40 best Christmas gifts and toys for 2-year-olds in 2024

Trying to pacify the terrible twos? We’ve got you covered with the best gifts for 2-year-olds.

“Two-year-olds are constantly watching, gathering and organizing knowledge about their world through exploration,” Alice Cady, EdM, an eight-year classroom teacher of 2 and 3-year-olds told the New York Post. She has an education doctorate degree from the University of Buffalo’s Early Childhood Research Center, with a focus on computational thinking in early childhood.

“Vocabulary often blooms, but toddlers are still very ‘body forward,’ so integrating gesture gives them more opportunities to effectively communicate their needs and ideas,” Cady said.

Children’s minds are tiny sponges at this age, so many toys on the market have features to develop important skills. Having said all this, don’t be afraid to think out of the box and grab something that seems all fun and games, like the EagleStone Tricycle for Toddlers or Just Play Sesame Street Chicken Dance Elmo. It will likely teach coordination, balance, and other important lessons while still being entertaining.

Because every child is different, we reached out to a variety of moms, as well as child development experts, to learn their gift recommendations.

To learn more about what makes a good gift for this age group, visit our FAQ section or keep scrolling to view our curated list of the best gifts this year. Whether you’re shopping for the best birthday gifts for 2-year-olds, looking for a Christmas gift for your niece or want to give something thoughtful to gift your besties little one, keep shopping.

This made Walmart’s top toys of 2023 list, and we’re suggesting it again for 2024. Kids can begin practicing their piano skills, twisting the turntable and playing with all the knobs and buttons to make real musical sound. Plus, its removable legs let kids start using it while they’re sitting on the floor, then keep playing as they get comfortable standing upright.

One of the hottest children’s toys of 2024, 2-year-olds will love copying Elmo’s dance moves. Don’t be surprised if you join in!

If you’re seeking educational gifts for 2-year-olds, Jamie Greenhouse, mother of two, suggests this.

“My son loves playing with his flashcards and gets excited when he gets the answer correct,” she said. “As most moms probably say, I felt my son was a bit delayed in his speech, so this was something that was super important to me. We work on sounds and words constantly using this toy and to me it’s really a ‘school lesson’ while he thinks it’s play time.”

Armed with a real horn and moveable steering wheel, the Step2 Whisper Ride Cruiser will delight any 2-year-old. The push toy boosts hand and eye coordination, encourages imaginative play, and has storage for toys, and two functional cup holders.

Children at this age are notoriously curious and rambunctious, which is why we’re suggesting The Investigator Play Kit. It comes with eight different toys, including the Twist & Pivot Pattern Puzzle, and each aids in imaginative play, memory and motor skills, and liquid conversation.

Enhance a child’s fine motor skills while encouraging creativity. The Skoolzy Rainbox Stringing Beads come with an assortment of BPA-free lacing beads of different shapes and sizes that teach colors, counting, and other fundamental skills.

Imitation is one of the ways children learn, so don’t be surprised when the 2-year-old in your life starts grabbing your smartphone. Instead of giving in, gift the VTech Bluey Ring Ring Phone Toy. The screen flashes characters from the popular show, while the voice-activated chat allows for them to conversate with Bluey and Bingo.

Let your toddler hit the open road — safely — with the EagleStrone Tricycle. Featuring a soft adjustable seat and two-way handlebars, the starter bike teaches balance, as well as hand and eye coordination. Best of all, it can be transformed into a two-wheeler when your 2-year-old is ready to ride like a big kid.

Call your 2-year-old’s inner Picasso by gifting The Kikidex Magnetic Drawing Board. Along with being a fun pastime, it teaches hand and eye coordination and promotes imaginative play. More than 10,000 Amazon customers have gifted it to one of their little one in the past month!

We can’t guarantee the 2-year-old giftee will remember this unique gift, but parents surely will! The microfiber plush doll comes with removable plush organs that children can use to learn body parts and counting. Is it weird? Yes, but in the best way. Ninety-eight percent of Uncommon Good customers recommend it.

