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The Spruce / Chloe Jeong
When you're shopping for a 2-year-old boy, you want to make sure any toy you pick out not only keeps him engaged and encourages development, but is also durable enough to withstand their often very active lifestyle.
To help find the perfect toy for your toddler, we researched and tested the best options on the market, considering the educational value, durability, safety, and recommended age of each. Our top picks include a fidget toy perfect for little ones from Fat Brain Toys, a Thomas the Tank Engine ride-on from Fisher-Price, and a Melissa & Doug chunky wooden puzzle designed for tiny hands.
Here, the best toys for 2-year-old boys.
Fat Brain Toys Dimpl Brand Baby Toy
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Fat Brain Toys
Sensory toy
Can be used as a bath toy
Might not be engaging enough for toddlers who need more stimulation
Small and lightweight enough to play on the go, this silicone bubble fidget toy provides entertainment anywhere, anytime. You can let your toddler bring it to bath time, or hand it to him when he needs to calm down or keep his hands busy. It's a simple concept, but it's brought hours of fun to users.
While there are a ton of counterfeit versions of this fidget popping toy, this model from Fat Brain Toys is the original. It's BPA-Free, and the bright, colorful bubbles are made of 100 percent food-grade silicone. Weighing at just under 5 ounces, this sensory toy can help baby build fine motor skills and understand cause and effect anywhere he goes.
One thing to note is that some toddlers may require more stimulation than this toy can provide. Still, it is great to have in pinch in case of tantrums or short car rides. Your toddler can also graduate to more complex fidgets if this pick is too simple.
Pacific Play Tents Find Me Multi Color Tunnel
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Courtesy of Amazon
Fun, physical play
Easy to set up
Wires might poke out from material
If your toddler loves exploring and playing peek-a-boo, this colorful tent is sure to be a hit. There's no complicated setup required, just take it out of the carrying case and undo the strings that keep it flat—it's ready for playtime!
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The Spruce / Michelle Piccolo
Fisher-Price Thomas and Friends Thomas with Track
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Fisher-Price
Ride-on toy
Grows with your child
Small track
Most vehicle-themed toys are too small for toddlers at this age, but this Fisher-Price Thomas engine is designed for your child to ride on for hours of fun. He can cruise around in a circle on the included track, and once he's ready to start maneuvering the train on his own, he can venture off track—making it a perfect option that grows with your child.
Baby Einstein Baby Einstein and Hape Magic Touch Piano Wooden Musical Toddler Toy
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Baby Einstein
Easy to clean
Wooden toy for toddler
Music sheets aren't as engaging
This little wooden piano toy will help him develop musical skills during play. It includes volume control buttons, music sheets, and two modes of play: compose your own songs or play along classic music. Babies will adore the colorful keys on the piano, which sit at a perfect height when sitting or squatting.
3 Bees & Me Bath Toys
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Courtesy of Amazon
Engaging bath toy
Can endure rough toddler play
Needs to be cleaned constantly
At the end of a sweaty, sticky day, toddler boys need to hit the bath, but getting them into the tub isn’t always the easiest feat. This fleet of brightly colored boats, however, will have them begging to dive right in. Four boats come in a pack, and they each have magnets so they can hook to one another to form a bathtub boat parade. They can also be used in a pool, sink, or even on dry land for hours of imaginative play.
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The Spruce / Sarah Vanbuskirk
Dolls to Play Baby Doll Car Seat with Toy Accessories
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Dolls to Play
Great toy for travel
Promotes nurturing skills
Doll's eyes don't shut
You can even strap this baby doll's car seat next to your toddler's, making it an easy option for play on the go. The set also includes accessories like two bottles, a bib, and a rattle toy for added fun. When he doesn't want feel like carrying baby in arm, your toddler can wear the baby seat like a backpack, thanks to the durable straps on the back.
Melissa & Doug Safari Wooden Chunky Puzzle
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Courtesy of Amazon
Wooden toy for toddler
Easy-to-grab pieces
Paint starts to flake with use
Need an interactive gift for a 2-year-old boy? At this age, they'll start to fine-tune some of their fine motor skills and some will be able to identify shapes, animals, and such. Why not indulge all of these new milestones with a fun wooden puzzle that will have them saying "roar" and more.
LeapFrog Smart Sizzlin' BBQ Grill Learning Toy With Food and Tools
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Courtesy of Walmart
Teaches numbers and words
Easy to assemble
Wheels don't roll smoothly
This isn't just a play kitchen set, but one that's highly interactive for kids. The grill recognizes which foods are placed on top of it and says phrases like, "lets grill for three seconds" or "purple eggplant." Kids don't just learn about food but also numbers.
LEGO DUPLO My First Number Train
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Walmart
Building toy
Encourages role-play
Wagons don't stick together when picked up
Kids can stack and build with this train set that helps them count from zero to nine. Each brick has a number and tots can stack them on one of the three locomotives. There are even two Lego figures, including a cat, in the set.
Sesame Street Love to Hug Elmo
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Courtesy of Walmart
Talks and sings
Nostalgic toy
Body is made of hard plastic, not stuffed plush
What toddler doesn't love Elmo? Gift him this cute cuddly guy that loves to receive and give hugs. Simply squeeze Elmo and he asks for a hug. And when Elmo's tummy is squeezed, he raises his arms and asks for a hug. He also sings and talks!
