17 of the Most Age-Appropriate Gifts for 2 Year Old Girls

My little girl is almost 2! She acts 12 sometimes but she is really just 1 and I can hardly believe it. I know I want to give her a gift that is practical for her at her age. I want to give her something that will be suitable for her now but also that will be useful for her in the next year. I looked into the best gifts for a 2 year old girl.

There were so many options of gifts for girls in general but when you are considering what to buy a 2 year old for her birthday, I found that it was not as easy as I had expected.

That is the thing about developmental differences in children, I think. A gift marked as age-appropriate for a 2 year old may not be right for your 2 year old just yet. It could also be that the best educational toys for 2-3 year olds are not the best educational toys for your particular 2 year old as they’ve far advanced on from that typical level of development already.

The key milestones and characteristics of 2-year-old girls

When you’re looking for the best gifts for 2 year old girls, it’s important to think of what is going on in their life right now both mentally and physically. These will vary from child to child however, here are the main things you may observe:

1. Language development
   • Rapidly expanding vocabulary
   • Understanding and using simple sentences
   • Engaging in basic conversations and asking questions
   • Enjoying listening to stories and songs
2. Motor skills
   • Developing gross motor skills (walking, running, climbing)
   • Improving fine motor skills (stacking blocks, scribbling with crayons, self-feeding)
3. Independence
   • Insisting on doing things independently (dressing, feeding, exploring)
   • Demonstrating a sense of autonomy and self-reliance
4. Social and emotional development
   • Showing awareness of others’ feelings
   • Engaging in simple pretend play with dolls or stuffed animals
   • Imitating adult behavior
   • Expressing a range of emotions (happiness, anger, sadness)
5. Cognitive development
   • Understanding simple instructions and concepts
   • Recognizing familiar objects and people
   • Sorting objects by shape or color
   • Displaying curiosity about the world
6. Social interaction
   • Showing interest in playing alongside other children
   • Developing basic social skills (sharing, taking turns)
   • Forming preferences for certain playmates
7. Emotional expressions
   • Expressing emotions through gestures, facial expressions, and limited verbal communication
   • Experiencing moments of frustration, tantrums, or separation anxiety

Now before we go into this list of best gifts, let’s consider something that is of the utmost importance when it comes to anything to do with kids: safety.

Safety considerations

1. Age appropriateness. Ensure that the gift is specifically designed for children aged 2 and up. Check the recommended age range provided by the manufacturer to ensure it aligns with the child’s developmental stage.
2. Small parts: Avoid toys with small parts that can pose a choking hazard. 2-year-olds tend to explore objects with their mouths, so choose toys without detachable parts that could be easily swallowed.
3. Non-toxic materials. Opt for toys made from non-toxic materials, as young children often put toys in their mouths. Look for products labeled as BPA-free and meeting safety standards to ensure they are free from harmful chemicals.
4. Sturdy construction. Choose toys that are well-made and durable, as 2-year-olds can be rough with their play. Avoid toys with sharp edges or easily breakable components that could cause injuries.
5. Secure batteries. When picking gifts for 2 year old girls, if they include batteries, ensure they are securely enclosed and inaccessible to the child. Loose batteries can be dangerous if swallowed.
6. Cord length and strangulation hazards. For toys with cords or strings, make sure they are not too long to avoid accidental strangulation. Ensure that cords are properly secured or kept out of the child’s reach.
7. Age-appropriate art supplies. If giving art supplies, ensure they are suitable for young children and labeled as non-toxic. Avoid materials like small beads or sharp objects that could pose a choking or injury risk.
8. Supervision and instructions. Always supervise playtime with toys and follow any usage instructions provided by the manufacturer. Some toys may require adult assembly or supervision to ensure safe play.
9. Product recalls. Check for any recalls or safety alerts related to the toy or brand you’re considering. Visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website or other reliable sources for up-to-date information on product recalls.

Disclaimer: At no additional cost to you, I may get a small commission for purchases made through links within this page.

1. Magnetic Fishing Game

This is one of those gifts for 2 year old girls that combines honing a few different skills from hand-eye coordination to fine motor skills. While targeting fish to pick up, they also get to go through their alphabets and numbers.

2. Lacing toys for toddlers

In the same way as for the magnetic fishing board above, this lacing toy encourages hand-eye coordination improvement and enhances your child’s fine motor skills. It helps to sturdy their hands which is important for when they start to write.

