Looking the best educational toys for 2 year olds toysstars
Looking for educational toys for 2-Year-Olds?
I’ve compiled a list of my preferred toys that prove beneficial in educating your toddlers at home. These toys also make excellent additions to the classroom, especially for teachers. Let’s begin with the finest educational toys for 2-year-olds.
#1. LeapFrog Smart Building Blocks
The LeapFrog Smart Building Blocks stand out as one of the most impressive toys I’ve encountered recently. This educational toy serves as an engaging tool to introduce the alphabet to 2-year-olds in a delightful manner.
Children can actively build with these blocks while interacting with the alphabet. Placing the letters in specific spots prompts audio responses, announcing the letter and a word commencing with that letter.
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Guidance on Facilitating Learning with This Toy:
- Begin by concentrating on 1-2 letters until your child starts recognizing some of them. Continuously reinforce these known letters while introducing 1-2 new letters.
- Actively point out different letters to your child. If they are capable, encourage them to identify specific letters and place them in the playset.
- For older learners, involve your child in arranging the letters in order on the playset, focusing on a few at a time due to space limitations. Since it’s not spacious enough to accommodate the entire alphabet in one place, this step-by-step approach is recommended.
For alphabet learning, the phonics house proves to be an excellent resource. However, they also offer various Smart Blocks; explore their complete range to discover all their products designed to enhance learning skills.
#2. Elmo’s On The Go Letters
In my experience of teaching my children, hands-on interaction with letters proves to be the most effective method for kids to grasp the alphabet.
Among the various toys we utilized during my kids’ toddler years, this Elmo set stood out as one of the most frequently used. It serves as an excellent educational toy for 2-year-olds.
Since this toy lacks sound, your involvement in guiding your child’s learning is essential.
Ways to assist your child’s learning with this toy:
- Concentrate on 1-2 letters each day.
- Regularly revisit previously learned letters; consistent practice is crucial, especially in the initial stages of ABC learning to prevent forgetting.
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#3: Touch and Play Word Book
This educational toy stands out as one of my favorites for 2-year-olds, aiding them in learning essential vocabulary words for their age. With over 100 letters and words inside, this book has proven to be a captivating and educational pastime for toddlers.
How to facilitate your child’s learning with this toy:
- The book presents objects to your child, allowing them to interact by clicking on each one. It provides information on what the object is, the letter it starts with, associated sounds, and even features a quiz mode.
- Engage your child in testing their knowledge by asking questions about specific objects in the book.
- Encourage your child to identify objects in the book that produce specific sounds, fostering connections and auditory recognition.
#4. Alphabet Sound Puzzle
Acknowledging the constraints on our time, this alphabet puzzle serves as a valuable addition to your toy collection, offering educational benefits for 2-year-olds. The puzzle verbally identifies each letter, making it a practical and engaging learning tool. As children progress, it also aids in introducing beginning sounds.
How to support your child’s learning with this toy:
- If your child is familiar with some letters, encourage them to locate individual letters they know on the puzzle. For those just starting, take the opportunity to discuss each letter, providing guidance.
- Explore phonics by discussing the pictures behind each letter. Identify and explain unfamiliar items, making the sound of the beginning letter to reinforce their understanding of letter sounds.
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#5: Vtech Desk
This delightful educational toy tailored for 2-year-olds adds an adorable touch to learning. Your kids will enjoy having their own desk to explore the various features it offers, including its transformation into a chalkboard or an art easel for creative endeavors.
How to enhance your child’s learning with this toy:
- Utilize the mat to review the alphabet with your child, prompting them to identify and point to specific letters.
- On the human body mat, engage your kids by asking them to name each part of the body, assessing their ability to recognize and identify body parts.
- Leverage the counting mat to work on counting skills and number recognition.
#6. LEGO Duplo My First Number Train
Designed for little ones who love building, Duplo LEGOs present an excellent educational toy for 2-year-olds, focusing on learning numbers. As children grow, this toy can adapt to more advanced activities, such as arranging numbers in the correct order.
