30 Gifts for 2-Year-Old Boys That Will Burn Their Energy

By age 2 a little boy is no longer a baby, and is certainly into the realms of toddlerhood. Sometimes this stage is referred to as “the terrible twos” as parents tend to see more emotional outbursts and boundary-pushing behaviors. However, 2-year-olds are not simply terrible, it is actually an extremely important time for neurological and cognitive development and the brain grows significantly during this time.

As the brain grows and changes, we do begin to see the more challenging behaviors but we also see growing abilities and developmental leaps. At 2-years-old speech is developing rapidly, as are physical skills and the ability to play imaginatively. If you’re looking for a gift for a 2-year-old boy the list we’ve put together here will help with all these different kinds of development.

1. Berg Buzzy Nitro Go Kart

Ride-on toys are a popular gift for 2-year-olds, especially 2-year-old boys who naturally seem to tend towards playing with vehicles. The Berg Buzzy Nitro Go Kart is designed with younger children in mind, so will suit their physical size and needs, as a bonus, it can be used indoors too!

The Berg Buzzy Nitro Go Kart is great for encouraging physical play and skills and increasing strength in the core and legs as children learn to sit, stabilize themselves and eventually use pedals. Pedaling and steering also help to increase coordination and control of the body.

2. Gonge River Stones

Those working in early education are very passionate about toys and play resources being ‘open-ended’ but what exactly does this mean? An open-ended toy is something that can be used in a number of ways according to the child’s interests and motivations, and is not constrained by an expected way to play. The Gonge River Stones are a great example of a resource being open-ended. They can be used in a huge variety of ways, and there is even a booklet of play ideas included to get play started.

Made from high-quality materials and easy to store these River Stones are ideal for physical play activities, encouraging plenty of balancing and traveling fun. As a child moves from one to the other, they improve their balance, coordination, spatial awareness and core strength too. All whilst challenging themselves and experiencing the satisfaction of meeting a goal they set for themselves!

3. Lego Duplo Town World Animals Adventure

Animals are a common interest for 2-year-old boys who enjoy learning their names and the sounds that they make so the Lego Duplo Town World Animals Adventure would make a great gift! With 15 different animals, the 2-year-old you’re buying for can learn the names and sounds of all these different animals too, increasing their vocabulary and their imagination as they learn to roleplay using the figures.

Connecting Duplo bricks is a fantastic way to improve motor skills by developing muscles in the hands, wrists and fingers and the bricks from the Lego Duplo World Animals Adventure set are compatible with all other Duplo sets so there’s a huge potential for extending and expanding play.

4. Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Food Truck

The Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Food Truck is an interactive toy with plenty of educational songs to improve children’s vocabulary and introduce different concepts. The music and learning start at the touch of a button, building children’s understanding of cause, effect and technology. There are also three different learning levels so the toy can suit the age and stage of the child’s development.

Playing with the Food Truck is a great way of encouraging imaginative role play as the child can pretend to sell and serve food, which also promotes social skills such as turn-taking in conversation.

5. 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!

6. John Deere Ride-on Tractor with Loader and Trailer

In line with 2-year-olds interests in vehicles this John Deere Ride-on Tractor with Loader and Trailer is licensed by John Deere so is as accurate a replica as possible! It features a working front loader, detachable trailer and liftable bonnet so there is plenty to keep a child’s interest.

The John Deere Ride-on Tractor encourages outdoor, active play to keep children healthy as well as improving physical skills as they learn to operate the pedals, and all of the moving parts. This makes a great special gift for a 2-year-old boy who is interested in vehicles.

7. 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.

8. Banana Bike Lightweight Balance Bike

By age 2 many children will show an interest in ride-on toys and bikes and it can be tempting to buy a stable tricycle so that they can ride along easily. However, a balance bike can provide many more learning opportunities and pay off in the long run. The Banana Bike Lightweight Balance Bike is an ideal training bike allowing children to gain a sense of balance and control and build their core strength.

The Banana Bike Lightweight Balance Bike has a lightweight frame and is height adjustable so is easy to take on the go and will last a number of years. It is a great way to encourage children to play outside and to stay active, and would make an ideal gift for a 2-year-old boy.

