A Toy Reviewer’s Guide to the Best Holiday Gifts for 2-Year-Olds

Bath time can be a challenge at this age, but I have made a lot of progress with my son by having a couple of engaging bath toys on hand that I rotate every few days. This magnetic fishing-pole toy is a current favorite.

DUPLOs — LEGO’s larger blocks designed with smaller hands (and curious mouths) in mind — are great for 2-year-olds. ThisBlueyice-cream parlor set, with its car and oversize ice-cream cones, is a fantastic gift for kids who are in to pretend play and treats.

A bowling set like this one from Melissa & Doug gives little kids an outlet for all of their energy while also helping them practice taking turns and rolling balls instead of throwing them indoors. Thepins can be used for pretend play, too.

Alexandra Figueras-Daniel, an assistant professor at the National Institute for Early Education Research, recommends finger-puppet toys for this age group, specifically citing the very detailed ones fromFolkmanis, like this praying mantis, because of how realistic they are. In addition to helping kids work on their fine motor skills, puppets can “inspire lots of language, as children can speak through the role of the puppet,” Figueras-Daniel explains.

Play-Doh is a sensory experience for 2-year-olds, who may not build anything recognizable with it but will be excited to simply manipulate the material. It’s a good workout, too: “Play-Doh builds dexterity in their hands and finger muscles,” explainsDr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, a professor of psychology at Temple University and co-author ofBecoming Brilliant: What Science Tells Us About Raising Successful Children.

For regular drawing and scribbling on paper, Emily Motayed Lancaster, co-founder ofNurture&and mom of two, recommends a set of washable Crayola markers, which she says are key for parental sanity.

Or, if you’re ready to level up from markers, these creamy tempera-paint sticks have beenrecommended by multiple parentsbecause they are low effort and very satisfying to use.

This Ikea kids’ easel comes with a dowel to add aroll of paper, and the large surface area and short legs make it easy for 2-year-olds to reach.Rebeca Raney, an artist and arts educator, says “every nursery school has multiples of this one,” noting that “Ikea does a super job with their art products.” When you’re not using paper with it, kids can draw with dry-erase markers on one side and chalk on the other.

Strategist senior writer Lauren Ro gifted a star-themeddress-upcape from Sarah’s Silks to her younger son on his second birthday. That cape is currently out of stock, but the matching skirt is available and on sale.

While pregnant with her second child, preschool teacher Kathleen Cann got a baby doll and a toy stroller for her then 2-year-old as a way to prepare for the arrival of a new sibling. “She was obsessed and took really sweet care of the doll,” says Cann. This umbrella-style stroller is easy to push, folds up for storage, and has a real working canopy, plus a storage basket in the back.

Kids love looking at books with photographs of everyday people, especially other kids. Lovevery makes the best examples of this kind of board book that I have found. Like the brand’s toy kits, its books are curated in bundles by age with developmentally appropriate stories. This set is my son’s favorite because it includes a book about a fire station with pictures of fire trucks that have flaps he can open to see inside every compartment and door.

Extra padding so they can practice jumping and all sorts of other cool moves they are learning to do.

Strategist lead editor and parent of two Lauren Levy recommends Blockaroo’s magnetic foam blocks for 2-year-olds; where Magna-Tiles are flat and have more of a learning curve, Blockaroo’s 3-D foam shapes are easier and less frustrating for younger kids to work with. They are also lightweight and soft and float in the bath.

Strategist senior editor Ailbhe Malone says a wobble board is just as engaging as it is simple to store, plus it can double as a bed for stuffed animals, a slide, a ramp for toy cars, and a chair.

This building set is basically a bunch of cardboard boxes that look like bricks. Build ’em up; smash ’em down.

Full-sizedollhousestake up a lot of space and aren’t ideal for families with small apartments. Instead, Alexis Swerdloff,New Yorkdeputy editor and mom of two, suggests giving a more portable dollhouse like this one that closes up when it’s not in use. It comes in a few different designs, including this horse stable, awooden barn, and apink cottage.

I try to limit screen time for my son, but he adores playing with hisStory Dream Machine, a retro-looking projector and audio player that we got as a baby step toward letting him watch TV. It’s basically a mini slide projector that plays read-aloud books, fromElmo’s Trip to the Dentistto Eric Carle classics to his current favorite,GO, GO, Trucks!It has a convenient carry handle, a focus adjuster, and can be used as a nightlight and sound machine come bedtime. There are hundreds of titles for it, too, but this bundle comes with a trio of nostalgic Golden books.

Read more:This Retro Picture-Book Projector Is a Toddler Screen Alternative

The most popular toy in our pediatrician’s waiting room is a simple toy coffee maker. My son gets so much joy out of playing barista that I think it’s worth splurging on this detailed wooden set over cheaper plastic alternatives.

A first train set is a powerful memory for every generation and Brio is the gold standard. All Brio sets can be endlessly expanded with accessories and integrated into play with other kits, even many from other brands.

For younger kids who are just getting started with dolls, Motayed Lancaster recommends American Girl’s Bitty Baby line. She bought one when her own daughter was 2, and as with full-size American Girl dolls, there are many skin and hair colors available plus an entire Bitty Baby universe that includesfurniture,clothing, acar seat, ababy carrier, and evena cup of peas and a snack pouchto extend the play experience.

Bouncing engages almost every muscle group in a child’s body, especially the legs and core, saysLily Balsen, a New York City–based yoga teacher whose clients range in age from newborn to 80. So an iconic toy like Rody the bouncy horse will foster balance and a sense of spatial orientation, she says, adding that rhythmic movement is a great self-soothing and self-regulating mechanism. Also, it’s just plain fun.

[Editor’s note: This toy may not arrive in time for Christmas.]

When he was younger, my son would sit down on anything around the same height as his butt, backing up into a bottom step, his Nugget play couch, or a step stool and then proudly looking up at me once seated.So for his second birthday, we got him a chair from Piccalio that goes from chair to step stool to activity table with a few turns. If we had more space in our apartment, I would have purchased this full set of two chairs and a table so he could sit and draw or eat with a friend.

Many 2-year-olds become obsessed with everyday household tasks like washing dishes, vacuuming, and wiping countertops. They are usually happy to pretend to do these things, but if they get to use real tools, even better. Lovevery’s play kitchen is fully stocked with a working sink that you can fill with water, dish rack, cutting board, kid-safe wooden knife, colander, and utensil drawer, as well as stainless-steel utensils.

The Woom GO 1 is our top-pickbalance bikefor its lightweight aluminum frame, low crossbar, shock-absorbing air-filled tires, and extra safety features. And according to Yang, it’s an ideal size for average-height children just turning 2. She prefers it for this age compared to the bigger Strider bike that her daughter started riding at age 4. Both bikes have 12-inch wheels, but the Woom’s crossbar curves down low to make it easier for shorter kids to get on.

As they begin to seek some independence, 2-year-olds will benefit from a private play space where they can find quiet refuge with their books and stuffed animals. Lalo’s natural canvas play tent is spacious, easy to set up (the tent can be purchased on its own or as an add-on to the Laloplay gym), and won’t add to the visual clutter of a playroom. The canvas is heavy-duty and the wooden frame feels sturdy without weighing a lot or taking up loads of space. If needed, it also folds down flat enough to slide under a couch or bed.

[Editor’s note: This tent is largely sold out at other retailers and will likely arrive after Christmas if purchased through Amazon.]