How to support your child’s learning with this toy:
- While playing with the blocks, verbally identify each number to your child.
- Arrange a few number blocks in a line and encourage your child to locate a specific number.
- If your child is capable of counting, engage them in counting to ten while placing the number blocks in sequential order.
- For children familiar with counting and numbers, challenge them to arrange the numbers in the correct order for an added learning dimension.
#7: Train Table
Our cherished train table has been a favorite toy over the years, now repurposed as a LEGO table as my kids have grown. Complete with numerous accessories and storage options, this versatile table offers hours of imaginative play.
How to facilitate your child’s learning with this toy:
- Collaborate with your kids to construct an engaging train track that captures their interest.
- Utilize the fun accessories to teach your child vocabulary words.
- Encourage your child to immerse themselves in imaginative play.
#8: Wooden Number Puzzle
Melissa and Doug puzzles have proven to be instrumental in teaching both of my kids the alphabet and numbers. This educational toy for 2-year-olds is ideal for practicing numbers and counting, and its utility extends as the puzzle includes numbers up to 20.
How to support your child’s learning with this toy:
- Verbally identify each number as your toddler picks it up, discussing the associated picture.
- Focus on 1-2 numbers during each play session until your child begins recognizing them. Gradually introduce additional numbers as their recognition improves.
- Recite each number in order to help your child grasp the concept of number sequence.
#9: LeapFrog Fridge Phonics
Perfect for kids who enjoy playing with refrigerator magnets, this interactive toy is an excellent educational tool for 2-year-olds. It not only reinforces letter recognition but also teaches the sound of each letter and aids in building sentence-building skills.
How to enhance your child’s learning with this toy:
- Prompt your child to locate and place a specific letter on the bus.
- Take advantage of the interactive nature by encouraging your child to repeat the letter sounds after they are spoken.
- Explore the feature where pressing a letter twice generates a word and a sentence. Encourage your child to invent their own sentence using the same word. For older children, challenge them to come up with alternative words for the specific letter and create their own sentences.
#10: LeapFrog My Own LeapTop
The LeapFrog LeapTop is an excellent educational toy for 2-year-olds, covering various learning skills. Its portability makes it a handy on-the-go toy, perfect for short trips to the store when your child may not enjoy car rides.
How to support your child’s learning with this toy:
- If you’re assisting your child, encourage them to search for a specific letter.
- Utilize the game mode to engage your child in finding the beginning letter of displayed pictures. For beginners, help them predict the picture and identify the starting letter.
- In the message section, where the computer asks questions, challenge your child to respond.
#11: Vtech Alphabet Apple
Highly favored by many parents, the Vtech Alphabet Apple is a delightful educational toy for 2-year-olds, initiating their journey into alphabet learning and offering additional functions that can adapt to your child’s growing skills.
How to facilitate your child’s learning with this toy:
- Start with letter recognition for beginners, prompting your child to identify and press the corresponding button.
- Utilize the interactive feature by having your child repeat the sounds of each letter to aid memorization.
- For children familiar with the alphabet, encourage them to recite it sequentially to reinforce the order of the ABCs. The added clock feature extends the usefulness of this toy for years, supporting the development of time-telling skills.
#12: Farmer’s Market Color Sorting Set
This enduring Farmer’s Market Color Sorting Set remains a favorite for my kids, even as they’ve grown to 5 and 7 years old. Its lasting appeal makes it an exceptional educational toy for 2-year-olds, focusing on color learning.
How to enhance your child’s learning with this toy:
- Develop color sorting skills by guiding the kids to place the garden objects in the correct color buckets.
- With toddlers, concentrate on one or two colors initially, gradually progressing to more as they grasp the concept.
- Encourage color vocabulary development as the kids practice identifying the color of each fruit or vegetable.
