Playing “let’s pretend” sets the stage for a rich imagination. It also helps your toddler make sense of things, express individuality and gain a sense of control. Check out our playtips and plenty of toys just right for this age.
She enjoys mimicking the actions of those she knows
He creates simple sentences and uses the words "I, me and you"
She can hop, jump and climb stairs one foot at a time
He understands what "inside," "under" and "on top" mean
She can recall what to do when given simple instructions
Role-play toys
Servin’ Surprises™ Kitchen & Table
Fun to Imagine!™ Grow-With-Me Workshop
Servin’ Surprises™ Tea Party Set
Help your child 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 his 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.
Roller skates
Barbie™ Grow With Me™ 1,2,3 InLine Skates™
Grow With Me™ 1,2,3 InLine Skates™
Barbie™ Grow With Me™ 1,2,3 Roller Skates™
Help your child learn more:
Safety first. Help your child put on appropriate safety gear; make it clear that it's part of the process before skating.
Set boundaries of acceptable places to skate. Make sure it’s free of obstacles or cracks your child could trip over.
Balancing act. Set adjustable skates on the beginner's setting. Just as you helped your child balance when he was learning to walk, hold on now. Little by little, let him find his balance—the key to learning to skate.
Moving on. Soon, she'll be able to move forward, transferring weight from one foot to the other. Get ready to change the skates to the next setting.
Family fun. If you have skates, put 'em on and head down the sidewalk with your child; if there's a roller rink in your area, check it out together some rainy afternoon—it adds a different dimension to skate along to music and lights.
Simple remote-control toys & vehicles
GeoTrax® Remote Control Set with Aero® & Eric™—The Fastest Team
GeoTrax® Remote Control Timbertown Railway™
GeoTrax® Remote Control Set with Rock & Pete—The Smoothest Team
Help your child learn more:
In the driver’s seat. Let your child be the conductor or driver, choosing where the train or car will go and what will happen. Offer hints, but don't direct the play too much or your child won't take ownership of it. Try things like, "Here's the cargo. Where should your train take it?"
Inspire new ways to play. Adding toy animals or figures can extend the play in fun ways.
All aboard! If your 2-year-old is fascinated with trains, get books and children's videos, watch for miniature train shows in your area, or visit a toy museum. Go see real trains or take a trip on one.
Keep it going. Consider setting up tracks in a place where you can leave it for a while. Your 2-year-old is more likely to think of playing with the toy if it's right there, ready to roll.
Battery-powered ride-ons
Power Wheels®: Disney•Pixar Cars 2 Lightning McQueen
Power Wheels® Disney Princess Tot Rod
Power Wheels® Ford Lil’ F-150
Help your child learn more:
How does it work? For your 2-year-old's first adventure on a battery-powered ride-on, take time to go through how it works: show him how to make it go forward, how to stop it, how to turn.
Safe space. Make sure where she drives is not only safe, but big enough for her to turn around until she can back up.
Where are we going? Your child will love to pretend to be going places in his car—to the store, to Grandma's house, to the zoo. Add props like a bag of groceries to put in the car. Or make traffic signs with your child’s help. Talk about what each one means and how a driver is supposed to respond when they encounter one.
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.
Copycat
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Your toddler is a great imitator—which is one of the ways he learns. Turn the tables on him and play a game of Copycat, where you do the imitating!
Materials
Your bodies
Instructions
Bring your toddler into the playroom and set him on the floor.
Sit down next to him, imitating his exact body position.
Every time your toddler moves or does something, do exactly what he does.
See if you can tell when he catches on to what you're doing!
Safety
Stop the game if your toddler gets into anything dangerous and deal with the problem before you continue. Don't tease your toddler or upset him with your imitating.
Never underestimate the value of play. That’s something I came to appreciate while training to become a child psychologist. Beyond being a lot of fun, playing provides so many benefits to children.
Among them:
It allows young children to communicate
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What to Look for in a Toy
Children love to be creative and use their imaginations.Toys provide an opportunity for them to do just that, and play an important role in enriching children's lives. By giving children opportunities to be creative, you help develop thei
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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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