Toys for Ages 2 to 4

Choosing the best toys for 2- to 4-year-olds can be harder than it looks. Best Buy offers a wide assortment of easily searchable building sets and blocks, educational toys, figurines, games, puzzles and more. When choosing toys for 2-year-old girls and boys, consider toys that encourage spontaneity and creativity, rather than toys that limit the child's input.

At this age, and at this stage of development, stuffed animals are often a great choice for a gift. Kids love them and it’s common for stuffed toys to become lifelong “friends” that evoke positive memories for years to come. A good method is to try to think like the child you’re buying for. Or, you might want to get a plush toy that matches with a character in a favorite children’s book or movie. If that doesn’t lead you to a confident choice, get the softest, furriest, fluffiest one you can find. Learning toys also make good gifts at this age since they not only provide hours of fun, they also help develop a child's creativity and problem-solving ability. 

As children grow, their play gets more purposeful and their thoughts, interests and attention spans expand. When selecting toys for 3-year-old girls and boys, it is helpful to understand these factors. Bold colors are popular and enticing to young eyes, while toys that improve hand-eye coordination and motor skills are good for encouraging developmental skills. Lifelike dolls can help preschoolers process their emotions and inspire them to take on pretend roles and situations. Toys that encourage children to have fun outside can promote an active lifestyle. Toys that allow youngsters to exercise their creativity while they construct, build, draw or color also make good gifts.

Finding meaningful toys for 4-year-old boys and girls can be a challenge. If your youngster has shown any affinity for electronic toys, you might consider a kid's tablet. A tablet can open up a multitude of learning opportunities and can also be great for entertainment on trips. Another way to go with this age group is STEM educational toys. These toys integrate fun science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) concepts to help children begin to gain the skills they need in a technological world. Since children’s learning abilities are expanding rapidly at this age, preschooler toys that teach verbal skills can provide a good base for future growth. If you select an electronic toy, you will also want to pick up extra alkaline batteries so the fun never gets sidetracked by loss of power.