#13: Melissa and Doug Color Puzzle
As a puzzle enthusiast, it’s evident that I value the educational benefits of puzzles, especially those from Melissa and Doug. These puzzles have proven effective in teaching both of my kids about the alphabet, numbers, shapes, and colors, requiring just a little daily time and effort to play with these toys.
How to facilitate your child’s learning with this toy:
- Begin by discussing 1-2 colors, gradually introducing new ones as your child becomes familiar with each.
- Throughout the day, showcase different objects in the 1-2 colors you are focusing on.
- When introducing a new color, display it alongside one your child already knows. Ask them to identify the known color and then introduce the new one.
#14: Spike the Hedgehog
Designed for kids aged 18 months and older, Spike the Hedgehog is a delightful toy that not only captures children’s interest but also enhances their fine motor skills and color learning abilities.
How to aid your child’s learning with this toy:
- Use this toy to reinforce color learning skills while practicing fine motor skills.
- Introduce numbers 1-12 as your child places the quills into the hedgehog. Encourage them to place a specific color quill in a designated number.
- Enhance fine motor skills by guiding your child to insert and remove the quills.
#15: Learning Basic Life Skills Set
Inspired by my son’s school, which focuses on real-life lessons, this Learning Basic Life Skills Set featuring dressing boards is an excellent educational toy for 2-year-olds to start honing practical life skills.
How to support your child’s learning with this toy:
- Concentrate on one board during each play session, gradually introducing more as your child progresses.
- Start with simpler skills like snapping or buckling before advancing to zipping and tying.
- For the lacing and tying boards, consider using a simple poem like, “Over, under, pull it tight, make a bow, pull it through to do it right.”
#16: Shapes Chunky Puzzle
Recognizing shapes is often the initial focus in preschool classrooms for both parents and teachers. This puzzle stands out as an ideal educational toy for 2-year-olds to familiarize themselves with various shapes, allowing them to touch and connect the pieces to their designated spots.
How to support your child’s learning with this toy:
- Begin with simpler shapes like circles and stars, which are generally easier for children to recognize.
- Concentrate on 1-2 shapes initially, gradually introducing more as your child becomes familiar with the ones they are learning.
- Connect the learning to the environment by identifying objects around the room that share the same shapes. For instance, if focusing on circles, point out a ball or a car wheel.
- Regularly review the shapes, emphasizing those currently in focus or ones your child has already learned.
#17: Matching Egg Shape
Despite initial skepticism, this shape-matching toy turned out to be a surprising hit with my kids. The joy of taking apart and finding the matching pairs in these eggs provided endless entertainment. The eggs’ storage in a plastic carton adds to the convenience.
How to assist your child’s learning with this toy:
- Define the concept of making a match for your child if it’s unfamiliar.
- Demonstrate the matching process by breaking open 1-2 shape eggs, explaining how to align the color and shape to close the egg.
- For older children, engage in discussions about the number of sides each shape possesses.
#18: Shape Beanbags
Incorporating play and learning, these beanbags serve as an excellent educational toy for 2-year-olds to grasp shape recognition while integrating movement patterns and gross motor skills.
How you can enrich your child’s learning with this toy:
- Scatter the beanbags in a room and instruct your child to locate specific shapes, incorporating various movement patterns for added engagement.
- Set up a throwing game by creating a starting line, placing bins with numerical labels, and having your child throw beanbags while identifying the shapes. This can evolve into a math activity for older kids as they tally their points.
- Enhance physical activity by placing beanbags at one end of a hallway, directing your child to run and retrieve a designated bag when prompted.
Feel free to comment if you need more fun ways to incorporate physical activity into teaching your kids!
#19: LeapFrog TV Remote
If your little one enjoys playing with remotes, this educational toy for 2-year-olds is an ideal choice. Combining learning and play, it offers a fun way for children to engage with various educational features.
How you can enhance your child’s learning with this toy:
- Encourage your kids to identify and recite the different numbers on the remote.
- Have them listen to the alphabet and join in singing along with the ABCs.
