15 Best Toys for 2-Year-Olds

Tired parents of toddlers know the importance of a good toy. They can be a real blessing when you've got a long to-do list and no babysitter on tap. You want something that excites the senses while helping them build critical thinking, fine motor, and mobility skills.

With Amazon Prime Day 2023 on the horizon, there's no better time to stock up on the best toys for 2-year-olds. You might not need any of the best trampolines for kids right now—because, nope— so we've gathered a list of toddler-friendly favorites.

What are the best toys for 2-year-olds?

There are a few things to look for when it comes to toys for two-year-olds. Young kids have endless curiosity, so safety is a top priority. You don't want them playing with small parts or anything that might injure them and it'd be a nice bonus if the toys played a part in their development somehow, some way. Here are our top picks.

If you're looking for outdoor toys, check out the selection of balance bikes we have listed in our guide to the best toddler bikes on the market.

The best toys for 2-year-olds 2023

• Best overall: Learning Resources Spike The Fine Motor Hedgehog
• Best budget: Nutty Toys Pop Tubes Sensory Toys
• Best wood: Skyfield Wooden Animal Puzzles
• Best rated: Sassy Stacking Ring STEM Toy
• Best music toy: Fisher-Price Dance & Groove Rockit
• Best for learning shapes: rolimate Hammering Pounding Toys
• Best for learning colors: The Learning Journey: Learn With Me - Color Fun Fish Bowl
• Best luxury: Learning Advantage Crocodile Activity Wall Panels
• Best cleaning toy: Miniature Dyson Ball Replica For Children
• Best building: MEGA BLOKS Fisher-Price Toddler Block Toys
• Best kitchen toy for 2-year-olds: Step2 Best Chefs Kitchen Set for Kids
• Best sensory: Fisher-Price Pull & Play Learning Wagon
• Best organic: The Organic Cotton Play Tunnel by Lovevery
• Best under $10: Fisher-Price Lil’ Gamer Pretend Video Game
• Best magnetic: TOP BRIGHT Woodpecker Magnetic Bird Feeding Game

Best overall

Learning Resources Spike The Fine Motor Hedgehog

With nearly 50,000 reviews and a 4.7-star average rating, Spike the Fine Motor Hedgehog is everything a two-year-old could want. This cute little guy comes with 12 pegs to grab and push into the quill holes which helps sharpen fine motor skills, gross motor skills and build color recognition, sorting, and counting skills.

The best part? When playtime is over, pieces store inside Spike's body for easy cleanup and portability.

Best budget

Nutty Toys Pop Tubes Sensory Toys

Some of the best toys for two-year-olds are the ones that don't break the bank. For a fraction of most toys, Nutty pop tubes are simple yet effective. The brightly colored tubes are made from BPA and lead-free plastic— easily connect to create letters, numbers, or anything little brains desire.

And, thanks to the stress-relieving "popping" sound, this is the perfect sensory toy for little ones as they explore the world around them. Have older siblings? That's cool—these offer imaginative play for kids of most ages and stages.

Best wood

SKYFIELD Wooden Animal Puzzles

Puzzles never go out of style. Two-year-olds everywhere will adore this SYFIELD four-pack of wooden puzzles, thanks to their bold, exciting colors and toddler-friendly pieces. Made from high-quality wood, watch as your little one strengthens hand-eye coordination, perfects concentration, and boosts brain power through a loveable bee, butterfly, ladybug and bear.

These are fun, interactive learning toys that sit nicely next to your little one's collection of board books and shape sorters.

Best rated

Sassy Stacking Ring STEM Toy

One of the highest-rated, most reviewed toddler toys on Amazon is this nine-piece Sassy Stacking Ring STEM toy. Your two-year-old will delight in stacking the chunky, textured rings around the straight post. This toy is easy to love all the way through baby and toddlerhood, and even made our list of the best toys for 6-month-old babies.

Each ring is weighted differently which helps improve fine motor skills while teaching them to connect sight to the sound and weight of each cool ring. Nearly 54,000 people love this thing and your inquisitive toddler will, too.

Best music toy

Fisher-Price Dance & Groove Rockit

Let's face it—toddlers love music. The Fisher-Price Dance & Groove Rockit lets them explore more than 100 sons, sounds, and phrases to learn the alphabet, numbers, shapes, colors, and more.

This interactive toy features characters Glow and Rockit who interact with each other while the three stages of learning grow with your toddler. And that's not all. Your two-year-old will have the time of their life playing with the record and mix option that allows them to hear themself back.

Best learning shapes

rolimate Hammering Pounding Toys

For toddlers who need a little variety while learning, the rolimate hammering and pounding toy answers the call. The eight-note xylophone (and two sticks) with shape sorting companion are bright, bold, and inviting. Made from non-toxic, BPA-free, and lead-free natural wood, let your kiddo explore the sights and sounds as they learn.

