15+ Gift Ideas for a Toddler's Second Birthday
Welcome to toddler paradise! Our Little just celebrated her second birthday and it was amazing to look back and compare how different it was from her first. Every kid is different, but she and her friends tend to agree that they didn't want toys anymore, but rather activities. So on that note, here are 15+ gift ideas for a 2-year-old's birthday:
Summer babies love outdoor games! Here are some of our June toddler's favorite gifts:
Inflatable pool with slide.
Our Little loves to run her little legs and constantly wants to be out in the sunshine. For her birthday we blew up her little toddler slide and pool and she and her friends ran loops around that thing for hours.
Sprinkler.
One of the gifts she got was a blow up giraffe that attaches to the hose and sprays like a sprinkler and that was a huge hit too.
Water table.
This is a big favorite! Our Little and all her friends loved playing at the table but also running around with cups and little buckets of water to splash around the yard. She's really into "fill and spill" right now, so this was the perfect time-consuming activity. Our friend's toddler has a "water wall" that she loves just as much.
Trampoline.
My brother and sister-in-law generously gave our little gymnast an 8-foot kids trampoline with an enclosed safety screen. The kids loved jumping around in it together and she loves running out there to jump and run around alone. We stand there and watch them closely to make sure no one crashes into each other, but it's also awesome to see how much it tires them out!
Water beads.
These things are a mess but oh so fun! We discovered them at another toddler's birthday party a few months ago and that same friend brought our Little her own bucket. Just throw a handful of the tiny polymer in a tub of water and watch them expand. They're colorful and slippery and fun to squish between toddler fingers and carry around in cups. They are going to end up EVERYWHERE, but they breakdown and water the lawn so win-win in the end I guess.
Stride bike.
Our Little is very tall for her age but still can't reach the pedals on her hand-me-down Barbie tricycle. For her birthday Grandpa got her a helmet and a strike bike (a little two-wheeler with no pedals) to teach her balance and steering. She loves to walk that thing all around the yard and I can tell she's already learning some of the basics of riding a pedal bike!
Gardening set.
Our Little loves to do what I do, from putting on her own pretend makeup when I do mine to following me around the yard with her little watering can taking care of the plants like I do. She even has her own little garden at Grandma's house and loves to run out there and check on her tomatoes every day! If the parent is a gardener, or even just has plants to maintain, consider getting a toddler watering can and/or gardening set. There are adorable options out there that Littles love to play with and get a sense of pride in how they help.
Playhouse.
There are so many options out there for a playhouse and it's a big hit for this age group that is entering the thrill of the play-pretend phase. My only note is to make sure you spray it regularly for summer pests, as I was almost bitten by a black widow as a child in my playhouse!
Sandbox with cover.
A sandbox will keep a toddler entertained for hours! Make sure to get one that has a secure cover because that is not only great to keep out the summer rain but more importantly it deters stray cats fro using it as a litter box which is toxic and harmful to Littles.
Winter babies usually have to stay trapped inside but they obviously love staying active too! Here are some of our toddler's favorite indoor games:
Art easel.
She got an easel from her aunt for Christmas with alphabet and number magnets and then we got her some animal magnets too (make sure they are age appropriate, AKA large enough to not be swallowed). For her birthday that same aunt gave her non-toxic paints, paint cups and brushes, rolls of paper, and a little art apron. This will be a lifesaver when we need to stay inside, but we'll likely make it a garage activity!
Coloring.
We use the "Color Wonder" books because our Little is a mess and either chews or breaks crayons or gets ink from real markers all over herself. Now that she's two it's a little better and I want more affordable options than the Color Wonder books and markers, but for a first time artist I'd recommend those to save the parents a headache. Once the Little has been coloring for a while head over to the dollar store where you can get several really great coloring books with recognizable characters for crazy cheap! Head to Target though for the real markers or crayons though, as the ones at the dollar store hardly work and break easily.
Sticker books.
This is another dollar store gold mine! Get as many as you can. Our two year old loves to play with stickers but these books keep her entertained for such a long time. There are sheets of stickers that she loves to peel and then she flips through the pages endlessly to find where they go. It's the perfect quiet activity when we're out and about and she needs to be quiet, and it's also a great road trip distraction!
Puzzles.
I love fostering a child's imagination, so anything in the house can be a toy for our Little... But sometimes it's nice to have a toddler puzzle to help challenge her and get her brain working.
