Bored with Toys?

[EchoMom]

Does anyone else have a problem with 2 year olds and toys? My kids seem to be uninterested in most of the toys. They'll get them out and make a mess and clean it up when asked, but they haven't really PLAYED anything. Here's whats offered:

Mr. PotatoHead w/lots of really cool unique pieces- NEVER gets touched
My Little Ponies- NEVER get touched anymore
Wooden Building bocks - NEVER get touched
Stuffed animals- RARELY
Puzzles- NEVER
Duplos- NEVER
Cars- Sometimes, but they don't PLAY with them, just get them out
Play Food & Kitchen- OFTEN
Musical Instruments- sometimes
Train- (only played with by the 4year old. Daily)


The kids love "activities" arts & crafts are the big hit right now. But I can't be sitting with them every minute, sometimes I need them to free play so I can attend to the babies. Outside they LOVE water play but I need indoor toys.

What are some toys for 2-2.5year olds that they actually play with and keeps them interested???

[SilverSabre25]

I do have problems with that age group and playing. It's a tough age, lots going on developmentally, toys seem to take a backseat. Perhaps there's too much available right now; I know with twos they seem to do best with few choices. You could have three or four things available in the morning and then switch them for the afternoon, maybe.

Or make a bunch of sensory boxes/discovery bottles/busy bags and try those.

Whenever I figure out the "magic" for twos I'll be sure and pass on the tip!

Also, what about babies/doll play? Dress up clothes? Cash register? lacing beads?

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

a box! LOL But sooo true! I switch out toys every few weeks, not all but enough to keep their interest.

I think kids today have a harder time "playing" because they are always entertained and they always want attention. Most parents don't tell them go play. I put them in the playroom with a gate and tell them go play.

Right now the dinosaurs have been a hit. But, they will leave us this weekend. Mega blocks have been a big one lately. Food always but there again I switch out sets (one cutting and one little tykes food that I have had forever!) I have out some little people and cars. Some other cars, a wooden town set, some linking people, a number 2 bin... a bin with odd things.. nesting cups etc. Honestly I think the odd things gets played with the most!!

Good luck with figuring out what works. Sometimes I have to start them with an idea. If we tape a road on the carpet to drive the cars on how should it be? (blue paint tape) can you make a town with the blocks around it?

My kidlets love the potato head bin.. hmm it may have to come back out next week.

Oh and I was serious about that box.. or lots of taped up cereal size boxes

[EchoMom]

I do have problems with that age group and playing. It's a tough age, lots going on developmentally, toys seem to take a backseat. Perhaps there's too much available right now; I know with twos they seem to do best with few choices. You could have three or four things available in the morning and then switch them for the afternoon, maybe.

Or make a bunch of sensory boxes/discovery bottles/busy bags and try those.

Whenever I figure out the "magic" for twos I'll be sure and pass on the tip!

Also, what about babies/doll play? Dress up clothes? Cash register? lacing beads?

There aren't many toys upstairs for the 2s and up. Most of the upstairs toys are wooden baby/toddler toys. Upstairs we do lots of activities at the table. But when we go downstairs, that's the play room where they are SUPPOSED to play. :P

Can you give me an example of sensory boxes/etc?

I don't have any baby dolls because I figured we HAVE 3 real babies in the house and the 2s like to play with the real babies, cuddle them, feed them, play hide n' seek & peekaboo with them. Should I get dolls too? I've been thinking about that.

I took away the cash register because it was a terribly loud electronic beeping one with no voume control!!! Maybe I could find a silent one.

Lacing beads can only be done at the table as babies might get them if they're just out for free paly.

Dress up clothes seem to be expensive if they are the real fire fighter/etc. sets. Where/what kind of dress up clothes do you use??? I think they'd love this!

