If you have a typically male 2-year-old...

[ApplesTheHare]

What do they enjoy? I say 'typically male' because I couldn't think of another way to put it, but we struggle to get him to interact beyond throwing, hitting and running away... He doesn't speak yet but understands most of what we say. We try and make a game of it all, and positively reinforce good behaviour, but it's hard when all he enjoys seems to be bad behaviour...

[BathtimeFunkster]

He's 2.

The end.

[ApplySomePressure]

My two year old DS sounds similar op!
He's really into duplo at the moment, especially the number train and a car racing set. Can keep him amused for a while- which is a miracle!
He's also a bit obsessed with helicopters, rockets and police cars.

[ApplesTheHare]

Er, thanks Bathtime but that's not really too helpful. I'm just trying to find new things he'll enjoy. Is that so bad?

[ApplySomePressure]

The throwing thing is a stage. I tend to ignore and then take away the thrown item saying "we treat our toys with gentle hands". I read on here that saying "don't throw" just emphasises the word throw, making them want to do it more!

[ApplesTheHare]

Thanks Apply Duplo is a good idea actually as he's really into cars. In fact all vehicles. One thing he really enjoys is sitting by the road and watching cars. He gets so excited!

[SurlyCue]

Why on earth are "throwing, hitting and running away" 'typically male'?

Theyre phases most toddlers go through!

[BikeRunSki]

Swimming
Balance bike
Trampoline
Brio
Fire engines


DS is 6 now, but this is what he loved at 2. Has graduated onto a proper bike, but still loves swimming and fire engines!

[TheAuthoress]

when mine was 2 he liked duplo and was starting to get into simple jigsaws. it's so difficult at that age to keep their attention for long. dd is almost 2 and she's very destructive, would spend hours destroying everything in my handbag but about two seconds on playing with a toy

[Trapper]

Throwing, hitting and running away are typically male traits?

[blacktreaclecat]

Fireman Sam
Trains
Dinosaurs
Imaginary play (as long as he's a fireman, tractor or train driver or Andy from Cebeebies!)

[ApplySomePressure]

DS goes all high pitched when he sees a police car whilst we are driving- makes me jump every time!

There's also a duplo set with a slide, two children , beds and lots of opening windows and doors- DS adores sending the little people down the slides, putting them to bed and then hiding them behind the windows. I really thought he'd be too "boisterous" for it and end up throwing it but I was pleasantly surprised!

[FuckYouChrisAndThatHorse]

My typically female nearly two year old gets told "no" firmly, and then I stop engaging with her for as long as it takes her to stop. I usually grab one of her toys, start playing with it, completely ignoring her, and then when she comes to play give her a big smile and play with her.

That way the bad behaviour gets a reaction of no attention beyond saying no, and the good behaviour gets lots of attention.

It has nothing to do with having a penis though

[FuckYouChrisAndThatHorse]

I obviously don't mean "typically female", there's no difference between the sexes at that age, just between personalities.

[CalpolOnToast]

Scooter!

Teach him the names of cars, I think Mini was about my DS's fifth word and Audi his 10th.

Go to air shows, agricultural equipment shows etc etc.

With toy cars, duplo, playmobil etc try laying it out nicely and letting him get on with it, DS gets a bit frustrated if I try to direct him and he can't talk that well yet to tell me what he wants so it's best to just facilitate things or it'll be whistling past my ear! (I tell him nicely but firmly then confiscate the next time)

Richly illustrated books, Julia Donaldson etc, DS is loopy over starfish since getting Tiddler. Also Usborne and Dorling Kindersley type reference books even if they're too old for him really.

[ApplesTheHare]

As I said originally I used 'typically male' as I couldn't think of another way of putting it. Lo is very, very different to his sisters... It's not the main thing here anyway, more the behaviours. I'm so so tired, trying to be positive and can't face pedantry right now so please just ignore the gender mention if it offends you.

Thank you so much for all the positive suggestions so far. Some great ideas!!

[purplemurple1]

Mines at that stage but a bit younger he mostly loves helping with all sorts of jobs -sweeping, painting, lighting fires, feeding dogs, feeding his little sister, planting/watering/digging etc
Also loves going for walks and collecting things, throwing stones/leaves/sticks etc into water (we have some buckets in the garden)
Playing in the car or on the lawnmower
Pushing the pram round the garden
Sitting on the dog and helping him eat his dinner
Tea parties (we have a cupboard of old crockery in the garden)
Standing on top of his rocking horse

[ApplesTheHare]

Apply thanks so much about the 't' word. I hadn't read that but I appreciate how repeatedly saying a word can reinforce behaviour. Very interesting.

[ApplesTheHare]

Ha I've just realised I originally meant to write "stereotypically male". God I am so tired...

[BikeRunSki]

If I could get him to sit down for a minute, then jigsaws. He was never at all interested in drawing,
/colouring/sticking etc.

[addictedtosugar]

101 cars, and a car mat.
jigsaws (tho think mine was a freak with jigsaws)
balls of all types - soft, hard, big small, funky, with lights and bouncy ones.
Big older than 2, but at a party the Entertainer got out a load of wool pompoms, and they had a whale of a time throwing them around (with the bonus of them being soft). I've made several since that party.
Pop up tunnel

[addictedtosugar]

Oh, and if we get some decent weather again, a paint brush and a bucket of water. Paint the fence or patio. Hours of fun.

[Chchchchangeabout]

Not sure what you mean by stereotypically male?

My toddler likes running around, exploring, seeing new things, going up and down stairs ceaselessly.

[ApplesTheHare]

Chchchchangeabout the specific behaviours I'm asking about are in my original post. Thanks.

[NickyEds]

Diggers, dumper trucks, excavators....anything you'd find on a building site basically. He likes his toy diggers but also his book with pictures (not cartoony- real ones) of diggers. And looking at diggers where a new supermarket is being built nearby. Or watching diggers on you tube. Warning- as an adult it is possible to get incredibly bored of looking at diggers!!!

[blacktreaclecat]

We had a garden day on Friday- we took his ride on car out, I gave him a sponge and a bucket of soapy water and he washed his car for ages :)
He also likes painting the fence.