Get ready to rock and roll! The VTech KidiBeats Kids Drum Set’s drum pads and cymbal light up with letters and numbers when played. Featuring four music modes, it plays nine different melodies for a 2-year-old to drum along to while learning memorization, patterns, and hand coordination.

After adding water to the markers that come with this set, they’re activated and ready to safely color in this large drawing space without any danger of staining rugs or carpeting on the ground next to it. The “ink” begins to fade after about 10 minutes, so kids are free to continue doodling over previous drawings and keep playtime going.

Dr. Jacqueline Harding, a child development and education expert, recommended this toy because it promotes creative play, which she said offers children significant developmental opportunities. “When life is busy, why not offer your very active and curious two-year-old the opportunity to dive into the creative world without the mess through the use of this delightful coloring mat?” she said.

“We love our Tonie box that we’ve had for about a year,” mother Gina Dill said, Recommending this direct-to-consumer brand. “We like the different music characters and storytelling.”

While Dill uses the cookie monster version of this toy, there are a wealth of options on its website to allow your child to listen to musical stories for hours on end.

Skip the line and bring the amusement park home. The Step2 Up & Down Roller Coaster Kids Ride On works well for outdoor and indoor play. Recessed retainer wheels keep the car on track — literally, while the high back seat and easy grip handles create a comfortably secure ride. Thousands of parents recommend, making this one of the most popular gifts for 2-year-olds this year.

With more than 30 million copies sold, HABA’s First Orchard is a board game that 2-year-olds will love. The premise is simple: roll the dice and collect the fruit from the trees before the raven — oh no! — has a chance to reach them. Teaching direction-taking, cooperative skills and counting, it’s fun for the entire family.

This set of six boards helps young children practice their fine motor skills by using their fingers to complete everyday tasks related to dressing and getting ready in the morning. They’re all portable and easy to take with you on a car trip, which is a nice convenience bonus, and their design is based on toys used in the Montessori method of education.

“These work out practical life skills and cut down on frustration for everyone as kids learn the necessary skills to get themselves dressed without the pressure,” said Rachel Ritlop, M.Ed. “The unique design of focusing on one skill at a time actually aligns with the Montessori method.”

Two-year-olds may be too young to help decorate the family tree but they can certainly handle the one from Step2. It comes with babyproof ornaments and a mini train set that they can move around while they wait for Santa to bring their other Christmas gifts.

This single book is jam-packed with activities to keep your 2-year-old busy for a long time. Child Development Specialist Hali Rashkovsky, recommends it because it helps children develop fine motor skills while simultaneously practicing real-life skills such as interacting with zippers, shoelaces, buttons and belt buckles.

Rashkovsky also said the included Montessori activities are “good for practical life skills, hand-eye coordination and cognitive development.”

We can’t get over how cute this realistic Target Toy Shopping Cart is. Children will love rolling it around the house and packing it with the seven included grocery items. An awesome gift pick for those wanting to give something for imaginative play, the cart’s top holder can even hold a stuffed animal or doll, and there’s even a place for their sippy cup!

According to mother Christine Giardina, she recommends “literally anything from Melissa & Doug — they’re geniuses.” For a top-rated toy with more than 17,000 rave reviews, the brand’s Deluxe Pounding Bench with Mallet is great for helping your little one develop fine motor skills while also learning about colors, thanks to the included wooden pegs.

With over 21,000 positive reviews (and counting — literally!), the Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Smart Stages Piggy Bank is wonderful for learning how to count and fit small pieces into each other.

“This is another one my daughter used when she was younger, but now enjoys to count with the toy,” Dill said.

“I’ve just started using this and it’s a great way for her to start understanding spelling, what letters words start with and how to put them together,” Dill said. “It’s still a bit advanced for her, but something she will grow into.”

Plus, you can take the blocks with you to quickly and conveniently learn letters on the go.

First-hand learning experiences are a great way to familiarize young children with music. This set gives them plenty of options of different instruments to play, as well as a zippered carrying case when it’s time to quiet down.

