2 year old boy birthday

[DaniTTC]

Hi all as we all know it was Christmas last month, my son is 2 next month (end of Feb) and I’m stuck for things to buy him
he got lots of toys and books for Christmas (running out of room to store them 🤣) he doesn’t have his own room yet so lacking space he has 2 balance bikes one at each grandparents houses ( we don’t have a garden)
he got a tonies box for Christmas which he loves so I’ve bought him 6 more and I bought him a car garage to store all his toy cars

i was thinking of buying him some more wooden fruits and veggies and some bath toys
I’m just stuck for ideas to be honest I really want to make it special (I’m a chronic over buyer so I feel like I never have enough)

im not even sure what to do on his actual birthday because i don’t drive yet as I couldn’t get a test until march

i wanted to take him to CBeebies land but it’s so far away I would have to pay to stay over for 2 days which came to almost £400 same with Drayton manor, I was thinking maybe just taking him to a kiddies club cinema, build a bear and then McDonald’s, I just love my boy so much and want to make it really special for him I’m probably over thinking everything since he’d be happy with a cardboard box lol

sorry it’s a long one thank you and god bless ♥️

Our little boy was 2 in November and for Christmas we got him this little slide (see pic) and a small playpen to go next to it that we filled with balls - he loves it. Great for exercise when you can’t get outdoors.

Magnatiles (or Amazon budget equivalent).

Magnet tiles definitely magnet tiles.

Yes, definitely magnet tiles!

Baby and a pushchair
Water tray
Threading

Don't do too much, he doesn't know what a birthday is and he doesn't care. Spending a day out doing several things like that is likely to make him overwhelmed and cranky.

Swimming in the morning, home for lunch, get a big cardboard house/castle/pirate ship that you can colour with crayons and maybe some stickers (it's a while since I had a two year old - are stickers ok???). All he is likely to want to do is spend the day doing things with you, so lock your phone away and do lots of 1:1. You've got another few years before he cares about 'stuff'.

You say something here that is really important “I’m a chronic over buyer”
I also tend to over buy (ADHD and complicated relationship to money and stuff) so I get where you are coming from.
you have got him 6 new tonies - they are £12 each or so? That’s a pretty big gift
plus a garage for toy cars. No idea how much these cost but physically they can be quite large.

You also say you have no space for balance bikes.
So do you actually need more toys now and can you store them without it getting overwhelming for you/him?
I imagine he will also have gifts from GPs and others?

As for making it special - he is 2. The most special thing is time with you at this age. A cake with candles, some balloons and a tiny party (even if just family!) will always be very special for a child of 2. It rapidly gets more expensive as they get older and want to do activities with the whole class. No need to make it over stimulating and over complicated at this age.

We threw a very low key party at a play group for DS 2nd bday so that friends with toddlers could also come and the children could enjoy. Was it worth the £150ish rental? Possibly not, but it meant I could keep my house clean and park isn’t an option because it’s too cold when DS has his birthday. It was fun and the pictures are very cute.
DS cannot not remember it at all, he is not yet 5. I have realised that “making it special” in the early years is largely about how we as adults feel rather than what they the children value and enjoy.

Thank you so much for all of your advice and ideas!
I really appreciate all of it!
definitely adding magnet tiles to the list 🤣