

Cons: It can be pricier than other playdoughs.

Stuffed Animals & Dolls

Bella Luna Organic Waldorf Baby Doll

Best features: Handmade Waldorf doll

Product safety: Child-safe materials

Materials: 100% organic, pure new wool with certified organic cotton terry cloth

Type of toy: Baby doll

Educational value: A Waldorf doll with minimal facial features that encourages your child to use their imagination

Age range: For 1-3-year-old kids

Extra features: Hand-painted doll face

Product recall: None

Cons: It can be pricey.

Our Green House Hand Knit Organic Stuffed Dog – Cooper

Best features: Hand-knitted stuffed animal

Product safety: Free from chemicals like asbestos and radon

Materials: 100% organic cotton yarn with OEKO-TEX certified polyester stuffing (certified free from 100+ harmful chemicals)

Type of toy: Plushie

Educational value: Imaginative play

Age range: 2-4 years

Certification: OEKO-TEX

Product recall: None

Cons: It can be pricey.

Musical Instruments

Vtech KidiBeats Drum Set

Best features: Freestyle drum or play along with nine preset melodies

Product safety: Meets US and European safety standards

Materials: Child-safe materials

Type of toy: Educational and musical toy

Educational value: Musical creativity, sensory development, visualization memory, and phonics

Age range: 2-5 years

Extra features: With lights to teach numbers and ABCs

Certification: ASTM (US), EN71 (Europe), and Canadian Hazardous Products Regulations

Product recall: None

Cons: Some complaints about the toy being too small.

Bath Toys

Nuby Floating Purple Octopus with 3 Hoopla Rings Interactive Bath Toy

Best features: Toy octopus that floats on water

Product safety: Free from BPA, phthalates, and other suspected harmful chemicals

Materials: Child-safe plastic

Type of toy: Ring toss and bath toy

Educational value: Hand-eye coordination

Age range: 18+ months

Extra features: The octopus’ legs/arms can be used with the three rings for a ring toss game

Certification: FDA, CPSIA, CPSC, and European standards/regulations

Product recall: None

Cons: This octopus toy only has six legs/arms instead of eight, which can confuse kids.

LEGO Duplo Bath Time Fun: Floating Animal Island

Best features: 14-piece bath playset with a floating island, four animals, floating ring, and activity bucket

Product safety: Meets global safety standards

Materials: Polyethylene from sustainable sources (elements from sugarcane)

Type of toy: Bath toy

Educational value: Promotes imagination, motor skills, and creativity

Age range: 1.5+ years

Extra features: The floating island converts into a container for keeping the toys when not in use.

Certification: FSC and US quality standards

Product recall: None

Cons: It can be pricey. For example, the 100-piece Kangaroo rubber duck set (assorted duck designs) costs the same on Amazon.

What Toys Should My Two-Year-Old Be Playing With?

At age two, most kids can walk without any help. They’re also ready to run and kick a ball. But you can’t expect them to play well or understand the rules of a ball game like a 6-year-old.

Many of them already recognize the ABCs, basic shapes and colors, and numbers 1-10, but usually fewer than your preschooler or 5-year-old. Simple puzzles can be ideal for this age group.

Educational toys like Montessori-based and STEM toys (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), sometimes also called STEAM toys, encourage them to learn more and improve their fine motor skills.

Their problem-solving skills are better than a one-year-old, and they’re likely curious about how things work. They try to use knobs, switches, buttons, etc., on toys. (1)

They can build more complex structures using blocks and similar toys during playtime.

Tots this age love imaginative play, so you can also pick toy sets like play kitchens, train sets, playhouses, dolls or action figures, and toy lawn mowers or similar pretend toys.

You can also encourage them to spend time outdoors by offering fun outdoor toys. Yet they can still have fun and learn during bath time.

How Many Toys Should A 2-Year-Old Have?

There isn’t a specific rule or guideline that sets how many toys a child should have.

However, a 2018 Infant Behavior and Development study showed that children with fewer toys in their environment could focus more and play more creatively because they spend more time with each toy. (2)

The researchers recommend letting your child play with fewer toys at a given time to support their development and promote healthy, creative play. (2)

This is also in line with the Montessori method. With Montessori play, your child gets limited options during playtime, but you rotate their collection to let them explore all their toys.

How Do I Keep My 2-Year-Old Entertained All Day?

You might notice that your two-year-old has a shorter attention span than a much older child, such as an 8-year-old. So, keeping them entertained all day can be a challenge.

