The second year marks an incredible time of discovery as little ones master walking, begin expressing themselves, and dive into imaginative play. At this active age, the best gifts combine durability with developmental benefits, creating opportunities for both independent exploration and engaging interactions.
We’ve handpicked and regularly update this selection of toys that support growing skills and endless curiosity. Each recommendation balances educational value with pure fun, making it easier to choose gifts that will remain engaging as abilities grow and interests evolve.
1.VTech Go! Go! Smart Wheels Ultimate Corkscrew Tower
The tower captures their imagination while interchangeable tracks allow 2-year-olds to build different race configurations. Pressing buttons on the included Rocky the Race Car introduces early literacy concepts.
With 5 SmartPoint locations that play sounds, this toy builds thinking skills and reinforces cause-and-effect learning. As they construct unique tracks, creative thinking is nurtured. This interactive racetrack playset provides an engaging way to enhance cognitive and fine motor development.
- Corkscrew tower encourages imaginative play
- Interchangeable tracks build problem-solving skills
- Interactive features introduce early literacy
- Promotes fine motor development
- Boosts creative thinking
- Requires 2 AAA batteries
2.Paw Patrol Zip-Up Hoodie
This fleece Paw Patrol hoodie makes a perfect gift to keep your 2-year-old boy warm and cozy all day long. It’s an officially licensed costume hoodie featuring his favorite Paw Patrol character like Chase, Marshall, or Rubble. The plush fleece material is super soft against little one’s skin while providing warmth and comfort.
The bright colors and fun Paw Patrol graphics will make this hoodie an instant favorite. The zip-up front is ideal for easy on and off while the hood gives extra warmth. As an officially licensed product, you can be sure of the hoodie’s high quality and durability through many wears and washes.
- Officially licensed Paw Patrol
- Soft, cozy fleece material
- Keeps toddlers warm and comfortable
- Easy zip-up front
- Handwash only
3.Bristle Block Deluxe Builder Case
Open-ended resources are fabulous for encouraging children’s creativity, imagination and construction skills and the Bristle Block Deluxe Builder Case is about as open-ended as they come! Whilst there are some pictures to suggest the types of models that can be made using the bristle blocks, nothing is prescribed and there is plenty of opportunity for creativity.
Coming with its own storage case the Bristle Block Deluxe Builder Case is extremely practical to store or take along on a playdate, vacation or trip. The blocks press together easily, but do help to build strength and dexterity in the hands making this an ideal gift for a 2-year-old boy to use somewhat independently.
- Open-ended toy
- Encourage creativity
- Improves construction skills
- Comes with storage case
- Not so durable locking mechanism
4.Green Toys Double-Decker Car Carrier
2-year-old boys and cars seem to be a match made in heaven! Lots of boys of this age have a very strong interest in cars, vehicles and anything that moves! The Green Toys Double Decker Car Carrier is a dream come true with vehicles that can be loaded onto a vehicle, this encourages imaginative play as well as physical skills being developed by pushing and pulling the vehicles around.
Suitable for indoor or outdoor use, the Green Toys Double-Decker Car Carrier can be cleaned in the dishwasher to keep germs at bay, which is always a useful feature in a child’s toy! It is made from 100% recycled plastic with absolutely no BPA, phthalates, external paints or coatings meaning that this represents a safe, non-toxic and eco-friendly gift.
- Made from 100% recycled plastic
- Suitable for indoor and outdoor play
- No BPA, phthalates, PVC, or external paints or coatings
- Can be cleaned in the dishwasher
- Encourages imaginative play
- Larger toy, requires storage space
5.John Deere Build-A-Johnny Tractor
Appeal to two interests at once! The John Deere Build-A-Johnny Tractor is an ideal gift for a 2-year-old boy who is interested in tools and building, as well as vehicles in general or tractors in particular. It includes 16 building parts and all the tools needed to put together a working tractor toy.
Although this may sound complex and out of the range of a 2-year-old, the John Deere Build-A-Johnny Tractor is designed for younger children so all the pieces are larger, and easier to grip and the tools are designed to be used by toddlers and preschoolers. This is a brilliant toy for improving motor skills and strength in the hands, wrists and fingers and is sure to keep a 2-year-old boy busy.
- 2-in-1 toy
- Encourages creative, imaginative play
- 16 building parts included
- Improves motor skills
- Designed for younger children
- Small parts need to be kept together
- Requires batteries
6.Harley Davidson Tricycle Bike
If you’re looking for a cool gift for a rad two-year-old boy that likes to stay active, it doesn’t get any cooler than this gift. This Harley Davidson tricycle is going to make him the talk of the neighborhood as he whizzes around on his flashy new wheels. It’s made for comfort and all-day outdoor play.
The easy grip handlebars and large foot pedals make this easy for two-year-olds to operate and the wide wheelbase makes it perfect for off-road adventure. The seat even flips up for a secret compartment where he can store his sippy cup and favorite snacks before he hits the open road, or just cruises around the backyard.
- Encourages outdoor play
- Increases physical activity and fitness
- Wide wheels for grass and dirt
- Hidden seat compartment for storage
- Requires safety gear- sold separately
7.Little Tikes Junior Activity Gym
The Little Tikes Junior Activity Gym makes and ideal gift for 2-year-old boys who are very physical and have lots of energy to use up on a daily basis. Providing both climbing and sliding this activity gym encourages a huge range of physical skills including balance, control, coordination and strength and is a brilliant way to keep children active and healthy.
