What does a 2.5 year old want for Christmas?

[chesirecat99]

We (hopefully) have a lovely toddler guest for Christmas but I am at a loss for Christmas present ideas for him.

I know his favourite characters and he loves cars, playing shops and lego but everyone else has already bought him these things as gifts and his DM has run out of ideas

I shall be babysitting on Christmas Eve so I would also like to get a Christmas book for bedtime. What is your 2-3YO's favourite Christmas bedtime story?

I was also thinking of getting a game to play that he will enjoy and can join in but won't bore the adults to tears, something like Hungry Hippos.

What are the toddler must have gifts this year? Bonus points if it is something that will entertain him for as long as possible and doesn't need a playmate so we can let him lose from the dining table when he has finished eating and his DM can eat in peace. I know I am probably being over optimistic there...

Knex, magnet toys, play dough sets, jigsaws

Big fire engine with flashing lights and sounds
Playmobil rubbish truck
Melissa and Doug wooden car transporter
Matchbox or hot wheels type cars

Those are the things that entertained my DSes for long at that age.

Stories it's hard as they aren't quite at the age to sit still for a picture book. They love things with lift the flap, peek through holes or textures though. I'd go into a bookshop and browse.

It's too young for board games that adults enjoy IME. Something like charades or pictionary that he can just enjoy being nuts around everyone else is fine.

Mine would have loved some (washable) pens or stamps and loads of paper at that age. Needs minimal involvement other than making sure the ink doesn't get where it shouldn't...

Aquadoodle/magnetic drawing board, Melissa & Doug reusable sticker pad and playdoh would have worked for all my DC. DD1 would have sat with a pile of books, DD2 would have done a jigsaw (but definitely not the other way round). For books I like Dear Santa (like dear zoo) - twas the night before Christmas is my favourite but might be too long depending on how much he likes books. For board games Pop up pirate, hungry hippos or kerplunk(but mind the small balls), crocodile dentist, whak a mole or Jenga.

A little tea set? Snap, hot wheels, marble run ? Duplo. Magic painting?

Kapla

Grandaughter is 2 and a bit

She likes Mkae believe- a teaset, pots pans anything like that
Cars/planes/firengines .

matching pairs type game - Hungry hippos - she wouldnt have a clue, nor the dexterity

Dd (2.5) has a new found love of connect 4. It’s actually a good game to learn turn taking, is simple and doesn’t take that long plus you don’t have to play by the rules and can make rows/columns of the counters instead.

Gift wise, id go for a jigsaw, like a 5-10 piece one, no bigger. Maybe some toot toot driver cars, a dress up outfit or something like a magnetic fishing game.

The book Santa's Suit is popular with my 2.5 year old.

Would The Night Before Christmas illustrated book by suitable if read to by the thoughtful person looking after them?

Good luck.

Will he be coming to stay again?
A colouring house is great fun for a toddler and you can store it flat really easily if they don't want to take it home

Thanks, everyone.

I think a marble run would be amazing if I can find one with balls rather than marbles. I think he would love commanding the adults in Crocodile Dentist

Does anyone have a Toniebox? I can't decide whether they are just an expensive gimmick. He isn't the easiest to get to sleep and doesn't enjoy long car journeys so I thought it might be useful.

One of my friend's DC had a toddler Leapreader that seemed really good but it appears to have been discontinued. Does anyone have anything similar?

The leap reader is still for sale in smyths. My toddlers have a tonie and we love it.

If it’s in your budget my 2 year loves the toniebox and it is in use every day.

I just asked my 2.5 year old and he said “a fire engine boat”.

Who knew such a thing existed??

You can’t go wrong with Toot-toots at that age, OP!

We've bought a toniebox for my 2 yes 3 month old for Christmas. It's main present price range though, and expensive for parents to buy more characters, so maybe check first?

Most played with toys here- the magnetic scribble boards that wipe clean and wooden ice cream set, she loves them.

Books wise, we're well into Peppa at the minute 😭 games wise, the little fishing games with magnets are about right age wise, or snap games.

I gave my 3 year old nephew playmags a couple of months ago and he loved them. these ones

Brio train set, cars, aqua doodle, underpants size 2-3, clothes, marble run
Basically what everyone else said :)

I would go for the Jolly Christmas Postman. He might be a little young for it (as in I would definitely buy it for a 3 year old) but it is such a lovely book!

For games, I think my DS liked Pop Up Pirate at that age and it’s suitable for up to four players. I think he’s a bit young for Hungry Hippos.

My DS also had one of these for balls, not marbles, which he loved. John Lewis doesn’t stock it any more but you might find an equivalent.

www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-partners-junior-ball-run/p1913242

Usborne do a great range of lift the flap vehicle books. But actually I'd suggest one of those bubble popping fidget toys, they keep mine occupied for ages.

We have had a toniebox since my Dd now 3.5 was 2.5, we use it everyday. You or other friends/ family can record stories onto a creative tonie so he can hear you reading the stories to him. Worth getting a tonie of songs too, DD loves putting “her own” music on. It is expensive though.
For entertainment at the table, if he doesnt put things in his mouth a playdough set from etsy might work. Or galt water painting, or self inking stamps (like the picture) and some new colouring pencils/ a new notebook?

2.5 yo here is getting:
Ride on car (he has some already and loves them so this is a new style)
Wooden train set
Tractor and trailer set
Peppas house playset

Both DC love the 'igloobooks' christmas books. They are colourful and fun and I even like reading them.

How is he about putting things in his mouth before you start going for things like hungry hippos. My DS is 2.2 and not old enough for that yet.

I'd go with imaginary play. Toy food/shopping basket/doctors kit/fancy dress. Or toot toots.

Magsnaps. Scooter. Those tiny trampolines with a handle bar.