Montessori-Inspired Second Birthday Gift Ideas
Montessori in Real Life
After posting my First Birthday Gift Idea post, I received many requests for a second and third birthday gift list as well, and I’m happy to help! You can expect the third birthday gift idea post in the next couple of weeks. I know how hard it is to shop for little ones, even your own! I hope this helps consolidate the choices for those of you with a soon-to-be two-year-old in your life. These gifts are almost all toys and tools that have been well-loved between the ages of two and three in our home. Many of them will be enjoyed well past the age of three!
Wheelbarrow - Toddlers love “maximum effort” activities, which allow them to put forth their whole body and energy into something with purpose. Your toddler will enjoy filling the wheelbarrow with all kinds of nature treasures and helping out with the outdoor chores you do!
Grimms Blocks - Grimms wooden toys are pricey, but they will last through the years. There are endless ways to use these open-ended blocks. It doesn’t hurt that they look beautiful in your home too! These are great for birthdays of any age.
Mini Cooking Set and Rolling Pins - These are D’s most-used kitchen utensils for real baking and cooking projects with me. Though these can be used for pretend play or play dough, they are completely functional too. Either of these would pair well with The Montessori Guide’s picture recipe ebook!
Sensory Bin Wooden Tools - This is a beautiful set of tools and bowls for sensory play. D loves the wooden scoopers and box with a lid for scooping and pouring rainbow rice and sand. The tongs are great for picking out hidden objects or transferring items between bowls.
Community Helpers and Vehicles - Toddlers find such excitement from fire trucks, school buses, and the helpers associated with them. This is a simple and fun matching activity, and the wooden vehicles roll, providing lots of opportunity for “driving” around the house.
Shape Latch Board - This is a wonderful combination of shape sorter and latch board. Toddlers love locks and latches, so they will enjoy the challenge of opening each door to find the hidden shape. Lots of opportunities for repetition here!
Bath Pipes and Cogs - These are hands down the best bath toys we’ve ever had. As mentioned above, pouring water never gets old. The pipes and cogs stick to the bath tub wall and can be arranged in any number of ways.
Soft Dress-Up Doll - Between the age of two and three, D really got into pretend play with her dolls. These beautiful and plush dolls are perfect for carrying around, pushing in the stroller, and dressing up. They are pricey but a perfect gift for a little one. I also appreciate the diversity of dolls from Hazel Village.
Bead Stringing - Lacing beads was and still is an activity D enjoys on repeat. I especially love this set, with the novel shapes and fun colors. The wooden end makes it easier for toddlers to string on the beads - just be sure to tie a knot on the other end so the beads don’t slide right off!
Fine Motor Tool Set - Sensory bins are a hit with the two-year-olds, and the right tools make all the difference. This simple set from Learning Resources provides tools for transferring a variety of materials, and provide excellent practice for using real scissors, and later, writing.
Farm Nesting Blocks - Djeco is one of my favorite, more whimsical, toy brands for kids. We don’t have this exact one, but it combines a few toddler favorites: stacking, nesting, and hiding objects inside boxes! I love the little farm animals that come with these, which provide opportunities for open-ended play as well.
Toob Figurines - Not a week goes by we don’t use a set a Toob figurines for some sort of activity. From matching to sorting to pretend play, these are well-utilised and loved. You can find Toob figurines for animals, vehicles, flowers, and all kinds of categories!
Pouring Set - Maybe even more popular than locking and latching is pouring water. Once your toddler has mastered pouring water into a cup, this provides a few added challenges with different vessels and a small funnel. This set is also perfect for flower arranging!
Doll Stroller - To go along with a new (or old doll), a stroller is sure to be a hit. I had no idea how many uses it would provide for D. She loves pushing her babies in it, but also her stuffed animals, random objects, and “groceries”. It is in constant use.
First Animal Matching Puzzle - These have been D’s favorite kind of puzzle since her second birthday. With just two pieces each, these are on the easier end, and a great intro to “real” puzzles. I especially like that these are real images of the animals rather than cartoons.
Basic Train Set - This is the perfect first train set. It’s easy enough for toddlers to put together themselves and the colors brighten it up. Even with a minimal amount of pieces, there are a variety of ways to arrange the tracks, with hills and loops. It’s a perfect one to add onto over the years to come!
For birthday book ideas, check out the First Birthday Gift Ideas, as well as our favorite Montessori books. For even more gift inspiration, check out my holiday guide for babies and toddlers!
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