Easy to assemble, the Little Tikes Junior Activity can be used both indoors and out and has been made using strong, durable materials so it should last a long time. Ideal for 2-year-old boy with some space to play outdoors.
- Can be used indoors or outdoors
- Durable and strong materials
- Easy to assemble
- Encourages physical play
- Keeps kids active and healthy
- Larger item, requires plenty of space
8.Smoby Slide
Designed with younger children in mind, the Smoby slide is easy to assemble, durable and extremely safe and stable. Children are encouraged to play outdoors and keep active whilst improving their physical skills such as climbing and balance.
Using a slide also requires a substantial amount of core strength as children contend with the differing forces exerted on their bodies, which helps to build up children’s strength and control. As a bonus, the Smoby Slide also features a built-in hose attachment so that it can become a water slide in warmer weather!
- Designed for younger children
- Hose attachment; can become a water slide
- Easy to assemble
- Durable PVC treated to resist fading in sunlight
- Requires space to store and play
9.Play-Doh Super Colour Pack
What child doesn’t love playdough? Playdough seems to be one of those toys that has maintained its appeal through generations of children, largely due to its open-ended nature. Playdough can be used in a variety of ways and allows children to get creative and explore sensory input as they play. The Play-Doh Super Colour Pack is a great gift for a 2-year-old boy as it includes 20 different colors to allow for a real range of different creations to be made.
Playing with dough also has the added benefit of being extremely good for children’s fine motor skills; as they squeeze, pinch, poke and roll dough they are working the small muscles in their hands and fingers, strengthening them for writing much further down the line.
- 20 colors
- Encourages fine motor skills
- Open-ended
- Improves creativity and imagination
- Sensory play resource
- Adult supervision required
10.Little Tikes Water Play
Water play is a fantastic way for 2-year-olds to build a huge variety of skills as well as having plenty of fun! Most 2-year-olds love to play in water and will persist at this activity for much longer than others because of its sensory properties. Water play gives 2-year-olds the opportunity to build up strength in their hands and wrists through filling, emptying, pouring and squeezing containers and be introduced to the mathematical concept of capacity on a very basic level.
With all the accessories included and the ability to create waves as well as moving parts integrated into the water table, the Little Tikes Water Play represents real value for money and makes a great gift for a 2-year-old boy.
- Includes water toys; buckets, strainers etc.
- Creates waves
- Moving parts; steering wheel and anchor
- Encourages early math skills
- Sensory play resource
- Best played with outside; requires outdoor space
11.Micro Scooters Mini Deluxe
Scooters are popular with children of all ages and around about age 2 a child is likely to have enough physical strength and skill to learn to scoot. The Micro Scooters Mini deluxe is especially designed for younger children, aged 2-5 years, and has a handle that can be easily adjusted to the right height and plenty of grips on the scooter deck so it’s perfect for a 2-year-old boy just beginning to learn.
Scooters are a great way to encourage outdoor, physical play to keep children active and healthy, and to help burn off some of that endless 2-year-old energy! Scooting also helps to develop balance, coordination, core strength and control. The Micro Scooters Mini Deluxe makes a great gift for a 2-year-old.
- Adjustable handle height
- Suitable for ages 2-5
- Grips on deck
- Encourages outdoor physical play
- Develops coordination
- Requires protective equipment, e.g. helmet
12.Lego Duplo Cargo Train
Even very young children are very interested in and skilled with technology so the Lego Duplo Cargo Train makes the perfect gift for a 2-year-old boy who is curious about how things happen and why things work. All the usual fun of Lego Duplo, combined with a push and go motor which is easy for children to operate. The robust, child-friendly design makes it easy to increase children’s interest in and understanding of technology.
The Lego Duplo Cargo Train can also be controlled using an app, increasing technology skills and understanding further and ensuring that the set can be used as the child grows.
- Compatible with other Duplo sets
- Robust, child friendly design
- Push and go motor; easy for children to operate
- Increases interest in and understanding of technology
- Can be controlled with an app
- More expensive than standard Duplo sets
13.Fisher-Price Smart Stages Tablet
The Fisher-Price Smart Stages range is a really clever piece of technology that allows parents to set toys to the right developmental level for their child. Not only does this mean that the toy is perfectly tailored to their current stage of development, but it also means that the toy is likely to last longer as the setting can be changed when the time is right to extend the child’s learning.
The Fisher-Price Smart Stages Tablet is a toy tablet to encourage children’s interest in and use of technology, improving hand-eye coordination and understanding of cause and effect with plenty of interactive buttons. The songs and learning settings include plenty of opportunities to build vocabulary and improve speech and language skills.
- Encourages use of technology
- Improves hand-eye coordination
- Three different levels available to suit child’s age and stage
- Available in 4 different colors
- Promotes speech and language development
- Requires batteries
14.Gund Baby Flappy The Elephant
The Gund Baby Flappy the Elephant is not just a cute, cuddly, plush toy made from high quality materials but is also animated! At the touch of a button the adorable elephant moves and sings. This will really hold the interest of a 2-year-old and they will love trying to sing or dance along with the elephant’s songs.
At age 2, children’s emotional development is key and this is why we see many of the emotional outbursts and challenging behaviors around this age. Teddy bears and plush toys can help children to begin to regulate their emotions by providing them with comfort.
- Super-soft
- Made from high-quality materials
- Plush finish
- Encourages emotional development
- Animated; includes songs and movement
- Requires batteries
