2 years is the same age when a child, like a sponge, absorbs and assimilates what the world around him offers, and he does this through toys. Attentive parents may notice that some toys cause genuine delight in the child - he never wants to part with them for a minute, and shows complete indifference to some.
Very often, the choice of children does not lend itself to any “adult” logic and this becomes a problem, since parents want toys to bring their child not only joy, but also benefit. Therefore, parents are faced with the problem of finding the most useful and interesting ones in a sea of toys full of all sorts of things.
Specifics of a child's formation at 2 years old
From the age of two, a child can concentrate for a long time on events or things that interest him. During this period, independence intensively develops and the child’s personality is formed. He enthusiastically gets acquainted with the objects around him, learns to communicate with peers and adults, and masters many new skills and actions. Old toys cease to interest him; with crying and whims, the little child demands more and more new toys.
Parents need to be patient and purchase the necessary educational toys for children over 2 years old. Each child has an individual character, temperament and psychological characteristics. He enthusiastically tinkers with blocks and construction sets, talks with dolls and toy animals, sculpts plasticine figures and puts together simple puzzles.
Psychologists call the third year of a baby’s life a crisis. Relatives should not be frightened by the baby’s quick mood changes or switching his attention from one toy to another. The emotional state of a little child can change quickly, hysterics and whims are possible. But it’s easy to switch a child’s attention at this age: just change the type of activity and offer a new exciting game.
It is important to make efforts to develop speech, memory and the beginning of the baby’s intellectual development, as well as skillfully alternate mental games, activities that develop motor skills, physical and sports exercises. It is necessary to welcome the child's display of initiative and independence, praise him for his small victories, and encourage correct actions in everyday life or play.
A child’s sociability is developed through games and communication with other children in the yard, park or kindergarten. The child should have toys for the street and group games with peers. It is necessary to avoid strict prohibitions that provoke inappropriate behavior of the child, occupying his attention with other useful activities.
Is there any benefit to buying toys that have sound or light?
Not really. While psychologists recommend toys that encourage a child's cognitive or educational development from an early age, there is little evidence that toys that light up or make sounds are better than toys that don't.
The best toys are those that don't limit a child's imagination.
Toys that teach songs or skills, such as a learning tablet, benefit your child as their memory processes begin to pick up speed.
Other best toys for 2-year-old girls with fewer features, such as a sorter or a block set, will help them learn to build and develop their imagination. All of these skills develop throughout the toddler years, so there's room for different types of toys in your little one's life.
What toys does a 2 year old need?
Two-year-old children are active and mobile, they can concentrate on one thing for about half an hour, so you need to select toys of different functionality for the comprehensive development of the little personality. Depending on the purpose, toys can be:
- teaching;
- developing;
- didactic;
- musical;
- developing activity;
- interactive.
Educational
Many educational toys for children aged 2 years and older have educational specifics. Educational toys include various cubes, pyramids, inserts, large construction sets, sorters, puzzles, magnetic and drawing boards, lacing boards, mazes and lotto.
When playing with them, the child gets acquainted with colors, shapes and sizes, masters knowledge of letters and numbers, learns the simplest geometric shapes, names of plants and animals. With the help of educational toys, young children learn the basics of reading, writing and counting. The baby learns the basic laws of the world around him, his memory and intellectual abilities develop.
Developmental
Two-year-old children develop quickly, they are interested in toys that affect finger motor skills and speech, logic and intelligence. Plasticine and modeling dough, various drawing mats, inserts and pyramids, soft puzzles and large construction sets (up to 12 pieces), mosaics and pictures for coloring are favorite and useful games for the harmonious upbringing of a child.
At this age, various lacing and coloring puzzles are very popular. Thematic role-playing games in the form of sets of a builder, doctor, teacher, etc. become clear. Favorite toys for 2-year-old girls are dolls, small and large, as well as a large doll household: from clothes and dishes to rooms and houses.
Didactic
In didactic games, a life situation is simulated with some goal, the pursuit of which is the process of the game. These games provide effective learning through an entertaining storyline. Children enjoy learning the colors and shapes of objects, recognizing vegetables and fruits, and finding the necessary objects. In the collective version of the game, kids learn to strive for championship; the competitive passion captures and captivates them.
Didactic materials are widely used by kindergarten teachers to teach children in the process of playing together. You can simulate such games yourself by inventing role-playing scenes. Pyramids with rings, nesting dolls, various inserts, cubes, mosaics and lacing are considered educational toys.
Musical
Children's musical instruments, such as drums, synthesizers, metallophones, pianos, pipes, etc., captivate the attention of children for a long time. They introduce children to creativity, develop the first skills of perseverance, attention and patience, and contribute to the development of motor skills and musical abilities. Musical toys are used in therapy for stuttering, speech stumbles and childhood neuroses.
Children also love various music boxes and barrel organs, mechanical imitators of the voices of animals and birds, sound alphabets and models of children's mobile phones. Melodious toys develop high-frequency hearing in children, instill a love of music, sometimes becoming the first hobby of a new musical talent.
For child activity
2-year-old children are full of energy, they are active and restless. For outdoor games they need balls, rollers, scooters and tricycles. A good gift for a 2-year-old girl would be a doll stroller for playing outside. Summer pools and other inflatable toys for beach holidays are popular.
Every child wants to have their own sets for playing in the sandbox: buckets, scoops and shovels. Children at this age will be interested in plastic slides, skittles, massage mats and sports equipment that help them physically develop, improve coordination, dexterity and reaction speed.
