Hooray, hooray
You can clearly see, it’s him
It’s him who has his birthday!
Or can you really see it? He will undoubtedly be more aware of the day than last year, but if you tell him his birthday is on Saturday instead of Wednesday to make it convenient for guests, he’ll believe you. Anyway, your little boy has turned 2, and you’re throwing a party. But what do you actually give him as a gift? You’ll find the best gifts for a 2-year-old boy and other relevant information in this blog.
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The developmental stage of a 2-year-old boy
Hooray! Your child is now officially no longer a toddler and is now a preschooler. The preschool period involves significant development and can be seen as a time where you’ll notice many and large differences.
So, we are in the world of toddlerhood, where curiosity and wonder are the guiding stars. He is like a sparkling sun, radiating innocence and discovery. The development is colorful, full of energy, but also with significant highs and lows. Everything will revolve around two words: ‘self’ and ‘do’. Towers of blocks are built, a shoe is put on by himself; every achievement is a triumph. Through touching, tasting, and exploring, the urge to understand the world becomes more understandable. Be very careful, as everything goes into the mouth, posing a reasonable choking hazard.
A two-year-old is busy, and you’ll notice it in everything. Because he doesn’t always understand his own emotions, they can emerge like a whirlwind. One moment he’s wild and untamable, the next moment daddy’s lap is the only place he wants to retreat to. It’s a time where love and understanding from parents are invaluable to help him understand and express his emotions. We’ll leave the upcoming toddler tantrums aside for now. Just know he can’t help it much, and it’s a phase your family must go through.
Furthermore, your 2-year-old boy will start talking more and more. He understands the concept of language better and sees it as a means to get what he wants. As a parent, you want to encourage talking by speaking to him often and correcting him subtly. Yes, it takes a lot of energy, especially since he’s likely in a sleep regression and exhaustion is common, but you’ll see it pays off in the end.
Dont’s (types of gifts you shouldn’t buy for a 2-year-old boy)
What shouldn’t you buy for a 2-year-old boy? Anything he can choke on or that might be harmful if he accidentally swallows it. If you trust it, you can always try something under close supervision (playing, that is). However, it’s more fun to buy something that contributes to his development. Think of storybooks, toys that develop his motor skills, and more items like that. If you’re enthusiastic, the 2-year-old boy will likely pick up on your enthusiasm. It can be that simple (unless he’s in his ‘everything is no’ phase).
What is an appropriate budget for this age?
Know that a 2-year-old boy has no concept of money and will be delighted with anything. Therefore, we provide broad budgets that vary by person. We can’t look into someone else’s wallet and thus can’t require you to buy something of a specific budget. Consider the following budgets as possibilities, not binding advice.
- Parents: £30.00 to …
- Close family members (uncle & aunt, grandparents): £10.00 to £50.00
- Neighbors/acquaintances: £5.00 – £20.00
A small toy car might be more fun than a big playset that he’s actually too young for. A good gift doesn’t need to be big and expensive.
Additional tips
We’d like to give you a few final tips before we move on to the best gifts for a 2-year-old boy. First, it might be useful to buy items that are ‘to grow into’. For clothes, this means literally, but for toys, we mean things that might be a bit too difficult to handle alone. With these kinds of items, you start playing together as a parent, and over time, you’ll see him manage it on his own. This gives him a sense of autonomy (independence), making him feel more competent.
1. Stuffed animals
Think of a cute teddy bear, a soft plush bunny, or even a stuffed car. It’s not to replace his birth stuffed animal, but to expand his plush collection. When number one is in the wash, you can suggest number two might want to join the adventure. Did you know it’s very handy to have several of the first stuffed animal? If the first one breaks, you have a second, a third, a fourth… If questions arise about the ‘newness’ of the stuffed animal, you can still convince a toddler that the stuffed animal went to the doctor and took a nice bath. It came out as good as new, and you yourself don’t know how it’s possible.
2. Balance bike
A balance bike is a wonderful thing for a 2-year-old little one. While we still recommend choosing one with such wide tires that it can’t fall over, he will be getting good exercise. Look for a model with a low saddle and handles suitable for small hands. We also recommend buying a balance bike made of durable materials and one that meets safety standards. The boy might suddenly take off, and if he falls, it’s handy if the bike stays intact and he doesn’t hurt himself. This way, the little one can safely and confidently explore the world. Doesn’t that sound like music to your ears?
