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25 best toys for keeping two-year-olds entertained
Including expert-approved puzzles, pretend props, games and open-ended play sets
When two-year-olds play with toddler toys, they're doing much more than having fun — they're showing off all their newfound abilities. It’s around this age that they start to learn about their own thoughts and feelings, while also discovering that others have their own thoughts and feelings too. This is where pretend play really comes into its own, as they try on different roles.
So, when selecting a gift for children this age, it's important to choose one that lets them stretch their imaginations. To help you in your search, our experts and GH parents have compiled a list of fun and engaging toys your little ones will love to play with, while developing their young minds in the process.
What do two-year-olds like to play with?
Role-playing items can encourage pretend play – think toy kitchen items, dolls and pushchairs, or vehicles with chunky figures that can fit inside. Look for toys that encourage problem-solving, such as wooden blocks, building toys and puzzles. Toys and games that support open-ended play and can be used multiple ways are good, too.
Some other things to bear in mind: Two-year-olds are still too young for toys with small parts that can be choking hazards; they may not have the attention span for complicated games with lots of rules; and they still don't have enough motor coordination for some more sophisticated toys. If you follow those guidelines, no matter what you get, you should have a very happy toddler!
Take the idea of stacking and nesting boxes to the next level with this early board game for kids. To play, parents and kids take turns hiding the bear under the different boxes, and guessing where it is. It promotes turn-taking and patience, and we're confident kids will want to play it again and again. Ages 2+
At this age games need to be simple, to keep them engaged. This hilarious new game will work on their matching and memory skills by pairing doggy heads with their bodies. There are two fun ways to play for younger and older children. Shout “Doggy Doggy Woof Woof” after each successful match. And stand up, pretend to wag your tail and shout “Waggy Waggy Woof Woof” when you get a waggy tail card. It should also burn off a little energy too.
BRIO's chunky train is just the right size for toddlers and doesn't need a track to run on. The battery-powered push-and-go toy will help their fine motor skills and encourage movement. The best bit? Press the button and watch the safe-to-touch steam emerge from the chimney as it starts its journey. Ages 18 months+
If they love blocks, but you hate standing on them (we've all been there – ouch!), this is the solution. Designed for toddlers and preschoolers, these clever blocks can be squeezed, stretched and squished, with each one filled with fun materials, such as sand, mini stars and foam balls. Tactile, pain-free and perfect for imaginative building fun – we approve. Ages 2+
There are toy kitchens, and then there is the Lovevery toy kitchen.
Yes, it is certainly an investment, but they'll get years of use out of this real life play kitchen. It comes with a real working sink that can be filled with fresh water, with a flow that's not too strong. Water play stays contained thanks to a wide sink, and a used water basin with a spill-proof lid, safety lock and indicator that tells you when it's full. And, you can even chose from six different aesthetically pleasing splash-backs, to make sure it looks great in your home.
You'll be amazed at just how much your child is capable of, and this toy really helps build practical life skills, from food prep to clean-up, in a fun, engaging way.
Download The Lovevery App to receive on-demand access to parenting tips, child development information, activity ideas, and expert Q&As, designed to create a deeper play experience. Ages 18 months+
These classic large pieces are particularly easy for toddlers to hold, making them especially perfect for kids just past their first birthday. You can even get them to help clean up by making a game of putting the 100 blocks back into the box when you're finished playing. Ages 1+
Toddlers will be motivated to work on that gross motor coordination with this brightly coloured chameleon, who follows behind with the pull of a string. As they pull, its eyes move and its body wiggles from side to side. Ages 1+
What's a Bilibo? What isn't it? It can be a seat that they wobble around. Flip it over, and it's a tunnel or a shell. They can wear it on their heads like a helmet or use it as a landscape for their figures. The open-endedness means that kids can really be creative when they play with it. It also comes in several colours. Ages 2+
This isn’t your average wooden block set. The 70-piece kit promotes STEM learning as it features a rainbow of colours and 18 shapes and tools, including wheels, ramps, magnetic rods, shape sorters and more. What makes it even better is you can turn this set into a storage car to easily contain all the pieces. Ages 18 months+
Toddlers learn best when they get a front-row seat to the action, and this learning tower lets kids safely get up to counter height. This is particularly helpful for kids who want to get involved with cooking in the kitchen. The step is adjustable to cater for different ages and heights, and there's even a chalkboard on the reverse for creative play. Ages 18 months+
Pretend play is so important for toddlers, and they love to imitate the adults around them. This lets them play stylist with an adjustable waist belt, which contains wooden toy scissors, a blow dryer, straightener, clippers, comb, and hair spray.
