How to Choose Safe and Fun Toys for Your Toddler

As toddlers reach the age of two, their play becomes more purposeful, curious and skill-building. That’s why choosing the right toys for 2 year oldis about more than just fun — it’s about safety, engagement and support for early learning milestones. Skillmatics offers a thoughtfully curated range of products for ages 0–3 that combine safe materials and smart design with interactive play that nurtures motor skills, sensory development, language, and cognitive growth.

1. Starry Stacker: Silicone Stacking Toy

A fantastic introductory toy for toddlers and a smart choice for toys for 2 year old, the Starry Stacker is made from soft, food-grade silicone and is suitable from about 6 months up to 3 years.

This colorful, tactile toy encourages toddlers to:

Practice hand-eye coordination

• Practice hand-eye coordination

Learn about size and order

• Learn about size and order

Build fine motor skills through stacking and unstacking

• Build fine motor skills through stacking and unstacking

Because the stars are made from flexible, non-toxic silicone that’s safe to chew on and easy to clean, this is a perfect choice for teething toddlers and for playtimes that combine learning with sensory play.

2. Linkies: Set of 36 Connectable Learning Links

For toddlers who enjoy connecting, building, and sorting, Skillmatics’ Linkies Set of 36 Links is a superb addition to your child’s toy collection. Designed for ages 10–24 months, this set is safe and easy for little hands to grasp.

The Linkies toy encourages early learning features such as:

Fine motor skill practice through linking and unlinking

• Fine motor skill practice through linking and unlinking

Recognition of patterns and shapes

• Recognition of patterns and shapes

Early creative play — toddlers can make chains, loops, and simple building structures

• Early creative play — toddlers can make chains, loops, and simple building structures

This open-ended play option gives toddlers the freedom to use their imagination, all while building strength and coordination — essential milestones for every toddler approaching age two.

3. Peek-A-Boo Interactive Cloth Books

Interactive cloth books are wonderful tools for sensory introduction and interactive play. Skillmatics offers two engaging themes that are perfect picks for your toddler:

Peek-A-Boo: Jungle Theme (Ages 6+ months)

• Peek-A-Boo: Jungle Theme (Ages 6+ months)

Peek-A-Boo: Under The Sea (Ages 6+ months)

• Peek-A-Boo: Under The Sea (Ages 6+ months)

These cloth books combine bright illustrations, textures and soft pages that toddlers can flip, touch and feel. This helps:

Build visual focus and attention

• Build visual focus and attention

Enhance sensory engagement with safe, soft materials

• Enhance sensory engagement with safe, soft materials

Support early recognition of animals, objects and colors

• Support early recognition of animals, objects and colors

For toddlers on the journey from exploration to intentional play, these books offer joyful moments of learning and safe handling.

4. Puppet Books – Interactive Finger Puppet Play

Interactive puppet books like:

Puppet Book: Old MacDonald Had a Farm (Ages 6–24 months)

• Puppet Book: Old MacDonald Had a Farm (Ages 6–24 months)

Puppet Book: The Wheels on the Bus (Ages 6–24 months)

• Puppet Book: The Wheels on the Bus (Ages 6–24 months)

bring language and social play into the world of toys for 2 year old. Combining finger puppets with simple rhymes or familiar songs, these books are a great way for caregivers and toddlers to interact together. They promote:

Early vocabulary and communication skills

• Early vocabulary and communication skills

Parent–child interaction and shared play

• Parent–child interaction and shared play

Memory and sound recognition through rhythmic repetition

• Memory and sound recognition through rhythmic repetition

These books are light, durable, and built with safety in mind — ideal for family reading sessions and building early language skills.

5. Push & Pop Sensory Toys

Simple design meets sensory joy with Skillmatics’ Push & Pop toys, like the TV remote and mobile phone versions suitable for ages around 9–24 months.

Toddlers love tactile toys that give feedback when pressed. These toys help with:

Fine motor control as little fingers press and pop

• Fine motor control as little fingers press and pop

Strengthening hand dexterity

• Strengthening hand dexterity

Sensory engagement through satisfying button action

• Sensory engagement through satisfying button action

They’re small, lightweight and non-toxic — perfect for toddlers who enjoy simulated play while learning fundamental motor skills.

6. My Quiet Book – Sensory Activity Book

A slightly more advanced option for ages 1 year and up, the My Quiet Book is a multi-activity cloth toy designed to challenge toddlers with buttons, zippers and shapes.

This toy combines safety and learning by helping toddlers:

Strengthen fine motor skills

• Strengthen fine motor skills

Work on problem-solving tasks

• Work on problem-solving tasks

Build focus and self-confidence during independent play

• Build focus and self-confidence during independent play

Quiet books can be especially helpful during quiet moments and travel, providing engaging activities that help toddlers feel accomplished and entertained.

7. Wooden Animal & Dinosaur Toys on Wheels

For toddlers who enjoy motion and physical play, Skillmatics offers Animals on Wheels and Dinosaurs on Wheels — wooden toys designed for ages 9 months to 3 years.

Made with smooth, rounded edges and child-safe paints, these toys let toddlers:

Push, pull and roll figures around

• Push, pull and roll figures around

Practice gross motor skills and coordination

• Practice gross motor skills and coordination

Engage in imaginative play that stimulates cognitive growth

• Engage in imaginative play that stimulates cognitive growth

The natural wood material and bright designs make these safe, classic options for toddlers becoming more mobile and curious.

How These Toys Support Growth

Best toys for 2 year old are those that support key developmental areas in playful ways:

Motor Skills

Stacking, linking and pushing toys support both fine and gross motor skill improvement — foundational for walking, grasping and coordinated movement.

Cognitive Skills

Interactive cloth books, puppet books and activity books help toddlers recognize shapes, patterns and sounds, reinforcing early cognitive connections.

Language and Social Development

Sing-along puppet books and shared reading toys encourage toddlers to listen, repeat and interact, strengthening early language skills and social bonds.

Sensory Engagement

Soft cloth toys, pop-button toys and textural elements stimulate sight, touch and auditory response — enriching everyday play experiences.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right toys for 2 year old doesn’t have to be a challenge. With safe materials, age-appropriate design and opportunities for meaningful play, Skillmatics toys help toddlers grow their skills while having fun. Whether it’s stacking stars, flipping cloth book pages, rolling wooden wheels or linking shapes together, each toy supports your child’s developmental journey in playful, thoughtful ways.