Some parents set up different play areas around the house. For example, your kids can play with their train set in the living room, but blocks and puzzles are only for their room.

Arts and crafts can be in their study area or bedroom.

You can also assign one spot for your 2-year-old and a different spot for your 7-year-old or other older kids, especially because they probably have different interests.

Your kids aren’t likely to stay in one spot for more than just a few minutes, so you can also offer other options. Let them play music, run outside or play with outdoor toys (such as trikes), create art, or learn new skills with other toys (such as a balance bike).

Books and wooden toys can also offer hours of entertainment for your kids.

Factors To Consider In Buying The Best Gifts & Toys For 2-Year-Olds

Most of the factors to consider when choosing toys for 1-year-olds also apply to toys for 2-year-olds:

Safety – check for product recalls and unsafe parts
Materials – organic, child-safe materials are preferable
Age range
Quality and durability
Educational value
Learning resources
Activity level

Dangers To Watch Out For

Choking risks
Batteries
Magnets
Magnets
Loud noises
Sharp edges
Sharp points
Small toys or those with small parts (choking risk)
Long cords and strings (suffocation risk)
Shooting toys
Flying toys
Needs electricity
Glass
Brittle plastic
Splinters
Harmful or toxic chemicals

Toxic Chemicals & Materials To Avoid

Studies show that the following chemicals can cause cancer, fertility problems, premature puberty, liver or kidney dysfunction, behavioral problems (such as aggressiveness and hyperactivity), or other health concerns: (3)

PVC (polyvinyl chloride)
BPA (bisphenol-A)
Phthalates
Heavy metals (such as lead and cadmium)
Formaldehyde
Polystyrene (such as Styrofoam
Polycarbonate
AZO dyes
Flame retardant chemicals
Asbestos
Radon

Safer Alternatives

If possible, choose organic, ethical, and sustainably sourced materials.

These are also safer alternatives to the toxic chemicals listed above:

Cotton
Wool
Unfinished wood
Wood finished with natural oils
Wood finished with waxes like beeswax or walnut oil
Toys made of fabric that can be washed
Food grade silicone
Natural rubber – BPA and PVC-free, but check for allergic reactions (nausea, itching, runny nose, hives, and trouble breathing) (4)
Polypropylene – one of the safest plastic options for toys (5)

Certifications

Safety & Quality Standards

OEKO-TEX Standard 100 – passed at least 100 tests for toxic chemicals (6)
GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) – safe, organic fibers (7)
ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) International F-963 Toy Safety Standards – for toxic chemicals (e.g., heavy metals like cadmium or lead), material quality, labeling or safety warning requirements, etc. (8)
CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) – safety standards for different factors, such as flammability, choking hazards, sound pressure levels, etc. (9)

Sustainability Standards

PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification)
FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)
Rainforest Alliance

What Toys Should A 2-Year-Old Girl Have?

It depends on their interests. While parents typically choose baby dolls, kitchen sets, and other “girly” or feminine stuff for their little girls, there aren’t absolute rules that stop them from playing with toys for 2-year-old boys.

If you aren’t sure, you can always observe which toys your child likes to play with, so you can choose similar items or offer them variety, depending on their needs and your observations.

For example, you can let your kids use their imaginations to create stuff using the Imagine Childhood Eco-Dough ($20).

It’s more expensive than the Play-Doh Drizzly Ice Cream Playset ($15.99) which already has six modeling compounds and an ice cream maker toy, but it can be a safer option. Although Play-Doh maintains that its products are non-toxic, there are concerns that it might have questionable ingredients. (10)

Other Learning Toys For Different Age Groups

Toy Recalls To Monitor

References

(1) https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/milestones-2yr.html

(2) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0163638317301613

(3) https://health.ucdavis.edu/mindinstitute/resources/resources_pdf/Plastics_and_Plastic_Toys_7_14.pdf

(4) https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/latex-allergy/symptoms-causes/syc-20374287

(5) https://www.greenchildmagazine.com/plastic-toys/

(6) https://www.oeko-tex.com/en/apply-here/standard-100-by-oeko-tex

(7) https://global-standard.org/the-standard/gots-key-features

(8) https://www.cpsc.gov/Business–Manufacturing/Business-Education/Toy-Safety/ASTM-F-963-Chart

(9) https://www.cpsc.gov/Regulations-Laws–Standards/Voluntary-Standards/Topics/Toys

(10) https://www.seniorcare2share.com/is-playdough-toxic/#Is_playdough_safe_for_2_year_olds