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Original poster

Toy ideas for 2.3 year old please!

33 replies

OwlOffshore · 05/07/2015 21:33

My DS is 2.3 and seems to be rather bored of his toys. I haven't bought him anything new for ages - mainly as he was given so much for his 1st birthday by well-meaning friends and family that we held a lot back and eeked them out over time. And he mainly had clothes and books for his last birthday.

When he gets bored, he starts to throw, so time for something new I think.

But I am a bit stumped as to what to get him.

He has a toy kitchen and does play with it for a little while most days. Loves toy cars and fire engines. Seems to dislike crafts and couldn't care less about the aquadoodle he has...

We have a postage-stamp sized garden but plenty of space inside so could cope with toys that need space.

Ideas would be very welcome!

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JillBYeats · 05/07/2015 21:41

My kids favorite was a wooden 4 wheel trike like this. My kids lived on it - until they were way too old for it - have only just retired ours and they are well into primary!

A small trampoline with handle was good too like this one

meglet · 05/07/2015 21:43

duplo.

Love51 · 05/07/2015 21:54

My nearly 2 yo's favourite thing is a towel. Not a specific one, any towel or blanket he can hide under. Also musical instruments (glockenspiel, tamborine) and books. And pushing his 'baby' in a pram. And playing with his big sisters drs kit. But that last one might be better left til.xmas - mine only knows what to do as he has endured being sister's patient.

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2 year olds General parenting Toys
Love51 · 05/07/2015 21:58

We have some fab caterpillar brand diggers, a bit bigger than hotwheels cars and waaay more fun. If you arent fussy about 3+ rating.

trilbydoll · 05/07/2015 22:01

DD likes jigsaws, her little basket of plastic food, and her happyland people. At toddler groups she loves the little trampolines, any ride on toy, and pushing dolls around in prams.

Starlightbright1 · 05/07/2015 22:17

Take n play train set, the track stays together so you don't spend all day rebuilding it. , musical instruments...Do you have a toy library near you? they are fab for changing toys

MyNameIsSuz · 05/07/2015 22:18

Mine loves happyland too, the London bus and space rocket in particular. Also jigsaws, books, diggers, and a till and food - we pretend to do a lot of shopping!

ReluctantCamper · 05/07/2015 22:21

Yep, duplo. Or happy land. Our martian moon house has done sterling service for 2 lively boys, and still going strong. Or a toy garage for all his cars, one with lots of ramps. Ds1s top toy was always his ride on, which has a weird kind of piano on the front. Unfortunately toys r us don't stock it any more...

Original poster
OwlOffshore · 06/07/2015 07:16

Thanks all. Really helpful. Does duplo last a few years? It seems quite expensive, even second hand.

OP posts:
MyNameIsSuz · 06/07/2015 08:13

Yes, our childminder has lots and they all play with it, even the school age kids if it's out! Especially if you get the kits with car parts, house bits and people, they can use it for imaginary play too. We have a fire station set which has been played with loads, but most of the time he likes to build the tallest tower he possibly can... it's versatile.

whiteagle · 06/07/2015 08:26

My DS2 loved small world toys - happy land et Al. The ElC garage was a huge hit too.

meglet · 06/07/2015 08:50

duplo is very durable. I think we had one cracked green base plate after it was crushed under something but the rest of it is fine after 5 yrs.

shitebag · 06/07/2015 16:39

I was just about to ask this too, my DD is 2.4yo and is not interested in any toys that we have but she does play with her brothers Minecraft figures Hmm

I'm looking at trying some threading beads and maybe some Happy land stuff.

Thegreatunslept · 06/07/2015 17:01

Have a look at fisher price little people products we have the city skyway and it gets played with daily.

purplesnail · 06/07/2015 22:34

Hi, after my ds had his 2nd birthday he had so many toys he didnt seem that interested in a lot of it so I split it into 3 sets and started rotating them every 2 weeks which helped lots and also helped me see what he was really interested in.
he gas an aquadodle which he likes but loves it if I draw things for him, I got sone cheap cookie cutters and use some if those to draw round which he loves.
Do you go to a playgroup? After taking my ds I discovered he likes playfood and has no interest in happyland.
he also loves playdough and doing threading beads which he also likes sieting in coloured bowks or a egg box. He also loves posting things so have used empty boxes/plastic tubs and puts holes in to post various objects into. If he like doing things like that search toddler busy bags on pintrest/google for some great ideas.

slightlyconfused85 · 07/07/2015 08:36

What about jigsaw puzzles? My dd is a few months older but loves these and can provide a lot of entertainment. Also happyland/small world, a picnic set for picnics with her toys, toy baby and accessories, books?

Original poster
OwlOffshore · 07/07/2015 18:55

Ooh, that city skyway thing looks fab! Jigsaws also worth a try.

Many thanks all.

OP posts:
TenPinkFairies · 07/07/2015 18:56

Lego. Normal sized. Ds has loved it since turning 2. And dh's old playmobil.

Kiwiinkits · 08/07/2015 23:37

Our duplo has been the most popular toy here for about a year now. Most popular by far. My girls (now 3 and 4.5) ask to play with it every day. They love it. You do need to have a big enough collection to make it versatile - i.e. not just a few pieces. So start building your collection now.

Don't buy small lego if you think you might have another baby because it is the first thing that will go into a baby's mouth or up its nose.

Kiwiinkits · 08/07/2015 23:39

Little People also gets played with regularly. Again, it's a volume thing. There are enough Little People 'activities' that they can create whole stories/cities/scenarios.

MiaowTheCat · 10/07/2015 08:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DoveOfPeace · 10/07/2015 23:38

Just place marking Smile

Alanna1 · 10/07/2015 23:42

My 2 yo and 3 yo play with duplo lots, their buggies with babies, shells they have collected. The 2 yo likes putting things in "her" bags.

RobotHamster · 11/07/2015 00:16

Duplo. Duplo. Duplo!

If they like it, (not much for a small set) then it's worth it. Easy to add to with birthday presents etc.

It lasts. 8yo DS has obviously moved on to lego, but still loves building enormous structures with the Duplo (we have a lot)

RobotHamster · 11/07/2015 00:17

Mega blocks are pants, btw. Don't waste your money, just go straight to the proper stuff