Best Toys for Two-Year-Olds (Under $20!)

With the holiday season fast approaching, I wanted to share a countdown of these awesome toys that have been keeping my two-year-old happily playing for months.  These are her favorite toys, and in making this list, I realized that they are all super affordable-- so great! 

5) Mr. Potato Head, or as my two-year-old lovingly calls him, "Mister Head."  She loves this guy. 

Something about being able to stick his nose where his ear should go, or give him two complete faces on opposite sides of his head, really appeals to her.  I have to admit, I like him, too.  Sometimes you just have to go with a classic!  And he's only $9.99!

 

4) Ice Cream Duplos!  I should add that my daughter loves Duplos in general, but these ice creams cones and popsicles are her favorite.

Duplos are easy for little hands to snap together, and these make her feel like she's having a treat (without any sugar consumption).  She loves making ice cream cones for everyone in the family, including the cats!

 

3) Button Art!  She got this for her second birthday, and it has remained a constant favorite ever since. 

Snapping these buttons into place is hugely satisfying for her, with the added bonus that she's practicing color recognition and matching every time she plays with this toy.  There are 10 different scenes to complete, and with practice, she's gotten really good at putting them together.  This is a toy that we keep on a shelf and use only with adult supervision, so the little pieces don't get lost.  She requests to play with this all the time.

 

2) Shapes and Sharing Picnic Basket.  This one has been an unexpected long-time favorite.

 

She actually received this for her first birthday, and it was an immediate hit.  At first, she just loved taking out all the pieces and making the picnic basket sing it's various songs.  Now she enjoys practicing her shapes with the food and plates, and having picnics with her stuffed animals and her baby sister.  I've really been surprised with how long this has held her interest.  She plays with it multiple times a day.

 

1) Play Doh Fun Factory!  Words cannot express my two-year-old's love for play dough. 



We usually use the tools in this "fun factory" with our own home-made play dough.  This is our go-to rainy day activity, and it can occupy my daughter for hours.  The cookie-cutter type shapes provide endless entertainment, and she loves making "snakes" with the extruder.  This is definitely not something I let her do by herself, but I must admit I enjoy playing with play dough quite a bit myself, so I don't mind supervising.

 

Have fun playing!!