Best Educational Toys for 2 Years Old

Parenting is a tedious activity. By the time your child turns young, you have to get through a lot. From all the exciting and cute little things to a shedload of responsibilities, parenting is full of ups and downs.

The second birthday of your child can be a major turning point in your life. This is when the toddler gets more active. They’re excited about playing with their friends, getting the toys in order, running around the house and throwing stuff here and there. Even though it can be a tough time for parents but it can be perhaps the most memorable time of your life.

One of the most important responsibilities parents have is to educate their children. Education is not only getting admission into the right kindergarten but in fact, it begins from your house. This is where giving them the right toys come into play.

Parents always have a choice to head towards the toy stores and get hands-on the right educational toys. Given the wide variety available, it becomes difficult to choose the right one. Therefore, here are the best educational toys for 2 years old that you can choose:

Best Educational Toys for 2 Years Old

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1. Melissa & Doug Stack and Sort Board

Melissa & Doug toys have established a reputation in the market. These toys are specifically designed to nurture childhood. From inventive crafts to innovative games and conventional wooden toys to educational objects, there is a lot that this brand has to offer. The toys are designed thoughtfully encouraging the users to learn and educate themselves in the most creative manner. The company has been delivering consistently for the past 25 years. If you want your child to be creative, imaginative and a keen discoverer who always look for answers, then this is the right way to go.

Pros

Mellissa & Doug Stack and Sort Board is a wooden education toy that comes with 15 solid wooden pieces.
It comes in a wide range of shapes, colors, and sizes. With the overwhelming variety comes numerous opportunities for learning. The possibilities to educate yourself with this toy are endless.
The colorful blocks are willfully designed by the masterminds to enable the child to learn better enhancing a wide range of skills such as counting, matching, color recognition, stacking and much more.
It is great equipment that encourages hand and eye coordination. Designed for 2 years and above, this can even be used by children who have touched their teenagers.
It is a lightweight product with the dimensions of 13.00 x 4.55 x 2.15 inches. It is a multi-gender educational toy that comes in a wide range of color schemes for you to choose accordingly.
Most importantly, customer feedback has been highly positive when it comes to Stack and Sort Board.

Cons

However, there are certain cons as well that you may consider when purchasing this product. Even though the value for money is amazing, it is a bit expensive toy compared to others. It costs around $24.99.

2. First Builders Big Building Bag

This product by mega brands is a creative mastermind product enhancing the dexterity of your child. It features 80 classic building blocks that further comes in a wide range of colors and sizes. There are special shapes included within the package in order for your child to be more creative and innovative.

Pros

The blocks are specially designed and shaped so that it can be used by little hands. It is a great educational toy for early education development.
It further fosters endless creativity. The availability of numerous building blocks can result in endless construction permutations and combinations. Your children can build anything using these blocks. From creating tall towers to funny animals and magnificent castles to whatever they can imagine, the blocks can be used in whatever way you want to.
The blocks fit together perfectly and can further be detached easily. It is a user-friendly educational toy.
It has rough and tough use helping your child develop fine creativity and motor skills.
One of the complaints that parents usually have educational toys is after clean up. Once the playtime is over, these blocks can be placed back into the handy storage bag. It easily accommodates all the bits and pieces into it.
It is an ideal product for children aged between 1 and 5. The item weighs less than 1 pound. Furthermore, it has an overwhelmingly positive response from the customers out there.

Cons

However, when you make a tall structure using the blocks, it may fall easily due to less adhesiveness between the pieces.
Even though the blocks do stack properly, they do not snap tightly together which doesn’t make it as sturdy as expected

3. VTech Touch and Teach Word Book

If you want your child to be a linguist or you just want to improve his/her vocabulary from the very beginning, then this is the best thing you can purchase. This is an educational toy book that can be used by toddlers to get good command of their language from the very beginning of their life. There are 12 touch-sensitive pages enabling the children to learn over 150 words in a wide range of categories. The diverse linguistic experience can be amazing for your child, especially from an education perspective. Associating the words with sounds and pictures help in expanding the overall vocabulary of your child. It even comes with an instruction manual enabling you to use the toy in a more effective and efficient manner.

Pros

It is an effective educational toy that features different modes of play. It particularly includes letter fun, what’s that word, find it and music time.
The touch-sensitive pages are reactive to the touches of a toddler.
It responds with music, words and different kinds of sounds. Through interactive play, your child can not only learn new words but also fine motor skills.
It makes reading a much more interactive and lively experience. Reading is not any more boring for toddlers.
There are more than 100 unique sounds and over 20 distinct melodies.