They'll love packing it up and spilling the contents out again, possibly while asking "Going anywhere nice on holiday?" just like grown-ups do. Ages 18 months+
They'll get a lesson in cause-and-effect when they see these cars zip down the slanted ramps. It feels like a cool stunt each time the cars reverse direction. The ramp comes with four cars in different muted colours. Ages 18 months+
These chunky jumbo crayons are easier to grip, but they'll still help them draw whatever creations they can dream up. The larger size means they'll last a long time, and the colours are nice and bright on paper too. Ages 1+
This 15-piece set is perfect for your little builder. It comes with a saw, spanner, hammer, file and lots of nuts and bolts, so they can imagine their own construction projects. The set is also made from FSC-certified materials for a lower overall environmental impact. Ages 2+
Ease those "white-coat worries" by letting kids step into the role of doctor with sturdy, toddler-sized tools. This medical bag is filled with tools to take temperatures, check heartbeats, and tend to wounds. Fantastic for imaginary play, they're sure to do a thorough job on their "patients." Ages 18 months+
Excite their imaginations with this farm play set, which has lots of fun features: the chicks can hatch, the corn can "pop," the bell rings, a button turns the outdoor light on and off and — best of all — there's a trap door in the hayloft that sends characters down to the first floor.
It also plays sounds and songs, and it folds up when not in use. It comes with a farmer and four animals, but if you need more farmhands, you can add to their collection with other Little People characters. Ages 6 months+
This cutie's 12 pegs are easy for little hands to grasp, and parents will love how every piece stashes neatly away inside the hedgehog's body, making for easy storage (and on-the-go transportation). Ages 18 months+
Kids can practise nurturing and empathy during their imaginative play with this toddler-friendly baby doll, which comes with an outfit, dummy and a baby bottle. It's available in two skin tones, and you can buy additional outfits for it, too. Ages 1+
Complete with utensils, a plate and food, this interactive toaster lets kids pretend to make breakfast, just like the adults. It's a lovely set to get them started, and there are lots more accessories from the range available to explore. Ages 2+
Make an at-home playground with this indoor foldable slide. The best part — it won’t take up much space when it's not in use. Simply fold the slide flat when your child is done playing, and it's thin enough to fit into super tight spaces. Break it out on rainy days, and put it away when the sun comes out. Ages 18 months+
Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; previously, she wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her toy-collecting husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found helping out her team at bar trivia or posting about movies on Twitter and Bluesky.
Stacey looks after all food and drink reviews — from coffee pods and veg boxes, to natural wine and tequila. Stacey is also founder of Crummbs, where she’s written nearly 2,000 restaurant and hotel reviews since 2013. Prior to this, Stacey wrote hundreds of in-depth buying guides for the Independent, i newspaper and BBC Good Food, as well as reviewing restaurants and interviewing celebrities in her column at Balance Magazine. Stacey has also appeared in BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Blood, Sweat & Takeaways, where she investigated South East Asia's food production industry, appearing on both Newsnight and BBC World Service to share her findings. Regularly checking out the latest restaurants, bars and product launches, Stacey also loves experimenting with recipes at home, and is a WSET-certified wine and spirits expert, with over 10 years of experience in the business. You can follow Stacey on Instagram @crummbs_uk
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