“These build fine-motor skills and dexterity as they use their hands to play the instrument, and gross motor skills as they dance and develop balance and coordination,” said Claire Lerner, a child development and parenting specialist with over 35 years of experience. “Creating rhythms also build memory and cognitive development.”

“This has been a great way to start the day,” Dill said. “There are lots of areas of opportunity for growth over the next few months.” Plus, your 2-year-old will never grow bored, given the volume of learning opportunities filled within each spiral-bound.

“We love to use this to create a neighborhood with all our other playhouses,” Dill said. “It has great interactive sounds and has been a staple in the house for a while.”

Uniquely, this compact dollhouse comes with characters, furniture, a fully furnished kitchen and, *drumroll please*, a tree swing.

“My son was gifted this by his Gee-gee (grandma),” Greenhouse said. “He first played with it in camp and wouldn’t let it go. I remember calling my mom and saying he doesn’t want to leave camp because of the lawnmowers. Still today, he runs outside with the lawnmower and we also go on ‘walks’ and he stops and looks at the grass, rocks and flowers.”

Because it kept her 2-year-old son active and engaged, it’s a much-recommended toy because it also helps get those active steps in.

“Having puzzle and shape toys that are manageable for your 2-year-old is critical,” Cady said. “Larger puzzles with indents for specific animals to match, or photos to match, is a friendly way for children to be naturally scaffolded to complete puzzles on their own.”

Cady recommends the Melissa & Doug Farm Friends Deluxe Jumbo Knob Puzzle, a $25 option that’s positively reviewed by more than 3,000 happy caregivers who are teaching their 2-year-old about cows, horses and sheep.

This collection of children’s books is a simple way to teach diversity and the importance of inclusion. Featuring photographs of families around the globe, images are coupled with poetic text that builds your child’s appreciation for language and different cultures.

Most toys in this gift guide have an educational spin, but sometimes the best gifts for 2-year-olds are soft and squeezable. Made with 100% recycled materials, the Amazon-exclusive holiday fox will become your child’s bestie in one hug. His scarf is removable, too!

This book, written by the same author of the famous ‘Everyone Poops,’ is full of gorgeous water-color style illustrations and has a fun story to match.

“Three winged siblings spend the day adventuring,” said Barnum. “After they are both curious and brave, they rush back to tell their parents all about it. Simple but engaging.”

“When children become more comfortable with managing puzzle parts like this, more challenging puzzles can be introduced,” Cady said. “When choosing a more traditional puzzle, if your child is ready, I suggest having a picture build within the image pieces are meant to make.”

Cady recommends this Wooden Construction Puzzle for a $25 option that’s also wonderful to help develop cognitive ability.

Have you seen a more aesthetically pleasing ride? It looks like a bookshelf toy but it’s uniquely a well-designed ride-on (and, just $50, too!)

“It took my daughter some time to get used to this, but she enjoys riding it around her playroom,” Dill said.

Another imaginative play option is this Melissa & Doug Emaine and Treat Pet Vet Play Set. It comes with 24 pieces, including a stethoscope, thermometer and bandages, and a plush dog and cat. Your child will spend hours nursing their furry friends back to health while learning empathy and compassion through play.

This interactive book toy has built-in speakers and audio recordings of friendly animals that help introduce over 100 age-appropriate words to 2-year-olds. It covers five different word categories and has the option for Spanish or English audio.

“Around this age, little ones begin to make great strides in acquiring new vocabulary, and this novelty book offers an abundance of new words to be discovered,” said Harding. “An ever-expanding vocabulary means that they are better able to express themselves, so a book like this taps into a great developmental need around this age.”

“My daughter likes the softness of this doll and that you can change all the clothes and diapers to play pretend,” Dill said. It’s a more realistic doll to have in your 2-year-old’s toy collection for that reason, too, encouraging your toddler to *hopefully* potty-train quickly.

“This was key when he was younger to help with hand-eye coordination and animals,” Greenhouse said. “We would sit on the play mat and work with him to make sure we can properly place the puzzles in the correct spot.”

Plus, each puzzle is a large size, allowing your 2-year-old to hold each one firmly in their hands.