Cons

Compared to other products, it is bit expensive.
Moreover, the batteries used for this product run out pretty much quickly. This is why you will have to replace them every few days.
The product itself is specifically designed for toddlers and children up to the age of 3. It may get redundant once your child gets older than that.

4. Parum Pum Pum (Drum)

This education toy is full of entertainment, joy and learning. Not only does it educate your child but also provide a wide range of opportunities to get first hand experience on music. It enables the user to experiment with different sounds and music. This set features different instruments for kids. It is a must purchase for all those parents who want their children to be future musicians. It encourages individuality and originality in terms of music.The item itself weighs around 3 pounds. The recommended age given by the manufacturer is between 2 years and 15 years. Therefore, it is not only for toddlers and small children but the young kids and enjoy this educational toy as well. Parum Pum Pum precisely features 1 set of centipede drumsticks, 1 tambourine, 1 Jingle Bell Ant, 1 Egg Shaker and 1 Drum with a lid.

Pros

The set is itself made of plastic material that exhibits utmost durability which is a perfect medium for children.
The drum has a large handle so that the child can carry on the instruments wherever he/she wants to.
It is an ideal educational toy to learn different and innovative musical patterns alongwith exclusive rhythm. With different sounds and items, there is a lot that the children can create on their own.

Cons

Even though this is an ideal toy for music lovers, one of the major downsides that you might come across in reviews is safety concerns. There are small pieces that can potentially pose a choking hazard for the kids.
Moreover, the straps can be a concern as well.

However, these concerns can be handled effectively if the toy is used with proper care, supervision and vigilance. In a nutshell, it is a worthy investment that will pay you back.

5. ECR4Kids Softzone Climb and Crawl Activity

This fun foam activity play set is for all those kids that are fond of adventure and thrill. It is particularly designed enabling your child to crawl, climb and slide all along a collection of foam shapes. These climbing toys are not only fun and enjoyable but also extremely safe and flexible. The foam structures are light in weight keeping the users cozy and as safe as possible. The foundational structure is highly balanced which keeps all the pieces stable during use. It comes with a 5 piece set which includes wedge, square, rectangle, half-moon and round shape structures.

Pros

The little blocks allow the child to develop amazing motor skills such as stacking and lifting.
Most importantly, these blocks are user friendly. There is a variety of combinations available which always keep the experience fresh.
Moreover, the toy requires no maintenance. The material is such that it is easily cleaned. You can simply wipe them with a wet cloth if they get dirty.
It is particularly designed for kids aged between 9 months and 3 years. As your child will climb up and down the structures, they will develop amazing coordination and motor skills. The foam pieces can be arranged in different ways for the little one to enjoy.

Cons

Even though this is one of the best educational toys for your child, there is some caution to be exercised on behalf of the parents. Adult supervision is required. If you want to avoid any potential accident, you need to ensure that supervise your child when he/she is climbing over.
There is a slight possibility of the toddler tumbling over and getting hurt.

Therefore, consider these drawbacks when purchasing the toy. However, if you have time to supervise the child, then this is a good option to go with.

6. Learning Resources Spike, Fine Motor Hedgehog

This Hedgehog is an ultimate imitation of a real one, however, the only difference is that the quills have been lost and your toddler is going to help with it. It is a great educational toy that primarily focuses on enhancing fine motor skills. It helps the kids to build their hand muscles while they are replacing the peg shaped quills. The colorful quills continue to teach by encouraging color identification, counting and sorting skills. The colors can be arranged by the users. Furthermore, you can also work on patterns and sequences by arranging the colors. It features a set of 14 which includes 12 colorful pegs and two hard plastic pieces of hedgehog

Pros

Once the time to play is over, it can be easily cleaned up making it an easy to clean toy. Each individual piece of this toy is made of plastic making it easier to wipe.
It even comes with a storage bag which easily accommodates all the pieces within it.
Most importantly, it comes at a relatively cheaper price of around $11.5 only.

Cons

There have been some negative reviews in relation to potential oral injuries. Parents have expressed concerned of the potential impalement in the mouth if the child falls. This is particularly the case for children below the age of 2 years.
Moreover, the packaging seems to be a bit smelly when you first open it.
Furthermore, some of the pieces of the toy stick together making it difficult to detach later.

Even though it is an ideal education toy if you are primarily focused on developing good motor skills, there are some drawbacks that you may want to consider.