[SilverSabre25]

There aren't many toys upstairs for the 2s and up. Most of the upstairs toys are wooden baby/toddler toys. Upstairs we do lots of activities at the table. But when we go downstairs, that's the play room where they are SUPPOSED to play. :P

Can you give me an example of sensory boxes/etc?

I don't have any baby dolls because I figured we HAVE 3 real babies in the house and the 2s like to play with the real babies, cuddle them, feed them, play hide n' seek & peekaboo with them. Should I get dolls too? I've been thinking about that.

I took away the cash register because it was a terribly loud electronic beeping one with no voume control!!! Maybe I could find a silent one.

Lacing beads can only be done at the table as babies might get them if they're just out for free paly.

Dress up clothes seem to be expensive if they are the real fire fighter/etc. sets. Where/what kind of dress up clothes do you use??? I think they'd love this!

Definitely take the batteries out of the cash register or get this one:

DEFINITELY pick up some baby dolls. They will LOVE them. The dolls, some blankets, and some bottles, will be great for twos.

BIG lacing beads

or these: Lacing Cards

How about a shape sorter? Or puzzles? Melissa and Doug has some great chunky puzzles that are great for twos.

Dress up clothes...go tot Once Upon a Child, get some costumes. or just get different hats. Twos might love a set of doctor equipment and a set of construction tools. "real" shoes (low heels, clunky men's shoes), some purses. You could also go to the thrift store and pick out a bunch of things--fancy dresses that are sized for a 6 or 7 yo, suit jackets, costume jewelery, etc.

[Sunchimes]

My 2 (I'm down to one right now) loves her doll. That poor doll. It is absolutely the ugliest, scariest creature I've ever soon. I bought a doll bed at a yard sale and this thing was in it. I tried to hand it back and tell her that I didn't need another doll, so she could keep it. She actually pulled her hands back and said if I wanted the bed I had to take the doll. I planned to throw it out, but all 3 of my little ones loved it. When I had 3, they would fuss over it. As soon as one put it down, someone else grabbed it. shudder DCG cried to take her home last week, and I encouraged it because Mom isn't always diligent about returning things--which works in my favor here. Except this time, the doll was back the next morning. ::

Anyway, my 2 yr old rotates this doll from the high chair to the stroller to the bed. She goes to the potty with her. She naps with her. But yes, dolls are popular. Mega-blocks are good. There is one puzzle that she likes. Oh, and the dishes. She doesn't play with them in an organized way, but she takes them out of the basket, puts them back, carefully puts them in random places around the room in a pattern only she understands.

She also spends a lot of time looking at books. She loves them.

[spud912]

My kids primarily play with 2 toys: plastic animals/dinosaurs and Magna-Tiles. The plastic animals/dinosaurs are cheap and can be found for $1 each at Wal-Mart. The Magna-Tiles, on the other hand, are bank breaking at more than $1 a piece and are sold in packs of 35 and 100.

They also play read the books a lot. I go to the library every week and get a new set of books based on our theme. I leave them out for the kids to browse through, which they love!! We have a ton of other things, but they generally play with those items the most.

[cheerfuldom]

might be time to rearrange your playroom, create some new interest. do you have a reading corner? what about little people? (all ages love those here). check out pinterest for further diy ideas.....simple things like hanging some mirrors up, a large magnetic board, etc. are big hits for all ages. as for dress up, I find the kids greatly prefer accessories (hats, gloves, glasses) and large pieces of fabrics or scarves versus actual dress up clothing. its cheaper and easier to replace. we also have a puppet theater. mmmmm....hope that helps!

[countrymom]

the kitchen, they play all day with dishes dolls and kitchen. They like hot wheels cars too.

[My3cents]

I think kids today have a harder time "playing" because they are always entertained and they always want attention. Most parents don't tell them go play. I put them in the playroom with a gate and tell them go play.


I agree with you here.......

