Christmas Presents for Two-Year-Olds
Educational Toy Recommendations for Giving Gifts to Young Children
Nov 5, 2008
When buying presents for two-year-old children, gift givers will do well to choose “back to basics” toys. “Education” for young children means providing activities for children to grow not only in brain development, but in physical and social-emotional development as well.
Two-year-olds are working hard to develop muscular control, master language skills and learn cause and effect thinking. The best educational toys for two-year-olds are ones that help children practice coordination and problem solving and toys that promote pretend play and peak curiosity.
Play Balls
Balls of different sizes and textures offer little hands the opportunity to grip, hold and roll. Although two-year-olds are not ready for throwing and catching activities, they enjoy rolling balls on the floor or down low ramps. Playing with balls helps develop eye hand coordination, hand strength and balance.
Even though young children aren’t aware of it, their brains are subconsciously learning about gravity, force and inertia as they roll, drop and push balls. Age appropriate balls make great Christmas presents for two-year-olds. Gertie Balls claim to be the “most catchable balls in the world” and are available in several patterns and textures.
Toy Purses, Wallets and Keys
Acting like their parents, grandparents and caregivers is a favorite activity of two-year-olds. Age appropriate toys that mimic familiar items used by adults make wonderful Christmas presents for the two-year-old crowd. Many manufacturers make safe toys that resemble adult versions of car keys with remotes, fashion purses and wallets. Two year olds are in a developmental stage that urges them to fill and empty containers. Children around the age of two love to fill toy purses and dump out the items over and over again.
Board Books
Board books are books made of extremely durable pressed cardboard, which makes these types of books hard to destroy. Because very young children like to mouth books, carry books and dump books in buckets, board books are an ideal choice for two-year-olds. Handling board books helps two year olds become familiar with books in general and with the repetitive theme of the same story and pictures in the same book. Board books are sturdy and make great Christmas presents for two-year-olds.
Blocks
Two-year-olds typically begin block play by filling buckets with blocks, carrying blocks in containers and dumping blocks out of containers. Older two-year-olds and three-year-olds begin placing blocks in a line on the floor, then progress to building simple one column towers.
A nice set of wooden blocks will last for years and young children will advance in their block play throughout the preschool years. Blocks teach children about basic math and science concepts such as gravity, weight, geometrical lines and structures. A set of blocks is an educational toy that will be used for a long time.
Striking and Hammering Toys
Young children enjoy banging objects against each other. Although the noise is annoying to adults, hammering and striking activities are important for the healthy development of two-year-olds. When children strike a xylophone, tap a drum or pound plastic nails with a toy hammer, children are practicing eye hand coordination and learning the basics of rhythm, sounds and pitch. Many workbench toys for young children include some type of hammering toy. Many musical instrument toys, such as tambourines and cymbals involve striking and are ideal presents for two-year-olds.
Ride-On Toys
A ride-on toy is a Christmas present that will be used over and over again. As well as strengthening muscles and developing coordination skills, physical activity develops a young child’s brain pathways. Most two-year-olds haven’t developed the coordination skills to pedal a tricycle or ride on a standing type scooter. Ride-on scooters that allow children to sit and push off with little feet are recommended toys for two year olds. As small children scoot around on ride on toys, they develop leg strength and agility.
Christmas shoppers can simplify gift giving to two-year-olds and purchase toys that are educational by choosing traditional, no frills gifts. Basic toys such as balls, blocks, board books, drums and scooters best support healthy two-year-old development. Whenever shopping for presents for two-year-olds, check toy labels to make sure the toy is recommended for children under three, as toys with small parts are a choking hazard to young children.
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