Here Are the Best Toys for 2-year-olds That Spark Curiosity

Learning Resources Spike the Fine Motor Hedgehog

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Toddlers will love learning valuable skills with Spike the Fine Motor Hedgehog. The adorable critter has 12 removable quills to help toddlers practice their fine motor skills as they maneuver them in and out of the holes. Young ones can also practice counting and sorting with the different colored pieces with this educational toy. When play time is over, place all the quills pack in Spike for easy cleanup.

The spikes are rubber, so you don't have to worry about hard pieces or sharp edges. Reviewers love how this high-quality toy is suitable for a variety of ages. Babies can practice grabbing the quills before graduating to placing them into the holes. Once they master that, use the numbers on Spike to begin practicing counting for a more advanced lesson.

The only downside is some reviewers found their children go tired of the toy after a while. Still, Spike is worth it for toddlers to play, practice, and learn in an engaging and affordable way.

Little Tikes Go and Grow Dino Indoor Outdoor Ride On Toy

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Kids at this age love dinosaurs, and this trike features a friendly design that's liked by toddler boys and girls. This ride-on toy can be used indoors and outdoors, and it includes a wide front wheelbase and oversized rear wheel, making it easier to balance on and ride. Note that the max weight limit for this trike is 50 pounds.

Lovevery Play Kits

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Academics, researchers, and healthcare practitioners carefully customize these Lovevery play kits according to your child’s specific age bracket, ensuring each toy is right on target in terms of both skill set development and interest. Subscription boxes include items like puzzles, matching games, and mini science experiments, which are divided into 3-month age ranges to guarantee your child is getting them right when they're at the appropriate developmental stage. 

VTech Touch and Swipe Baby Phone

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Now your toddler can have a more kid-friendly copy of your own phone. The touch screen mobile has 12 light-up pretend apps that are just like the ones you have installed, like a pretend calendar, clock, weather, and more. There’s an educational component, too, as the interactive device plays a variety of songs that help teach ABCs, 123s, and first words.

Battat Bristle Blocks

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A STEM-based building set that goes way beyond stacking blocks for hours of fun and imaginative play, this set includes 112 interlocking pieces in assorted sizes and vibrant colors. It's ripe for creating everything from towers and cities to boats and cars. Unlike traditional blocks, these won’t topple and cause frustration—they stay securely together until your child decides to start anew.

VTech Mix and Match-a-Saurus

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This silly little dinosaur is like a pet, but better because you won’t end up taking care of it. It talks, moves, walks, and dances based on the tiles you put into its back. The 27 possible tile combinations include a range of emotions, music choices, and characters to help your child identify and understand their feelings and how they affect their behavior.

WowWee Pinkfong Baby Shark Official Song Puppet

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"Baby Shark" fans, including toddlers and their parents, will have hours of fun playing with these puppets. Simply slip your hand into the back of the doll to move the puppet’s mouth up and down to play the beloved tune. The song plays at varying speeds, depending on how fast or slow you move your hand, providing fun for the whole family. You can collect all three song puppets, including Baby Shark, Daddy Shark, and Mommy Shark.

Battat Wooden Activity Cube

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This expertly crafted, solid wood toy has five sides of fun to keep your toddler engaged longer. Depending on their mood, they can drive the tractor around, zig-zag the beads up and down, or move spinners to their heart’s content. You’ll love the toy’s rounded edges, which add an element of safety for children who aren’t fully steady on their feet.

Micro Kickboard Mini Deluxe 3 Scooter

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Take neighborhood walks to new heights (and—win for parents—burn more energy!) by gifting your child their very own scooter. Though your little one will still need to wear a helmet, this one is more toddler-friendly, thanks to low-profile wheels, a wide standing board, and a sturdy, adjustable handlebar. It’s a way to help your child gain confidence on wheels and practice their balance and coordination skills.

Step2 Rain Showers Splash Pond Water Table Playset

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Promote hours of summer fun with this interactive water table. It’s a great choice for children with siblings, as there’s plenty of room for all, plus it's suitable for a wide range of ages from 1 and up. The 13-piece kit includes features like maze-like spinners, ramps, and buckets for tons of beneficial STEM play.

Little Tikes Cozy Coupe

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A timeless pick in the toy world, these little cars are a household staple for a reason. Toddlers will feel empowered behind the wheel of this imaginative toy, thanks to a slew of fun features, like working doors, a steering wheel with a horn, a clicking ignition switch, a gas cap that opens and shuts, plus durable tires that spin 360 degrees. Ride-on toys are a great pick to use indoors and outdoors to burn off energy with your toddler.

TOP BRIGHT Car Ramp Racer

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This simple, high-quality wooden toy teaches cause and effect, plus promotes dexterity and hand-eye coordination as children watch their car zoom down the varying tiers to the finish line. Each car is numbered one through four and painted a different color, so you and your child can practice counting and identifying colors, too.

Playskool Mr. Potato Head

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Mr. Potato Head is another classic toy that has passed the test of time. Toddlers love playing with all the different parts and pieces—eyes, ears, and accessories—to create fun characters with unique faces and expressions. When playing together, the toy provides a great chance to practice identifying different body parts. Don't worry about losing all the pieces: The toy comes with a convenient suitcase for stashing everything.

Learning Friends 100 Words Book

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Help your child grow their ever-expanding vocabulary with this fun, interactive book. Three cute characters—Turtle, Tiger, and Monkey—come to life to introduce more than 100 age-appropriate words chosen by learning experts. As a bonus, all words, songs, and instructions can be heard in both English and Spanish for a fully bilingual experience.

Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Servin' Up Fun Food Truck

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What child doesn’t love to play pretend, especially when there’s food involved? The Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Servin' Up Fun Food Truck offers two sides of imaginative play, complete with more than 20 removable toy pieces. Plus, it plays more than 125 songs, sounds, and phrases to promote speech development.

YGJT Baby Balance Bike

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Small and balanced by four wheels, this little bike can get your toddler more comfortable riding a bicycle on their own. Use the bike indoors—or out—to help little ones develop confidence and learn balance, plus the feeling of going both backward and forward. The toy bike comes in three fun colors, so you’ll find the perfect shade for your son or daughter.

Melissa & Doug 20 Wooden Animal Magnets in a Box

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A simple yet engaging toy with plenty of educational benefits, your child will love arranging their very own set of 20 wild and pet animals, whether it's on the floor or a magnetic surface like the refrigerator. For the most valuable learning experience, play together, naming each animal and repeating the sounds they make. When you’re done, tuck everything into the sturdy wooden storage case.

The New York Doll Collection Soft Baby Doll

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Let kids explore their nurturing side with this soft, lifelike baby doll. It’s an especially great choice for any toddler welcoming a home a sibling, as it’s a great introduction to caring for and playing with a baby. The 11-inch doll is just the right size for little arms, and it's soft enough to cuddle with during storytime.