What is the best toy you've ever purchased for a child between the ages of 2 and 3?
By best, I mean, the toy you bought that your child clearly enjoyed the most or got the most out of. It's always good to get toy recommendations from other people rather than guessing.
Here's a fun one that's inexpensive - the Make & Serve Apple Pie Set by Melissa & Doug. It's been played with for HOURS, along with plastic peel & slice fruit.
I know this is for 2 to 3 year olds but we bought this to our daughter for her second birthday. It is a marble run. In the first year, this toy was used daily, it is still played by her even though she is 4.5 now. It is only important that you know your child won't try to swallow the marbles, ours didn't ever try so it was a safe toy but maybe not for everyone.
Wooden blocks were a favorite, too and so was a nice set with farm animals. Play kitchen is a good choice, too as it is played for years and enjoyed by both of my daughters.
...with 4 kids and a wish-I-had-stock-in-Toys-R-Us...history, the most enjoyment I have seen my kids have on a sustained basis when they were that age was a big sturdy cardboard box, wooden spoons from the kitchen and a variety of metal pots and pans....
Other than that- craft stuff - if you can stand the mess -
finger paints, glue sticks, colored construction paper, A-frame chalk board, colored chalk (good for the sidewalk too)
...loose the glitter - impossible to clean up short of using the garden hose...
...a cat/puppy - comes with other complications -but, a friend for a long time.
rlw
A Tonka truck. That thing lasted for years, we just sold it I believe last year at a yard sale because my son is a teen now.
A table toy. This isn't the one I got for my kids but it is similar. They both loved it!
The most loved present that my daughter ever had as a young child was her plastic wendy house. She loved it. In the summer it was in the garden, in the winter she would have it in the house. She practically lived in it, ate in it and played with her toys in it. It was the best £15 or so that I ever spent.
I gifted a set of wooden peg board...thing like teaching shapes, animals, alphabets, numbers, etc to my toddler when she turned two. Although the packs recommend those for a 3yo, I decided that its never too early...and even made a video of her putting all the shapes in almost accurately the very first day she got them! They have clear colorful pictures, improves hand eye co-ordination, and was her best toy for many months until she mastered all of them...
Now her baby sister gives it a go and the 3yo really enjoys 'teaching' her
For my kids it has been educational toys/DVDs. I always warn people on toys that make alot of load noises as they will cause you to buy stock in Advil.
A nanny? Hey, it won't publish my comment if I don't make it longer, okay, so how are you, been many years till I last saw you, man? Long enough, good!!!
A stuffed beaver. I was just a little guy then. As I grew older and older, "Bucky" and I became fast friends until I misplaced his pelt many years later. Of course I guess I should have had my daddy write it to fit the criteria better.
Well this one’s easy without a doubt it’s Elmo Live for a 2 year old and a NDS for a 3 year old.
My Own LeapTop by LeapFrog. Thanks to this toy, my 2 year old son learned the alphabet in matter of weeks!!
I purchased and it had something in it but was not a toy. My toddler had more fun with it than any other actual toy.....it was a large box...LOL
It´s not a toy per se, but it sure will make the child worship you for life. What about a puppy? The small breeds can live up to 20 years. They will grow together and be best friends. You can´t beat that with any plastic toy. (Actually you can, but the animal protection society may sue you! lol)
Without reservation: LEGO. As soon as they stopped eating everything in sight, I put them to work with LEGO bricks. They didn't do much at first, but my oldest son now uses them for artistic expression, while my youngest is finally beginning to build something recognizable.
The Playskool Explore n Grow Busy Ball Popper. My son is 3 and we got it for him after he played with one at his cousin's house. I think he was almost two when we got it. It has been played with at least once a day. (and when I opened it and put it together, I played with it for about 30 minutes. I found it hiliarious. Granted, I am easily amused.)
Other than that..I let him play with every day things. He gets enjoyment out of everything from my cell phone case to some stock pots.
I work in preschool with 2 year olds so the two toys I have seen used the most are Magic Mountain for hot wheels cars and the sturdy grocery shopping carts that the child fills up with all their favorite toys (including a doll) that he/she wants no one else to use that day lol. I wouldnt be in a center for that age without them. With the magic mountain you can even position the car container so the cars jump right into it. Voila instant clean up lol.
And im surprised no one has said favorite books. My children and i spent so much time rereading our favorites at that age.
Some days ago i purchased a remote police car for my nephew
(2 years old). He likes it every much, because when he opens the window the car will ring with the real car sound and the lights blinking. Funny and interesting.
A sit and spin there at target for $18.99 and worth it. It's a toy that tired them out and makes them laugh and learn balance at the same time.
Matchbox cars ~ no matter if girl or boy. They love matchbox cars! It is the only toy I saw my niece play with more than once.
A large, cardboard box like one from a washing machine (no staples!). I know that sounds lame to an adult and it is to our perceptions, but if you had one when you were a kid, do you remember how fun it was? My daughter and her friends loved theirs, too. Almost as fun as dirt and mud!
This may not work for a three year old, though. But it will work great for five and up. Something to keep in mind and it is cheap! Good value for the dollar.
My second choice would be maybe a wagon; a good one, not a junky one. I know you said one choice, but I want to make sure I pick an age appropriate one.
My son always enjoys playing with bubbles.I bought him a monkey bubble-maker where he squeezes the handle and makes his own bubbles. They are messy but very fun.
A big cardboard box put out at the grocery store. Mine played in that thing for days, pretending it was their secret lair, pretending it was a race car, rolling down the hill in it and goodness knows what else. And I swear, I think the poor thing gave out a moan just seconds before it finally split apart for good!
Once, I got a little dancing Dora doll for a friend's little sister. Needless to say, she was overjoyed with her gift.
My choice is going for a small gardening kit. Make it a habit to kid to grow seasonal plants. It will be very interesting for the kid to see whats happening with his own garden every season. It helps them in planning, managing all the issues in their future. I have done this to my kid. From that day every morning she wakes up early to watch the new changes happening inside her personal garden.
A book called "If Dogs and Cats Were Dinosaurs" was one that surprised me. My kids loved it. Also, the first video game I ever got them. Of course, times are different now.
Well It was a soft toy ..which is always with me in childhood..
I bought a Ball Popper for my daughter but a train set for my son. It depends on their level of hand and eye co-ordination too. They still get a lot of enjoyment out of them and play well together, helping each other play with them. I don't think they'll ever date!
Writing from the point of view of my 2+ year old, we review Melissa & Doug wooden peg puzzles...in my opinion, the best toys for kids between 2 and 3. read more
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