2-year-olds are at such a fun age for play because they’re curious, constantly learning, and full of energy! Finding toys that can keep up with their growing interests and abilities is key. At this stage, kids love exploring toys that let them use their imagination, practice new skills, and enjoy the thrill of independence. Whether they’re building, sorting, or getting creative, the best toys are those that can be used in many different ways and keep them coming back for more.
The best toys for two-year-olds are those that encourage open-ended play, letting them explore new ideas and activities in their own way. Think about toys that allow them to try, fail, and try again without a set “right” way to play. These toys encourage learning, creativity, and confidence, which makes them perfect for helping your little one discover the world around them. Let’s dive into some top picks that are sure to make playtime exciting and educational!
Why You’ll Love These Toys
You’ll love these toys because they’re durable, versatile, and designed to support your child’s growth. Each one encourages curiosity, fine motor skills, and creativity, making them fun for your child now and adaptable as they grow. Plus, these toys make playtime enjoyable and engaging—giving you a little peace while your toddler stays busy and entertained!
Best Toys for 2-Year-Olds or Toddlers
Bears in Pairs
Hide and seek takes an adorable twist with this hands-on memory match game for toddlers! This set introduces little ones to the joys of game play, with simple, three-step instructions and no reading required. Players begin by hiding an animal in each compartment of the colorful barn playset and closing each door. Take turns opening a door to find a match. Make a pair and you win the game! Bears in Pairs helps develop visual discrimination and matching skills critical for early reading and math.
Radio Flyer Scoot About Sport
Scooting around has never been easier or more fun with Radio Flyer’s Scoot About Sport! The working steering helps your child develop gross motor skills and learn how to steer. The ergonomic design offers a clear kick-path for a smooth ride. Easy glide wheels are safe for indoor or outdoor use. Includes under the seat storage. For ages 1 – 3 years.
Learning Avocados
Helps to build new skills such as colour identification and matching skills and helps to strengthen fine motor skills. A great way to introduce social-emotional development with the avocados’ spinning emoji-style faces!
Shape Factory
Shape sorting with a fun twist. Strengthen fine motor skills, helps build problem solving skills as well. Here’s how it works: With a push of the button, the top twists and the slots all change. Kids have to explore and experiment to solve the puzzle and match all the shapes. Then, open the door to release the blocks and start the fun all over again! Ages 2 to 5 years.
Toy Train Set
A wooden train set with people, bridge and buildings is a great way to build imagination and fine motor skills. I recommend getting one that will be compatible with multiple sets.
Baby Doll
Dolls are perfect for all children, independent of their gender and key to developing key social skills. Getting a doll that is outside your race (especially if you are white) is a great way to combat subtle anti-racist messaging about other races your child may be getting from other sources, such as cartoons and school.
Doll Stroller
Does your toddler love using their stroller? Getting one of their own for their doll or stuffed animal would be a lot of fun for them.
An indoor tunnel
A classic hopper
A tough truck
Ride ‘n Chomp Croc
An indoor trampoline
Count & Match Educational Egg Toy
This education toy can help toddler learn to count, sort, and match. Each plastic egg contains a different color and number, with corresponding pegs and holes.
Magnetic Wooden Cutting Fruits Vegetables Food Play Toy Set
This magnetic veggie set is great for developing life skills such as cutting and slicing. They are also fun to use in a play kitchen.
Shopping Cart
This toy is super sturdy and great for taking to the supermarket or for playing make believe at home.
Wooden Toddler Jigsaw Puzzle
These bright and colorful puzzles are great for working on fine motor skills as well as early math skills. They are also great quiet time activities.
LEGO DUPLO
One of my favourite toys and something they will use for years. Even my 6 year old who plays with LEGO still enjoys building with Duplo every once and a while.
Play Kitchen Set
Whether you go big or small, a play kitchen set is a toddlers toy must-have. I used to place my play kitchen next to my real kitchen and my toddler and I would cook and clean together!
Wooden Kid’s Art Easel with Paper Roll and Accessories
An art set with everything is very convenient to have. If you don’t have room for an entire easel, getting no spill paint cups is key to paint hassle free with toddlers.
Dinosaurs
Your toddlers first dinosaur set! It won’t be their last but it will be the start of a long childhood fascination with these majestic beasts.
Dollhouse
Both of my toddlers (a boy and a girl) play with our dollhouse. It’s may not be something you think of for a boy but consider getting a small one for them to enjoy.
