THE BEST TRAVEL TOYS FOR 2-YEAR-OLDS
We all know the toddler stage is rough on both parents and kids, so traveling with a 2-year-old can be difficult. One of the ways to make traveling with a 2-year-old less stressful is by bringing travel toys. The best travel toys for 2-year-olds are fun, educational, and keep their attention.
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All of the toys on our list are perfect for families traveling with a 2-year-old.
Our selections are made based on experience, so we have most of the travel toys on our list. I’m ashamed to say we have a suitcase dedicated to his toys and activities.
Read More: Best Travel Toys for 3-Year-Olds
Amazon Fire 8 Kids Tablet
I used to be the parent that said our son wouldn’t have a tablet until he was three or four years old, but that quickly changed.
Our son got his tablet when he was between 18 months and 2 years old, and it has been a life-saver when we travel. We purchased the VANKYO MatrixPad S8 Kids Tablet instead of the popular Amazon Fire 7, but we just recently upgraded to the Amazon Fire 8 Kids Tablet.
We like the Amazon Kids’ Fire 8 Tablet because of the larger screen, higher RAM, long-lasting battery, better camera, and longevity.
Overall this is a solid tablet, perfect for 2-year-olds that want to watch videos and play games. The sound is appropriate for a toddler his age, plus it’s easy for him to use.
Overall, of the four tablets we’ve tried, this is the best tablet for our 2-year-old so far. We love the recent change to the USB-C, which takes care of the charger issue from the previous versions.
Related Post: Best Tablets for 2-Year-Olds
Melissa & Doug Wooden Take-Along
The Melissa & Doug Take-Along sets are the perfect travel companions for toddlers.
For toddlers that like to use their imagination, this is a fun portable playset.
There are different designs for toddlers with several interests. What makes this one of our favorite travel toys for 2-year-olds is its versatility.
This playset has a wooden storage case making it easy to carry or place inside a suitcase. The built-in tracks are a lot of fun, so your little one can let their imagination run wild.
Melissa & Doug Take-Along Sets
Last update on 2024-10-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Related Post: Best Road Trip Toys for Toddlers
Bristle Blocks
Blocks are one of the best travel toys for 2-year-olds because they promote your toddler’s creativity. We recently switched to bristle blocks because they are large enough to keep from getting lost.
The pieces are small enough to fit in their hands but large (and colorful) enough to find in the car. Plus, there are enough pieces to lose a few along the way.
There is something left behind from our toddler everywhere we go. Beijing has a few of his socks, so a piece of him will always be there.
Travel Building Blocks for 2-Year-Olds
Last update on 2024-10-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Related Post: Top 20 (Affordable) LEGO Alternatives
Activity Cube
Activity cubes are one of the best travel toys because they keep your toddler active and engaged.
This cube has six activities in one, so you’ll 2-year-old can be entertained during a long road trip or airplane ride.
For toddlers who just turned two, this is a fun activity toy that helps them develop critical skills. For parents looking for interactive activities, this is a fun toy that toddlers will enjoy.
Read More: Best Travel Toys for 3-Year-Old
Playfoam
I am 100% against Play-Doh. It is one of the messiest and most annoying “toys” for kids. I refuse to allow our son to play with Play-Doh, so the best alternative is Playfoam.
Your toddler can get creative with Playfoam. They can shape it any way they want, and it never dries out.
There are no messes to clean up and no staining. These are just a few reasons why Playfoam is a fun and convenient travel toy for toddlers.
In case you are wondering how Playfoam helps kids, it helps develop fine motor skills, self-expression, and creativity.
Push them to imagine and create whatever comes to mind. This travel toy will keep them busy during a long road trip or on an airplane.
Read More: 10 Play-Doh Alternatives for Toddlers
Our Favorite Play-Doh Alternatives
Last update on 2024-10-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Magna-Tiles
I absolutely love playing with Magna-Tiles, maybe a little more than our 2-year-old son. They are easy to clean, perfect for toddlers’ little hands, and easy to connect.