Books.
Our little bookworm can't get enough reading and has thumbed through every book in her expansive library a hundred times (or so it feels like it). There are books she loves to sit down and "read" herself and stories she likes us to read too, but we can also tell when she's not into something. So we created a book wish list of Dr. Seuss, Disney, Curious George etc. that we know she will enjoy immensely and she squealed each time she tore open wrapping paper to see a familiar character set in a new story on a book cover. We are big believers that any book is a gift, but maybe check with the parents to see if there is something their Little is really into right now or a type of story that is missing from their home library.
Play Kitchen.
Again, our Little hasn't touched her toys in months, but when she goes to a friend's house she loves to play with what they have. The most popular activity I have seen for this age is a play kitchen, complete with all the cooking utensils and pretend food. She can entertain herself for an hour and it's even better with a friend!
Cleaning Set.
Just like helping me water the garden, our Little likes to help me with chores around the house too. So she now has a little broom and dustpan from the dollar store and she follows me around doing her own chores. Sometimes it's more hassle than if I got her to just sit down and color while I worked quickly, but I love that she's interested in helping at this young age and I figure it's good to teach her some responsibility! There are many cute cleaning sets out there but like I said, I just got her some of her own cleaning supplies from the dollar store, including an Elmo washcloth and empty squirt bottle, the little broom and dustpan, etc.
And when in doubt... Gift Certificates.
Since our Little isn't interested in toys, we're always looking for new adventures. It's such a blast but can also get expensive. The zoo is a huge hit at this age and the carousel there caused such squeals of joy I think I took four videos because I couldn't get enough of her delighted reaction! So look for activities the family can go and enjoy together and get them a gift certificate as a gift. Consider places like zoos, aquariums and amusement parks (toddler specific places like a Fairy Tale Town are great), or maybe a pass to an interactive kids exhibit at the local museum. Is there an indoor trampoline place in town? How about a place that offers parent-and-me activities? But also look for events like the county fair, Christmas light tours, train rides, etc. And don't forget you can buy a round of lessons for sports like swimming and gymnastics!
And of course you have all the standard gifts that every parent I know loves to receive to help replenish their stash of needs, like clothes, shoes, etc. If you don't know what to give, don't be afraid to ask what they need!
What would you add to this list? Find me on Facebook and let me know!
www.Facebook.com/ListsForLittles
Summer babies love outdoor games! Here are some of our June toddler's favorite gifts:
Inflatable pool with slide.
Our Little loves to run her little legs and constantly wants to be out in the sunshine. For her birthday we blew up her little toddler slide and pool and she and her friends ran loops around that thing for hours.
Sprinkler.
One of the gifts she got was a blow up giraffe that attaches to the hose and sprays like a sprinkler and that was a huge hit too.
Water table.
This is a big favorite! Our Little and all her friends loved playing at the table but also running around with cups and little buckets of water to splash around the yard. She's really into "fill and spill" right now, so this was the perfect time-consuming activity. Our friend's toddler has a "water wall" that she loves just as much.
Trampoline.
My brother and sister-in-law generously gave our little gymnast an 8-foot kids trampoline with an enclosed safety screen. The kids loved jumping around in it together and she loves running out there to jump and run around alone. We stand there and watch them closely to make sure no one crashes into each other, but it's also awesome to see how much it tires them out!
Water beads.
These things are a mess but oh so fun! We discovered them at another toddler's birthday party a few months ago and that same friend brought our Little her own bucket. Just throw a handful of the tiny polymer in a tub of water and watch them expand. They're colorful and slippery and fun to squish between toddler fingers and carry around in cups. They are going to end up EVERYWHERE, but they breakdown and water the lawn so win-win in the end I guess.
Stride bike.
Our Little is very tall for her age but still can't reach the pedals on her hand-me-down Barbie tricycle. For her birthday Grandpa got her a helmet and a strike bike (a little two-wheeler with no pedals) to teach her balance and steering. She loves to walk that thing all around the yard and I can tell she's already learning some of the basics of riding a pedal bike!
Gardening set.
Our Little loves to do what I do, from putting on her own pretend makeup when I do mine to following me around the yard with her little watering can taking care of the plants like I do. She even has her own little garden at Grandma's house and loves to run out there and check on her tomatoes every day! If the parent is a gardener, or even just has plants to maintain, consider getting a toddler watering can and/or gardening set. There are adorable options out there that Littles love to play with and get a sense of pride in how they help.
