The 7 Best Gifts for 2-Year-Olds in 2019

Surprise your toddler with a thoughtful, fun gift

By Julie Ryan Evans

Updated 03/06/19

Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links.

Two-year-olds get a bad rap for being difficult and demanding, and well… they are. But they’re also some of the funniest, most adorable creatures on the planet—and they love to have fun.

Whether for the holidays, birthdays, or just because you want to see a sweet grin light up their face when you present them with a gift, these picks are sure to elicit squeals of joy. We can’t promise, however, that they won’t also produce a screaming tantrum if you take them away when it’s nap-time!

  • 01 of 07

    Best Overall: Mega Bloks 80-Piece Big Building Bag, Classic

    Good

    “Wow!” will be their reaction when they see this mega bag of Mega Bloks. It comes with 80 brightly colored blocks in a variety of shapes. They’re the perfect size for little hands and versatile enough for them to dream big with their creations.

    Kids of all ages will love to stack, build, knock them down and start all over again and again. From castles to cars and so much more, there’s no limit to the things they may create.

    While they’re having all that fun, their imagination and fine motor skills are being bolstered too -- win, win! They also come in a great environmentally-friendly storage bag that makes them easy to take along and cleanup.

    This is a perfect starter set, but it also works with all other Mega Bloks sets, so you can grow their collection over time to build bigger and better things. The possibilities are endless. 

  • 02 of 07

    Best Dinosaur Toy: 3 Bees & Me Dinosaur Toys for Boys and Girls

    This rolling herd of dinosaurs will provide a roaring good time for tiny toddlers. That’s right, herd, as not one but four dinos come in this value-priced pack. It’s a gift that makes a big impression.

    Each dinosaur is modeled after a real prehistoric dino. There’s a brontosaurus, a stegosaurus, a triceratops, and of course, a T-Rex, all in bright primary colors, perched atop wheels.

    They’re easy-to-grip and the perfect size for little hands. Not only will they encourage motor skill development, but they’ll also inspire imaginary play and ignite an interest in science (future paleontologist perhaps?). More than anything, however, these dinosaurs are fun. Toddlers will love racing them, chasing them and creating all sorts of silly scenarios. Older kids will have fun with them too. Heck, they’re so much fun, don’t be surprised if mom and dad want to get in on the jurassic action. The fun will show no threat of extinction. 

  • 03 of 07

    Best Car Toy: Melissa & Doug Nesting and Sorting Garages and Cars With 7 Graduated Garages

    Rev up the fun with this set of sorting cars and garages from Melissa & Doug. It comes complete with seven (count them, seven) numbered wooden cars in graduated sizes. There are also seven garages included, each with a number and color that matches one of the cars for endless counting, sorting and matching opportunities. Of course, kids won’t have any idea they’re learning such valuable lessons as they vroom, vroom the day away.

    All of the garages can be stacked on top of one of another as well, for stacking (and knocking down) and building. From towers to entire towns, this set will drive their imaginations wild.

    Don’t worry about the mess of all those moving parts either. All of the garages also nest within one another, making storage easy. Not to mention, they’re a great value for the price, which makes giving this gift especially nice. 

  • 04 of 07

    Best Active: Radio Flyer 811X 4-in-1 Stroll ‘N Trike

    They’ll be cruising the neighborhood in style in this sleek 4-in-1 vehicle. It’s a gift they truly won’t outgrow for years, as it grows with the child.

    It starts as an infant trike (basically, a sporty looking stroller), complete with a three-point harness for safety, as mom and dad do the work pushing. Then as little legs get bigger and stronger, the trike can transform into a steering trike and a learn-to-ride trike. Finally, it can be turned into a classic trike when they’re ready to pedal off on their own into the sunset (or at least to the end of the driveway).

    There’s a removable canopy to protect little ones from the sun and also a storage bin for snacks, keys or small toys. There’s even a cup holder for sipping on the go when all that pedaling leaves them panting. The seat is adjustable, and it holds kids up to 49 pounds for years of active, outdoor fun.