VTech Call and Chat Learning Phone
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Courtesy of Amazon
Realistic-looking
Great for pretend play
Sound is a little loud
Everyone else is always on their phone, so of course, the little guy is going to want to be on his too. This one isn’t for scrolling through Facebook and posting pics of their dinner on Instagram (though wouldn’t that be fun?), but rather it’s full of all sorts of educational opportunities at the touch of a button. Don’t worry, they won’t be ringing someone in the middle of the night though. It’s all just pretend, which is great for inspiring imaginative play and saving your data plan.
Green Toys Tool Set Tool Set
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Courtesy of Amazon
Well-constructed
Endures rough toddler play
Screws don't go into holes properly
A hammer, screwdriver, and saw usually aren't appropriate for tots, but this set features kid-friendly tools to keep your little one occupied. The toolbox has four holes on each side that kids can screw and hammer the nuts and bolts into. Also, everything is made from 100 percent recycled plastic and they're even dishwasher safe.
Little Tikes EasyScore Basketball Set
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Courtesy of Target
Adjustable height is great for growing with child
Can be played with kids of various ages
Flimsy hoop
This oldie but goodie will have him shooting hoops like a pro in no-time or he'll at least just love attempting to make baskets. We love that this toy will get him moving and working on his coordination skills.
Skip Hop Toddler Backpack
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Courtesy of Amazon
Fun and friendly design
Can fit a small lunchbox and clothes
Too small to fit medium-sized folders
While not really a toy, this backpack is the perfect size for most 2-year olds. He can store all of his toys in here when he goes to grandma and grandpas or use it for preschool. No matter the use, he'll enjoy having a bag of his own.
Step2 Rain Showers Splash Pond Water Table Playset
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Courtesy of Bed, Bath & Beyond
Indoor and outdoor toy
Additional toys and accessories included
Some users needed to use a power drill to assemble
A water table is a gift that keeps on giving. They'll enjoy this toy from around 18 months and well towards eight years old and possibly beyond. They can use their imagination while playing solo or with a buddy to create waterfalls and watch the parts move and spin.
Press Here (Interactive Book for Toddlers and Kids, Interactive Baby Book)
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Courtesy of Amazon
Interactive book
Can endure rough play
Can use a stronger binding
Books are always a great gift. This favorite teaches kids about following directions and the importance of cause and effect. Though it's a children's book, the entire family can enjoy this.
Green Toys Dump Truck
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Walmart
Great outdoor fun
Easy to clean
Doesn't perform well in sand
Boys (and girls alike!) are fascinated by trucks. Why not indulge their interests with a toy dump truck that they can play with for hours on end. This dump truck will help them work on their gross motor skills as they zoom this around the house and try to figure out how to dump the "trash" out.
VTech Ring & Learn Cash Register
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Exposes children to numbers
Encourages social play
Doesn't come with toy money
Cha-ching! He’ll be ringing up customers left and right with this awesome little interactive cash register set. It includes the register with a scale for weighing food, a credit card scanner, and a pretend credit card, of course. It also comes with a shopping basket and 10 pieces of healthy plastic food like fish, grapes, and milk—no cookies or ice cream here.
Micro Kickboard Micro Mini Original Kick Scooter
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Can be used right out the box
Comes in various colors
Not easy to make turns
If he is pretty stable on his feet, why not push his gross motor skills even further with a scooter. This favorite has three wheels so it balances well for small users. He can zip around the neighborhood with ease and perhaps speed up your walks around town.
Best Baby Shark: WowWee Pinkfong Baby Shark Official Song Puppet
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Courtesy of Amazon
Recognizable caracter
Interactive
Parents may not enjoy playing this song over and over again
Baby Shark isn't going anywhere. Indulge his love for this addictive song with a puppet that lets you change the tempo of the song so you can play it again and again!
Mega Bloks 80-Piece Big Building Bag
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Courtesy of Walmart
Building toy
Large pieces
Blocks don't fit together securely
A staple in playrooms everywhere, these Mega Bloks are a perfect first foray into the world of block building. It comes with 80 brightly colored blocks for tons of building fun, and clean-up is easy as they come in their own storage bag. Made for little fingers, they’re perfectly sized for stacking, building, and smashing, then starting all over again. They can create towers, buildings, creatures, and whatever their little minds can dream up.
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The Spruce / Hailey Eber
What to Look for in Toys for a 2-Year-Old Boy
Recommended Age
Make sure you check to see if the product’s age recommendation includes two-year-olds. This guideline is there to help you gauge how safe and engaging the toy will be, says Kristin Morency Goldman, senior advisor of strategic communications for The Toy Association.
Safety
Similarly, you should avoid any toys with small parts that pose a choking hazard—generally these toys are labeled 3+, says Morency Goldman. You should also consider material and size—avoid items that are too hard and heavy, as well as those that are long and unwieldy.
Durability
Toddlers tend to throw, drop, and generally run their toys ragged. Look for toys that are particularly durable—those made of thick plastics or solid wood—as they’ll better withstand frequent and rigorous use.
Educational Value
Two is a key developmental age, so it’s a good idea to purchase toys that encourage toddlers to further their physical and mental skills. Consider toys like building block towers, crayons, puzzles, and other similar finds that'll promote toddlers to practice these skills.
Development-focused toys can be based on physical skills, like a tricycle to help with balance and gross motor skills, says Dr. Natasha Burgert, a pediatrician at Pediatric Associates in South Overland Park, Kansas. They can also be learning-based, like puzzles or building sets. Tactile toys, like finger paint or magic sand are also really fun for older toddlers and help them explore texture and build fine motor skills.
Why Trust the Spruce?
This article was written by Julie Evans, a writer and editor who has worked with a host of diverse companies including Microsoft, USA Today, Realtor.com, Brit + Co, CafeMom, and SheKnows among others. She started writing for The Spruce in August 2017.
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