These are easy to keep track of since they are larger than LEGOS. Our son likes to play with these on long flights, so they keep him entertained for a little bit.
Our little guy is into shapes right now, so they help him learn how to say his shapes and colors. Your toddler learns while playing with these STEM toys.
As toddlers get older, they can use magnetic blocks to help with math. Learning can be fun, so as your little one gets older these magnetic tiles are still useful.
Read More: Best Travel Beds for Toddlers
My Quiet Books
Quiet books are fun learning travel toys that toddlers will love. As the name suggests, they are quiet, so you won’t disturb passengers on an airplane or cause a fight with siblings in the car.
These books help your toddler learn essential skills. Two or three-year-olds learn their independence by practicing with this book.
Your toddler will learn things such as how to tie their shoes, button a short, loop a belt, tell time, and build with shapes.
Since this book is cloth, it will get dirtier than other books. You don’t have to worry about cleaning since it is machine washable.
The color doesn’t fade, so it’ll look new after months of use. This is one of our favorite road trip toys for 2-year-olds.
Related Post: Top 20 Travel Books for Toddlers
Quiet Books for Toddlers
Last update on 2024-10-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Busy Board Backpack
The Busy Board Backpack is a functional backpack that is also a travel toy. This backpack is lightweight for 2-year-olds. They can use this backpack to carry their toys and snacks.
I am a fan of toddlers carrying backpacks, it’s a great way to tire them out while traveling.
The additional weight requires them to use more energy, which after some time walking in the airport should have them tired enough to sit and play on the airplane.
Related Post: Best Travel Backpacks for Toddlers
LeapFrog LeapStart 3D Interactive Learning System
LeapFrog is one of the most popular brands of educational toys for toddlers. We use LeapFrog because it makes learning fun. What many parents like about this toy is that it is screen-free.
The LeapFrog LeapStart 3D Interactive Learning System helps engage your little one through 3D animations that’ll turn books into fun.
Your 2-year-old can interact with the stylus to help develop their skills with counting, reading, and problem-solving. There are over 700 activities, so your little one can stay busy learning for hours.
This road trip travel toy isn’t just for 2-year-olds. It can grow with your little one. As your toddler gets older, you can purchase different learning books to help develop their reading comprehension.
Read More: Best LeapFrog Toys for Toddlers
INNO PAD Educational Tablet
For parents wanting to limit screen time, the INNO PAD Educational Tablet is perfect for toddlers.
There are different modes such as learning mode, basic quiz mode, advanced mode, and music mode. Each of these different modes lets your little ones learn in different ways.
The volume control allows you to turn it down, so you don’t disturb other people around you. Your toddler will learn about the weather, emotions, music, shapes, transportation, and so much more.
The fun can go on for hours, plus it is portable enough to take anywhere. This tablet is the ultimate travel toy for 2-year-olds.
Read More: Crayola Color Wonder|Best Mess-Free Markers for Toddlers
BEST TRAVEL TOYS FOR 2-YEAR-OLDS: ART & ACTIVITY BOOKS
Fun art activities are one of the best ways to keep your toddler busy while traveling.
These toddler travel toys are for your little artist to use their imagination and create. They are travel-size, so they’re perfect for packing in your carry-on for a short or long flight.
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Crayola Color Wonder Mess Free Coloring Kit
We recently discovered the Crayola Color Wonder Mess Free Coloring Kit and purchased it for our 2-year-old for Christmas, and it is a big hit. He loves it so much we color together once a week.
Our 2-year-old likes to break or eat crayons, so we decided to give these a try, and we are glad we did. The markers only reveal the color on the paper provided in the kit.
Families with toddlers that like to draw on everything except paper will be happy. This mess-free kit is the perfect travel toy for 2-year-olds. They can have fun, and you don’t have a mess to clean up later.
