Image: MomJunction Design Team
To enhance your child’s cognitive and motor skills, here’s our list of the best educational toys for 2-year-olds to help you choose. These are the formative years of your child’s life when they begin to crawl, touch, and feel to understand their environment. They begin to make sense of the world around them.
So, educational toys can help them prepare for pre-school and make learning a joyful experience. With a wide range of options available, choosing the right toys can be challenging. So, explore our list to make an informed choice.
Top Picks
11 Best Educational Toys For 2-Year-Olds In 2024
1. Best For Preschool Training:Just Smarty Electronic Interactive Alphabet Wall Chart
Make your little one learn numbers, alphabets, and word association, and take quizzes with this alphabet wall chart from Just Smarty. This time-tested electronic wall poster features a fun and colorful design to attract your child and engage them for hours. It prepares them for preschool and beyond and includes a collection of nine famous kids’ songs such as Twinkle Twinkle, Five Little Monkeys, If You Are Happy And You Know It, etc. This battery-operated poster automatically shuts off, requires less space, is easy to clean, and can be hung on the wall. You can also check this YouTuber’s detailed review to know more about the product.
Pros
- Adjustable volume
- Easy to carry along
- Interactive device
- Improves language skills
- Includes three AAA batteries
- Easy to change modes
Cons
- Some buttons may require hard push
- Some may find it less durable than expected
Did you know?
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
The whopping 28,466 positive reviews on Amazon reflect the superior quality of this product.
2. Best For Cognition:Coogam Wooden Magnetic Fishing Game
Coogam’s magnetic fishing game is a skill-building educational toy for toddlers that helps children with basic math, counting, and color recognition skills. This brain-boosting toy set includes two wooden magnetic fishing poles, one wooden sorting box, and twenty-six wooden fish. The colorful problem-solving toys also help enhance visual learning and are suitable for children in the age range of two to six years. Furthermore, each of the toy pieces has been painted with non-toxic water-based paint.
Pros
- Teaches about spatial relations
- Helps develop language skills
- Encourages logical and critical thinking
- Helps improve hand-eye coordination
- Promotes creative exploration
Cons
- Requires adult supervision due to the small parts
- Some parts might have sharp edges
3. Best For Social Skills:Lego Duplo My First Number Train
Help your two-year-old explore numbers and accelerate their learning journey with this Lego Duplo train set. This buildable locomotive set is not just a building and construction toy activity but also an educational plaything. It has three wagons, decorated number bricks, two-child figures, and a cat to encourage social skills in your child. Your child can construct a number train and role-play using the figures to enhance their imagination and critical thinking ability. This toy comprises 23 pieces, including locomotive and caboose attachments that are three-inch high, 14-inch long, and two-inch wide. Watch a tester’s experience in this YouTuber review if you require more details about the product.
Pros
- Aids fine motor skill development
- Large pieces for better grip
- No sharp edges
- Safe to play
- Promotes physical activity
Cons
- May not be compatible with other Lego train tracks
- Blocks may come apart easily
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
The 15,551 positive customer reviews on Amazon attest to the product’s quality.
4. Best For Motor Skills & Creativity:Likee Wooden Pattern Blocks Set
Crafted for toddlers and preschoolers, this educational wooden block puzzle from Likee lets your child stack, sort, and arrange the puzzle pieces in a sequence to create their designs. This Montessori-inspired toy features colorful shapes and patterns to help enhance learning and nurture motor skills and creativity. The standout feature of this toy is that it has been tested and approved for safe play. It features 60 pattern cards to let your little one make different patterns with a comfortable grip, providing easy rearranging, placement, and sliding.
Pros
- Improves hand-eye coordination
- Builds spatial awareness
- Encourages open-ended play
- Non-toxic child-safe material
- Puzzle pieces have smooth and rounded edges
- Convenient tin storage box
Cons
- May not be suitable for group play
- Tiles may not connect
Quick tip5. Best Sturdy:iPlay, iLearn Kids Learning Clock Toy
Bring home the electronic learning toy for kids from iPlay, iLearn to make your child’s educational journey more fun. This multi-functional toy has multiple interactive features, including peppy songs, soft lights, and a quiz mode to test a child on time, shapes, and numbers. Suitable for ages two and up, this clock can be used to teach your child to read the time. Moreover, it has ten volume levels and built-in Spanish and English functions to suit diverse needs.
