Top 10 Learning Toys Worth Buying Now For 2-3-Year-Olds
Gallery
It can be difficult sometimes to come up with ideas for what to do with your energetic toddlers at home, so why not choose now to invest in some educational toys that will help boost the development of your child's motor skills and general learning.
Whether it's for identifying shapes, colour recognition, discovering more fun ways to toddle and walk, or strengthening their little hands, here's a list of some of the best educational toys for 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds.
Fun Time Shape Sorter Bus
This bus is perfect for pushing and pulling over all kinds of surfaces, encouraging children to go on all sorts of adventures. Get on board the shape sorter bus and the little ones can learn as they play when they sort the colourful shapes into the correct slots. Great for little hands and curious children.
Price: £12
Age: 12 months - 3 years
Skill: Problem-solving, hand/eye coordination, fine motor
Where to buy: https://www.elc.co.uk/baby/shapes-sorters-and-stackers/Fun-Time-Shape-Sorter-Bus/p/516096
WinFun Sort And Learn Activity House
Your little ones can learn all about shapes, letters and much more with this activity house. The buttons play fun sound effects and sing-a-long songs to keep your child happy and occupied.
Help boost their dexterity by slotting colourful blocks into the right places, and turning the easy-to-grip key to start the educational adventure all over again. There are many more interactive elements and fun activities to explore and find inside the house for hours of learning and play.
Price: £15
Age: 12 months - 3 years
Skill: Hand/eye coordination, fine motor, problem-solving, imaginative play
Where to buy: https://www.elc.co.uk/baby/shapes-sorters-and-stackers/WinFun-Sort-and-Learn-Activity-House/p/536132
Early Learning Centre Wooden Alphabet Blocks
These wooden blocks are perfectly-sized for small hands to grip and play with. The alphabet blocks are double-sided with numbers and letters to help your little ones learn to count, and introduce them to the alphabet.
There are many ways to use these blocks as they can also match colours, and build as tall a tower as they can to help with their fine motor skills. Getting the kids to love learning and playing has never been easier!
Price: £15
Age: 12 months - 3 years
Skill: Fine motor, hand/eye coordination, imaginative play
Where to buy: https://www.elc.co.uk/wooden-toys/Early-Learning-Centre-Wooden-Alphabet-Blocks/p/540385
Early Learning Centre Cotton Reels
These cotton reels from the early learning centre are fun to experiment with and find new ways to get use out of. Roll them on the floor, stack them up high, sort them by colour or thread the lace through to join them together - there are endless games you can play with these toys.
They're also great for boosting dexterity in the little fingers of your little ones.
Price: £10
Age: 2 - 5-year-olds
Skill: Fine motor
Where to buy: https://www.elc.co.uk/games-and-puzzles/learning-games/Early-Learning-Centre-Cotton-Reels/p/540637
Early Learning Centre Wooden Activity Cube
This activity cube has everything your 2-year-olds need to learn, play and develop their skills during this lockdown period. With shapes, colours, beads and a mini xylophone for hours of musical fun, your little one will have a great time discovering all the new things that they can learn and do.
Since there are so many activities, they can play with any other children in your household to learn social and communication skills too making this one of the best educational toys that you can buy for your children.
Price: £18
Age: 12 months - 3 years
Skill: Fine motor, hand/eye coordination, imaginative play
Where to buy: https://www.elc.co.uk/wooden-toys/Early-Learning-Centre-Wooden-Activity-Cube/p/540380
VTech Animal Fun 3in1 Zebra Scooter
Your toddler can push, ride or scoot around as they learn with this 3in1 Zebra Scooter. They'll learn all about colours, animals and habitats while they develop their physical skills at the same time.
This is perfect for children on the move as they can enjoy the encouraging voices, lights, songs and animal noises all while developing their movement. Mini explorers as young as 18 months can enjoy this scooter.
