Birthday present 2yr Boy - help!

[DoodleAlley]

My son's coming up to two and I'm being asked for present ideas from far flung families. We're not exactly flush so I'd like to get things he's going to love but am really struggling with feeling like he's in a bit of a gap between baby stuff and pre-school. He's never been a big "toy" child apart from his vast array of tractors/cars/lorries and soft toys both of which he loves. He's never been into his elc garage which he uses as a stool to reach things. He does love painting and drawing but not staying still long and he does love jigsaw puzzles and books. He's intelligent and articulate but he full of energy. Any suggestions - either from what I've said or personal experience would be greatly appreciated!

how about asking for some money towards classes if you don't want/need more "stuff" - we had a few small presents to open and money for swimming lessons and a music class instead of presents as my DS 1 birthday falls quite soon after Christmas.

Mini Micro Scooter (if any of the family are feeling flush)

Brio / Big Jigs trains

Duplo Lego

Roleplay type toys (ELC do a mainly blue tea set/cooking toys)

Etchasketch type thing e.g. Tomy Megasketcher

My nearly 2 year old loves anything to do with bubbles at the moment, he has a bubble lawn mower and a bubble machine.

I like the idea above for money for swimming lessons though.

ahh. forgot to mention that's what his gran will be giving us as he does love his swimming lessons but most people want to get him "something to open!"

One present we got that has had a lot of use is a Tomy aqudraw big mat - I think they are about £20.

Ah, we'd wondered about one of those and couldn't decide whether they'd be a favourite or a one hit wonder so that's interesting thanks

By the way one of you mentioned a scooter - is that something a two year old would be able to use? he does have masses of energy and usually tries to expend it by climbing on furniture or out of windows(!) but I hadn't thought about a scooter as I presumed they were a school aged sort of thing and so didn't investigate them any further.

I'd been thinking about the role play stuff as he does love the toy vacuum cleaner at nursery

Mr Potato Head is great for this age.

Duplo is better than Lego so enjoy it while you can. The Duplo Zoo is bliss though expensive.

Scooters come in all shapes and sizes - if he's an energetic type a 3-wheel softer plastic scooter may really suit him.

A range of emergency service hats will always go down a bomb I find.

Depending on your budget, a friend has this rocket (although it may not be from this website.) Just don't waste time thinking they will decorate it at this age.

The Mini-Micro Scooter is brilliant for two year olds as it has got two wheels at the front and a very low foot plate, things which the other (cheap) three wheeled scooters don't have.

I was sceptical until my DS borrowed one at the park (soon after he turned 2) and immediately knew how to use it and within minutes was whizzing around.

DS is now 3.4 yrs and still uses it everywhere, we never leave the house without it, so it has been worth every penny.

www.micro-scooters.co.uk/category/mini-micro-scooter/

Thanks for this. Off to take said child out to the park now to burn off some of that energy. Will check back later but it's been really helpful thank you

DS4 is 2.2. Hisn fave birthday present was a scuttlebug here which is fab as it folds up so easily, and an early learning train set that fits with other items in the range making it easy for relatives rto know what to get for gifts.

If I ahd to choose one gift though that any of my active boys (I have 4) ever had for the 2nd birthdays, it would be either scuttlebug or a little tike cube. The cube thing (slide and a sort of box climbing frame) is still going strong over a decade on.

My suggestion would be a wooden train track set (DS's came from John Lewis, was about £20 I think and very good) If he likes it then people can add to it/buy trains for it at future Christmases/birthdays. Ours is now massive and in danger of taking over the house but DS plays with it for ages so well worth it. Visiting children love it too.

Also agree mini micro scooters are fab and duplo also played with a lot here on and off.

Thanks for the suggestions. Going to use them as a starting point for searching the internet tonight.

DS is 2 next month and he loves the wooden train set that he got at Christmas (but like yours, isn't that into his garage). There are plenty of other sets around and most of the different brands of wooden sets are compatible with each other.

He also really likes the happyland range from elc.

I've also had loads of requests for ideas lately and we've suggested train accessories, vouchers for john lewis (to go towards some little chairs and/or a trunki), garden role play stuff (lawnmower etc).

He got this postbox game recently which he likes, and he's got a few orchard toy games which are popular.

We've got him a mini micro scooter - managed to find a 15% off code for jojomamanbebe with free delivery which made it quite a bit cheaper too.