The 40 Best Gifts for Two-Year-Old Boys
Tailoring your birthday and holiday gifts to the evolving developmental stage — and short attention span! — of a two-year-old isn’t easy. We’ve learned from experience with our two young children which gifts are winners for young toddlers, and which ones aren’t worth the investment. Read on for our toddler-approved list of the 40 best gifts for two-year-old boys, all of which we own and love for our children!
The Winning List: The Best Gifts for Two-Year-Old Boys
1. Strider Balance Bike
The Strider Balance Bike is targeted to children from 18 months to 5 years old, but our son really started to love his Strider at age two. The two-wheeled bike has no pedals, no brakes, and no training wheels, relying on the theory that children will learn to balance on their Strider before they pedal on a regular bicycle. Read our full review of the Strider bike here.
2. Radio Flyer Classic 10” Tricycle
If you’re not ready to make the leap to a balance bike, a classic tricycle is an awesome gift for any two-year-old boy. Although it can be difficult to maneuver on rough terrain or pedal up hills, our son has loved riding his Radio Flyer Tricycle through the neighborhood. Complete the gift with a coordinating helmet.
3. Melissa & Doug Let’s Explore Camping Lantern
This clever lantern from Melissa & Doug has five lamp color choices and five soothing sound options inspired by nature. It has a small handle that makes it easy for little hands to carry. The lantern has been great for our kids to use on camping trips, inside their makeshift forts, and any time we’re outdoors after dark.
4. Pottery Barn Kids Music Table
Our kids’ drum set, which is currently unavailable from Crate and Barrel but similar to Pottery Barn Kids’ Music Board Table Set, was one of our son’s favorite gifts when he turned two. Little ones love banging away at the drums and cymbals, or making music with the xylophone and maracas. For a less expensive option, check out the B. Toys Toy Drum Set.
5. Radio Flyer Plush Interactive Riding Horse
When I explained to our son’s grandparents that he liked horses, they took the idea and ran with it, gifting us this one-of-a-kind Radio Flyer Plush Interactive Riding Horse named Chestnut. Kids can rock back and forth with their feet in the stirrups while Chestnut makes trotting and galloping sounds according to their speed. They can also brush his hair or feed him a toy carrot and listen to his fun animal noises in response.
6. Little Tikes T-Ball Set
For a low-cost toy that provides hours of outdoor fun, the Little Tikes T-Ball Set is a home-run gift. The plastic tee and oversized bat come with five chunky tee-balls, so young kids can practice their swings on repeat and advance their motor development.
7. Member’s Mark Gourmet Kitchen Appliance Set
The Member’s Mark Gourmet Kitchen Appliance Set, which also comes in pink, is a high-quality toy set with a reasonable price tag. It comes with three battery-powered kitchen tools, including a toaster that pops up pretend toast pieces, a mixer that spins, and an espresso machine that toddlers can actually run water through. The espresso machine alone provides lots of entertainment to our two kids!
8. Green Toys Trucks
The Green Toys brand is committed to eco-friendly manufacturing and using sustainable raw materials that are safe for youngsters to play with. The Green Toys shape-sorter truck and classic dump truck are excellent toys made from recycled plastic.
9. Mega Bloks Cat Dump Truck
If you’re looking for a toy truck that’s large in size and fun to build with, the Mega Bloks Cat Dump Truck measures 16” long and comes with 23 building blocks. Our son loves to use his inside and outside to move and dump loads of dirt, rocks, and sand.
10. Damhorst Toys Personalized Wooden Stool
Capitalize on your two-year-old’s growing desire for independence by gifting them a personalized wooden stool from Damhorst Toys. As a budget-friendly alternative, our son also loves his folding step stool that he can carry through the house.
11. Melissa & Doug Water Wow Activity Pads
Melissa & Doug’s clever Water Wow Activity Pads reveal colorful pictures when toddlers use the included water pens to draw on them. Let the mess-free activity pads dry and magically erase, and the fun starts all over again.
12. Playground Balls
Don’t underestimate the value of a simple set of playground balls, especially ones that come in bright rainbow colors!
13. B. Toys Construction Vehicles and Transport Puzzle
These puzzles with large, wooden truck and car pieces from B. Toys help two-year-olds refine their fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and problem-solving skills. Target also sells similar wood puzzles in numbers and alphabet themes.
14. Play Doh
You can’t go wrong with a budget-friendly set of Play Doh colors and modeling tools. Play Doh is always a big hit in our house, but adults should use caution, as the manufacturer-recommended age range is three years and up.
15. Dumbbell Toys
At age two, that toddler boy wants to do everything his parents do. This is around the age when our son wanted to start joining us in exercising, and his beloved dumbbell toys (like his rattles from Fred’s or from Fisher-Price) became some of his most prized possessions.
16. Toddler Blanket
Most people think of blankets as great gifts for newborns and young babies, but when our son turned two, he really took to his toddler-sized blanket from Target. It’s a great item to deliver that cozy, homey feel on car trips and plane rides, and it’s large enough to completely cover him when he sleeps.
17. Bunmo Poppin’ Pipes
Bunmo’s Poppin’ Pipes are great gifts for toddlers of any age. Kids can stretch them out, shrink them down, twist them up, and connect them to make strands, loops, and shapes of any kind. Manipulating the tubes delivers a satisfying popping sound that doesn’t lose its novelty for little ones.
18. Lego Duplo Train
Our toddlers both love to play with our simple Lego Duplo Train set. Unlike traditional Legos, the pieces are large enough that they’re safe for age 18 months and up. The set comes with multiple train cars, number-themed blocks, and figurines for pretend play.
