The Best Gifts For 2-Year-Old Boys in 2024
“What do you want your birthday to be?” I asked my almost 2-year-old son.
He looked at his brother who prompted him, “Dinosaurs.”
“Dinosaurs!” He yelled.
“No, you don’t want dinosaurs, do you?” I tried. He liked cars, sports, dinosaurs, sharks, and all the typical boy things. It was hard to pin down his favorite at this age.
2-year-olds can be a little tricky. They aren’t quite able to articulate what they want and sometimes what you think will be a hit is a major flop.
After cycling through two 2-year-old boys recently, I’ve found gifts last as favorites and some fade into the donation pile after a short period of excitement. I’m sharing the best gifts for 2 year olds so you can choose the perfect gift for the two-year-old boys in your life. Whether you’re looking for a birthday gift or Christmas gift, you’ll find the perfect one on this list.
Best Under $25 Gifts for 2-Year-Old Boys
Learning Resources Babysaurs Sorting Set*
Price at Publication: $15.44
Why We Love It ❤️ Independent Play ❤️ Color Recognition ❤️ Shape Recognition ❤️ Fine Motor Skills
What We Don't Like 👎🏼 Eggs Come Apart Easily 👎🏼 Dinosaurs Don't Go On Easily
My 2-year-old son will sit and play with this toy for extended periods on his own, which is always a win. It has five different colored eggs with a dinosaur inside. Each dinosaur has a different shape on the base and can only be placed back in the correct shape. While this can be a great way to teach shapes, it can also be frustrating for young children who can’t understand why the dinosaur doesn’t fit. Though, it does help develop hand-eye coordination. My son also likes to pick the eggs up and “hatch” them in his hand. Often when he tries to pick it up, the egg falls open, causing more frustration.
A great independent play toy for reinforcing colors, with a few minor challenges.
Looking for more educational toys? Check out this list of the best educational toys for 2-year-olds.
LCD Writing Tablet
Price at Publication: $17.98
Why We Love It ❤️ No Mess ❤️ Writing Practice ❤️ Great for Travel ❤️ No Sounds or Lights
What We Don't Like 👎🏼 Pen Not Attached 👎🏼 Scratches/Damages Easily
2-year-olds love to color, but the color rarely stays on the paper. I’ve had my tables, walls, and even my floors colored on during the 2s. That’s why I love this tablet. My toddler can color until his heart’s content and then erase it and color some more. This is also easy to carry with you for a quiet toy in waiting rooms, restaurants, or in an airplane with annoyed adults shooting you judgemental looks.
I don’t like that the pen isn’t attached and the screen won’t hold up to rough boys for too long.
LEGO DUPLO My First Number Train
Price on Publication Date: $17.99
Why We Love It ❤️ It's a Train! ❤️ Teaches Numbers ❤️ Encourages Independent Play ❤️ Builds Fine Motor Skills
What We Don't Like 👎🏼 Hard to Build for Some Children 👎🏼 Limited Build Options
Boys love trains. This train is buildable and also helps with counting and number recognition. This set is a great introduction to Duplos (Legos for toddlers) and makes it simple to build something they’ll love playing with.
The only downside is that I’ve found some 2-year-olds still struggle to build with these, even though they’re meant for this age. An easily frustrated child may struggle with not being about to put them together and take them apart. My older son couldn’t do this on his own until around 3, and my younger son still needs some help at 2.
Bubble Machine
Price at Publication: $18.98
Why We Love It ❤️ Toddlers Love Bubbles! ❤️ Bubbles at the Press of a Button ❤️ Easy to Use
What We Don't Like 👎🏼 Has to be Refilled Often 👎🏼 Messy
Toddlers love bubbles. My boys would play with this all day if I’d let them. Bubbles leave a soap film on your floor if you use them inside. So they’re an outside toy for us. These machines pump out bubbles for a few minutes (which is better than blowing them), then they have to be refilled. This means you’ll have to pour more bubbles in at the insistence of your boy every few minutes.
Tunnels or Tents
Price at Publication: $19.99
Why We Love It ❤️ Easy to Put Away ❤️ Gross Motor Skills ❤️ Dinosaur Theme ❤️ Kids Love it!
What We Don't Like
👎🏼 Durability Against Rough Play
My boys love anything that they can crawl through and hide in. Plus, they love dinosaurs. So this tube is the perfect option. They also now like to put these tubes around them and pretend play that they are a pumpkin. We have a similar product in tent form (that I can’t find anymore) and my kids are rough on these things. They tend to break down with rough play over time. But they’re fun while they last and cheap enough that it isn’t upsetting when it’s time to throw them away.
VTech Pop-a-Balls Push & Pop Bulldozer
Price at Publication: $21.99
Why We Love It ❤️ Push Toy ❤️ Balls Included ❤️ Construction Themed
What We Don't Like 👎🏼 Handle Breaks Easily 👎🏼 Items Get Stuck Inside
This is a simple toy bulldozer that pops and scoops balls as your child pushes it. My 2-year-old son was thrilled by this concept. At 2, he loved balls and construction trucks so this was a win. The downside, as he got older, the handle stopped staying up. He also decided to shove other items inside, which jammed the mechanism.