9. VTech Playtime Bus Educational Playset

Another toy building on 2-year-olds common interest in vehicles, the VTech Playtime Bus Educational Playset is a fantastic educational toy designed to help children learn phonics, letters, sounds and even road safety! With buttons to press that build children’s interest and understanding of cause, effect and technology, the VTech Playtime Bus Educational Playset is also great for developing math skills.

Language learning, and specifically increasing vocabulary is a huge part of 2-year-olds development and the VTech Playtime Bus Educational Playset is a way to encourage this as children are able to press the buttons, hear the sounds and words and have a go at imitating them which is all great practice!

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. Peppa Pig Family Home Playset

Peppa Pig is an extremely popular children’s TV character and this playset based on the TV series is sure to be well received by most 2-year-old boys. As children begin to develop the ability to play imaginatively many of them prefer to roleplay based on their own experience which this playset will allow them to do as it is based around the house, home and family life.

Including plenty of accessories, there are lots of opportunities for creative play and the development of vocabulary.

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.

14. VTech Toot Friends Kingdom Pirate Ship

Part of the popular VTech Toot Toot range the Kingdom Pirate Ship has plenty of interactive buttons to encourage children’s use of technology and hand-eye coordination. It also builds on an interest in pirates which is a popular interest for 2-year-old boys, and encourages speech and language development as children try to imitate words and sounds that they hear when pressing the buttons.

Compatible with other VTech Toot Toot products and sets, the VTech Toot Friends Kingdom Pirate Ship encourages creativity and imaginative play which can be expanded upon as years go by.

15. Tomy Toomies Pic & Pop Ball Blaster

Push along toys are a great way to keep kids physically active, as they run along learning to steer and avoid objects, they develop a sense of direction, spatial awareness and control over their bodies. The Tomy Toomies Pic & Pop Ball Blaster is a push-along toy that is very simple to operate, allowing children to pick up balls using by driving over them, and then allowing balls to pop back out.

The Tomy Toomies Pic & Pop Ball Blaster helps children to understand cause and effect as children learn that they need to push the toy along to get the balls to pop out, making an ideal gift for an active 2-year-old boy.

16. Hape Playful Piano

Music is a huge interest for many 2-year-olds who seem to have a natural love for experimenting with different sounds, and it’s a great interest to encourage too as enjoying music has a whole host of educational benefits. Children who enjoy, and are regularly exposed to, music have improved listening skills which helps them to differentiate between speech sounds and learn language more readily.

The Hape Playful Piano is a beautiful, lifelike piano to encourage children’s musical skills. 2-year-old boys will love playing along, experimenting with sounds and creating their own “tunes”. Made from high quality, sustainable materials the Hape Playful Piano is a gift that should last.

17. Playmobil Noah’s Ark

Playmobil is a very well-regarded children’s brand with a huge range of toys spanning different interests and age ranges. The Playmobil Noah’s ark is designed for younger children and is ideal for small hands with larger pieces that are easy for them to hold.

With built-in storage for all the animals the Playmobil Noah’s ark is easy to store and keep everything needed together. It encourages creativity and imaginative play as well as helping to develop vocabulary and speech and language skills. Based on a Bible story, children will enjoy retelling and acting out the story too.

18. 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.

19. 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. 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.

21. Fisher-Price Disney Toy Story 4 Jessie’s RV Campground

Children love to play with things that are recognizable and familiar to them, so if the 2-year-old boy you are buying for has seen, or is interested in the Toy Story movies then this may be the perfect gift! The Fisher-Price Disney Toy Story 4 Jessie’s RV Campground is a play set based on the characters and storyline of the Toy Story Movies.

With plenty of interactive buttons to increase understanding of cause, effect and technology, the Fisher-Price Disney Toy Story 4 Jessie’s RV Campground encourages imaginative roleplay and helps children to build vocabulary as they play.

22. 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.

