Ideas for a 2 Year Old Boy Birthday

My little guys love books, books on CD, learning videos with animals. Maybe they could give you gift certificates to visits to the zoo, chuck e cheese, a play dome, etc. He might like bubble toys, slip N slide, sprinkler toys, bath toys, etc. Those type of items tend to wear out quickly, so you don't have to worry about tons of toys piling up long term.

We are always asking for cloth diapers and money for the kids' 529 college plan. My family is big on education is is happy to contribute, my in-laws prefer to give us more clothes we don't need :(
Do you have a wagon yet? My son loves his!

When my son was 2 we bought him a plastic, Fischer Price tool set and a plastic tool box (which was actually a fishing-tackle box) to carry them in. He absolutely loved those things. He'd 'work' on things throughout the day. Then, he'd gather them all up and put them back in his 'tool box'. It was cute!

Books clothes or Videos would be my suggestion. Or what about starting a college fund or adding to a current one. It's never too soon to start.

Hi B.,
I understand your dilemma...we have the same one every birthday and Christmas! Thomas trains have always been big hits for us,and while we have plenty of track to go around come the next generation, I'd like each child to have some of their own trains to hand down as well. The other big hit with my children has been consumable art supplies. WASHABLE of course! :) Fingerpaints, paints, paintbrushes and paper.
The latest big hit in our house is the Aquadoodle mat. It is a mat about 3'x3' and comes with pens you refill with water (no mess!) and the children draw and write on the mat with the water pens. Then the mat dries and they have a whole new "canvas" to create their art on. Downside is no papers to hang on the fridge. It is great to carry to relative's houses as well. However, buy extra pens as the child always wants someone to draw with him/her. Hope you find some good suggestions that will be a hit!

B.,
I know what you mean. My son is turning 3 and we feel like we are in the same boat. I can tell you that if you are looking for some unique ideas that you won't find in the big box stores you can visit www.iambabycrazy.com/adecker.

We specialize in unique, quality and educational items for children from birth through age 5. We have various products that help develop motor skills and cognitive thinking, we also carry a full line of eductional items from Brainy Baby. We even have a few frog toss games that my son and the neighborhood kids love (leaping frogs and floating bean bag toss game) and we have a section dedicated to birthday parties. Good luck and I am sure he will get some great gifts, whatever they are.

I can tell you what we are going to do for our little boy for his 2nd birthday... my mom (his grandma) bought him a train table for his 1st birthday (yes, a little early). The reason was so that for each birthday the family members could buy 1 train car to go to his set. By the time he is 3-4 he should be in good shape to play with a decent sized set. We made this decision because the cars are fairly inexpensive and then it ends the exorbinate gifts from overshadowing the less so. We also started him a library of children's books. Either choice is very inexpensive for family.

What about some age appropriate computer software? My youngest son has tons of toys, too, passed from his big brother. So he gets pc games! I started all of my babies on the pc as soon as they could sit up. Fisher Price has an awesome site for beginners.
Sometimes we borrow software from the library to try before we buy.
Good luck, and have fun!

This was the age we introduced "Thomas the Tank Engine" to my son and he is just getting out of it at age 6. There's the car aspect plus the tracks are like a puzzle so it really is educational. There's a TV show and videos, music, and books that go along with it too. Even an interactive website when he gets a little older. Lots of boys get into this so it's just a suggestion. Good luck.

My son is 2 years old and already has everything under the sun as well, thanks to very generous and over-giving family members!! But, one thing he never tires of is art projects/crafts. He loves to finger pain, paint with a paint brush, color with crayons or sidewalk chalk... Anything that gives him a chance to express himself, get messy, and get loving praises from us and he's happy!! I know it often requires our full attention, but it makes him so very happy to do it. Also, we asked that people give the Indy Zoo or Children's Museum memberships instead of toys. Of course they gave toys, too, but not as many or as large! :) Have fun and enjoy your sons' birthday!!

B.

I was in the same situation you are when my son turned 2 a year ago, we got him a leapster with a few of the pre school/ Pre Kindergarten games. He loved it and got very good at the games in no time and before we knew it we were buying him all Kindergarten games. It also has a feature that if no game is in it will let them design pictures and color. Tjis took a little longer for my son to understand but he is 3 and a half now and still plays with it for about 30 to 45 minutes a day. Great investment for the car ride, grocery store, shopping, It keeps him content in situations where otherwise he would be iching to move.

Hi B.,
Remember, he's just going to turn 2, so he will not know to count how many gifts he receives, nor will he know which is the better one and now the favorite relative, etc., etc.... so, here's your opportunity to begin something that relatives and you, too can do: Begin a savings account--if you haven't already. I think that a little gift is fine--or a cumulative gift from several family members if you'd like something that's bigger or more expensive--there's nothing great about having a ton of toys that will be "exciting" just upon opening--and maybe for a little while longer--and then they will just sit around and collect dust. You'll wind up passing them down anyway or selling them. Keep it simple; he's a two-year old. I think the appliance box is the best idea so far! He will LOVE it. I have seen it first-hand how kiddos will utilize their creativity with those things...and all the better if you can get one without an appliance purchase. So, there's nothing wrong with getting some gifts for him to unwrap, but I certainly wouldn't go overboard. He is not going to have the wearwithall to stand too many attention-demanding devices--he is just turning two. Right now, it's his imagination you want to develop, and his bank account, too, while the time may be right or possible. He'll really thank you for his 16th birthday when he can purchase a car with that money......... good luck. And don't beat yourself up if you choose to go the simple route. Simple is often the best. You'll see. :)

HI there,

My dd turned 2 in July.
Some of her favorite toys -

Playdough sets with things to build stuff with the playdough.
Karoake machine - but still to hard to figure it out
Bubble machine
wood puzzles
Finger paint

Hope this helps some!