Pros
- Made of ABS plastic
- Helps develop problem-solving skills
- Enhances motor skill development
- Ideal for gifting
- Portable design
Cons
- May not come with a battery
- May be too advanced for some children
"Thanks to this colorful and engaging clock, I could easily teach my son how to read the time. Its time announcement feature is thoughtful, allowing him to practice his pronunciation and time-telling skills effectively. Plus, the adjustable volume also makes playtime a pleasurable experience for me."
6. Best Portable:Best Learning Inno Pad Educational Tablet
Best Learning’s Inno Pad is a portable, interactive educational toy that allows children to learn the alphabet, numbers, colors, animals, music, and more through different learning cards in a fun way. The smart learning pad offers four modes and includes eight durable learning cards and music to make learning fun. This pad provides an immersive learning environment and is suitable for toddlers in the age range of two and five.
Pros
- BPA-free material
- Tear-proof and waterproof cards
- Easy to operate
- Adjustable volume
Cons
- Might glitch at times
- Some children might find it difficult to operate
"This tablet has been an effective educational tool for my son. The interactive activities allow him to learn new words, while the quizzes help him retain them, improving his memory. Although it can't endure rough handling, overall, it is practical and easy to use."
7. Best For Improving Concentration:Best Learning My First Piano Book Toy
Best Learning introduces an interactive piano for all young music lovers. This award-winning piano comes preloaded with ten songs, six musical instrument sounds, twenty polyphonic piano keys, a high-quality speaker, and record and playback buttons to enable young musicians to record and save their tracks. Thus, it is one of the best educational toys for preschoolers. Furthermore, the standout feature of this toy is that it is BPA-, PVC-, and phthalate-free.
Pros
- Improves children’s concentration and logical and critical thinking abilities.
- Includes an illustrated songbook
- Has a hardcover
- Ideal for gifting
Cons
- Batteries might drain quickly
- May not be highly durable
"This portable piano's number-coded musical notes make it easy for my daughter to play rhythmic music. Its tune-changing feature keeps my child hooked for hours. I'm also glad its volume range is not jarring. It's been a lovely buy!"
8. Best For Enhancing Imagination:Play-Doh Shape & Learn Colors And Shapes
The Play-Doh Shape & Learn set comes with three playful colored doughs and multiple animal stamps to engage your child’s attention while teaching them colors and animal names. The stamps can be used to leave a bold imprint on the dough compounds. Additionally, the math and counting toy set includes ten number cards to explore your child’s mathematical skills in a fun way. The dough can be rolled and molded into different shapes, fostering your child’s imagination and creativity.
Pros
- Non-toxic child-safe material
- No assembly required
- Multi-sensory learning
- Encourages physical activity
- Includes a double-sided playmat
- Facilitates open-ended play
Cons
- Dough might be slightly sticky
"I love that this set allows my daughter to work on her numeracy skills. Plus, creating sea animals with the cut-out stamps has improved her counting abilities. All in all, the kit has been great for encouraging her storytelling skills."
Quick tip9. Best Non-Toxic & Safe:Top Bright Toddler Tool Toys
Boost your two-year-old’s social skills, thinking, communication, and strategy-making with Top Bright toddler toys for role-playing and learning. This three-in-one set comprises excellent skill-building qualities and features a sturdy string that they can use as a pulling toy, a construction toy, and a truck toy. These toys’ bright and catchy shades help enhance your child’s sensory skills while being non-toxic and safe. They have smooth edges and are painted with safe water paints to maintain proper quality and durability. Their color won’t crack or fade, and you can easily store them without taking up much space.
Pros
- Toddler-friendly tools
- Hand-polished wooden pieces
- Built-in storage space
- Lead-free material
- Develops hand-eye coordination
Cons
- Some may find it smaller than expected
- May be loud and squeaky
"I've noticed an improvement in my child's motor and cognitive skills since he started playing with this toy. Supervising is needed during play as it contains small parts, but its educational value makes it a worthy purchase for me. The truck also doubles as a storage box, which is a plus."
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
The tried-and-true product has earned over 1,243 good reviews on Amazon.