All in all, a fun toy for 2-year-olds, but don’t expect it to last long.
MEGA Bloks
Price at Publication: $22.99
Why We Love It
❤️ Ride on Toy, Construction Truck, & Blocks
❤️ Large Building Blocks
❤️ Blocks Store in Truck
What We Don't Like 👎🏼 Large (Takes Up Space) 👎🏼 Not A Lot of Blocks
These blocks are great for little hands. They’re perfect for a boy who’s just turning 2. Plus, the dump truck can be pushed arond, even without the blocks. Children can dump the blocks out with the dump truck and build towers on or off the truck. I wish it came with more blocks, but this can easily be solved by purchasing another set of MEGA bloks. Toddlers will probably love that this is big, but moms may hate that they can’t easily tuck this into a cabinet somewhere.
Best Under $50 Gifts for 2-Year-Old Boys
Little Tikes T-Ball Set
Price at Publication: $26.47
Why We Love It ❤️ Large bat for easy hitting ❤️ Comes with 5 balls ❤️ Can use in or outdoors
What We Don't Like 👎🏼 Not super durable 👎🏼 Takes up space
After my older son started T-Ball, my boys loved playing baseball at home. My 2-year-old loves hitting the ball and running the bases. This T-Ball set is perfect for 2-year-olds. The bat and balls are big and make it easy for them to hit. Plus, if you want to keep this inside, the plastic balls aren’t hard enough to break things (unless an older kid hits it). I like adding the bases to this set because my boys love running the bases and were slipping on the random items they’d use. These bases are rubber so they won’t slip.
The downside, my 3-year-old leaned on the T one day and it bent. And, again, having a T in the middle of your living room or yard may not be your favorite thing.
HABA My Very First Games – First Orchard Cooperative Board Game
Price at Publication: $29.99
Why We Love It ❤️ Durable wood pieces ❤️ Color recognition ❤️ Simple, but fun ❤️ Cooperative
What We Don't Like 👎🏼 A little too easy
This is a great game to begin introducing board games with your 2-year-old. The game has heavy-duty, large wood pieces (that a 2-year-old can’t swallow), and is fun for the whole family. You must work together to collect all the fruit before the crow comes into the garden. My 2 and 3-year-old love playing this simple game. My one criticism is that I wish it was a little easier to roll the crow so the game was more challenging.
Playdoh Set
Price at Publication: $34.28
Why We Love It ❤️ Play Doh Set for 2+ ❤️ Imaginative Play ❤️ Includes Play Doh
What We Don't Like 👎🏼 Play Doh Dries Out Easily 👎🏼 May Require Adult Assistance 👎🏼 Gets Stuck in Carpet
My boys love Play Doh. It’s manipulative and they can sit for extended periods to play with it. This set is great because it comes with cutters, stamps, and mats to create on. Perfect for kids who don’t know what to do with Play Doh.
The reason I don’t like Play Doh is because, at 2, my sons often needed help playing with it. It also dries out and becomes useless if they don’t put it back in the containers. Plus, if you care about your carpet, it’s not fun when it gets smashed into it.
Melissa & Doug Cleaning Set
Price at Publication: $34.99
Why We Love It ❤️ Kids Can Help Clean ❤️ Encourages Household Participation ❤️ Satisfies Need for Clean ❤️ Fosters Independence
What We Don't Like 👎🏼 Mop Not Functional
2-year-olds love to participate in anything you do. If Mom or Dad is a cleaner, that means their toddler will want to clean too. Every time I pull out the vacuum or mop, my kids fight me over it. This set is the perfect option for having them participate alongside you. While, some items aren’t functional, like the mop. Most give your toddler a way to help. And this encourages them to continue helping with household chores as they get older.
KiwiCo Play Crates
Price at Publication: $33.90
Why We Love It ❤️ Inventive ❤️ High Quality ❤️ Educational ❤️ Store
What We Don't Like 👎🏼 Suprise Box 👎🏼 Subscription
I love Kiwi crates and items as gifts. They offer great building toys. I love that they offer a store of products in case you don’t want to buy a subscription. I hate buying surprise boxes, so the store is a great option so I know exactly what I’m getting. But if you like surprise boxes, it’s easy and fun to gift a box straight to a child. (One note on this, make sure you include your name on the note so the receiver knows who the box is from if you ship it.)
Little Tikes Easy Score Basketball Set
Price at Publication: $35.99
Why We Love It ❤️ Hoop is Adjustable ❤️ Comes with 3 Balls ❤️ Can Use In or Outdoors
What We Don't Like 👎🏼 Takes Up Space 👎🏼 Hoop Doesn't Attach Perfectly
My toddler boys love playing with this basketball hoop indoors. Even at 1, my younger son had fun dunking the ball. And at 2, a toddler can start practicing shooting. It’s not too big to have inside but wasn’t my favorite decorative piece. We love that it comes with multiple balls and an easily adjustable hoop. When we moved it outdoors, it lost out to other items for exploration and quickly was obscured by dust and spiders.
