Hit me with your present ideas for a 2.5 year old

[Sunshineinmadrid]

As above!
Present ideas for this age group to suggest to family.

I already have a few things on my list but looking at the wisdom of those who have walked before me ( or with me) for long lasting things.

Recipient is female, not that I feel it makes any difference.

Loves peppa pig, animals, dinosaurs, tractors , planes, teletubbies at the top of my head.

My hit list so far is;

• scooter
• easel +associated materials
• duplo
• magna tiles (which ones?)
• ice cream cart - which one, Melissa and Doug or leapfrog?

Need lower value things for family to gift too.

Tbh magnatiles are too old for her at that age. We found the leap frog cart tricky to get the cones made when younger too so I’d say M and D.
Other hits would be a farm or zoo toy like fisher price… a happy land bus was a firm fav and got made into a pull along toy with string.
scooter- only one of my four has been able to scoot age 2- the rest were 3 plus (mini micro scooter) but you now get the mini micro with a parent pole and seat so that might work.

Bath toys!

Amazing, just what I needed!
crossed magna tiles off for a later date.

She picked a scooter up at the toy shop and scooted on it (assuming learnt at nursery) but couldn’t steer it and nor could I. Apparently they have to lean, which I can’t see being an easy thing to teach.

Any bath toy recommendations?

Had a proper flop of one from chad valley so wary now!
we have the hoopla octopus and a boat…

Definitely magnet tiles. They are number one most used toy for both kids (4 and 2) in this house. We have Connetix tiles and my 2 year old loves them (though originally bought for older sibling). Still needs help at this age but I’m pro getting things they can grow into, if you only aim at the age they are they out grow things quickly. Good magnetic tiles will be played with for years.

I’m also very much gender neutral for toys but my 2 year old loves the doll buggy, pushes all the soft toys around, it’s definitely her most used toy. (slightly annoyingly as I wasn’t for dolls for girls but they choose what they choose)

Playdoh and/or magic sand for lower cost options.

The magnetic tiles on amazon are great , no need to overspend on the official magnatiles.
We have the leap frog ice cream cart and its lasted for 5 years and is loved still by my 7 year old and 2 year old .
Melissa and doug wooden puzzles - the fish magnet one is out favourite at the minute .
lanka kade wooden animals , tonie box and characters , sand/ water table for outside , teaset , water mat , little people farm set .

Oh and get a 3 wheeled scooter. We’re upgrading ours to Liferyder ones this Christmas. My 2yo can scoot but again, worth getting things to grow into. Same for balance bike, definitely a good one. Used 2-4 by my son who was then able to go straight to a peddle bike no stabilisers without issue thanks to that practice

Friends who’ve bought cheaper ones have found they’ve broken, and you don’t want loose magnets. Our Connectix ones have been thrown, jumped on etc and not even a crack. I’m sure some cheaper ones are good but I didn’t fancy risking it

@BuffaloCaulifloweroh thats good to know , we’ve had ours for 5 years and still going strong ( even the dog couldn’t destroy them ), perhaps it was better batch a few years ago !

No mention of books?

What’s your point?
You’re welcome to join this friendly thread with any recommendations, as per the purpose of the post.

Tonie box and tonies

Thank you.
We actually have one already, although sadly she’s not particularly interested just yet! Hoping it will come in to its own in the coming year!

Magnatiles are definitely not too old for two year old. I got them for my little boy last christmas, as he was turning 2. He plays with them every day and as he's gotten older, the ways he's played with them have increased.

We have one genuine magnatile set and 3 'fakes' from Amazon. The difference in quality is minimal.

Playdough, rolling pin and shape cutters.

Jigsaw puzzles. I've found he's more likely to do them if the images are something he likes.

His other biggest love is Playmobil. They do a range called 123 or Junior, which have sturdier/chunky pieces.