Best birthday gifts for 2 year old boy?

[AlbertaWildRose]

DS is about to turn 2, and I'm trying to think what DH and I should get him. We'd like something nice, that won't fall apart in a month, and we don't have a garden, so anything like a sandpit is out. Does anyone have any brilliant ideas?

[Nbg]

Well my ds1 turns 2 in August and we're going to get him either a work bench or a little table with a road on for him to play with his cars.

What does he like?

[justkeepswimming]

my ds is 2 in a few weeks too and we are getting him mostly garden stuff so that doesn't help much but things he plays with a lot atm are:

kitchen (we got a second hand one off ebay for him for christmas and it's used all the time to make us tea!)
little tikes car (we have it inside cos of the weather anyway and he's in and out of it all day long)
cars generally - he got a road mat thing for christmas too and didn't use it then but is getting into it, along with a garage
tools, tools, tools, bob anything, i got some tools and a hard hat from a charity shop a few weeks ago after we had workmen round and then got him a lunchbox for a toolbox.

hth

[AlbertaWildRose]

He likes vehicles of any kind, particularly planes, taxis, and tractors. Some kind of a road thing is a good idea.

[AlbertaWildRose]

I would LOVE to be getting him garden stuff. We had a lovely flat with a great garden, but then our landlady decided to sell and we had to move. I'm still bitter about it!

[bogie]

DS is 2 and he loves his little tykes garage that we got him (from freecycle) more than most of his toys.

We took him to the farm for his 2nd birthday as he had so may toys and presants from other people we didn't want any more.

[Nbg]

The table I've seen has slightly raised edges so that cars, trains etc can't fall off the edges.
I've also thought about getting a box to fit underneath for all the car paraphenalia to go in.

My ds is also a bit of a Thomas The Tank fan but we have all that stuff from my dd.

[Pavlovthecat]

A garage. You know the ones, with the lift for the cars, little people to work in it, parking spaces, lights and gadgets. I think, you can get road extensions too.

Crawling tube - i dont know what they are called, but a tent with atube attached, can be used indoors, can be taken out anywhere easily. My DD loves her friends more than her friend does (she is 22 months).

| am sure could get a small wooden sandpit with chairs, for indoors, if you use a mat underneath? Does it have to be used outside? Like the ones at nursery? DD plays with one at her nursery and it is indoors - same for water play.

[AlbertaWildRose]

I know, we have so many toys as well, almost all second-hand from nearly-new sales (fabulous things!) but I do want to get him something nice for his birthday that will get played with a lot. These are all great ideas, thanks!

[bluebell1]

Ooh this thread is so helpful some good ideas its my ds2 birthday in two weeks.Nbg where is the table for the cars that you have seen as both my ds love cars its really only that and thomas the tank they bother with.

[TheodoresMummy]

Wooden train set.

DS is 4.5 and still loves his.

And you can add to it.

[magicfarawaytree]

another for the wooden train set. ds 5 still plays with his. get lots of track so they can make lots of different tracks. ds still prefers the push wooden trains to the battery ones. it is also really sturdy. the other good toy is the tuff and tiny track by megabloks the plastic track fits together in different ways and you can get different cars have a look at go on it

[BibiThree]

If he's into cars/trains etc, GLTC do a fab play mat with roads on that folds up into a toy basket to store the trains/cars etc. DD had one for her 2nd birthday and it's been a favourite ever since.

[FourPlusOne]

We started DSs Duplo collection on his 2nd birthday. Started with a couple of 'sets' from relatives (which we had to assemble for him at that point) - they do thomas the tank, bob the builder etc, police station etc etc. now he is nearly 4 he has expanded his collection and can build and make things himself.

The wooden train set is a good present too.

Like both of these toys as thay can be added to over time.

[AlbertaWildRose]

Wooden train set - that's definitely what we'll get him. He loves playing with the ones at playgroup. Thanks, everyone, for all the great suggestions!

[Iklboo]

Yes, DS loves his wooden train set & plays with it for HOURS. Asda do a 60 piece set for £12 at the minute. Great for a starter you can add to as it fits all the Brio stuff

[BirdyArms]

Was also going to say wooden train set. Get him a simple figure of 8 type one to begin with and you can add to it later. The first one we had was very cheap Toys r us own make but has been great. Tchibo do a fab one but it's more complicated but definitely worth snapping up for a later addition - I have just given it to ds1 (3) and if he wakes up eary he will play with it quietly for at least half an our which is fab.

[hockeypuck]

AlbertaWildRose - we got DS a wooden train set for his second birthday last week. He ADORES it, it's fab!

We got it from John Lewis - SO SO SO much cheaper than any of the other starter sets and comes with so much stuff. It's compatible with the Thomas and Friends sets, Brio etc, so it can grow with him for birthdays.

Only £20 with free delivery (took 3 days from order).

wooden train set

cannot recommend it highly enough. We were recommended it by another MNetter last month and it's FAB!!

[AlbertaWildRose]

Ooooh, hockeypuck, that's a fantastic train set. DS will love it. Thanks!

[BirdyArms]

Oh Alberta I know you're going to get the john lewis one but I really want you to get this one Ds1 has been able to build this himself from being 2.4 because the bridge is really chunky and easy to fit together. At 3 he still can't put together a bridge like the john lewis on his own and every time it gets knocked over I have to help him.

[SmugColditz]

Wooden train set.

I got a brand new one from ebay, £40 delivered, 130 pieces.

Both boys adore is (2 and 5)

[SmugColditz]

here I ended up paying 24 pounds for it with £15 delivery.

[AlbertaWildRose]

BirdyArms, thanks for the advice. I don't think we've firmly decided on which one to get yet, so I'll keep that one in mind!

[Nbg]

bluebell, this isn't the exact table but its the same kind of thing.
Its the same size and has the lip on it but not the printed road.
They dont have that one on their site but that particular shop is very near to us and thats where we get the toys from.

[bluebell1]

Thanks nbg that looks great.Sorry for the hijack Albertawildrose.xxx