Matching Sorting Set
These bears are perfect for colour sorting activities or just for fun.
Pinkfong Baby Shark Tablet
Construction Truck Toys
Play Sweep And Mop
ABC 123 Puzzles
Tool Set
Vehicle Play Set with People
Wooden Blocks
Doctor’s Kit Play Set
More Toy Guides for Every Age
- Supplies for Toddler Activities
- Anti-Racism Toys for All Ages
- Backyard Toys for Kids
- The Best Travel Toys for Toddlers + Kids
- Best Toys for Babies 0-12 Months
- Toys for 1 Year Olds
- Best Toys for 3 Year Olds
- Toys for 4-5 Year Olds
- Best Toys for 6-7 Year Olds
- Montessori Toys for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Play2Learn Toddler & Preschool Programs for Curious Toddlers
There is no limit to your toddler’s energy and curiosity. That energy and curiosity although a joy can be challenging at times. Their interest in just about everything around them is what makes them great learners. One and two year olds can soak up so much just from their senses!
But as a teacher or parent that thirst for learning can be exhausting. That is why I created this toddler and preschooler program. To help you get the most out of this time with your curious toddler without having to come up with creative ways to play and interact with them.
Play2Learn for Toddlers includes 20 Units for toddlers. Each 2-week toddler unit has 20 super easy to set up and engaging activities for toddlers 18 months to 3 years.
Play2Learn Preschool which includes 20 Units for preschoolers. Each 2-week preschoolers unit has 20 unique and easy to set up and engaging activities for preschoolers 3 years to 5 years. That’s over 800 learning activities for your toddler and preschooler at your fingertips! So many ideas you and your child will never be bored again!
These toddler and preschool lesson plans and activities will definitely keep you and your toddler and preschooler busy playing and learning!
Click here for more information: Play2Learn
Book: Exciting Sensory Bins for Curious Kids
Did you know I wrote a book of sensory bins? Click here for more information Exciting Sensory Bin for Curious Kids. Or grab your copy at Amazon.
Boring afternoons are made exciting with awesome animal-based bins, like Salty Shark Bay or Yarn Farm. Pretend play bins like Birthday Cake Sensory Play or Bubble Tea Party encourage creativity and imagination. And your kids will have so much fun they won’t even know they’re getting smarter with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) activities like Sink or Float Soup, Magnetic Letter Hunt or Ice Cream Scoop and Count.
Designed for toddlers 18 months and up.
Book: Super STEAM Activity Book for Kids
Learning all about science, technology, engineering, art, and math sets kids up for scholastic success―and it can be so much fun! Watch kids enjoy building STEAM skills as they color friendly fish, help water find its way to tree roots, solve math problems with mazes, and more.
Find out more and grab your copy here.
Designed for preschoolers 3 years old and up.
Book: Big Book of Riddles for Kids
Riddle me this: What’s an exciting way to practice critical thinking while having a blast? The Big Riddle Book for Kids, of course! From hilarious puns to tough brain teasers, kids can build problem-solving skills with hundreds of riddles tha. t show them how to think outside the box.
- 350 riddles for kids—Have hours of fun with riddles, puns and jokes, and math and logic puzzles that’ll get their wheels turning!
- Level up their skills—Riddles get trickier as kids progress through the book, challenging them as they get better at solving puzzles!
- Double-check their work—Kids can check their answers in the back of the book with a handy answer key.
Help children expand their minds while having fun with this puzzle book for kids!
Designed for kids ages 6 years old and up.
TV Show: Curious Crafting
I’m so excited to share my crafting TV show Curious Crafting which launched in July 2022 on TVOkids and TVOkids YouTube! Season 2 aired in August 2023! My show was also nominated in 2023 for Best Live Action Preschool Series by the Youth Media Alliance Awards of Excellence.
Curious Crafting Season 1 is also now airing in Australia on ABC! Watch it here!
Set in the ultimate crafting space, Curious Crafting is a short form pre-school age series about the joy of making crafts. I lead a rotating cast of adorable little preschoolers (including my own) making magic out of common household objects.
In each episode we transform recycled items into magical crafts like a milk carton school bus, paper bag puppet or cotton pad turtle. The crafters learn and laugh their way through each activity while demonstrating what their young imaginations can create.
Curious Crafting shares the adventure and joy of making art with takeaway lessons for creating crafts at home.
This show designed for toddlers and preschoolers 2.5 years old and up.
