Best Toys for a 2 Year Old This Christmas: Active Play Gift Guide

Toddler playing in a powder pink round ball pit on Christmas morning

Best Toys for a 2 Year Old This Christmas

Gifts for toddlers who climb, tip, push and pretend, chosen to be used long after Boxing Day.

Two year olds do not sit still for anyone, and the gifts that get used past Boxing Day are usually the ones that let them keep moving. When parents ask us about the best toys for 2 year old children, the answer is rarely the most complicated thing in the shop. It is something they can climb into, flop onto or push around the house, over and over again.

The best toys for a two year old support active, repetitive play: a ball pit to climb in and out of, a bean bag chair of their own, and pretend play toys such as a dolls pram they can push. Look for soft, washable materials and a size that suits your space.

A ball pit for climbing in and tipping out

A round ball pit gives a toddler somewhere to climb in, tip over and climb back into, which covers most of what a two year old wants from a Tuesday afternoon. The MeowBaby Powder Pink Round Cotton Ball Pit is 90cm across with foam walls that hold their shape whether the pit is full or empty, and the cotton cover zips off for a wash at 30 degrees.

It comes in 30cm and 40cm heights, and the 40cm version gives a toddler a more contained space to play in. If you prefer a textured finish, the MeowBaby White Boucle Round Ball Pit sits quietly in a living room. There are plenty of other colours and fabrics across our ball pits collection.

Toddler climbing into a powder pink round cotton ball pit

White boucle round ball pit beside a sofa in a modern living room

Toddler reading in an ecru children's bean bag with soft ears in a cosy corner

Oat beige outdoor children's bean bag on a dry patio by open garden doors

A seat of their own, indoors or out

Somewhere around two, children start wanting a seat that is theirs and nobody else's. A bean bag chair answers that without adding another hard piece of furniture to the room. The MeowBaby Teddy Sako Bag is suitable from age one, and the pair of soft ears on its back gives it a bit of character without turning it into a novelty. Its cover unzips for a wash at 30 degrees, which matters on a seat that gets used for books, snacks and quiet time.

For families who spend time in the garden, the MeowBaby Sako Bag also comes in a water-repellent, UV-resistant Outdoor fabric, so it can move out to the patio on a dry day and back into the playroom before the rain. Several of the bean bags in our kids bean bags collection are recommended from age three, so check the age guidance on each listing before you choose.

Toddler pushing a pink dolls pram with a teddy along a hallway

Pretend play and first rides

Two year olds copy everything, which is why a dolls pram makes such a good Christmas present at this age. Pushing a doll or a favourite teddy around the house is active play and pretend play at once. Our current dolls pram styles are a reliable pick this Christmas, and you can browse them in our dolls prams collection. Check the recommended age and handle height on each listing, since some styles are sized for slightly older children. For more ideas in the same vein, our pretend play gift guide goes into dolls, prams and play kitchens in more detail.

If they are nearer two and a half, a first balance bike is worth considering. The Banwood Balance Bike is designed for children from around two and a half, and its seat adjusts from 40cm to 50cm so it keeps fitting as they grow. Our guide to the best balance bike for a 2 year old covers sizing in more detail.

Toys for a two year old: common questions

What are the best toys for a 2 year old?

Toys that support climbing, pushing and pretending tend to get the most use. A ball pit, a child-sized bean bag chair and a dolls pram are all good choices, because a two year old can play with them in different ways every day.

Is a ball pit a good present for a 2 year old?

Yes. A ball pit gives a toddler a soft, contained space to climb into and play, and it can be used indoors all year round. Choose a height that suits your child: a 40cm wall gives a two year old a more defined space than a 30cm one.

How many balls do I need for a ball pit?

It depends on the size of the pit and how full you want it. Check the recommended ball count on the product listing before you buy, since an under-filled pit loses much of its appeal.

Is a bean bag chair a good gift for a 2 year old?

Yes, as long as it is rated for their age. Several children's bean bags, including the Wigiwama designs, are recommended from age three, while the MeowBaby Sako Bag range is suitable from age one. Check the age guidance on each listing, and use it on the floor rather than on a raised surface.

What age is a dolls pram suitable for?

Many children start enjoying a dolls pram at around two, once they are walking steadily. Dolls prams vary in size and handle height, so check the recommended age and handle height on each listing to find the right fit for your child.

The gifts that keep them moving

The best toys for a two year old are the ones that survive the novelty of Christmas Day and still get dragged out on a wet weekend in February. One customer, setting up a dolls pram for her daughter's Christmas present, put it better than we could: "She's going to love it." At two, that is the only review that matters, and the rest is just where you put everything afterwards. If that is on your mind too, a low kids bookcase gives books and smaller toys a home at their height.

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