3. Outdoor toys
We understand you’d rather not send the little one outside on a rainy and cold day. However, we live in a country where the sun fortunately shines sometimes. If you have a backyard, it’s the perfect place for the little boy to play. Playing with the grass is fun, but his parents might not appreciate it much. That’s why you buy outdoor toys for this little guy. Think not only of the standard shovel but also of a wheelbarrow, water tower, and sandbox. This way, the boy might entertain himself for a quarter of an hour (or even longer). His parents get a moment of ‘peace,’ and he has the time of his life. Sounds like a win-win situation to us, does it to you?
4. Storybooks
For a 2-year-old boy, there are countless storybooks available on the market. We’ll give you a few examples of fun topics in this section, so you can make the right choice and ensure guaranteed success, of course. So, topic 1 is animal stories. It fits the animistic phase the child is in and provides the funniest moments. An elephant doing the laundry in the little house of the rabbit? Sounds like a plan! Other examples include picture books that introduce shapes and colors, books with adventurous stories, and well-known fairy tales. Sometimes fairy tales can be quite long or scary, so keep this in mind when purchasing such a book.
5. Duplo
Duplo for a 2-year-old boy? Definitely get it! It’s fantastic for developing his motor skills and cognitive abilities. If you buy a nice box with various blocks, you can teach him about colors and concepts like ‘small’ and ‘big’ together. Besides these practical benefits, it’s also just fun to play with. He can build houses, play with figures, and make towers up to the ceiling, which then tumble down again. With Duplo, he’ll probably entertain himself for quite some time. And if you know he likes this, there’s a good chance he’ll also enjoy Lego later. Then you already know what to get him for his birthday in the coming years!
6. Push and pull toys
Most children can walk independently around the time they are 18 months old. Now that the little one is almost 24 months old, he can probably move his legs quite a bit. However, it’s still not very smooth, and push and pull toys are fantastic. Don’t think of a ‘walker’ for kids; nowadays, we’re much further than that. Think, for example, of a toy stroller. Its initial purpose is not for walking but for laying a baby doll in it and playing with it. Just like mom or dad walks behind the stroller. Well, you get what we mean. Take a look at the list below; it will clarify things.
7. Musical instruments
Does a 2-year-old child enjoy making music? Absolutely! Start with the ‘easier’ instruments, as we recommend, to keep it fun. Think of a tambourine, xylophone, or even a drum. There are also instruments that make music with buttons. Your little one can sing, dance, and jump while enjoying the tune that’s played about 60 times today. It’s also fun to give him a musical instrument if one of the parents plays an instrument. Instead of his dirty fingers on your expensive guitar, he can now play along on his own plastic, easy-to-clean kids’ guitar. Making music together is fun and contributes to the development of his hearing, rhythm, and coordination.
8. Puzzles
It’s fascinating to watch a child of about two years old puzzle. We’re not talking about a 1000-piece puzzle by Jan van Haasteren, but those wooden puzzles, you know. The ones where they have to slide farm animals into the correct slot, you get it. Where you also struggled for hours while the adult next to you saw the solution for 300 years. Well, now that you know what we’re talking about, it’s time to choose one from our selected range. Or maybe you see another puzzle on the website that better fits his favorite characters. Perhaps he’s the biggest animal fan or can’t get enough of everything related to tractors.
9. Bath toys
Bath toys will be a fantastic addition to bath time for a two-year-old child. Choose colorful and safe bath toys like rubber duckies, floating puzzles, or boats. And if you don’t use them in the bath, you can take them on vacation, where he can play with them by/in the pool. Anyway, ensure the toys are free of sharp edges and easy to clean. Moreover, you don’t want them to break if they fall or damage the floor. In other words, rubber or other squishy materials are definitely a good idea.
10. Night light
Many children sleep with a night light well into their childhood. Why? Because they’re often afraid to sleep in complete darkness. A common reason is fear of the unknown, as they can’t see what’s happening around them. Shadows become monsters, and their voice changes to a scream for mom or dad. It can also cause feelings of separation or loneliness, especially if the child is used to sleeping close to their parents. It’s important to show understanding and address the ‘absolute darkness’ issue with something like a night light. And oh yes, reading a story before bed can also create a positive feeling in bed, so get that storybook from number 4 on this list as well.