23. Leapfrog Count Along Till

Imaginative roleplay is largely based on real-life experience when it first emerges. 2-year-old boys who have been taken along on shopping trips will be able to root their play with this toy in their real-life experience, enhancing their learning through play. The Leapfrog Count Along Toy is an interactive technology toy to help encourage this kind of roleplay based on real life experience.

The Leapfrog Count Along Toy is a great way to introduce, or improve, counting as the 2-year-old plays, giving them an opportunity to learn number symbols and names. It is also a very natural way to increase vocabulary as they play because they will enjoy pressing buttons to hear words and sounds and are likely to begin to imitate these.

24. Little Tikes Classic Cozy Coupe Ride-On

The Little Tikes Classic Cozy Coupe Ride-On has almost achieved an iconic status, with its image being well known throughout the world and becoming synonymous with toddlerhood and play. A 2-year-old boy will love the appeal of the little Coupe car with its opening door, steering wheel and horn and it will encourage outdoor play to keep him busy, moving and active.

Riding the Cozy Coupe Ride-on also has the benefit of improving coordination, spatial awareness as the child learns to steer and increasing strength in the core and legs. A lovely gift for a 2-year-old boy which is sure to be received with lots of enthusiasm!

25. Lego Duplo Disney Mickey’s Vacation House

Another Lego Duplo set, which is also compatible with other Duplo bricks and sets, based on popular children’s character Mickey Mouse. The Lego Duplo Disney Mickey’s Vacation House is a lovely gift for a 2-year-old boy as it combines two familiar aspects of his life experience; Mickey Mouse, and a house. Many 2-year-olds enjoy creative play with replica houses as they fit in with what they know of home and from here they are able to expand their imaginative play.

The Lego Duplo Disney Mickey’s Vacation House is also a great way to improve construction skills and develop motor skills and strength in hands as children learn to fix pieces together.

26. Playmobil Family Home

2-year-olds love to play with homes and houses because they represent a familiar experience. Most 2-year-olds have plenty of experience of family life at home and as such are able to play based on their own experiences. The Playmobil Family Home makes a brilliant gift for a 2-year-old as it will last for years to come as their imagination and creative play begins to develop.

With a high-quality, robust design and sound buttons to enhance play, the Playmobil Family Home is a great way for 2-year-olds to develop their speech and language as they begin to use language to drive play experiences. Imaginative roleplay also allows children to explore a range of social situations safely, increasing their social skills.

27. 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.

28. 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.

29. Gund Philbin Bear

As children begin to develop cognitively, they also go through huge emotional changes and 2-years-old is a significant point in children’s emotional development. Whilst they may seem increasingly independent 2-year-olds actually need plenty of physical contact and hugs during this stage of development. As a result, many begin to take a real interest in dolls or teddy bears.

The Gund Philbin Bear is a large teddy bear, made with plush materials for a high-quality finish. It is soft and huggable and suitable for children of all ages so will last well beyond age 2. Teddy bears are also a great way to encourage nurturing, caring roleplay.

30. Green Toys Tool Box with Tools

Green Toys specialize in producing eco-friendly toys and products. This toy, for example, is made using recycled plastics and contains no BPA, PVC, phthalates or external coatings so you can rest assured that it is completely safe and non-toxic for 2-year-olds who do still occasionally put toys in their mouths!

The Green Toys Tool Box with Tools appeals to many children’s interest in building and fixing, encouraging imaginative role play as they pretend to be a grown-up fixing things around the house or a craftsperson in their workshop. The tools are all designed to be handled by younger children and help to build and improve fine motor skills with plenty of twisting, turning and pressing.

Final words

Along with the challenging parts of raising a two-year-old there is also a whole lot of fun! 2-year-olds want to be much more independent, love to make others laugh and can be extremely funny, these are all important aspects of age 2 to enjoy. 2-year-old boys are also intensely playful and curious, and love to throw themselves into playing with a huge variety of different toys and resources.

This passion for playfulness makes it quite easy to buy a gift for a 2-year-old as they open to a real variety of toys. The list we’ve put together here has plenty of options for toys and gifts that will delight a 2-year-old boy and all of them have something to contribute to his development too. Good luck with choosing a gift for the 2-year-old boy in your life!

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