Related Post: 25 Travel Toys for Babies
Melissa & Doug Water Wow Bundle
Every family travel blogger recommends the Melissa & Doug Water Wow Bundle for families traveling with toddlers. These fun mini coloring books reveal different colors and surprises using water.
I must admit I put off buying this for our toddler because of the price, but I stumbled onto a deal and couldn’t resist myself. Our 2-year-old got this for Christmas and has been playing with it ever since.
If you travel with a toddler, this is one of the best travel toys for young kids. You won’t regret this purchase for your little one.
Note: Buying the bundle is the cheapest option. You will pay more for one, so I recommend getting the bundle pack.
Melissa & Doug Reusable Puffy Sticker Wild Adventures Bundle
Although I am not a fan of stickers toddlers enjoy playing with them, so I had to include some on the list. The Melissa & Doug Reusable Puffy Sticker Wild Adventures Bundle is fun for kids and annoying for parents.
Your little one will have three double-sided fold-out glossy scenes to fill. Since the stickers are reusable, they can change the scenery as many times as they want.
There are over 20 stickers with each set. The fun can last for hours. The bundle also includes carrying handles to make it easier for transportation and storage.
Highlights Hidden Pictures Sticker Fun Books
Here is another sticker book that toddlers will love. The Highlights Hidden Pictures Sticker Fun Books are full of almost 500 stickers for your toddlers to play with while in their car seat or on an airplane.
They need to find the hidden objects within the book and place the stickers in the right place. This activity helps your toddler with object recognition, hand-eye coordination, concentration, vocabulary, and attention to detail.
Melissa & Doug Scratch Art Activity Books Set
I will warn you that the Melissa & Doug Scratch Art Activity Books Set can get a little messy, but it is a lot of fun. It’s an easy concept, but toddlers love it.
This small art book reveals different pictures as your little one scratches away. You don’t have to worry about keeping track of crayons, markers, or coloring books; everything you need is in one place.
This activity set has a storage area for the pen, so it doesn’t get lost along the way. If you are looking for a way to entertain your two or three-year-olds during long car rides, this is the best travel toy for you.
Coolplay Alphabet Water Cards
Coolplay Alphabet Water Cards are the perfect road trip toy for 2-year-olds because they are mess-free and attached to a ring. The ring keeps all of the cards together, making them easy for traveling with a toddler.
The front of the cards has a letter, and an animal beginning with that letter is revealed. On the back of each card, some words begin with the letter, so your little ones can practice letters, words, and animals.
These flashcards are reusable because the content disappears after 10 minutes, so they can color them over and over again.
First Little Readers Parent Pack
Our list of best travel toys for 2-year-olds wouldn’t be complete without books. As a preschool teacher, education is essential, and books are critical to helping kids learn.
First Little Readers Parent Pack is the best-selling book set for young kids. These books are the perfect size for packing in your carry-on or reading while in the car on a road trip.
Recently, our son has gotten interested in books, so we’ve been taking advantage of that. He likes to read to us, so we always have a few books with us when we travel.
BEST ROAD TRIP TOYS FOR 2-YEAR-OLDS
The toddler travel toys in this section are perfect for road trips. Your 2-year-old can entertain themselves for hours with these travel toys.
These toys are fun and more importantly screen-free. Your toddler can learn and have fun at the same time.
Related Post: Toddler Road Trip Essentials
BunMo Pop Tubes
If you have an active toddler that likes to move, then BunMo Pop Tubes are the perfect travel toy to keep them entertained while traveling. Your toddler can connect, bend, and shape these tubes to be anything your little one imagines.
The bright colors will get them excited to play. They snap, crackle, and pop to make noises as your toddler creates their masterpiece.
For parents looking for portable toys for their 2-year-old, look no further. Your little one will love these fidget toys, and so will you.
Brain Toys for Toddlers
Last update on 2024-10-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
My First Crayola Touch Lights, Musical Doodle Board
My First Crayola Touch Lights is a fun doodle board with bright lights and plays songs for toddlers as they draw. This is another mess-free way for your toddler to draw, with no required clean-up.