For just $10, pick up the Sun Squad Light-Up Bubble Maker to have bubbles on demand (what we didn’t think we needed, but absolutely do).

“[My daughter] loves running around and chasing bubbles,” Dill said. “It’s nothing fancy, but it’s good to get out some energy.”

“This set helped teach my daughter the alphabet,” Giardina said. “She loves to not only build with them, but also line them up in letter and number order, and say the letter that corresponds with the picture on the block.”

Plus, the activities you can do from this one toy are endless! The easy-grab storage tub is a bonus for on-the-go travel, too.

For lovers of CoComelon everywhere, jump on the brand’s Ride-On School Bus — a less-than-$40 option that we predict to sell out quickly.

“My kids love to ride this bus,” Giardina said. “They love playing the alphabet and music on it. It’s a favorite!”

This farm-themed set includes 10 finger puppet figures to play with, as well as a big red barn that opens up to give kids space to set up and move around the cute little animals.

“These toys encourage pretend play as they act out scenarios and develop stories,” said Lerner. “This builds imagination and higher-level cognitive skills. When they engage with these toys with peers and parents, they build social and language skills as they talk about the ideas and stories they are developing about the characters and their lives in their homes.”

Ahead, our team of child development and psychology experts — along with real-life moms — provide insight into the 2-year-old age group and what defines playtime at this stage.

“My favorite saying is ‘the two’s are not terrible — instead, they’re full of potential!” Alice Cady, EdM, told the New York Post. “It’s up to adults to consider a child’s perspective, reasons behind behavior, and recognize potential to learn.”

Contrary to popular belief, 2-year-olds don’t necessarily need the ABCs and 1-2-3s; that’s not their primary goal. “They’re more into learning how things work, as you’ll typically find 2-year-olds turning on and off lights and opening and closing doors,” Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, PhD, a psychology professor at Temple University and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution — whose research work centers on the development of early language and literacy, as well as the role of play in learning — shared.

Ahead, Hirsh-Pasek provides a snapshot into the characteristics of most 2-year-olds:

“One of the most dramatic changes we see in 2-year-olds is their rapid language development,” Melissa Libertus, PhD, cognitive and developmental psychology professor at the University of Pittsburgh and research scientist at the University’s Learning Research and Development Center — who published a study on the benefits of parents promoting early learning in 2-year-olds — said. “At this age, children typically begin to use more words and form short sentences. They may also use basic grammar, such as plurals and past tense. They also tend to understand more complex instructions.”

“Two-year-olds are continuously exploring the world around them and testing their own and their environment’s limits. As their sense of self emerges, they start to recognize that people act intentionally and that sometimes obstacles keep people from completing their desired actions.”

More generally, 2-year-olds begin to understand cause-and-effect relationships and can solve simple problems. “They also start to categorize objects based on similarities and differences, like size, color and shapes,” Libertus said.

With regard to their motor skills, 2-year-old children typically refine gross motor skills such as running, jumping and climbing, per Libertus. “They also improve fine motor skills such as holding a pencil, stacking blocks and using utensils,” she said.

The golden question, right? While we turned to experts and real-life mommas for toy recommendations, keep in mind that 2-year-olds don’t need many gadgets and gizmos, according to Hirsh-Pasek.

“For toys, aim for engaging over distracting and active instead of passive,” she said. “Two-year-olds want your attention, to play with a given toy again and again and, most of all, to play with toys that bring them joy.”

Additionally, 2-year-olds begin to engage in more complex play and may start to develop friendships. “They also learn to express their emotions more effectively and begin to understand other people’s emotions, even though this learning is slow and can often lead to frustration and challenges as children struggle to communicate their emotions clearly,” Libertus said. That said, 2-year-olds work well in teams.

Aside from the obvious (that is, that it’s fun), Cady breaks down the true benefits of toddler-based playtime.

“Some parents already worry about content skills and kindergarten prep at this age. However, the true work of children is play,” she said. “Learning through play and being able to experiment through play is essential at this age.”