Radio Flyer Junior Flyer Trike
Price at Publication: $44.99
Why We Love It ❤️ Practice Bike Riding ❤️ Active Play ❤️ Fun for Outdoors
What We Don't Like 👎🏼 Only for Outdoor Play 👎🏼 Need to Use Pedals
My toddlers love riding on things. This tricycle gives 2-year-olds an option that they can pedal themselves. This can secure hours of independent play. However, if you don’t have a secured and cemented outdoor space, you might want to skip this one. Some 2-year-olds also may not be coordinated enough to use the pedals yet.
Best Under $100 Gifts for 2-Year-Old Boys
VTech Go! Go! Smart Wheels Train Station Playset
Price at Publication: $59.99
Why We Love It ❤️ Motorized Train ❤️ Endless Configurations ❤️ Can Combine Tracks
What We Don't Like
👎🏼 Train Batteries Die Quickly
👎🏼 No Replacement Parts Available
👎🏼 Noisy
This is by far one of the best toys I’ve found for my boys. The track can be built in numerous configurations, which leads to hours of fun. The train is motorized and will follow the track once it’s built. My 2-year-old loves to follow it around the track, opening and closing gates as it goes.
One downside is that the train’s batteries need replacing every few days when in use. And if your train breaks (ours did), you have to buy a whole new track to get a new one. Another issue is the sound. The train talks and so does the train station (you can turn the station off). Plus, the sound of the train going can get pretty noisy too.
Melissa & Doug Deluxe Road Rug Play Set
Price at Publication: $73.49
Why We Love It
❤️ Imaginative Play
❤️ Comes with Cars
❤️ Floor Play
What We Don't Like 👎🏼 Need to Store Pieces 👎🏼 Small
My boys both had an early obsession with cars. They love driving vehicles around and making car noises. This rug set gives them a road to drive their cars on. It includes wooden city pieces and cars so they can build their city and drive around it.
The one downside to this set is that the rug is smaller than I would like. Especially if you have multiple toddlers/preschoolers, you may find them fighting for space.
Step2 Rain & Showers Water Table
Price at Publication: $79.99
Why We Love It
❤️ Comes with Cups & Toys
❤️ Great for Warm Weather
❤️ Independent Play
What We Don't Like
👎🏼 Needs to Be Used Outdoors
👎🏼 Messy
This is one of our boys’ favorite sensory toys. They love playing with anything messy and manipulative. And this fulfills a need they have to dump water. So this is the perfect play item for them. It’s also great for cooling down in the summer.
I love that it comes with cups and toys. My boys can play with this for hours independently. One downside is that it is for outdoor use. If you don’t have a good outdoor space or hate being outside, this might not work well for you.
Best Splurge Gifts for 2-Year-Old Boys
Step2 Playtime Patio
Price at Publication: $178.02
Why We Love It
❤️ Encourages Imagination
❤️ Sand & Water Features
❤️ Independent Play
What We Don't Like 👎🏼 Takes Up Space 👎🏼 Storage
This playtime patio is the perfect play kitchen for little boys. They can BBQ, cook, or just hang out inside. Your 2-year-old will love having this cooking space to himself. Especially if you’re a family who loves to camp and bbq. The one downside to any item like this is that it takes up space in your yard and is a permanent fixture that can’t easily be put away.
Nugget
Price at Publication: $249
Why We Love It ❤️ Endless Configuration ❤️ Machine Washable Cover ❤️ Indoor Playground ❤️ Stores as a Couch
What We Don't Like 👎🏼 Price 👎🏼 Waterproof Liners Cost Extra
This is one of our favorite toddler toys. It looks like a kid’s couch, but the pieces can easily be used to build forts, houses, and even slides. The possibilities are endless. This is perfect for those rainy days when your little guy needs to get some energy out. He can climb and jump, all with the security of the couch cushion. When they’re done playing, fold it up into a couch in your playroom.
One disappointment is the high price that doesn’t include a waterproof liner (you can buy one for an extra cost).
Clubhouse Climber Playset
Price at Publication: $1,260.20
Why We Love It ❤️ Safe Outdoor Play ❤️ Age Appropriate ❤️ Active Play
What We Don't Like 👎🏼 Difficult to Put Together 👎🏼 Only for Outdoor Play 👎🏼 Will Outgrow
This is the perfect outdoor playset for 2-year-olds. If you have babies and toddlers, this is a safe and fun outdoor option. We have a similar playground set for older kids and I always worry that my 2-year-old will fall and get hurt. This playground set is the perfect size for toddlers and still gives them the climbing and sliding experience. If you have a toddler who loves the outdoors, this is a great play option to splurge on.
One of the downsides to opting for a younger playground set is that your child will outgrow it more quickly. This set is for 2-6-year-olds, but it’s hard to imagine a 6-year-old having much fun on it. I’d say it’s for 1-4-year-olds.
Related: The Best Books for 2-Year-Olds & The Best Bags for Moms with Toddlers
I hope this list helps you choose a great gift for the 2-year-old boy in your life. And helps you find some great options that will avoid the donation pile.
If you’re new here, I write for new moms, navigating mom life, and raising readers. Subscribe today to Join the Librarian Mom Community because I believe no one should have to walk through motherhood alone.
