All of the gifts in this post are all but guaranteed to “win” Christmas by being the most exciting gift for the 2-year-old on your list. They all cost upwards of $100, but that might be well worth it based on the joy on your kids’ faces on Christmas morning. Plus, these toys may just provide a great return on investment as they get played with for many hours in the days and weeks following Christmas.
My criteria for Christmas-winning toys for 2-year-olds:
They can be placed under a Christmas tree (or more accurately, next to it), adorned with a giant bow
They make an immediate, exciting first impression
They can be played with right away on Christmas morning with minimal setup required (so there’s no question whose gift is the most popular, in case you’re feeling competitive)
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Battery-Powered Ride-On Toy (Such as Power Wheel)
Kid Trax Real Rigs Ride-On Fire Truck, $175.99
My own vehicle enthusiast son is pictured above in a toy store sitting in a Power Wheel he never got to take home.
I balked at the idea of getting him a battery-powered ride-on toy because I didn’t have enough room to store it, and I was pretty sure it would quickly stop running (as evidenced by almost every example I’d ever come across in real life). But he has consistently been so excited at the sight of these ride-on vehicles over the years that I kind of regret never buying him one. He even occasionally asks for a toy like this now, but he’s way too big at this point.
Other ride-on toys can also be exciting. I think the best healthy, space-saving alternative is a balance bike. You could probably make a bike gift a little more exciting with some handlebar streamers or a bell, but it’s tough to rival the excitement of a battery-powered ride-on car if you’re trying to win Christmas.
Costzon Train Table with 100-Piece Train Playset, $139.99
2-year-olds love trains. I don’t know if its the excitement of having the vehicles coupled together, the romance of an old-fashioned steam whistle and the clickety-clack sound, or the satisfaction of the wheels fitting snuggly on a track. A wooden train set all on its own can be a really big gift, but when it’s coupled with a train table, the excitement is even bigger.
No matter what your income level or culture, your 2-year-old probably sees their caregivers working in the kitchen regularly. And 2-year-olds, in particular, love to imitate what they see their grownups doing. Plus, a play kitchen engages imaginative play as well things like as fine motor skills.
There are a ton of play kitchens on the market that will excite 2-year-olds and definitely win Christmas.
These small-scale plastic playgrounds are super fun for 2-year-olds, and much less stressful to have in the yard or basement than the larger wooden playsets that are designed for older kids. That said, toddlers do outgrow these playsets relatively quickly. That means there are generally a lot of them available secondhand, so you might want to check resale shops and Facebook Marketplace if you want to save some cash.
