These Are the Best Toys for 2-Year-Olds

This is a wonderful age to start introducing puzzles. Two-year-olds are mastering sorting, categorizing, and understanding how shapes fit together. With these types of toys, they’ll develop their problem-solving skills, fine motor skills, and spatial understanding.

“The best toys can grow with them and will have multiple ways to play,” says Lizzie Assa, MsED, founder of The Workspace for Children. That’s definitely true of classic blocks: They provide endless hours of open-ended play, develop both fine and gross motor skills, and can teach toddlers about cause and effect.

Toddlers are always on the move, so it’s no wonder that they love toys that go, too. Toy cars or a train set can encourage pretend play and problem-solving, and develop fine motor skills and construction skills. 

Imaginative play can develop as early as 15 months, but by the time children are 2, they’re starting to explore pretend scenarios, worlds, and characters. The wonderful thing is that children can engage in imaginative play without requiring toys, but having them doesn’t hurt. Funnily enough, one study found that the more realistic the toys are, the more they can encourage imagination. 

“Never underestimate the power of a simple toy,” Peebles says. Playing music helps toddlers with self-expression, creativity, and brain development. 

It’s not about the final product for toddlers; it’s about the process. Creating art can build a child’s confidence, encourage self-expression, introduce critical thinking, and encourage problem-solving. They can work on this skill completely on their own. “Crayons and paper taped to the kitchen counter with a stool to reach the counter are great ways to draw your child into independent play,” Assa says. “When everything is familiar, they won’t need constant help or guidance.”

Toddlers are eager to help—and be close to the adults they love. “Children want to be close to a trusted adult, so bring their toys and workspaces to the place where you spend the most time,” Assa says. A toddler tower lets you get your child involved as you cook or do dishes, and provides opportunities to learn, interact, and observe. It’s important to choose a toddler tower with a wide, heavy base and gaps that prevent potential entrapment, because many toddler towers we’ve tested pose safety concerns.

The physicality and energy of a 2-year-old can be exhausting. Ride-on toys give them an interactive way to develop those gross motor skills and get that energy out while understanding the limits of their body, cause and effect, and building independence. 

“I’m a big believer that talking about emotions can start very young, so I love toys that can help children start having those conversations about emotions,” Peebles says. This is why books can be such a great toy for 2-year-olds. They can learn social cues and problem-solving, and expand their vocabulary, all at once.

Because picking just one great book for toddlers is hard, here are two. “Pete the Cat” uses a sing-songy cadence to show toddlers how to go with the flow and stay calm even when upsetting things happen, and “Vegetables in Underwear” is a hilarious way to start prepping your toddler for the transition from diapers to undies. Be prepared to read both on repeat.