Present Ideas for a Two-Year-Old
Are you searching for the perfect gift for your two-year-old? Our curated list of gift ideas includes toys and activities that are both fun and developmentally appropriate. From balance boards that enhance proprioception to sensory play materials like finger paints, our recommendations are designed to support cognitive and developmental growth. These gifts also align with play schemas—patterns of thought and behaviour that help young children make sense of the world around them. Let’s dive into our top picks for two-year-olds!
A Balance Board
Why? Balance boards are excellent for improving balance, proprioception (awareness of body position and movement), and stimulating the vestibular system. They also assist with emotional self-regulation and can be used creatively with toy vehicles to explore movement and gravity concepts. Perfect for children 18 months and older, these boards are a versatile and lasting gift.
Top Recommendations:
Cogs
Why? Twisting and turning toys captivate children exploring the rotation schema. These toys offer visual stimulation, physical satisfaction, and challenges that develop fine motor skills and coordination. Cogs introduce language concepts like “spinning” and “twisting” while encouraging cause-and-effect exploration.
Top Recommendations:
Building Sets
Why? Two-year-olds begin constructing structures up to 5-7 blocks high and using their imagination to transform blocks into symbolic items like food or vehicles. Building sets support the connection schema (stacking and knocking down structures) and positioning schema (lining up blocks).
Top Recommendations:
Wooden Set: Natural Wood Blocks – 34 Piece
Dress-Ups / Imaginative Play
Why? At age two, make-believe play blossoms. Dressing up encourages creativity, language development, and social interaction. Simple costumes and props provide scaffolding for imaginative play, while butterfly wings, for example, allow children to explore the trajectory and rotation schemas.
Top Recommendations:
Art Supplies
Why? Art fosters creativity, self-expression, and fine motor development. For two-year-olds, art activities like drawing with easy-to-grip pencils or stamping provide enjoyable, supervised exploration. These tools support hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness.
Top Recommendations:
Sensory Play
Why? Sensory play engages the five senses and fosters brain development, fine motor skills, and relaxation. For two-year-olds, finger paints are an excellent way to explore textures, colours, and the process of mixing.
Top Recommendations:
Loose Parts
Why? Loose parts inspire symbolic play, creativity, and schema exploration. A dolly peg can become a person or an insect, and wooden rings can be transformed into money or soup ingredients. These materials are perfect for constructing, positioning, and social play.
Top Recommendations:
Books
Why? Books introduce new vocabulary, improve memory and concentration, and spark a lifelong love of reading. At two, children begin identifying and naming emotions, making books about feelings particularly valuable.
Top Recommendations:
This gift guide was originally written by Alicia Mason specifically for Growing Kind and has since been adapted. Connect with Alicia at @filltheirbucket.