Best learning colors

The Learning Journey: Learn With Me - Color Fun Fish Bowl

If you're looking for the best toys for two-year-olds that teach color, The Learning Journey's Fish Bowl goes above and beyond. 10 cute colored fish introduce critical thinking skills, fine motor skills and more while supporting creativity. This comes with two play modes to help your little one learn their colors the fun way.

It's a colorful play set that serves many of the same functions as ho-hum shape sorter toys might, but with way more fun. Plus, these mess-free alternatives to water tables offer loads of aquatic-themed entertainment.

Best luxury

LEARNING ADVANTAGE Crocodile Activity Wall Panels

If you have a little more in your budget, this multi-sensory busy board is the ultimate in money well spent. With 11 different activities, the five panels offer percussive instruments, mazes, rotational pieces, interlocking cogs, and more, while decorating your wall.

At just over six feet long, this easy-to-assemble interactive toy can be mixed and matched with other panels for hours of enjoyment. We believe it's one of the best toys for 2 year olds that are prone to endless standing, business and movement.

Best cleaning toy

Miniature Dyson Ball Replica For Children

There's no better form of flattery than when a toddler mimics us. If your little one loves pretending to clean, this mini Dyson Ball replica is it. It looks just like the real thing, and has a light, working suction, whirring colored balls, and a removable debris drawer. Give your two-year-old the gift of cleanliness so they can be just like you.

After a few years of this very delightful pretend play, they'll be ready to work gnarly stains out of your carpet with our beloved Little Green Machine.

Best building

MEGA BLOKS Fisher-Price Toddler Block Toys

No matter what your child is into, one of the best toys for two-year-olds comes in the form of building blocks. Not only are these Fisher Price MEGA BLOKS the top preschool building toy in America, but this 80-piece set includes a reusable storage bag for easy cleanup.

Let little minds run wild with creativity as they build, tear down, count, sort, and improve fine motor skills. It's also compatible with all other MEGA BLOKS sets. These are good for both indoors and outdoors because they can be washed so easily. Really, hose 'em down or throw them in the tub or top dishwasher rack. It's that easy.

Best kitchen

Step2 Best Chefs Kitchen Set for Kids

Calling all chefs! The Step2 Best Chefs Kitchen Playset has everything your little culinary wizard needs to pretend cook or bake, wash dishes, and more. This interactive set is made from durable, double-walled plastic that cleans easily with the swipe of a cloth. The set includes 25 accessories that store in the included recycling bin and shelves for a no-mess play.

We love play kitchens for a variety of ages, which is why this versatile do-it-all set is such a wise investment.

Best sensory

Fisher-Price Pull & Play Learning Wagon

Two-year-olds will be over the moon pulling this toy wagon along. Hands-on play includes over 135 songs, sounds, and phrases and three smart levels go even further with lessons on colors, shapes, the alphabet, and more. Thanks to the interactive lights and sounds, all your little one has to do is press the buttons and this will keep them entertained while you finish your coffee!

It's also a nice way for them to emulate caregivers pushing and pulling the best wagon strollers.

Best organic

The Organic Cotton Play Tunnel by Lovevery

The Organic Cotton Play Tunnel by Lovevery brings out your toddler's wild side. Simply pop it up for creative playtime and store in the included carrying case when finished. This is great for hide and seek, or anything their imagination conjures while helping build motor, strength, and coordination skills. Crawling through the tube also helps with balance, so it's a win-win all around.

Want to add a dose of fun? Throw their favorite stuffed animals in the tube for a zoo-crawl! Plus, it folds down compactly for easy storage. That makes it one of the best gifts for 2-year-old kids (and their parents). If you're outside the US, there's a comparable Melissa & Doug tunnel we recommend as well.

Best under $10

Fisher-Price Lil’ Gamer Pretend Video Game

Gamers gon' game, so why not grab a toddler-friendly version to help them learn while having fun? This Fisher Price pretend video game mimics the real deal through a D-pad, A and B buttons, a light-up screen, and a pretend game cartridge. the more they press the buttons, the more sounds, music, and phrases they'll hear. So go ahead—let 'em play!

Best magnetic

Woodpecker Magnetic Bird Feeding Game

There are a ton of magnetic toys for toddlers out there, but this adorable Woodpecker feeding game takes it up a notch for little hands. This is a great option for developing fine motor skills, empathy, and cause-and-effect skills. They play by finding worms that are hidden in the tree.

With the use of the bird's pointed mouth, they can "catch" the worms and feed the Woodpecker. This is a much better alternative to real worms...says parents everywhere. This one is a fun alternative to wooden blocks for building dexterity and creative thought.

There you have it! Grab some of the best toys for two-year-olds while the deals are hot and watch your little one beam with delight!