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Wiggle, Giggle, Learn a Little! - 2/3 Year Old Educational Toys
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items Ohhhh how play is the work of a child! This list has all our favorite (child tested, mom approved) toys that encourage some developmental skills! Many of these toys fit into numerous categories, which makes them even more useful. Happy learning!
Sections
7
Focusing on Colors
Focusing on Numbers
Focusing on Letters
Focusing on Shapes
Focusing on Fine motor
Focusing on Matching
Focusing on Colors
Colors Colors! One of the first things we set out to teach little ones. These are some games and toys that encourage just that.
This is my son's most favorite game of all time! We play this every day, multiple times a day. Perfect for practicing color recognition
Raccoon Rumpus Game
Any time that you can introduce concepts in different ways is a win! Kiddos love magnets, so throwing these on the fridge or a white board is a fun way the little ones to practice colors, matching, and fine motor skills! Massive win to even begin pla...
Magnetic Color Set
Amazon has a massive amount of "counters" like these that are amazing for so many different reasons. Color recognition, sorting, counting, fine motor skills, pretend play - these hit EVERY area.
Counting Animals Montessori Toys
This specific set is labeled to practice colors, so I threw it in this section - however, this toy hits all areas. Pretend food was one of the first toys that I bought my daughter and set her up for a very strong vocabulary from the beginning! Food w...
Learning Toys Play Food Set
This could easily be labeled in the fine motor skills section (in fact, it is, on Amazon)! However, at this age, I love using this toy to focus just on the colors and sorting/matching. This is an awesome toy that they can continue growing into as the...
Bee to Hive Game
A classic! A staple! Both of my children adored this toy.
Baby Spinning Stacking Toys
Another game that could easily be labeled for fine motor! At this age, I like to forego the scissor grabber and focus on identifying the colors! My son loves this one!
Ruby's Gem Quest - Scissor Skills Game
Carpet markers are one of the first intentionally colored toys that I bought my 2 year old! These can allow you to stick them anywhere and keep your kiddos exposed to colors. My household especially likes to stick some on their shirts and call each o...
Carpet Markers
Focusing on Numbers
Numbers, numbers, numbers! This learning section has two parts to it: being exposed to actually identifying a number being shown (1-10), and counting! Both important, both have a lot of toys to help!
Such a cute game for practicing following directions and numbers!
Pizza Counting Toddler Number Toy
I do think the more your kiddos are exposed to certain areas, the more you retain! Adding some letters to your wall just act as more observation as they grow.
Alphabet Wall Decals
My little one loves stacking objects. Even though he's two and isn't stacking to the number shown, he's being exposed to looking at numbers, so I call that a win!
Ice Cream Preschool Counting & Sorting
We have bought so many of these kits over the years. More exposure to numbers! We love them, so many uses. My four year old still plays with these - so it grows with the family.
Peekaboo Learning Farm
These are my favorite books for counting - because they are hands on. Your child physically gets to see that they "poked" and counted each animal. We've had these books for years and they hold up so well.
Poke-a-Dot: Who's in the Ocean? Board Book
Another awesome counting toy that holds up so well! I love that these are small and can be used on the go.
Poke-A-Dot Jumbo Number Learning Cards
We love this game!!! So many uses. Pretend play, vocabulary, counting, following directions. Nice heavy duty pieces, feels very well made.
Peaceable Kingdom Acorn Soup Game
I'm a big fan of introducing different textures to your little ones - felt is one of our favorites! My kids both love counting these apples.
Numbers Felt Tree Board Math Game
These were one of the first "educational" toys that I bought my daughter. We only played these at bath time and she loved getting them wet and hanging them on the wall to practice their sounds. A win win for all of us!!!!!
Munchkin® Learn™ Bath Letters and Numbers
Focusing on Letters
Letters, letters, letters!!! We don't work too much on these in my house until the little one turns around 3.5, 4, but these are som easy introductions!
Magnets magnets magnets!!! One of the greatest things that keeps my little ones busy, are magnets. I especially like these ones because they are silly and allow for pretend play while learning.
Magnetic Animal Alphabet Letters
Like I said, felt is one of our favorite materials to use for teaching new things! This pairs so good with the book "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom"
Felt Letter & Number Coconut Tree Game
Focusing on Shapes
Shapes, shapes, shapes! Shapes are everywhere and are such a good baseline to learning more difficult math concepts later on! Here are some of our favorite toys to help practice!
Cannot go wrong with Melissa and Doug puzzles! We have had this for several years and it is in great condition.
First Shapes Jumbo Peg Puzzle - 5 Pieces
Such a great puzzle for shapes!!
Shapes Chunky Puzzle - 8 Pieces
Shape sorting puzzles are fantastic! So many things this could be used for. Shape identification, fine motor skills, color recognition.
Montessori Toys for 1-4 Year Old Toddlers
Shape sorting cubes have always been a hit in our house!