Nevertheless, these cons can be addressed with good and consistent parental supervision.

7. 3 Bees and Me Bath Toys for Boys and Girls

If you are getting hands on bath toys alongwith a great educational toy, then why do you need to spend additional money on separate bath toys. This is perhaps one of the best education toy that you can get in the market. It comes with a vibrant play set featuring four boats that will float in the water. The boats are enclosed with magnets that then further attach to the next boat in line. It is essentially safe for kids up to the age of 3 years. It is perhaps an ideal gift for young kids. Given that this educational toy is made with immense durability, it tends to last longer than most of the toys out there in the market. These versatile toys are not only made for bath but can be used elsewhere as well. Since it is a lightweight toy, it is much user-friendly and convenient to use. It is in fact one of the best sellers in the toy industry. The customer reviews are evident of how amazing the toy is.

Pros

This is made with non-toxic materials making it completely safe to use.
It offers an enjoyable way to learn more about words and numbers.
It further enhances your imagination, innovation, creativity and fine motor skills.
The blocks further come with round and small designs which make it easier for the toddlers to grip it. It is entirely free of sharp edges making them fun to play with.
It apparently offers best value in bath toys. Given its amazing affordability, you can purchase more than one set to make it more interactive.

Cons

Despite of all the benefits of using this educational toy, there is a drawback that the user may take into account when purchasing this toy. It is not shipped all across the globe and comes with an additional delivery charge.
Moreover, some reviews have complained the product to be of bad packaging.

8. Sesame Street Elmo’s On the Go Letters

At the cost of only $16.99, this is one of the best educational toys that you will come across. It is an ideal gift for pre-schoolers who are keen to learn as many stuff as possible. Toddlers are always looking forward to exploring alphabets and numbers. You can snap the letters into the right place, or simply jumble them up to form different words. You will find an image of the word underneath each letter that begins with that letter. When you are done with the play time, you can simply wrap it up into the carrying case. . It only weighs 1.75 pounds. Manufacturer recommendation in relation to the age is between 24 months and 4 years.

Pros

This toy would enable your children to learn the alphabetical order in a much effective manner.
The customer reviews have been highly positive due to the high utility.
From enhancing your vocabulary skills to basic knowledge, it serves a wide range of purposes.
Most importantly, it combines education with ultimate fun.

Cons

There have been a wide range of sales over the past few years. However, some of the customers lately have received packages with some missing letters. Even though, this is just a minority of customers, you may want to confirm this from the retailer.
Some children may not entirely enjoy the toy as well since it is sometimes difficult to take the letters out and it becomes frustrating for the toddler. Otherwise, the quality of Sesame Street Elmo’s On the Go Letters has remained exceptional.

9. The Learning Journey: My First Match It – Head and Tails

A lot of toddlers are often fond of the wildlife and marine life. The animal world can be fascinating not only for the kids but adults as well. This is where you need an animal specific toy for your beloved child. The little learners can creatively explore the wildlife via a theme of puzzles. One of the most enjoyable ways to learn more about animals is to match each head with the corresponding tail. This set contains of 15 animal puzzle cards giving a comprehensive introduction to the animals. Even though this is an ideal puzzle game for kids aged between 2 and 5, the manufacturer even includes early teenagers in their recommended age. If you are learning for toys that just do not educate your child but also entertains them, then this is the right way to go for.

Pros

The colorful illustrations provide with an excellent opportunity for the child to learn more about the animal arena. The jigsaws are introduced in a simple yet creative way.
The puzzles are designed at just the right difficulty level for children aged 2-3.
It doesn’t only improve knowledge of your toddler but also helps them to improve focus.
Moreover, it even emphasizes on problem solving skills such as perseverance and creative thinking.
On completion of each puzzle, the child internally feels more confident than before, which further is an important aspect of life.

Cons

This is an amazing way to learn, however, the puzzle pieces are few. There 15 self correcting puzzles. Once your child is done with those 15 sets of puzzles, then the charm may go away.
The learning curve may halt once you are familiar entirely with the toy.

However, it is a good learning opportunity, especially for those children who have an intrinsic inclination towards animals.

10. VTech Drill & Learn Toolbox

This Toolbox is an ideal educational toy if you want your children to learn and play at the same time. It comprises of a friendly tool-box which includes working toy drill, wrench, screws, hammer and nails. It also features an electronic fix-tray. Once the light-up buttons on the tray are pressed, cheerful songs are triggered. This way the user is also introduced to variety of tools and they can be used. There are instruction cards as well that can be inserted in order to learn more and numbers and colors while pretending to be a repairer. A lot of things can be discovered by this fun and learning toolbox.