Most kids these days have too too too many toys. Ask for clothes, shoes, gift cards, money for college savings. At age 2 he is not going to remember his birthday when he is older and he will love opening envelopes as well as gifts.

Gifts are over rated.... if you make a big deal with lots of gifts every eyar what is there to look forward to. One or two nice things and a party with people who ove you priceless. We have a tradition of family dinner with all the relatives with very few gifts and lots of games and love... the kids look forward to the dinners more then the presents.

I am a mother of 4 and facing the same thing as my daughter will be 2 on the 18th of August. We have little space for all the toys that 4 kids seem to acquire. I actually am on the look out for a "fake" fish tank as my daughter was over at someones house and seen it and I think it might help her at night to doze off on her own.

Other than that - ride on toys are great too. There are many people in our lives that want to buy our children something and you need ideas to help them out. Although I recently read that someone mentioned getting "buying" them lessons (like swim, karate etc.) so that they get to enjoy the gift a little longer.

Best wishes!!

Mother of 4 - Boys ages 7,5, 7 mo. and daughter almost 2.

If you're asking for gift ideas...DONT forget BOOKS!!! They need to learn to sit and focus. Some books on colors, numbers, BASIC/simple seek & find, texture books, board books of all kinds.

Manipulative games/stations that require a bit of thought process i.e. the triangle goes in the triangle hole, etc. Stimulate the MIND too.

We bought a battery operated "station" that had letters, phonics, simple words, etc. Start w/ the basic...letter recognition. When you press a certain letter, it will tell you what letter it is. Or...when they ask for the letter "A", you press it and it will say something like, "Good job", etc. Then, as they grow, they'll start to use the phonics, etc. There is a place for them to also learn to WRITE the letter. This is one of those "toys" that you'll use for the next 2-4 YEARS. Several modes to choose from for "play" depending on their age and stage of learning.

An appliance box. Seriously. Go to an appliance store, best buy or circuit city (call before you go) and it's free! Take advantange of the fact that he's still two. And books are also always excellent.

Books, Puzzles, Crayons and coloring books, blocks, Big Legos, play tents, ball pits, learning activities, interactive play things such as: house hold (play vaccum, play broom, kitchenette (yes boys do play with these too and nothing wrong with it either), gardening tools (play), sandbox toys, etc...the make believe stuff teaches how to interact with other children..to be a daddy/mommy, to take care of babies, to make believe to cook, help clean (do chores)...to learn how to garden..biology...etc...all this gets his mind working and teaches a lot of good habits. some dads are so against their boys playing with girly things..but to be honest its very healthy and good for them, just as much as it is very healthy for little girls to learn how and what boys play with. you can check out playskool.com, parenting.com, pbs.org, nickjr.com..etc... good luck

My son turned 2 on April 1 and he has really started liking to draw. This could be a good time to get him more "sit down" kind of toys.

A place to go to get really good ideas for his age is the Lakeshore store. It is www.lakeshore.com I think. It is the store alot of preschools use to stock their classrooms. The categories are broken down into groups that are developmentally appropriate for the right age so it isn't so much a shot in the dark.

I got some fabulous ideas there for Christmas. It's pretty reasonable, too.

A DVD
A day out with just you/ just daddy/ the two of you
Clothing with a favorite character/ sports team, etc
Books on CD
A magnadoodle

My son turns 2 in August and we got him a sand and water table. My mother got him a train table. He is obsessed with sand and water and trains so they are perfect for him. Some new books might work. Also, does he have a tool kit? Puzzles, play-Do and other artistic outlest are good as well. Hope this helps!

It may be time to open a bank account or start buying savings bonds for him. Something that will be invaluable in the future. Maybe look into putting the money that would spent on toys into a 529 for his future. Just a suggestion.

My son turns 2 next week and I was racking my brain for gift suggestions too...here's ideas I gave our family:

wagon, sand box, water table, kiddy pool, large building (lego) blocks, puzzles, tool set, little cleaning supplies (my son loves to sweep with mommy), stride rite gift card, sign language DVD's

We have a lot of hand me down toys too but those are the best! You don't have to feel guilty passing them along, just keep up with taking out things that they are too old for or have lost interest in!!

Take him out on a special 'trip' with just mom and dad. With an older sibling, he probably ends up doing what she likes to do a lot of the time, so do something just with him. And if you work full time, it's probably hard to find one on one time with your kids (I had two of my own when I worked full time and I remember how hard it was!) Print out a couple pictures of activities or people doing activities (people in a waterpark, or riding a pony, etc...) and let him point or say which picture he'd like to do. Then get a sitter for your daughter and take him! Make a big deal, bring balloons, take tons of pictures.

I bet he won't enjoy any material gift as much as this special time with mom and dad.