What does your two year old play with most?

[belindarose]

I'm trying to find the perfect birthday present for my niece, who is inundated with toys after Christmas. Any unusual ideas? Thanks

His Happyland farm, schliech (sp?) plastic animals and toy cars.

DD just turned 2 and she loves jigsaw puzzles, blocks (Duplo and wooden ones), is obsessed with Noddy so plays with Noddy figurine and a plush dog, acting out scenes etc, loves drawing (so either a Crayola marker, crayons etc set or easel with blackboard would make her happy) hmm...yes, cars as well.

pots, pans,play food and cooker! She has a Brio one, only 25 pounds on amazon and it's all wood.

Thank you. Some great ideas although I think she got all this stuff for Christmas! Large family and few children to buy for! Maybe I should get books instead. Although I'm sure extra puzzles wouldn't go amiss.

Cute about your DS and trainset, mj!

Trains. He is OBSESSED with trains. And yes happyland another good bet - though normally he just pushes his trains around on it.

My 2 yo DS absolutely loves books, he'll sit for ages surrounded by a big pile of books!

Second the cooker idea Wimple. A tea set is really great. Ironing board and iron. And a 'working' hoover is just unbeatable. Oh unless she hasn't got a buggy, which is the all-time best two-year-old toy.

Umbrella? Snuggly PJs? Mini micro scooter if you feeling very generous? Djeco do very beautiful stacking houses with little animals, which would be perfect. Djeco stuff generally is wonderful.

DS has a buggy and hardly ever plays with it - except at the children's centre where he makes a beeline for them

How about a slide for the garden, if they have one? Obviously it's a bit cold at the minute to use one but it will come into its own over the summer - and even now, bundle her up in a coat, instant toddler exercise and parent only has to supervise from the kitchen window and not get cold

Don't think too much in terms of traditional "boys" and "girls" toys - my sister and I played with our Brio train set for years! Or how about something like duplo?

No garden and a playground in front of the flat. She has dolls, buggy, farm, play food (think they're getting her a kitchen), trainset, easel. DSIL was worried before Christmas that she didn't have any age appropriate toys and didn't play much. Now she has 'everything'! Maybe duplo? Don't think she's got construction stuff much.

Dry wipe board and markers
Tea set (or anything she can pour stuff into and out of)

Great books my DD loves (story and illustration):

No matter what. Debbi Gliori
Lost and Found: Oliver Jeffers
How to Catch a Star: Oliver Jeffers
We're Going on a Bear Hunt (ill. Michael Rosen)
Emperor of Absurdia: Chris Riddell
Room on the Broom: Julia Donaldson

Or if you want to get her something nice for keeps, you could get a big, beautifully bound nursery rhyme and fairytale anthology that she will keep forever. We were given Hilda Boswell's Omnibus as kids (published in 1972) and its been handed down through sons and daughters and nephews and nieces and is still in the family. Much battered now, but much loved!

Other thing that my DD loves is a craft kit full of "glitters" and stickers and pens and crayons and sequins and stuff. I just went to Rymans, bought a plastic "hobby case" type thing and filled it up with all the bits and bobs.

Its popular but a gift that requires full-on adult supervision for use!

Not sure her mum can handle the mess of glitter at home! My dd would love that though. Thanks for nice book suggestions.

Yes I think contruction type toys are good :) Sge may not play that much with them now but they will last.

Playdough/colouring/sticking/painting/etc type things are good too, if the parents have time to supervise. Or something like a baking kit with her favourite character? Make some Dora cakes or the like. Then it will get "used up" but still be fun for her and her parents to do.

Is she in a bed yet? Maybe a nice duvet and pillowcase set, or something for her room?

What about a pass to a local attraction, rather then toys.