There are six songs and 12 colors for them to choose from. This is one of the best sensory toys for 2-year-olds.
Related: The Top 20 Road Trip Toys for Toddlers
Crayola Color Wonder Magic Light Brush
I wish we had things this cool when I was growing up. The Crayola Color Wonder Magic Light Brush is a paintbrush without messy paint. How awesome is that?
You don’t have to worry about cleaning up, so you can take this on a road trip on an airplane. Since the paper reveals the color, there is a slight delay when painting, but I’m sure your toddler won’t mind.
Read More: Crayola Color Wonder|Best Mess-Free Markers for Toddlers
Melissa & Doug Tape Activity Book
What toddler doesn’t like playing with tape? It’s one of the easiest ways to entertain a 2-year-old, which is why the Melissa & Doug Tape Activity Book is one of the best activities for toddlers.
We have to hide the tape from our son, so we purchased this for him, and it’s been a hit. This activity book does require some focus, so if your toddler is easily frustrated, it may be best to wait until they are two or three years old.
Farm Animal Flexible Gel Clings
I’m not a fan so stickers, so we use gel clings as an alternative. Gel clings are entertaining for young kids, especially on airplanes. Our 2-year-old like to put them on the windows and tear them apart.
We usually get them from Dollar Tree, so they are an inexpensive option for travel toys. I would recommend trying to find them for less than $2 since they’ll likely end up destroyed or lost.
Melissa & Doug Joey Magnetic Pretend Play & Lace Activity Set
We stumbled onto the Melissa & Doug Joey Magnetic Pretend Play & Lace Activity Set while in Target (it’s a trap, so we stay away from Target these days), and it’s been one of the best travel toys for our 2-year-old.
There are different characters available, so your toddler can let their imagination run wild. This bundle pack is the ultimate road trip travel toy for young kids.
Lacing activities help your toddler’s hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, imagination, and creativity.
Lace Activities
Last update on 2024-10-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
I Spy – From A-Z!
What’s a road trip with a game of I Spy. I-Spy – From A to Z is a fun game for toddlers and helps with their object recognition. This book helps them learn their letters and find an object that starts with that letter.
This is a fun and educational way to help your little one learn on the go. The entire family can join in the game, which makes this the perfect road trip toy for 2-year-olds.
Related Post: Travel-Themed Board Games for Kids
Melissa & Doug On-the-Go Crafts
As we all know, boredom is a bad thing for toddlers, so having activities (and snacks), is essential for traveling successfully with a toddler.
Melissa & Doug On-the-Go Crafts are fun and portable activities to do with your two or three-year-old while traveling.
Young kids will enjoy craft time with this fun-felt kid. There are over 100 felt sticker shapes, 12 fuzzy felt friends, 46 printed felt stickers and 4 color-in scenes.
There are step-by-step instructions, so your little one will have help every step of the way. If your toddler is easily frustrated, I recommend waiting until they are at least 4 years old to use this travel activity.
Note: Some reviews recommend having glue, so you may need kids’ glue to put everything together.
Check out our other travel toy and activity guides:
- The 25 Best Travel Toys for Babies
- 20 Toys to Keep Toddlers Busy on an Airplane
- 25 Beach Toys for Toddlers
- Our Favorite Travel Toys for 3-Year-Olds
- 15 Travel Games for Toddlers
- 20 Fun Travel Toys for 4-Year-Olds
- Our Favorite Headphones for Toddlers
- 20 Screen-Free Road Trip Toys for Toddlers
- 10 Mess-Free Travel Activities for 2-Year-Olds
- 50 Road Trip Activities for Toddlers
- LeapFrog Tablets for Toddlers to Promote Learning
- 20 Educational Travel Toys for 5-Year-Olds
- 15 Fun Airplane Activities for Toddlers
- The Best Learning Tablets for Toddlers
- 20 Snow Toys for Toddlers and Big Kids
