Two-year-olds are full of energy, enthusiasm, exploration—and growing independence. With so many new skills, your child can’t wait to use them! Check out our terrific toys for twos, plus playtime ideas for fun crafts and activities to help your toddler discover the joys of accomplishing new things.
He knows the difference between safe and dangerous
She's becoming more social with other kids
Good eye-hand coordination means he can build with blocks and tuck a stuffed animal into bed
Role-play toys
Laugh & Learn™
Learning Phone™
Help your baby learn more:
Take part in pretending."Mommy needs a checkup. Will you take Mommy's temperature?" Encourage your child to imagine different possibilities and you'll be amazed how quickly she picks up on the idea and takes the lead!
Ask questions to encourage more input from your child. "Whose clothes are you washing today?" "What are you baking in your oven?" "When will it be ready to eat?" Open-ended questions help build language and thinking skills to move from imitating to imagining.
Encourage good manners during pretend play. If he's at a make-believe restaurant, show your 2-year-old how to put a napkin on her lap, and remind him to say "please" and "thank you" as food is served. If he's pretending to take a train ride, talk about how important it is to be courteous to other passengers.
Creative activities
Kid-Tough™ Doodler Clip-on
Help your child learn more:
Take-along. If the toy is portable, bring it with you any time your child may have a wait in store or on long car rides to help pass the time.
Follow Directions. Make sure your child understands how to use the toy and its accessories. Read the directions and test it out together until your child is comfortable using it on her own.
Scene starters.Offer your child a "scene starter" for artwork: "Can you draw a picture of Grandma?" "If you were to invent a robot, what would it look like?"
A colorful world.Use your child's interest in art as an opportunity to talk about different colors. Find examples of complimentary and clashing colors. Use paints to show how two different colors mixed together produce a new color.
Tour an art gallery or museum with your child. Let her critique the work, telling you what she likes best about it. See if the museum offers any kid-friendly activities.
Sports toys
Barbie™ Grow With Me™ 1,2,3 Roller Skates™
Grow With Me™ 1,2,3 Roller Skates™
Help your child learn more:
Make adjustments. Whatever sport your child is trying out, make sure it’s at the right level. If you're using an adjustable basketball hoop, for example, put the backboard at its lowest setting for a 2-year-old. An adjustment feature on a sports toy lets you challenge your child as she grows and skills develop.
Great job! Praise specific actions to make your support more useful. Instead of saying, "Wow! You're a great player!" be precise. "You're really getting the hang of throwing that ball just hard enough to get to the hoop."
Put it in words. Paint the picture of your child's success: "Take your time and think about putting the soccer ball in the net." Make your words as descriptive as you can: "You kicked the ball right into the net. Your aim was great, and it went right in. Good for you!"
My turn … Help your 2-year-old learn about taking turns by introducing the concept of team play. "It's your turn to throw the ball … Now it's my turn to try."
Children develop at their own pace and reach milestones at different times. The highlights mentioned in this website are approximate guidelines only. If you have any questions about your child's development, consult your healthcare provider.
Dance 'til You Drop
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Most toddlers love to express themselves through music and dance. Provide your toddler with an opportunity for creative body expression, with a fun twist.
Materials
Variety of music, such as rumba, waltz, polka, rock and roll, square dance, and so on
Cassette player
Large area for dancing
Instructions
Tape-record a few minutes of each type of music, allowing enough time to enjoy the tune and do a little dance. Tape one song right after another, so the music plays continuously.
Turn on the music and stand in the middle of the room.
When the first song comes on, dance to the music, and encourage your toddler to dance with you.
When the music changes, change your dance to match, and encourage your toddler to change with you.
Dance until you drop.
Safety
Be sure the room is cleared so you don’t crash into anything while you’re dancing! Take breaks if you get tired.
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It allows young children to
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Tips to Promote Imaginative Play
Provide a collection of dress-up props for role-play.
Look at the clouds and take turns imagining what they resemble.
Plant seeds for imaginative thinking by reading lots of books together.
Provide toys that
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