Two year olds are always on the move, and they're learning new skills every day. These toys allow plenty of fun to keep toddlers engaged in the activity, but most of them also have some educational value, whether they encourage the use of imagination, or build skills like stacking, counting and phonics.
1. Rody Horse
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The Rody Horse offers active play for toddlers in several ways. It makes a great seat or just a spot to practice balancing. It's even more fun to bounce on the Rody Horse, and toddlers can even make it hop across the floor. A base is sold separately to turn the Rody Horse into a rocker. The horse is available in loads of bright colors, so you can find your toddler a horse in his or her favorite color fairly easily.
2. Playskool Mr. Potato Head Spud Buds
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A toddler-friendly version of Mr. Potato Head is fun for you and your little one! In this set, Mr. Potato Head is joined by two friends (carrot and corn) and lots of interchangeable pieces so your toddler can customize the whole crew. You'll enjoy playing along with your toddler and remembering how mch fun Mr. Potato Head was when you were a kid.
3. Latitude Enfant Youpipop Soft Bowling Pals
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Destruction is often counted as a toddler skill, but you can channel that into something fun and harmless with this cute bowling set from Latitude Enfant. Soft bowling pins have little arms and heads that are held on with magnets so your toddler can mix and match them. The soft bowling ball has a rattle inside so it makes a fun noise as it rolls towards the pins.
4. Manhattan Toy Count & Sort Farm
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Three soft pens with flap gates each have a number printed inside. Each one has the same number of animals inside - one chick (in a little nest), two sheep, three pigs and four cows. Toddlers will love stacking the cylinders, hiding the animals, learning to count and practicing animal sounds. This is a fun way to help toddlers get a head start on math skills.
5. Melissa & Doug ABC-123 Wooden Blocks
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A set of alphabet blocks is a perfect gift for a 2-year-old. Blocks appeal to a toddler's desire to stack things up and then knock them over, and then repeat the process. These wooden blocks from Melissa & Doug also have letters and numbers on them so your toddler can get a head start on reading and counting. This block set is the right size for making towers and other structures, and the blocks are a perfect fit for small hands. Best of all, they cost less than $15!
6. Parents Animal Hospital
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Parents-brand toys have a great reputation for quality, and just as importantly, for being fun for little ones. This animal hospital play set comes with three animal friends that your toddler can learn to care for by using the included play stethoscope and other veterinarian's tools. All of the accessories can be stored inside the hospital, so it's easy for your toddler to move the whole set around the house, or to take this toy on vacation. There are so many ways a toddler can enjoy this toy, from imagination play alone or creating pet stories with a friend.
7. HABA Land of Dragons Stacking Game
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These beechwood blocks from HABA have beautiful non-toxic finishes that are really durable, so they will keep their vivid color for quite a while. Toddlers can stack the blocks onto the poles on the base of this toy, or they can build their own structures with them. Either way it's lots of fun! Lots of different shapes among the blocks make them fun to feel, and the different painted patterns are visually pleasing. HABA also added some royal details like flags and gemstones to help your toddler's imagination run wild.
8. LeapFrog Fridge Phonics Magnetic Set
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Toddlers can learn letter sounds incredibly fast with the phonics toys from LeapFrog. This set has a base that can be used on the fridge or elsewhere, and individual magnetic letters that fit inside the base one at a time. When the letter piece is in the base, a voice sings a song that tells the name of the letter and the sound it makes. Toddlers love putting the various letters into the base and hearing the music, and this is a great way for parents to start teaching the child the letters that make up his or her name.
9. Fisher Price Little People A to Z Learning Zoo
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Fisher Price has been making their Little People toy sets for decades now, and toddlers still love them. This zoo set has an alphabet trail that toddlers can "walk" the characters on, and when they do, they'll hear letters that animal names start with as well as animal sounds. The mat also plays the alphabet song, so your toddler can practice singing along. I like that this Little People set comes with lots of animal characters, so your toddler won't quickly grow bored just one or two animals.
10. International Playthings Lift Off Rocket Toy
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Toddlers can be sci-fi fans, too, thanks to this cool rocket ship from International Playthings. The rocket opens up to reveal three areas where the two included space explorers can play. A silly alien friend is also included with the set, as is a cute spotted dog and a little wheeled vehicle for expeditions away from the rocket. What rocket would be complete without a countdown sequence? Toddlers will enjoy counting down along with the rocket and launching new space adventures.
