Gifts for 2-3 Year Olds

Gifts for 2-3 Year Olds

Toys for the age when imagination takes off — pretend play sets, play food, wooden animals, building sets, puzzles, dolls and picture books, all made for little ones with very big ideas.

Something wonderful happens around two. Suddenly the wooden block is a phone, the basket is a boat, and your toddler is serving you a full three-course meal made entirely of pretend. This is the age where play stops being about figuring out how things work and starts being about telling stories.

So these are the toys that leave room for that: open-ended pieces with no single right way to play, and plenty of space for whatever your child decides is happening today.

What are the best toys for a 2 year old?

Open-ended favourites: play food and kitchen pieces, wooden animals, chunky building sets, simple puzzles and first dolls. Two-year-olds are beginning to imitate everything they see, so toys that let them copy real life get played with endlessly.

What are good toys for a 3 year old?

Three-year-olds are ready for more detailed play — role play sets, bigger building sets, small-world animals and figures, and dolls to look after. Their stories are getting longer and more elaborate, and the best toys keep up.

Why is pretend play important at this age?

Acting out everyday life helps children make sense of the world. Pretend play builds language, empathy, problem-solving and confidence, and it gives little ones a safe way to work through new experiences.

What’s a good gift for a 2 or 3 year old birthday?

A play food or kitchen set, a basket of wooden animals, a building set or a first doll all make wonderful birthday gifts — and they keep being played with for years rather than months.

Where can I buy toys for 2 and 3 year olds in Canada?

Right here at The Playful Peacock. We’re a Canadian, mom-run toy shop, and we ship across Canada, hand-packed with care.

Pick something that leaves room for their imagination — they’ll take it from there.

Toys for the age when imagination takes off — pretend play sets, play food, wooden animals, building sets, puzzles, dolls and picture books, all made for little ones with very big ideas.

Something wonderful happens around two. Suddenly the wooden block is a phone, the basket is a boat, and your toddler is serving you a full three-course meal made entirely of pretend. This is the age where play stops being about figuring out how things work and starts being about telling stories.

So these are the toys that leave room for that: open-ended pieces with no single right way to play, and plenty of space for whatever your child decides is happening today.

What are the best toys for a 2 year old?

Open-ended favourites: play food and kitchen pieces, wooden animals, chunky building sets, simple puzzles and first dolls. Two-year-olds are beginning to imitate everything they see, so toys that let them copy real life get played with endlessly.

What are good toys for a 3 year old?

Three-year-olds are ready for more detailed play — role play sets, bigger building sets, small-world animals and figures, and dolls to look after. Their stories are getting longer and more elaborate, and the best toys keep up.

Why is pretend play important at this age?

Acting out everyday life helps children make sense of the world. Pretend play builds language, empathy, problem-solving and confidence, and it gives little ones a safe way to work through new experiences.

What’s a good gift for a 2 or 3 year old birthday?

A play food or kitchen set, a basket of wooden animals, a building set or a first doll all make wonderful birthday gifts — and they keep being played with for years rather than months.

Where can I buy toys for 2 and 3 year olds in Canada?

Right here at The Playful Peacock. We’re a Canadian, mom-run toy shop, and we ship across Canada, hand-packed with care.

Pick something that leaves room for their imagination — they’ll take it from there.

The Playful Peacock Difference

  • About the Playful Peacock

    The Playful Peacock was created in 2021 to curate creative, open-ended play for curious children. The Playful Peacock is privileged to operate in Tkaronto/Toronto. 

  • Quality Toys Designed to Last 

    We are steadfast in our selection of toy makers that we work with.

     Our offerings are from Canadian, female-owned, BIPOC and/or family-owned brands that are firmly rooted in environmental practices with strong ethical standards. We adamantly align ourselves with makers we are proud of and who are equally dedicated to sustainability, transparency and ethical labour, including paying living and fair wages. The majority of the toys these brands make are handmade, natural wooden toys that forge limitless play for kids to enjoy for years.

  • The Handmade Difference

    The Playful Peacock’s toys are built with quality and care to last for generations. All of the toys are safe and made with individualized love and attention using a high-caliber of materials and finishes that do not include any harmful additives. Our toys will quickly become an heirloom through their high-quality and endless enjoyment. 

  • Materials Matter

    Plastic toys are typically mass-produced and easily breakable. These toys can contribute to sweatshops, unfair labour conditions and pollution in general.

    While wooden toys are a step in the right direction, not all wooden toys are made the same. There are many wooden dupes to be aware of cheap, mass-produced wooden toys that are just as harmful as plastic! For example, softwood and plywood can chip and splinter easily, while non-handcrafted wooden toys often are filled with harmful toxic paints, finishes, and sealants. 

    Consciously opting for ethical, handcrafted wooden toys (renewable wood is even better) is safer for your child, is way more dependable and a kinder contributor to our already fragile planet. 

    The manufacturing process our makers use considers Mother Earth first through strict FSC Certifications, non-toxic paint, and planet-friendly materials across every single product. After placing an order, you will receive your newly beloved toy in 99% plastic-free, biodegradable, recyclable and compostable packaging, down to the stickers and tape.

  • The Right Toy At The Right Time 

    Children are naturally drawn to play toys that they can master and that is right for their particular stage of development.

    With a wide range of toys available for kids ages 0-1, 1-2, 2-3 and 3+,  you can ensure the toy is safe, age-appropriate, and developmentally appropriate, too. The majority of our toys focus on fun and subtle learning, and open-ended play, while being Montessori approved.

  • Ethical Toys Making A Difference 

    We are a purpose-first brand and a business second.

    With a deep awareness that the toy industry must do better, we are committed to our part through advocacy for a range of social justice causes, environmental advancement and stringent criteria for makers. We are changemakers and give back through every purchase by donating meals to children in need across 26 Indigenous communities within Canada.