3. Stacking Peg Board Set

Wooden stacking peg boards are safe enough for a gift for a 2 year old. Many people recognize it as a toy mostly used in montessori settings. It’s one of the best educational toys for 2-3 year olds because it has a wide range of possible uses that your toddler can discover all on her own if you leave her to it!

She can stack, make patterns with them or lace them in the same way as she would the lacing toy above. See this post for 12 different ways to use a stacking peg board set.

4. Magnetic Drawing Board for toddlers

Give your toddler a creative outlet with this board. They can go wild with it, drawing shapes, writing letters and numbers. This magnetic drawing board for toddlers is an innovative way to get your toddler used to using a writing instrument.

5. Melissa & Doug Zoo Animals Sound Puzzle

This is a fun twist to a traditional animals puzzle gift for 2 year old girls. Your toddler gets to enjoy hearing the animal sounds.

6. Little Tikes 2 in 1 Food Truck

This Little Tikes toy food truck is a fun toy for your 2 year old either on her own or with friends and siblings. It’s great for most rooms in the house as it does not take up too much indoor space.

7. Water doodle mat

Here we have yet another mess-free way for your toddler to practice her writing. My daughter has had the Aquadoodle mat since she turned 1. It was a gift from her cousins and probably the one thing she genuinely enjoys using everyday.

Over the last year, she’s gone from scribbling to identifying the numbers and alphabets on the edges of the mat to writing her numbers fairly clearly. All without any damage to the walls! She’ll absolutely be getting far more use out of it this year. It’s such a good gift idea.

8. Children’s Costume with tutu

If you’ve got a girly girl, she’ll love this. Allow her imagination to run wild with any variation of costume. Bonus points if it’s a princess or fairy one that comes with a tutu! 2 year old girls love their toddler princess dress up or role play time. Princess gifts for 2 year olds are always a hit.

This kind of imaginative play is healthy for little girls but also fun for you to watch as a parent as it really shows their personalities.

You may also like: Preparing for your baby’s cake smash photoshoot

9. Radio Flyer Scoot to Scooter

This is good because your toddler gets to use it for a couple of years. More even, depending on their height.

10. Wooden Xylophone

You’ll find brightly colored wooden xylophones in many brands on Amazon. This xylophone for beginners is a fun way to introduce to your toddler to music-making. It’s colourful and bright but is also excellent for hand-eye coordination.

11. Cord Free Dyson Toy Vacuum Cleaner

Your almost-2 year old no doubt loves vacuum time and may even try to do the work for you. Get her this to help her feel more involved in household activities and increase her sense of independence. This toy vacuum cleaner is realistic and even has strong enough suction to vacuum up pieces of paper.

12. Mega Blocks

How do building blocks help a child’s development? Mega Blocks as a gift for your 2-year old girl will help with both her spatial and motor skills.

13. Electronic Piano with Microphone

This is yet another fun musical adventure gift for your little 2 year old girl. I feel like gifts for 2 year old girls, particularly on their birthdays, should be first of all fun. This will keep her busy for a long time. It’s the best piano for beginners as your toddler can learn the basics and play things back to listen to.

14. Indoor hover ball with LED lights

This hover ball on Amazon is battery operated with flashing lights. It’s ideal for indoor use because it has soft bumpers to protect your furniture.

15. Tricycle

Tricycles are a safe way to encourage your toddler’s independence. They make a great and age-appropriate gift for a 2 year girl because a tricycle for a toddler helps with coordination until they learn to balance a bike.

16. Leapfrog Scrub N Play Smart Sink

Leapfrog toys for toddlers are always cool. This smart sink makes an ideal gift for a 2 year old girl because she’ll be practicing handwashing (always necessary). She’ll also be learning to stack dishes and learning her colours as it’s a very bright and colourful toy.

17. Princess Play Foldable Tent

Please note that the balls usually need to be purchased separately.

This is one of the best indoor play tents for toddlers. It’s very convenient because it’s foldable and easy to put away. This means that it does not have to become another one of those toys that clutter up your home. At the same time, it becomes a perfect little haven for your 2 year old to have some alone time.

So these are some of the options I’m working with! These are some of the best and most age-appropriate gifts and toys for 2-year old girls.

If you purchase any of these for your 2 year old girl, let me know in the comments how she liked it.