After publishing my first birthday gift ideas post, I also get a lot of requests for second and third birthday gift lists, and I want to help! In the next few weeks, you can expect your third post of gift ideas for your birthday. I know how hard it is to shop for your little one, even your own! I hope this helps solidify decisions for those of you who have children approaching two in your life. These gifts are almost all toys and tools which are very popular in our house between the ages of two and three. Many of them will be happy even after the age of three!
Strollers – Toddlers love maximum effort activities that allow them to put their whole body and energy into something meaningful. Your toddler will love filling the cart with all kinds of natural treasures and helping you with outdoor chores!
Grimms Blocks – Grimm wooden toys are expensive but will last for years. There are many ways to use these open blocks. It can’t hurt if they look beautiful in your home too! They are great for birthday parties of all ages.
Mini Cook Set and Rolling Pins – These are the kitchen tools I use most often for real baking and cooking projects with me. While they can be used for role play or play dough, they are also fully functional. Each fits into a Montessori Guide e-book with picture recipes!
Sensory Bin Wooden Tools – This is a beautiful set of tools and bowls for sensory play. D loves the wooden Montessori Toys and lidded box for scooping and pouring the rainbow rice and sand. Clips are great for picking out hidden items or transferring items between bowls.
Helpers and Community Vehicles – Toddlers find such joy in their fire engine, school bus, and accompanying helpers. It’s an easy and fun matching activity, and the wooden vehicles roll and provide plenty of “rides” around the house.
Shape Latch Board – This is a great combination of shape sorter and latch board. Toddlers love locks and bolts, so they’ll enjoy the challenge of opening each door to find hidden shapes. Lots of replayability here!
Bathtubs and tines are the best bath toys we’ve ever had. As mentioned above, the water that is poured never gets old. The tube and prongs attach to the walls of the trough and can be adjusted in a number of ways.
Soft dress up doll – Around the age of two to three, D really started playing with her dolls. This beautiful, plush doll is perfect for wearing, pushing the stroller, and dressing up. It’s expensive but the perfect gift for a toddler. I also appreciate the variety of Hazel Village dolls.
Beading – Beading was and still is an activity D loves to repeat. I especially love this set with its new shapes and fun colors. The wooden end makes it easy for your little one to thread the beads – remember to tie a knot at the other end so the beads don’t slide right off!
Fine Motor Toolkit – Sensory bin is popular with two year olds and the right tools make all the difference. This simple kit from Learning Resources provides tools for transferring a variety of material and provides excellent practice using real scissors and, later, writing.
Farm Nest Blocks – Djeco is one of my favorite slightly quirkier brands of children’s toys. We don’t have exactly one of these, but we’re combining some of our toddler favorites: stacking, stacking, and hiding items in boxes! I love the little farm animals that come with them and they also provide endless play opportunities.
Toob Numbers – Not a week has gone by that we haven’t used a set of Toob Numbers in some activity. From matching to sorting to simulation games, they are well used and loved. You’ll find Toob figures for animals, vehicles, flowers and all categories!
Pouring Sets – Perhaps even more popular than lock and key is the pouring set. Once your toddler has mastered pouring water into a cup, they offer some additional challenges with different containers and small funnels. This set is also perfect for floral arrangements!
Doll’s Pram – Matching any new (or old) doll, the pram is sure to be a hit. I don’t know how many uses it has for D. She loves putting her baby in it, but also stuffed animals, random stuff, and “shopping”. It is used all the time.
First Animal Matching Puzzle – This has been D’s favorite puzzle since his second birthday. With only two pieces each, they’re even easier and a great introduction to “real” puzzles. I especially like that these are real animal pictures and not cartoons.
Basic Roller Set – This is the perfect first roller set. It’s easy enough for little ones to assemble their own and the colors are refreshing. Even with the minimal number of pieces, there are several ways to create a track with inclines and turns. It’s the perfect complement for years to come!