31 Best Toys and Gifts for 2-Year-Olds

When kids turn 2 years old, there's so much more they can do — which makes playing all the more fun. When shopping for the best toys and gifts for kids of this age, there's so much more they can handle. "This is a huge jump in their thinking skills!" says Rebecca Parlakian, M.A., E.D., a parenting expert from Zero to Three, an organization that focuses on kid development during the early years. "As they are discovering that they, themselves, are individuals with their own thoughts and feelings, they are also learning that others have their own thoughts and feelings too. Pretend play gives children a chance to take on these different perspectives. Usually the first pretend play parents see is 'playing house,' since it’s what children know best, but really children act out any familiar scenario — like when my daughter picked up a toy phone and said, 'Shhh, I have a conference call.'"

Parlakian also says roleplaying items can encourage pretend play, including toy kitchen items, dolls and strollers or vehicles with chunky figures that can fit inside. In addition, she suggests looking for toys that encourage problem-solving like wooden blocks, building toys and puzzles. Toys and games that support open-ended play and can be used multiple ways are good, too.

But the best toys and gifts for toddlers still have a lot of safety considerations, too. Two-year-olds are still too young for toys with small parts that can be choking hazards, and they still don't have enough motor coordination for some complicated toys and games.

With all this and in mind, and to help prepare kids for pre-school and beyond, the experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute test hundreds of toys for safety, functionality and fun factor. They look for toys that build on these developmental skills, toys that are well constructed and playthings toddlers will return to again and again. Some of our recommendations are even previous Good Housekeeping Best Toy Award winners! With all that in mind, these best toys and gifts for 2-year-olds in 2022.

Puzzles, educational toys, interactive games and gifts that inspire open-ended play did best with our testers, as did toys with some of their favorite characters from shows like Peppa Pig or CoComelon. Here are our testers' faves, sure to please any 2-year-old on your list.