19. Melissa & Doug Bead Maze
A bead maze is a classic toy that we keep on the coffee table for our children to play with throughout the day. Without the risk of small choking hazards, bead mazes help develop color and shape recognition as well as fine motor skills.
20. Ready to Read Books
One of my favorite gifts that we bought for our son’s second birthday was the I’m Ready to Read with Mickey sound book, which reads off the words out loud when he presses the corresponding button for each page. Since then, we’ve added the Frozen, Moana, Spiderman, and Minnie Mouse editions to our collection.
21. Yeti Rambler Jr. Insulated Water Bottle
Our son carries his Yeti Rambler Jr. bottle for camping, hiking, and everyday use at school. The brand offers personalization and an array of kid-friendly colors.
22. Little Tikes 2-in-1 Swing
Designed for babies and toddlers up to 50 pounds in weight, the Little Tikes 2-in-1 Snug ‘n Secure Swing is the perfect gift for little ones who can’t get enough of the swingset at the playground. Unlike other toddler swings that little shoes are difficult to slide out of, the secure T-bar rotates downward completely out of the way to make it easier for parents to load and unload their little ones.
23. VTech Go! Go! Smart Wheels
The cars from VTech’s Go! Go! Smart Wheels line make fun sounds and music, and the accompanying tracks provide flexible play without being too difficult for two-year-olds to assemble and navigate. The brand offers the cars in various Mickey Mouse characters, as well as a police station and raceway set.
24. Stuffed Animals
Leading up to and after two years of age is when we’ve really seen our kids become attached to their stuffed animals. Soft bunnies and characters by Jellycat and Disney make for cherished, cuddly gifts.
25. Puffy Stickers
You might be surprised how much fun young toddlers can have with a set of puffy stickers and a backdrop to create on. These farm-themed and pet-themed sets from Melissa & Doug make for great stocking stuffers, party favors, or budget-friendly gifts.
26. Shape Sorter with Locks and Keys
A shape sorter toy with locked doors and designated keys to open them, like these versions from Lakeshore Learning, Melissa & Doug, and Battat, is a challenging developmental puzzle for toddlers. We love this toy for motor skill practice and imaginative play.
27. Mega Bloks Build & Race Big Rig Building Set
Our Mega Bloks Build & Race Big Rig Building Set has been one of our son’s favorite toys since before he was two. The set comes with 16 pieces in total, including a car that makes multiple driving sounds. It’s also compatible with other Mega Bloks products, so boys can really build without limits.
28. Inflatable Bounce Toys
They might not be the most beautiful playthings in the house, but our kids love inflatable bounce toys for indoors and out. Try this Flybar Waddle Horse Bouncer from Target or this Rody Bounce Horse from Gymnic for older toddlers. Parents beware; they can get a bit unstable!
29. Kids Play Tent and Ball Pit
Nothing sparks greater joy and chaos than when we unleash our Kids Play Tent and Ball Pit for the kids to play with in the basement. The time it takes to clean up all 600 balls is well worth the fun!
30. Kids Play Tunnel
Whether it’s part of a larger ball pit setup or a standalone piece for kids to crawl through, tunnels and other obstacle course pieces are great ways to stimulate physical movement and active play in two-year-olds.
31. Coloring Books and Triangular Crayons
I always fall back on the reliable coloring-book-and-crayons activity on travel days or during rainy weather with our kids. The combination of a coloring book and set of anti-roll triangular crayons makes for a thoughtful gift.
32. LeapFrog 100 Animals Book
LeapFrog’s 100 Animals Book is a popular gift for youngsters at this age. The magical pages play animal sounds, read animal names, or tell fun animal facts when the pictures of each creature are pressed by little fingers.
33. Little Tikes First Slip and Slide
For families with a backyard or extra space indoors, the Little Tikes First Slip and Slide is a fun way to burn off some of that rambunctious little-kid energy.
34. Skip Hop Zoo Snack Cup
This is a great gift for parents who want to buy something that’s both practical and cute. These Skip Hop Zoo Snack Cups come in a variety of animals, and they even have an attached lid to keep unfinished snacks from going bad.
35. The Nugget Play Couch
For a more significant two-year-old gift that remains exciting through the years, shop the innovative Nugget Play Couch. For all the reasons we love our Nugget, read my full review here.
36. Edushape Floating Bath Blocks
Kids who love building toys will enjoy Edushape’s Floating Bath Blocks. The set comes with 15 blocks, a floating construction board, and a handy mesh bag for organizing. For more bath-themed toys and gifts, check out our complete list of Baby Bath Essentials.
37. Soft Landing Sweet Seats Plush Chair
As toddlers grow older, they appreciate having a cozy, designated spot to sit in. Our two children adore their owl-themed plush chairs by Soft Landing. If you’re looking to splurge on a larger chair, Pottery Barn Kids also sells charming animal-themed toddler seating.
38. Melissa & Doug Poke-a-Dot Learning Cards
If you’re looking for an engaging way for two-year-olds to get repetitive practice with numbers and letters, Melissa & Doug’s Alphabet Learning Cards and Number Learning Cards are a great place to start.
39. Esjay Toddler Busy Board
In addition to being the ideal toy for plane rides and road trips, a toddler busy board can help youngsters develop fine motor skills with various buttons, strings, and buckles.
40. Kids’ Play Sink
There’s no denying that toddlers love water play. Keep them occupied all day with a working play sink, like these versions from Cute Stone and Little Tikes.
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We hope our list of the best gifts for two-year-old boys helped you find the perfect present for the adorable toddler in your life. For more gift ideas, check out our lists of the best gifts for parents who love to travel or the best gifts for three-year-old boys.
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