How do you keep peace when you put them in the play room and tell them to go play? What ages are we talking about? I have two year old's that just want to pile up on each other, and not share, and it seems like they sometimes love to make each other miserable. I know they are learning but it sure seems like they love it. The interest in toys is not there but more in what is going on around them. All my kids are only children, so parents give all attention to them and they expect this from me, instead of playing with peers and or by themselves. I have stinky thinking that parents expect me to be doing this too. I feel like the benefits of independent play and group play are more valuable then constant one on one with an adult. I just find this group of children difficult because this is what home life is like for them ( I am not saying this is wrong of the parent- apple of their eyes and it should be this way) it is just hard for group daycare.

Myself revisiting the stages the kids are going through I come back and try to get ideas and learn as we all grow. It is not that I have not been through this before, but I am going through it with different personalities and future learning possibilities, still trying and holding on to what I know to try.

[quailsgarden]

I have run in to this problem with the 4.5 yo DCB I watch. I started making large sensory bins using the toys and other things and that has worked. Tea set and flowers from the garden and some coloured water, cars and mud or sand, zoo animals and sand with long stems of herbs from the garden. Mr. potato head and a play doh instead of the potato ect.

[Blackcat31]

I have a specific room for that are kids so they are kind of separated from the 3-5 year olds.

In this room I have:

big blocky cars/trucks (like the Hot Wheel ones but toddler sized)
Large cars/trucks
Wooden blocks
A bin full of Little People/vehicles
Board Books/photo albums
Duplo blocks/waffle blocks
Baby dolls/cradle and highchair
2 inflatable beach balls/4 nerf balls/basket ball net
giant plastic dinos
plastic farm animals/barn
plastic snap together beads/handheld mirrors
kitchen/housekeeping stuff
set of plastic bins/boxes/crates (all sizes)
6 canvas bags/purses and 6 hats
dress up costumes
drip/discovery bottles
wooden puzzles/shape sorters/lacing cards


These items are in big Rubbermaid totes. I place 4 totes in the room each day. The next day I take them out and put 4 more different ones in.

Sometimes the kids will ask for specific ones and other times, they simply like to see what I put there and will play happily with whatever choices I give them.

I only do 4 per day because it is easier for them to clean up the mess with only 4 options and each day is like getting new toys because they act as if they have never seen the stuff in each tote before. ::

This is for our free-play sessions when an organized or structured activity is not already taking place.

[WImom]

One of the things mentioned that my 2's like are fisher price snap dolls.

[e.j.]

Does anyone else have a problem with 2 year olds and toys? My kids seem to be uninterested in most of the toys. They'll get them out and make a mess and clean it up when asked, but they haven't really PLAYED anything. Here's whats offered:

Mr. PotatoHead w/lots of really cool unique pieces- NEVER gets touched
My Little Ponies- NEVER get touched anymore
Wooden Building bocks - NEVER get touched
Stuffed animals- RARELY
Puzzles- NEVER
Duplos- NEVER
Cars- Sometimes, but they don't PLAY with them, just get them out
Play Food & Kitchen- OFTEN
Musical Instruments- sometimes
Train- (only played with by the 4year old. Daily)


The kids love "activities" arts & crafts are the big hit right now. But I can't be sitting with them every minute, sometimes I need them to free play so I can attend to the babies. Outside they LOVE water play but I need indoor toys.

What are some toys for 2-2.5year olds that they actually play with and keeps them interested???

My kids love all of the above but they also like playing with buidlings like Dora's dollhouse, Fisher Price castle, garage and barn. I also have bins filled with dinosaurs that I bought for cheap at Walmart, Fisher Price people and animals (one has wild animals and one has farm animals in it).

[Happy Hearts]

I ended up with one two-year old today. He was so bored in the playroom that's loaded with toys. After snack (upstairs in the dining room) he wanted to keep the damp washcloth and refused to go back downstairs. So, we stayed upstairs and he played with this washcloth for an hour by wiping things, wiping himself and generally just hanging on to it. Perfectly happy little guy. Go figure.