Appropriate toys for a 2 year old?

MyBrownEyedBoy wrote: Logan's second birthday is in a few short weeks. And I haven't even begun to shop yet. I have a few ideas what to get him, but I am really at a loss. I know I want his new toys to be at least a bit educational and not ones that need batteries and give me a headache. So, what I am leaning towards right now is a set of wooden blocks like these.



And maybe some beginner puzzles and of course more books. He also needs some cold weather clothes and he's too young to be disappointed opening clothes on his birthday. He'll still like the boxes and paper, I think.

So what do you all think? What did you get your kids for their 2nd birthdays? We won't be doing a party, I just don't think it makes sense to. JMO.

MyBrownEyedBoy replied: Oh yeah, Aaron has given me a $150 limit on spending. That block set is about $45. And I will probably do Old Navy for his clothes, more bang for the buck than other stores around here.

luvmykids replied: Those blocks look great! I can't remember what else we did at that age, but your ideas sound right on the money.

redplaydoh replied: Bryan got his first set of Lego Duplo blocks and LOVED them... but the wooden blocks are a wonderful idea too.

mckayleesmom replied: Maybe something Leap Frog.....I honestly don't remember what we got McKaylee......How about a sand box??

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: I think the blocks are great! I know Wil would love those! We went shopping for Wil's birthday over the weekend and bought him a wooden train set. Not Thomas, because OMG, Thomas is expensive...but a knock-off that the sales lady at Toys R Us said was just as good. It's by Imaginarium or some name like that. So DH went to Home Depot and bought a big piece of board and glued green felt over the top. Then he mounted all the pieces to the board so they don't move. We're hiding it in our closet...I can't wait until Wil sees it!! He loved the table train-set in the store, so I think this will be a hit. And this way the table doesn't take up the little room we have left in the house! The board will fit on any table! We may go back and get him a swingset too, but not sure since we may be moving soon.

Anyhow, Wil is still into boxes and paper too! So I say don't go over board...they will like anything really! And btw, we're not doing a party this year either. His bday happens to land on playgroup day, so we're just having our typical playpals over and I'm giving them cake.

PrairieMom replied: Ben has loved his blocks. I think it is a safe bet. Another hit around here is the wooden train set. YOu can get tracks that are compatable with Thomas trains and Brio trains.

We got our starter set at IKEA.

http://www.squirreltracks.com/trainsets/tr...=adwords#200403

kit_kats_mom replied: we got katherine a set of blocks similar to what you have. If you go to the PC homepage, there is a link somewhere of toys by age.

AlexsPajamaMama replied: Alex has a set of wooden blocks, they are the ones with letters and numbers on them, he loves them!!

Here are two other things that we have that Alex loves
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4183359

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=3989296

kit_kats_mom replied: oh! I'd also highly reccomend the aquadoodle. We have the small one that lives in my purse for when we are stuck waiting somewhere, and the big one. The girls love it and it's non messy art. Win Win.

AlexsPajamaMama replied: Another non messy art idea is the Color Wonder Markers, they only work on special paper...Alex has just as much fun with them as regular markers or crayons

kimberley replied: jade is totally into those wooden blocks and has been for some time. definitely a good investment imo.

amymom replied: The blocks are a great investment. We have a set I got for my dd when she was around 2 an my son who was 8 at the time played with them. My dd still plays with them and she is almost 10 now. They will last forever.

The train set idea is great too!

luvmykids replied: I forgot too, when Macie was that age I bought her a little musical kit, it had a little drum, shaker things, one of those clacker things, etc and she loved it. Also she was into the sorting/stacking types of things, not the babyish ones but Parenting has one that is a house with shapes that go in the windows, etc and also has doors all over with all different kinds of locks/latches to undo and do over. That got A LOT of use.

And Colt had a barn and animal play set where if you put the right animal in the right place it made that animals sound. Plus it had a little tractor, etc. That was a big hit too.

eta-I think thats also when they got a sit-n-spin which they LOVED too.

Brias3 replied: For Mason's last birthday, he got books, one of the Little Tykes cars, a few games I believe (Lucky Ducks being one of them) and some floor puzzles. In his early 2's, he was really starting to get more into art projects and some train-related things (he's still a huge Thomas fan).

my2monkeyboys replied: I'd do the blocks and maybe a sit-and-spin. They aren't very expensive, esp the old-timey ones that don't play music. One would help his creativity and the other would give him a little exercise too. I do love the blocks though! I wish I'd had them when Will was younger!

sunrosejenn replied: $25.99 plus shipping - 200 pieces
http://item.express.ebay.com/Toys-Hobbies_...cmdZExpressItem


$17.95 plus shipping ~ 100 pieces
http://item.express.ebay.com/Toys-Hobbies_...cmdZExpressItem

kit_kats_mom replied: This is one of my favorite web toy stores.
http://www.backtobasicstoys.com/

MyBrownEyedBoy replied:
That's flippin' awesome. Way better price and more to boot. And I like the colored ones. The ones we had when I was little were colored.

sunrosejenn replied: I'm a bargain shopper with everything. Glad I could find a bargain for you!

7thHeaven replied: I think the blocks and the Legos are a great idea! Sam is 19 months and loves wooden blocks and the really big legos. Her Legos came with this little wagon and she loves her wagon more than the Legos it seems! She also likes wooden puzzles, we buy them at Big Lots & I even think the dollar store has them!