Pros

It has highly positive reviews due to the quality being offered. It even comes under the best sellers list. If you think that the child has a potential to be mechanically and technically competent, then this is one of the most effective toys you can go for.
. Weight of this item is around 1.8 pounds and is ideal for children aged between 2 years and 5 years.
It is a worth purchase if you want your child to get first-hand experience on how mechanical tools work. It incites more creativity, innovation and inventiveness.

Cons

Although the tool, in an overall sense, is ideal for learning new things, there are certain drawbacks that you may want to consider before purchasing it.
This tool operates on batteries and therefore, you will have to replace it with new ones every time it runs out. This may be an additional cost that you may want to avoid.
Moreover, there are some restrictions on international shipping of this toy as well.

Uses of educational toys

Above were some of the topmost educational toys that you can find in the market. These products have stood out amongst the rest due to it quality, functionality and the ability to teach your children new skills every day.

Although we have a wide variety available, some parents are not much into educational toys. This might be because there lack of awareness in relation to the benefits offered by such toys. Therefore, here are the top advantages listed of having an educational toy for your children:

Boost their IQ

Educational toys are particularly designed to enhance the IQ of toddlers. It is perhaps, as proven scientifically as well, one of the most effective ways to boost IQ. It does not only fosters the kid’s literacy but also improves hand-eye coordination, identification skills, memorization and fine motor skills. This is evident from the toys that are listed above. Moreover, and perhaps most importantly, these toys are immense fun and you can enjoy completely. Along with comprehensive learning and getting first hand experience on practical skills, the overall fun is not compromised at all. Therefore, you should focus on boosting your kid’s IQ through such toys.

Development on senses

This is one of the most undermined benefits of using educational toys. A lot of parents are not aware of the medical benefits of using educational in relation to how it develops the senses. Each toys is associated with a different sensory development. Out of all the senses, the most common ones developed are sight, touch and hearing. For instance, toys that produce different kinds of sound can be used in order to help with hearing ability. Therefore, if you are concerned about how effective your children are when it comes to using their senses, it is imperative to get educational toys.

Enhance problem-solving abilities

This is a no-brainer. One of the most important benefits of using an educational toy is that it helps in developing better problem solving abilities. These toys have the capacity to challenge the mental abilities of a child. For instance, jigsaw puzzles would encourage the user to think as much as possible. The more complex a jigsaw puzzle is, more attention and energy it requires from the child. Some mathematical toys would further encourage problem solving and critical thinking. These skills are not only beneficial during early stages of life but helps throughout.

Better creativity

It is an inherent characteristic of a child that it tends to be curious. Each and every child, irrespective of their gender, is that they are intrinsically curious. They are keen to understand what is going around and their surroundings. They explore things in a more eager manner. This entire experience of learning and exploration can be made better with educational toys. The experience of creative designing, imaginative play, exploration and experimentation can be made much better with such toys. Therefore, promote creativity, innovation and imagination through educational toys.

Better social and emotional development

Educational toys are not only and solely focused on skill development. In fact, they serve multiple purposes. One of them is to enhance social and emotional development as well. Most of the toys that you may come across would require the kids to interact with other people, especially kids. When your child is playing with other children, he/she will come across emotional and social cues such as laughter, anger and sorrow. This is an ideal way in which you can make them adapted to emotional situations and how to deal with them at such an age. Use of these toys also surrounds other skills such as leadership and patience.

Improve concentration

The concentration span of a child is very minimal. Children tend to get disinterested in things very soon. This is why you need to work on their concentration skills from the very scratch. Without having access to the right tools, this is a difficult task. They will perhaps fall behind in their academics and a wide range of other activities if they are not good at concentration. This is why educational toys can be utilized where you can not only increase their interest in learning but also at the same time focus on the essential concentration skills.

The bottom line

Educational toys have now become a must in your child’s life. There is a wide range of studies that supports the assertion that education is not only limited to academics but other activities as well, and, utilization of educational toys is one of them. Therefore, it is the duty of every parent to expose their children to such activities.

Above are some of the educational toys listed that you may want to purchase in order to avail the aforementioned advantages. However, this is not an exhaustive list. There are several other toys that you can get a view of, depending on your personal preferences, the natural inclination of the child and born likes and dislikes.