Interactive
Interactive toys develop a child's creative abilities. Such toys include: sound posters and alphabet books, talking dolls and animals, water painting kits of various themes, miracle cars, transforming robots, cartoon characters. Favorite toys for 2 year old boys are cars of different sizes with many electronic functions. Children's mobile phones, music books and interactive role-playing sets are in great demand. This type of toy has a wide cognitive range for young children.
Rating by popularity
The range of toy materials is so wide that it is not easy for parents to make the right choice of a useful and safe gift for their child. Quality and compliance with age requirements are a necessary condition for a successful purchase. Let's look at several popular children's products today.
Bibo Robot Dance Mat
This interactive educational game consists of a square mat, in the central part of which there is a Beebo robot with a multi-colored control panel. The rug is divided into 4 fragments of different colors and functions:
- the blue side teaches the alphabet;
- red - introduces numbers;
- yellow - dedicated to geometric shapes;
- green - designed for dancing to the beat of the music.
The game has 2 modes: “Move and Play” and “Dance and Learn”. Switching modes from educational to dance will help the fidget not to lose interest in this game.
Lion walker
With the help of this gurney, the baby can move around the room or on the playground. The lion can be pushed, held while walking, or ridden on a comfortable seat. The device is assembled from large parts and wide wheels, it transforms from a walker to a gurney and has several sound and light effects (lion roar, laughter and music). When using a wheelchair, the child develops coordination of movements and the vestibular apparatus. The lion's muzzle has many small details that have a positive effect on the motor skills of the fingers.
Fisher-price educational cubes
The set consists of 3 cubes of different colors:
- on yellow - the sun is spinning and beautiful drawings are revealed;
- on blue - a green barrel spins and pictures with an elephant and a giraffe open;
- the light green cube contains pictures that are opened with a rotating handle.
The cubes have not only pictures, but also letters, which is useful for teaching your child the alphabet. The set can be transformed into a pyramid using inserts and recesses.
Game complex "Amusing House"
“Amusing House” complexes are large playhouses tailored to a child’s height. They consist of 6 large panels that are quickly and easily transformed (each kit contains tools for assembly). The panels of the house are equipped with many figures and objects connected by lacing. Locks, watches, buttons and gears will interest the little explorer for a long time.
The baby can place dolls, cars and other favorite toys in the house. Each panel is a separate gaming module that can be used horizontally on the floor or hung on the wall. For educational games, thematic design of business boards, the presence of geometric and slate boards, and three-dimensional puzzles are provided.
Ebulobo “Dress the Wolf” Insert Frame
In this game, on a wooden base there is a stencil with the figure of a wolf cub, which the child can dress, changing costumes. The set contains 16 colorful pieces for dressing up the wolf cub. All parts are made of wood, coated with non-toxic paint, and are easy to clean. In addition to the cognitive element, the game promotes the development of imagination and fine motor skills. Insert frames occupy an important place in the developmental segment of games.
Soft toy Kroshik
Kroshik is one of 5 little kids, heroes of the favorite children's animated series. This blue bunny is a complete screen analogue and is made of a nice soft material. He becomes the baby's companion for a long time in games and everyday life. The cartoon rabbit is full of energy and optimism, he never loses heart and comes up with new adventures. Children, having received such a friend, unwittingly copy his cheerful behavior.
Qubidoo constructor
Kubidou is a construction set of 12 cubes with gutters, holes and tunnels. You can use puzzle-like cubes to build various towers, and there are many options for building them. The set includes balls: 1 metal and 2 glass. The balls are used to roll down the tower's intricate chutes and tunnels. The constructor develops logical and spatial thinking, dexterity and attention.
Djeco Butterfly Labyrinth
“Butterfly” is a double-sided labyrinth from the French company Djeco. On a colorful wooden base, you can move many colored parts of different shapes on special runners. The goal of the game is to place different colored pieces on the wings of a butterfly of the corresponding color. In the game, children learn perseverance, attention and ingenuity. Kids spend a long time fiddling around with the maze, trying to correctly arrange the bright parts.
Mini-
The bright play panel of this toy features funny characters: a crocodile, a lion cub, a snail and a caterpillar. By rotating different elements of the mini-center, the child hears interesting sounds. The playground has rings, beads and a mirror. Children enthusiastically study the color fragments and the purpose of the interactive elements of the game. The shape of the toy allows the child to comfortably hold it in his hands and perform entertaining actions.
A toy for a child’s psychological comfort
Numerous children's toys help organize an area of psychological relaxation and comfort for the baby. The creators and developers of game models take into account as much as possible the age-related characteristics of the psyche of the growing child’s body. Children need to have their own toy farm for entertaining leisure. Games for kids are not a fad, but an integral part of growing up. Psychologists directly link the quality and functionality of gaming material with the mental health of children.
It is necessary to provide the baby not so much with a large number of toys, but rather with their correct distribution into groups that ensure harmonious age-related development. The game develops social and everyday skills, develops fantasy and imagination, and the child learns to think logically and make his own decisions. The right choice of necessary toys is an important moment in the preschool education of a little person.
How to choose a toy for a gift that a 2-year-old girl will like?
Although little ones are known to be picky, you can choose a gift for them and they will love it.
Knowing your child well always helps, so use your child's personality traits to choose a gift. If they love to read, buy them a book. If they love dolls, buy her the best doll.
Most importantly, try to choose a gift that your child can play with in several different ways. This will ensure that your gift doesn't end up at the bottom of the toy box.