    Continue to 5 of 7 below.
  • 05 of 07

    Best Educational: LeapFrog, My Own Leaptop

    Light up their world of learning with this little, pretend laptop. Just like mom and dad, toddlers can get down to business with their very own keyboard and screen.

    Packed with games, songs and various learning modes, there’s so much to explore and learn with this little machine. From learning the ABCs to spelling and animal names, they’ll be tap, tap, tapping away at endless educational activities that are brought to life with fun songs and engaging graphics. Bonus: Kiddos can even send and receive emails—pretend emails, but emails nonetheless.

    The laptop is toddler tough, weighs less than two pounds and has a handle that makes it easy to carry. It’s great for long car rides and any other time that calls for fun on the go. Three AA batteries are included, so the fun can begin immediately.

  • 06 of 07

    Best for Sports: Little Tikes Easy Score Basketball Set

    To say this gift will be a slam dunk would be an understatement (and a silly pun), but it’s true. Budding ballers can shoot and score over and over again with this sturdy basketball hoop designed just for them.

    Perfect for hoopsters 18 months to five years old, it's easily adjustable and can go from 2 feet up to 4 feet. It also has an oversized rim for maximum points. The best part: the set comes with not one, but three, rubber balls, so if one rolls away to places unknown, the game doesn’t have to come to an end.

    The base is made to be filled with sand to keep it steady when the wind blows, but you can also skip that step and keep it indoors for climate-controlled fun. A game of H-O-R-S-E, anyone?

  • 07 of 07

    Best Musical: B. Parum Pum Pum Drum

    If there’s one thing we know about kids, it’s that they love to make noise, and this is one gift that helps them do just that. They’ll be marching to their own beat with this fantastic music set that’s as cute as it is functional.

    Included are silly centipede drumsticks, jingle bell ants, a busy bee maraca and clacker, a caterpillar tambourine and two shaka-shaka eggs—plenty to make up a whole band. They all come packed in a bright drum with a handy carrying strap so you can pack up the whole thing and take it wherever the music moves you.

    All this musical inspiration comes at a great price, and it’s a hit with girls and boys alike. If you’re feeling extra generous, you may want to throw in a set of earplugs for mom and dad for those times when the beat goes on and on and on…

Products Tested by

How We Tested

We bought a top-rated gift for 2-year-olds and our reviewers tested it for six hours. We asked our testers to consider the most important features when using this toy, from its educational value to its longevity. We’ve outlined the major points here so that you, too, know what to look for when shopping.

What to Look for in a Gift for a 2-Year-Old

Age rating Any time you’re buying a toy for a young child, you’ll want to make sure it doesn’t have any pieces that could be dangerous, whether posing a choking hazard or otherwise. Most toys come with an age rating, so check that the product you’ve chosen is safe for 2-year-olds.

Educational value Two-year-olds are like little sponges, soaking up all sorts of knowledge and learning new skills every day. A toy that teaches them something — be it fine motor skills, walking, talking, music, or critical thinking — will be both educational and entertaining.

Longevity Young children grow at an astounding rate. Consider whether the gift you buy for a 2-year-old can grow with them — it might be much better to invest in something a child can use for a long period of time, as opposed to a toy they’ll grow out of in a few months.

Test Results: Mega Bloks 80-Piece Big Building Bag, Classic (Best Overall)

Good

What We Like

  • Uniquely large blocks

  • Appropriate for children as young as 12 months

  • Convenient storage bag included

What We Don't Like

  • Less longevity

  • Not so easy to clean

Mega Bloks 80-Piece Big Building Bag, Classic
Mega Bloks 80-Piece Big Building Bag
Mega Bloks Big Building Bag, Classic
Mega Bloks Building Bag, Classic

One of our testers liked these blocks because they were “uniquely large” as well as age-appropriate for children as young as 12 months: “Most competitors only go as low as 18 months,” she explained. The convenient zipper storage bag was also a plus, according to our reviewers. However, one tester was concerned with the blocks’ longevity: “Their size makes them less challenging and less interesting for children as they grow,” she said, “so the entertainment value is limited.” Our reviewers also thought that they weren’t as easy to clean as comparable models.