Shape Sorting Cube Classic Toy
Fantastic tactile and first introduction to shapes!
6 Pc Multi Sensory Toy
Focusing on Fine motor
Fine motor skills!!! These are one of the greatest skills that you want to work on developing with your little one, because they are the basis of getting their fingers strong! Here are some toys to help, without the small ones realizing.
Any kind of pretend play cookie set like these are fabulous for fine motor! They have your little one using finger muscles to pull them apart. You can also use these to work on color and patterns.
Wooden Cookie Play Food Set for Kids
Who doesn't love these little Dino's?? Great first introduction to fine motor skills.
Spike The Fine Motor Dinosaur
My kids were big fans of both the hedgehog and the dinosaur! Awesome for fine motor skills, and color recognition.
Spike the Fine Motor Hedgehog
A toy that truly grows with your family! At age 2, I wouldn't attempt following the cards - but would allow my little to play as they like to practice fine motor skills, and work on shapes. My four year old loves to play by following the cards and st...
Wooden Beads Sequencing Toy Set
Another game to grow with your family! At age 2, my son and I just count the wooden hedges as we put them on our hedgehog. This is wonderful for fine motor skills and counting. Very well made board and pieces.
My four year old loves to play the boa...
Hedgehog Game
This is such a popular toy and for good reason! So simple, but stacking is a great milestone for littles to develop fine motor skills.
The First Years Stack & Count Stacking Cups
These are marketed as 4+, but my son has been playing these since he was 2 and LOVES THEM. They may need a little assistance at first until they master it, but the goal is let their little hands do a lot of the work. This is a staple in our house.
Gears! Gears! Gears!® FlightGears™
Great game for fine motor skills and coordination! Also very silly and keeps the littles engaged.
Let's Go Fishin' Game
This is your go-to if you are looking for something a little more sit down and formal. This is what I started my daughter off with around 2.5, 3, to see how she liked it. Both of my kids LOVEall of the play smart sticker books! They are perfectly age...
Play Smart My First STICKER BOOK: For Ages 2+
Focusing on Matching
Matching, matching, matching! There are so many benefits to playing matching games with little ones that will be beneficial in their learning later on. Here are some of our favorites to practice!
Perfect first introduction to marching pictures with your little one! Nice sturdy pieces. We love Orchard Toys.
Farmyard Heads and Tails Game
Busy books are SO ENTERTAINING for little ones!!! One of our most used purchases. Also works on vocabulary, fine motor skills, counting, colors, all of the things!
Busy Book for Toddlers
More felt fun! Any type of dress up games (felt, magnetic, paper, sticker) are so fun and great for learning! This can help teach matching, colors, appropriate weather wear, without your little even realizing.
Felt Flannel Board Stories Set
We love a good busy book in this house!!! This is a toy that grows with your family. Your littles can begin using it for fun, and as they grow you can introduce more challenging subjects. I love the ones that come pre assembled!
Busy Book for Kids
More magnetic dress up! We have almost every magnetic Melissa and Doug kit, and you cannot go wrong!
Joey Magnetic Dress-Up Set
You cannot go wrong with puzzles!!!! We love this one!
Wooden Jigsaw Peg Puzzle
A twist on the classic egg matching game for toddlers!
Easter Egg Toy for Toddlers
We have found so many uses for this toy! We introduced it to my daughter when she was around 2, for color sorting and fine motor skills. Now that she is four, we use it to practice counting when working on math.
Wooden Color Sorting Toys for Toddlers
One that grows with your family! My two year old loves this toy to match the animals to the cards.
My four year old likes to play the game the "correct" way, using the tweezers and adding the max amount of vines to make it harder. Such an easy game ...
Jungle Rescue Game - Fine Motor Fun
A classic in sorting and matching! Both of my kids loved this when they were young - and now they have animals to pretend play with as well.
Take-Along Sorting Barn
Such a great toy that hits so many marks. Fine motor skills, matching, sorting, counting, color recognition. Fantastic quality.
Rock 'n' Gem Surprise
A staple that will grow with your family! At age 2, my son practices this game by matching the acorns to their color. As he gets older, his hands will be strong enough to use the tweezers and it will become a more fine motor game for us.
The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game!
Pretend Play for Building Vocabulary
These ones are self explanatory! Pretend playing with your littles is a fantastic way to introduce new vocabulary - these have been some of our favorites throughout the years.
Felt Transportation Vehicles Learning Pieces, 48 Felt Board Pieces
Farm Friends Jumbo Peg Puzzle
Construction Chunky Puzzle - 6 Pieces
Wooden Town Play Set
Mollybee Kids
Get Well Doctor's Kit Play Set
Super Smile Dentist Play Set
Dust! Sweep! Mop! Cleaning Play Set
Scoop & Serve Ice Cream Counter
Examine & Treat Pet Vet Play Set
Kids Play Rugs