- Explore Spanish words for an additional learning experience with older children!
#20: Melissa and Doug Alphabet Building Blocks
Fond memories surround our experiences with Melissa and Doug’s alphabet building blocks. These versatile building blocks offer numerous learning opportunities.
How you can support your child’s learning with this toy:
- Practice the alphabet letters while your child is building with the blocks, verbally identifying each letter.
- Discuss the various animals depicted on each block, encouraging your child to identify each one.
- Engage in activities like stacking from largest to smallest or focusing on a subset of blocks to help your child discern between bigger and smaller.
#21: Cleaning Toys
Children often enjoy imitating adults, especially when it involves cleaning. This educational toy for 2-year-olds provides hours of enjoyable play while introducing them to the concept of cleaning.
How you can enrich your child’s learning with this toy:
- Demonstrate the usage of each cleaning toy and explain its purpose, contributing to real-life skill learning.
- Involve your kids in cleaning the house, fostering a sense of responsibility and teamwork.
#22: Interactive Piggy Bank
Fondly remembered by my kids, this piggy bank toy serves as an excellent educational tool, focusing on numbers, counting, and fine motor skills.
How you can support your child’s learning with this toy:
- Count the coins with your kids and identify the numbers on each coin.
- Enhance color learning skills by showcasing each coin’s color and asking your child to point to a specific colored coin.
- Encourage them to place the coin in the slot, promoting the development of fine motor skills.
#23: Toddler Balance Bike
A valuable addition for early childhood development, this balance bike aids in building balance, coordination, and strength.
How you can help your child learn with this toy:
- Assist your child in learning how to ride a bike by initially practicing on this balance bike indoors before transitioning outside.
- Teach them how to steer the bike, providing guidance on maneuvering when turning.
- Utilize the bike’s adjustable features, allowing it to grow with your child from ages 2 to 6 by adapting to their size.
#24: Water Table
Planning for some summer fun with your toddlers? A water table is the ideal outdoor toy for 2-year-olds.
Playing with water always amplifies the joy of play. Children are naturally drawn to it!
How you can foster your child’s learning with this toy:
- Free play: Sometimes, spontaneous play is the best. Allow the kids to take the lead! Let them revel in splashing water and creating their own imaginative games. This unstructured play encourages them to discover new ways of engaging with the water table.
- Add water beads: Elevate the sensory experience by incorporating water beads into the water table. This specific water table offers a delightful opportunity for kids to refine pouring and scooping skills. Additionally, introduce fine motor toys to support the development of small muscles.
- Toy wash: Transform the water table into a toy washing station. Place some of your little one’s favorite toys in the water, add tear-free soap, and provide a sponge or toothbrush for a cleaning adventure. Ensure there’s clean water in another container for rinsing off the soap.
#25: Sprinkler Splash Pad
This outdoor educational toy for 2-year-olds is a fantastic addition for warm summer days, offering a delightful space for toddlers and preschoolers to splash and learn.
How you can enhance your child’s learning with this toy:
- Letter search: Incorporate letter recognition into outdoor play by prompting kids to stomp on specific letters while enjoying the splash pad. You can also encourage them to find letters from their name or the alphabet in order.
- Cover the letters: Utilize water toys to engage your child in covering the letters you call out. This fun activity involves searching for letters through the water. For beginners, start with a few letters close to each other, and for older toddlers, any letter can be called out.
- Animal sounds: Explore animal sounds by associating them with specific areas on the splash pad. When your child steps on a designated animal, encourage them to mimic the corresponding sound or even imitate the animal’s movements.
Selecting the right toy for your child can be a daunting task, considering your desire for the toy to capture their interest and provide enduring utility. We hope you’ve discovered some excellent educational toys for 2-year-olds in this article! I’d love to hear about any learning toys that have resonated with you and your family. Since every child learns differently, certain toys may be more effective for some children than others. If you seek more ideas on how to effectively teach your children with these toys, please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!
