Gift for two year old?

[tuckeduptight]

A close friends little girl is turning two soon and I have no idea what to get her. I'm thinking a learning toy or some books? No plastic tat. I'd love some inspiration please? Not wanting to spend a lot - about £20.

Che k out Jaques of London, think you can search by age

My son is turning 2 next month. I've got him some play food that can be cut, a train track, some peppa pig figures and a water drawing mat.

Jacques of London looks perfect and a train track and water mat are great ideas! Thank you. Any book recommendations?

The pop up books by Robert Sabuda make great presents

Duplo

Books: the ‘ten little aliens/princesses/pirates’ etc books are good

Some wooden food (Melissa and doug have lovely sets) we have toy pizzas and cake bought at that age and are still used regularly

My dd is 2, her favourite things to play with are duplo, mega blocks, magic paint books (water on the brush only and you can get them in Aldi for £2.99 a book) her scooter, Melissa and Doug play items but you can buy similar on amazon for much cheaper.

Her ultimate favourite is some vegetables that are plastic but they're velcroed together so she has to "cut" them with a knife that comes in the set. Melissa and doug do a wooden version of these for £16 but you get much more for your money on amazon with the plastic ones. She makes lots of soup in her kitchen with these

She also has the M&D birthday cake and pizza that she plays with a lot. Ds also gets involved in the cake and pizza and he is 10.

Kidly is a great website for wooden toys. My soon to be 3 year old dd has this puzzle and she loves it. I've just bought it for a friend's dd's 2nd birthday too.

www.kidly.co.uk/products/jabadabado/wooden-puzzle-unicorn/13489?colour=multi

For books, the Card Factory do £1 books. My daughters loved every single one we've bought. Some are old fashioned fairy tales. Others are just lovely stories.

Oh if yo u want books, I recommend Tom Fletcher (he of McFly) and his there's a.... In my book. Unicorns, monsters, aliens etc. You have to do all kinds of fun things to sort out the naughty creatures

Books are great at that age

Or pretend play: food, tea set, cooker. Does HappyLand still exist?

Plastic can be great, we had a mix of wood and plastic and if you choose wisely the plastic ones can be of good quality, don't break and all of DD's have been given to other children when she outgrew them.