Playhouse.
There are so many options out there for a playhouse and it's a big hit for this age group that is entering the thrill of the play-pretend phase. My only note is to make sure you spray it regularly for summer pests, as I was almost bitten by a black widow as a child in my playhouse!
Sandbox with cover.
A sandbox will keep a toddler entertained for hours! Make sure to get one that has a secure cover because that is not only great to keep out the summer rain but more importantly it deters stray cats fro using it as a litter box which is toxic and harmful to Littles.
Winter babies usually have to stay trapped inside but they obviously love staying active too! Here are some of our toddler's favorite indoor games:
Art easel.
She got an easel from her aunt for Christmas with alphabet and number magnets and then we got her some animal magnets too (make sure they are age appropriate, AKA large enough to not be swallowed). For her birthday that same aunt gave her non-toxic paints, paint cups and brushes, rolls of paper, and a little art apron. This will be a lifesaver when we need to stay inside, but we'll likely make it a garage activity!
Coloring.
We use the "Color Wonder" books because our Little is a mess and either chews or breaks crayons or gets ink from real markers all over herself. Now that she's two it's a little better and I want more affordable options than the Color Wonder books and markers, but for a first time artist I'd recommend those to save the parents a headache. Once the Little has been coloring for a while head over to the dollar store where you can get several really great coloring books with recognizable characters for crazy cheap! Head to Target though for the real markers or crayons though, as the ones at the dollar store hardly work and break easily.
Sticker books.
This is another dollar store gold mine! Get as many as you can. Our two year old loves to play with stickers but these books keep her entertained for such a long time. There are sheets of stickers that she loves to peel and then she flips through the pages endlessly to find where they go. It's the perfect quiet activity when we're out and about and she needs to be quiet, and it's also a great road trip distraction!
Puzzles.
I love fostering a child's imagination, so anything in the house can be a toy for our Little... But sometimes it's nice to have a toddler puzzle to help challenge her and get her brain working.
Books.
Our little bookworm can't get enough reading and has thumbed through every book in her expansive library a hundred times (or so it feels like it). There are books she loves to sit down and "read" herself and stories she likes us to read too, but we can also tell when she's not into something. So we created a book wish list of Dr. Seuss, Disney, Curious George etc. that we know she will enjoy immensely and she squealed each time she tore open wrapping paper to see a familiar character set in a new story on a book cover. We are big believers that any book is a gift, but maybe check with the parents to see if there is something their Little is really into right now or a type of story that is missing from their home library.
Play Kitchen.
Again, our Little hasn't touched her toys in months, but when she goes to a friend's house she loves to play with what they have. The most popular activity I have seen for this age is a play kitchen, complete with all the cooking utensils and pretend food. She can entertain herself for an hour and it's even better with a friend!
Cleaning Set.
Just like helping me water the garden, our Little likes to help me with chores around the house too. So she now has a little broom and dustpan from the dollar store and she follows me around doing her own chores. Sometimes it's more hassle than if I got her to just sit down and color while I worked quickly, but I love that she's interested in helping at this young age and I figure it's good to teach her some responsibility! There are many cute cleaning sets out there but like I said, I just got her some of her own cleaning supplies from the dollar store, including an Elmo washcloth and empty squirt bottle, the little broom and dustpan, etc.
And when in doubt... Gift Certificates.
Since our Little isn't interested in toys, we're always looking for new adventures. It's such a blast but can also get expensive. The zoo is a huge hit at this age and the carousel there caused such squeals of joy I think I took four videos because I couldn't get enough of her delighted reaction! So look for activities the family can go and enjoy together and get them a gift certificate as a gift. Consider places like zoos, aquariums and amusement parks (toddler specific places like a Fairy Tale Town are great), or maybe a pass to an interactive kids exhibit at the local museum. Is there an indoor trampoline place in town? How about a place that offers parent-and-me activities? But also look for events like the county fair, Christmas light tours, train rides, etc. And don't forget you can buy a round of lessons for sports like swimming and gymnastics!
And of course you have all the standard gifts that every parent I know loves to receive to help replenish their stash of needs, like clothes, shoes, etc. If you don't know what to give, don't be afraid to ask what they need!
What would you add to this list? Find me on Facebook and let me know!
www.Facebook.com/ListsForLittles
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