10. Best For Creativity:Crayola My First Crayola Double Doodle Board
The doodle board set by Crayola is a creativity and imagination toy that includes a double-sided doodle board and three washable, non-toxic crayons to help your child unleash the artist while ensuring their safety. Its doodle board has one side with sealed gel for mess-free use, and the other side features a drawing surface where your child can draw and learn using crayons. In addition, the crayons feature triangular shapes to help children hold the tip effectively. The doodle board and color set is a hands-on learning toy that encourages creativity, making it a suitable gift for young toddlers.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Reusable
- Compact and portable
- Made of child-safe materials
- Improves hand-eye coordination
Cons
- May be a bit challenging to put crayons in the crayon clips
- May crumble at times
"I adore that this board encourages my daughter to express herself without any mess. It did take some time for my munchkin to determine the pressure required to create impressions on the gel board. Nevertheless, I approve of it for keeping my child entertained at home and even on the go."
11. Best Plastic-Free:Melissa & Doug Shape Sorting Cube
Melissa & Doug’s shape sorter cube incorporates bright colors and different shapes, helping children develop key skills, such as color and shape recognition. The wooden box and blocks provide a tactile experience, which can improve their fine motor The wooden Montessori toy’s design encourages children to explore and experiment with different shapes, keeping them engaged for hours on end. The 12-piece cognitive development toy promotes physical activity for healthy growth.
Pros
- Ideally sized to fit small hands
- Plastic-free
- Easy to grip
- Develops cognitive and problem-solving skills
- Helps reduce screen time
Cons
- Wooden frame may be thin
- Some blocks may have sharp edges
How To Choose The Right Educational Toy For 2-Year-Olds?
Consider the following points before buying an educational toy for two-year-olds.
- Material: Choose toys made from soft, smooth, non-toxic, child-safe materials to help prevent any trouble and maintain safety.
- Interest: It is essential to understand your child’s interests and preferences and buy a toy that will complement them.
- Engagement: Look for bright and entertaining toys that are fun to play with.
- Skill Development: Look for toys that contribute to the child’s learning journey, encourage social interactions, and enhance cognitive skills and motor skill development.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is a great toy for a two-year-old?
Since most two-year-olds are still discovering how their immediate environment and how their body functions, toys that build their awareness about shapes, numbers, colors, etc., and those that stimulate their senses and help enhance their motor skills could be suitable (1).
2. Why do two-year-olds need educational toys?
Most two-year-olds are still trying to make sense of the world around them, their emotions, and basic activities such as following simple and short instructions, sorting objects by themes, and learning through imitation (1). In order to accelerate and facilitate these milestones, educational toys can come in handy.
3. How do educational toys for two-year-olds differ from any other toy?
Most toys for two-year-olds are designed to help children identify mundane objects, sort things by shape or color, place objects in simple patterns to improve hand-eye coordination, and involve simple two-to-three instructions to follow. Besides, they are designed to ensure they do not pose a choking hazard and are safe to play with.
Why Trust MomJunction?
Priti is a skilled product analyzer and reviewer who specializes in toys and gifts. Her knowledge allows her to provide high-quality products in her articles. After scouring hundreds of websites and reviews, she has curated this list of the best educational toys for two-year-olds. Each product includes a detailed description of its features. She has also provided a buying guide to help you select the right one for your children.
Educational toys for two-year-olds should be fun, engaging, and facilitate their motor skills development. This is when they start becoming curious about the world and desperate to try out new things. The educational toys listed above are an excellent way to help them understand the world while keeping them hooked and entertained for hours. Before choosing the toys for two-year-olds, ensure they have a smooth finish and are made of non-toxic, child-safe materials. Also, consider your child’s interests before making the purchase and opt for toys that match their personality.
Infographic: Factors To Consider When Buying Educational Toys
When thoughtfully selected, educational toys may help improve cognitive, motor, and collaborative skills. Toys such as building blocks and construction toys can also promote STEM skills. Check out this infographic to pick a toy that contributes to your child’s growth and development. Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
References
- Toddlers (2-3 years old) | CDC
https://www.cdc.gov/child-development/positive-parenting-tips/toddlers-2-3-years.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/positiveparenting/toddlers2.html - Important Milestones: Your Child By Two Years
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/milestones-2yr.html
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