Best Gifts for 2 - 3 Year Olds

The holiday gift guide below shares parent and kid-approved toys and books for 2 - 3 year olds. Give an educational or experiential toy or children’s book that promotes creativity, discovery and independent play. Every single present on this holiday gift guide has staying power, meaning kids will love it now as well as five years from now.

1. Sensory Table

Water and sensory tables keep kids engaged for hours at a time. Tables can be used inside or outside and filled with water, sand, dirt, stones, dried beans, water beads, pompoms, play dough, nature finds (leaves, pinecones, acorns, shells), and other sensory materials. The multi-functionality of this gift means it will never get old.

Sensory Table

2. Wooden Train Track

Everyone loves a classic train track set. The great thing about this gift is that even if the child already has one, any train set gift simply adds to their collection so they can build bigger and better train tracks. Unlike the extremely expensive Brio train sets, the Orbrium train sets are an inexpensive alternative to Brio and are 100% compatible and comparable in appearance and quality.

Inexpensive Wooden Train Track

3. Magnetic Tiles

Magnetic tiles are the new Lego. Picasso Tiles are an inexpensive alternative to the more well-known Magna Tiles. They are 100% compatible and comparable in appearance and quality. They are 1Like the train tracks, you can never have too many Magnetic Tiles.

Picasso Tiles

4. Jumbo Blocks

Jumbo cardboard blocks are more fun and kid-friendly than Legos for young kids. They can build towers, walls, forts and maybe best of all, balance beams and stepping stones for fun balance activities.

Jumbo Cardboard Blocks

5. Hand Puppets

Two and three year old boys and girls love playing make-believe. These hand puppets are the perfect toy to foster imagination and creativity.

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6. Cooking Gifts

Another great pretend play toy is a kitchen, along with endless accessories and add-ons like shopping carts, grocery store shelves and restaurant supplies for hours of cooking, shopping, and restaurant make-belive-play.

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7. Playdough Kits

Play dough kits are an excellent sensory activity to promote imagination, creativity and independent free play.

Playdough Kits

8. Silly Interactive Books

Two and three year old kids are developing their own sense of humor and love sharing silly jokes and giggles with parents and siblings. Young kids will love these laugh out loud funny children’s books:

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Lauren Martin’s Website is reader-supported. While I am not paid to promote specific products or brands, I do earn a small commission from Amazon when you click on affiliate links on my site and make a purchase. Therefore, every opinion and product recommendation on my site is completely unbiased, genuine and sincere, based on my personal experience and knowledge gained as a parent and educator.

This is the only holiday gift guide you need for age two and three year old boys and girls. Choose from any of the top toys and children’s books for 2 year olds and 3 year olds for fail-proof presents that bring joy to kids and parents on Christmas, birthdays or any holiday!