24 Best Non Toy Gifts for 2 Year Olds

Do you need to buy a gift for a 2-year-old, but want to steer clear of toys? Here are 24 great ideas for non-toy gifts that will keep a 2-year-old entertained!

If you’re anything like us, you find your kids accumulate toys way too fast. It’s a constant battle to clean through the closet and keep the toys pared down. There are so many other wonderful gifts you can give your favorite 2 year old beside toys. The things I’m including on this list are mostly things our kids have. And if they don’t have it – then it’s on our list of things to buy.

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23 Non-Toy Gifts for 2-Year-Olds

Ok, let’s get to it! Here are 24 great gifts for your 2-year-old:

1. Magazine Subscription

My sister got my son a subscription to Highlights High Five when he was two. He still loves it at 4, and my daughter who is currently 2 also loves it now! Some great magazine options for 2-year-olds are:

• Highlights High Five
• Ranger Rick Cub

2. Subscription Box

Kiwi Co Crates

We have tried Kiwi Crate and my son loved it! They have so many options and the Koala Crate is great for 2 Year Olds.

Lovevery Play Kits

The Lovevery Play Kits may be considered toys by some, but I love the minimal idea of these kits. These boxes are always well thought out and you can rest assured that whatever you get will be tailored to fit your child’s stage of development.

3. Learning Tower

This is hands down my FAVORITE gift for 1 and 2 year olds. Seriously, if your kid is going to get one thing this year – get them a learning tower! It’s so versatile and grows with the kid.

4. Flashlight

My son loves his flashlight! He carries it around the house and outside. You can find all kinds of cute flashlights made just for kids, but he has just an ordinary flashlight. BONUS: you could gift this with a flashlight book. My kids have The Game of Light by Herve Tullet and love to turn out the lights and chase the shapes around their room

5. Play Sofa (Nugget)

We have a Nugget that I highly recommend! It was the one thing we got our kids last Christmas and they use it every single day. But there are so many other brands out now. You can even buy them on Amazon!

6. Art Easel

A great gift for those budding artists in your life, an easel can help the child explore their creativity and artistic side. We have the IKEA easel, but this Melissa & Doug easel looks great too.

7. Play Tent

Whether it’s indoors or outdoors, a play tent helps encourage imaginative play and is an awesome place for them to call their own. We have and love this tent because it looks like a real tent and helps teach kids how to pitch a tent.

8. Sleeping Bag

We got each of our kids these Coleman sleeping bags. My 2-year-old loves to play in hers in the play tent, but it’s also a practical gift she can take along on a trip or to a grandparent’s house.

9. Wooden Kids Calendar

We just bought this adorable wooden calendar for our kids for their playroom. A calendar will help a 2-year-old learn the days of the week, months of the year, and holidays and seasons.

10. Fun Day Trip

Whether it’s to a museum, zoo, or even a kid’s waterpark, giving the gift of a fun time is really one of the best things you can do with and for your two-year-old! They will remember those fun trips out long after they have lost interest in whatever toys they got that year.

11. Yoto Player or (Yoto Mini Player)

We actually just got a Yoto Mini for our just-turned-5-year-old, but my 2-year-old loves audiobooks too. While she doesn’t quite understand how to use the controls yet, she does love listening to music and audiobooks on it and I love that it’s a gift that could grow with a 2-year-old.

12. Craft Supplies

Your two-year-old can never have enough Playdoh, stickers, pipe cleaners, pom poms, and washable markers (washable is a MUST at this age).

13. Rain Boots

Our kids LOVE their rain boots. My 2-year-old, in particular, wears them whether it’s raining or not.

14. Fun Kids Umbrella

Another favorite at our house is a fun umbrella. We have a few cool ones, but my daughter’s favorite one is her Minnie Mouse umbrella.

15. Puzzles

At 2, many kids will still do best with this style of puzzle. My daugther still likes assistance with puzzles at this age. However, my son hit a sweet spot with puzzles at 2 and was able to do harder ones like this on his own. Start with an easy one and move up as they are ready! I have found a lot of great budget-friendly puzzles at Dollar Tree and even Aldi!

16. Water Bottle

These funtainer water bottles are our favorite water bottles for preschool and on the go. They are plastic-free, keep their drinks cool, and come in fun characters/colors.

17. Watering Can

Another favorite at our house is our watering can. This kids watering can is so cute, but I actually just bought some small inexpensive watering cans at Walmart for my kids to use.

18. Water Table or Sandbox

I don’t classify these as toys necessarily. They will provide endless entertainment and fun for a 2-year-old. My kids have been into the water table at age 1 and 2, and a sandbox holds their interest for long after that even.

19. Foldable Chair

Foldable chairs are the perfect gift for your toddlers – they can take them to cookouts, big brothers’ soccer games, and sit in them in their own backyard. We have this one, and my daughter loves it!

20. Pajamas

You can never have enough pajamas. We like these Burt’s Bees two-piece sets because they are so comfy with tons of design options.

21. Books

You can never go wrong with books! I find board books work best for 2 year olds (until they are closer to 3 and a little more careful.) Here is a list of my favorite books for 2 Year olds, but my top three favorites are definitely: Pout-Pout Fish books, Llama Llama books, and the Jesus Storybook Bible.

22. Foldable Wagon

My son was gifted a foldable radio flyer with all-terrain wheels at age 1 and we have used it over and over. One of the best gifts he’s been given. We even took it to the beach this year and it was great for toting all our beach gear. I definitely recommend the off-road/all-terrain wheels as it’s super handy to take to the beach, the fair, etc.

23. Small Suitcase

Our kids would love these! We often travel with 2-year-olds and a suitcase they can pull along would help them feel more involved in the process of packing/unpacking and lodging. Our kids are always playing pretend with a small suitcase I have.

24. Small Table & Chairs

We have these adorable animal chairs (bunny and moose) and this Melissa & Doug table. It makes the perfect set for our playroom. A small picnic table is also a great addition to your home and easy to pick up and move.

What are Your Favorite Non Toy Gifts for Toddlers?

Let us know in the comments below your favorite non toy gift ideas! We’d love to hear what you’ve tried and loved. With these best non toy gifts for 2 year olds, your little one will be sure to have a great Christmas this year.

Need More 2-Year-Old Gift Ideas?

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