The Best Building Blocks for 2-Year-Olds

Last Updated on November 23, 2021 by admin

I don’t even need to tell you that blocks are awesome. You already know, because you played with them yourself.

Most building blocks never break, and they interest kids for years. They even have educational perks, helping 2-year-olds with spatial skills, fine motor skills, sorting and organizing, and even imagining (if my 2-year-old has even one block in his hand, it usually becomes an airplane — I don’t know).

The only downside of blocks is that they get scattered everywhere and require seemingly constant pick-up and sub-furniture-retrieval. But hey, it’s worth it if it keeps your kid entertained for a while.

So, which building blocks for 2-year-olds to choose?

Interlocking Blocks

Duplos

Made by the Lego company specifically for younger kids, Duplos are very popular blocks, and not just with my son; almost all the sets I’ve seen on Amazon (including the ones listed below) have solid 5-star ratings. I can vouch personally for the construction set, too: it has been a big hit since right before my son turned 2.

This can also be a nice place to direct family for gift ideas, since all Duplo toys are compatible.

Creative Play: Creative Animals, $12
My First Creative Cars Building Set, $20
My First Deluxe Box of Fun (includes figures, animals and vehicles) $40

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 Mega Bloks

Mega Bloks, larger and more lightweight than Duplos, are also very popular building blocks for toddlers. Many Mega Bloks sets, like the one pictured here, even come with their own storage, which parents will love.

Some other great Mega Bloks gift options if you’re looking for something more exciting for your 2-year-old than just the blocks:

Mega Bloks Caterpillar Lil’ Dump Truck $12
Mega Bloks First Builders 123 Learning Train, $20

Bristle Blocks

Bristle blocks get great reviews, and would be fun for a 2-year-old to figure out — a fun little twist on the typical block.

These little B. Spinaroos ($35) also look like a great idea – they’re bristle-block-based, but with colorful faces and bodies for kids to spin and twist around.

Magnetic Blocks

If you can spend a little more and want to give that special 2-year-old in your life even more building options, magnetic blocks are great.

The most popular brand on the market are Magna-Tiles® — they have unbelievable reviews — but the age suggestion starts at age 3. The sets below were designed for younger kids.

Magneatos

The Magneatos pictured here are designed more for toddlers, are affordable, and also got great reviews.

SmartMax

 SmartMax has an entire line of magnetic toys that are designed for age 1+. The starter set pictured here is one of them. They have other non-block magnetic sets in which kids can switch up animal pieces and vehicle pieces.

Non Interlocking Blocks

Wooden Blocks

Wooden continue to be a classic, aesthetically pleasing toy, even though I personally hate stepping on them and how much damage they can do as projectiles.

I also like these classic alphabet blocks.

Cardboard Blocks

These larger, cardboard blocks are really great for make-believe play if you’re cool with how much space they take up. Kids like them because they can make really tall towers and walls to hide behind, and I like them because I don’t have to feel guilty that they’ll be in a landfill for thousands of years.

Nesting Blocks / Stacking Blocks

Toddlers can do it all with these toys: stack, sort, organize, count, identify colors and patterns.

The Djeco cubes shown here are fun because they show a different theme on each side.

A twist on the typical nesting blocks: this Melissa & Doug Nesting, Sorting Garages and Cars toy comes with little wooden cars to place in each block – a great idea for vehicle-lovers.