What’s more, having an “expert playmate” to play with children and materials affords 2-year-olds to share ideas, expand play, and gain experience playing ‘with’ another, which will stretch their interest and attention naturally with any open-ended toy.

“These kids are getting a liberal arts education every day. They’re learning how to communicate, collaborate and work in teams. They’re curious to know how the floors, swings and the world works — but they’re learning with you.”

That said, they’re building their brains at age 2. “When you ‘look beneath the hood,’ you’ll start seeing magical moments everywhere,” Hirsh-Pasek said. “They’re hypothesizing and figuring out new ways to do things. During playtime, they’re doing more thinking than you think.”

“Sensory toys, like pop-its, sensory tubes, rain-sticks and fidgets are external materials children can focus on while they regulate big feelings,” Cady said. “Another great way to help 2-year-olds thrive is to have set expectations and routines. Let them know what to expect.”

For this, visual schedule cards that a 2-year-old can manipulate and routines built to encourage independence are wonderful, because your child knows when and how to ‘take control’ over aspects of their day. “This is not to say you need every aspect of your day planned, but If you have an exciting activity or trip or aspect of your day plan, having your 2-year-old know that it is something to expect helps them process and orient their expectations for the day,” Cady said.

Ahead, take a look at some recommended toys to help facilitate listening and attention:

While every little one is adorable in their own way, certain learning and developmental skills come to life in 2-year-olds that differ slightly from that of the 1 and 3-year-old age groups.

The 1-year-old age group

“Toys for 1-year-olds and 2-year-olds differ in terms of their complexity, commensurate with the developmental abilities that are typical of the two age groups,” Libertus said. “Toys for 1-year-olds tend to be simpler and easier to use, while toys for 2-year-olds are more complex and challenging.”

For example, 1-year-olds may enjoy toys with a few buttons that make the toy light up or make noise, while 2-year-olds may prefer more complex features such as having to put the correct block in a toy to match the requested color. More, 1-year-olds may enjoy simple puzzles where one shape fits in a specific place, while 2-year-olds start to fit multiple shapes together to solve more complex puzzles.

“1-year-olds may need toys that are easy to grasp and manipulate,” Libertus said. “Two-year-olds have better-developed motor skills and may enjoy toys that require more dexterity, such as drawing or manipulating smaller features of toys.”

Two-year-olds are also typically more interested in pretend play than 1-year-olds. “Toys like dolls, play kitchens and costumes can help foster their emerging imaginative play,” Libertus said.

The 3-year-old age group

Just like toys for 1-year-olds and 2-year-olds differ in terms of their complexity, toys for 3-year-olds continue to increase in complexity in line with their more advanced development.

“Most notably, 3-year-olds are able to play with much smaller toys that would be considered choking hazards for younger children,” Libertus said. “Three-year-olds start to count objects and learn letters, making toys that support these skills a perfect fit for this age group.”

As their motor skills continue to improve, 3-year-olds tend to enjoy more challenging games with balls as well — like hitting a ball with a bat or aiming for a goal — and activities that require more sophisticated fine motor skills, like beading, according to Libertus.

Although 2-year-olds are advancing in their play, they are still getting teeth. Some children are very oral and might be tempted to place things in their mouths. Don’t panic (according to Cady), just redirect them to a chewing toy and still be mindful of choking hazards.

“Some great fine motor toys are meant for 3+ year-olds, so they come with very small parts,” she said. “If you want to work those fine motor muscles, consider using tongs, pipettes, and Play-Doh rather than purchasing toys labeled 3+, as often that label is related to choking hazards.”

Additionally, some sensory bins may be labeled 3+. Sensory experiences for 2-year-olds are one of the most engaging play experiences, according to Cady, with some including this label due to the inclusion of choking hazards within a marketed “kit,” or because more than 2″ of water is considered a drowning hazard for children under 3.

Weigh the capabilities of your child, their tendency to mouth toys, and consider how they will be supervised as you introduce toys and materials labeled 3+. “Ultimately, this is customizable to your individual child, but my recommendations are all toys that I would consider safe in my own classroom, which complies with NYS licensure in having no choking hazards,” Cady said.

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