Price: £54.99
Age: 18 months - 3 years
Skill: Confidence, physical development, imaginative play
Where to buy: https://www.thetoyshop.com/electronic-educational-toys/pre-school-learning-toys/VTech-Animal-Fun-3-in-1-Zebra-Scooter/p/436865
VTech Push And Play Elephant
These adorable push-and-play elephants are exactly the style of toys 2-year-old children will adore. Their little hands will be kept busy with the handle that allows them to push the elephant around and activate motion sensors that will play catch melodies.
Press the buttons on the elephant's side to hear animal sounds, counting phrases or sing-along songs - great to keep their minds working and learning whilst having fun. And stroke the textured ears of the elephant for some tactile stimulation that is guaranteed to keep your 2-year-olds happy.
Price: £11
Age: 6 months - 3 years
Skill: fine motor, imaginative play
Where to buy: https://www.thetoyshop.com/baby-pre-school/electronic-learning/VTech-Push-and-Play-Elephant/p/538847
Leapfrog Lettersaurus
Your 2-year-old will have a new best friend with this brightly coloured dinosaur - one of the best toys on the market for encouraging reading and learning the alphabet, your little ones will have hours of entertainment pressing the alphabet keys along his back, listening to catchy tunes by pushing the button on his side or learning to count by spinning the number wheel on his tail.
This friendly dinosaur also has a pull along feature helping children to toddle and walk as he wobbles along beside them.
Price: £23
Age: 18 months - 4 years
Skill: Fine motor, imaginative play, physical development, learning to read
Where to buy: https://www.thetoyshop.com/baby-pre-school/electronic-learning/LeapFrog-Lettersaurus/p/539604
John Lewis & Partners Wooden Jumbo Farm Dominoes
This wooden dominoes set not only one of the best games for the whole family to play this lockdown, but it is also perfect for helping your 2-year-olds to build an early knowledge of numbers, shapes and colour recognition.
There are multiple ways to play as one side features cute farm animals for the youngest ones to enjoy, and the other side has the classic dotted pattern that most will recognise.
These dominoes are great toys for 2-year-olds because they're entertaining, adorable and educational.
Price: £15
Age: 2 years +
Skill: Fine motor, hand/eye coordination, problem-solving
Where to buy: https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-partners-wooden-jumbo-farm-dominoes/p4285450
Orchard Toys Post Box Game
Games are great toys for 2-year-olds to learn how to think, learn and develop a variety of skills. The post box game from Orchard Toys is a perfect example of this and a wonderful, ethically made product for your children to enjoy.
All your little ones have to do is post the letters in the post boxes with the matching colours. The colours are bright, and the game is simple and designed specifically for little hands making it one of the perfect toys for 2-year-olds.
Price: £10
Age: 2 years +
Skill: Hand/eye coordination, problem-solving
Where to buy: https://www.johnlewis.com/orchard-toys-post-box-game/p617658
If you're after more ideas for educational activities to keep the kids entertained, take a look at how to wow the kids with simple torch effects and block activities for preschool kids.
We Want Your Photos!
More for You
See All
Bachelor of Arts specializing in Creative Writing and Film
Natalie RayworthBachelor of Arts specializing in Creative Writing and Film
Born and raised in London, this writer and editor has a deep passion for creative expression. With a Bachelor's in Creative Writing and Film, Natalie has experience crafting both factual and imaginative pieces. When not writing or editing, she can often be found immersed in a good book or exploring the city's many secondhand bookstores. A lover of music and art, Natalie brings a creative flair to her work, inspired by her lifelong fascination with the Natural History Museum and her childhood days spent pretending to be Peter Pan in the Diana Memorial Playground.
Disclaimer
1) Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. If you purchase using the Buy Now button we may earn a small commission. This does not influence our choices. Prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published but we cannot guarantee that on the time of reading. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content.
2) At Kidadl, we strive to recommend the very best activities and events. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability. Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
3) Because we are an educational resource, we have quotes and facts about a range of historical and modern figures. We do not endorse the actions of or rhetoric of all the people included in these collections, but we think they are important for growing minds to learn about under the guidance of parents or guardians.