36 Fun Games and Activities to Help You Get Through Winter with Your 2-Year-Old

Hi there, fellow parents! I'm Heather, and at the time of writing, my son is 2.5 years old, and my daughter is almost 8 months old (yup, I'm definitely in the thick of it). Many of the suggestions here come from my own experience! I'm excited to share what has worked for us, but just a quick note: every child is unique! What worked for my family might not be a perfect fit for yours, but it's definitely worth a try. Right?

1. A talking educational microscope (with Bindi Irwin's voice!) featuring an array of exciting slides to explore and learn about different creatures. This might spark a lot of follow-up questions from your little one, but at least you'll all be discovering together.

2. A Mini Push Game Console designed to enhance children's reflexes, memory, and focus — despite its compact size, there are four exciting ways to play with this little gadget!

3. A fun twist on a classic Eric Carle book featuring 30 buttons that emit various animal sounds — little ones will be clucking, mooing, and learning about their favorite farm animals while *also* enjoying a book. It's a win-win!

4. A charming wooden piano that plays real music, complete with six beginner "sheet music" sets to help your mini Beethoven learn some tunes (or, you know, happily bang away on the keys).

5. And, naturally, a fold-out drum set that could easily become the source of *your* frustration but will undoubtedly bring immense joy to your child. The good news? It comes with a volume control *and* a headphone jack to help keep the noise to a minimum.

6. Soft foam stepping stones that children can arrange indoors or outdoors, hopping between them in a fun balancing challenge. Just try not to trip over them as *you* make your way to grab a snack. And remember, they're helping your little ones develop balance and gross motor skills.

7. Encourage imaginative play with a Melissa & Doug ice cream station — kids can build their own sundaes by stacking flavors and toppings, then serve up delicious sweet treats to everyone in the family. Yum!

8. A roll of road tape that lets your kids transform the house into a Formula 1-style racetrack. Time to put their massive collection of toy cars to good use — watch out, Lewis Hamilton!

9. A Play-Doh pizza delivery scooter that your child will want to play with non-stop! It's fully mobile, includes 10 cans of vibrant colors, and comes with lots of fun accessories. While it may mean some extra cleaning for you (definitely a hassle in that sense), the good news is it’s super quiet!

10. A Magna-Tiles set that’s bound to be a favorite for any young architect in the making. They can construct all sorts of impressive 3D structures, only to knock them down and start fresh again the next day.

11. A classic wooden train set that your kiddos will be thrilled to receive this winter — it includes 110 pieces, featuring the track, a train, and plenty of fun village accessories!

12. A set of sensory tubes that create a popping sound when pulled apart and a crunchy noise when pushed back together — bound to delight kids of all ages, and, admittedly, annoy most adults (haha). Choose your battles — would you prefer kids whining or kids happily entertained while you quickly unload the dishwasher? I'd pick the latter.

13. A Dyson Ball toy vacuum that actually picks up the crackers your little one has crushed into the carpet — about time they start pitching in around the house. 😉

14. A LeapFrog 100 Words Book that will engage your curious learner and teach them a variety of useful words in both English and Spanish!

15. A Toniebox Audio Player Starter Set, a portable stereo system that toddlers can easily control just by placing different character magnets on top. Each figure plays unique stories and songs — an ideal screen-free entertainment option for kids.

16. And a Blippi Tonie for the Toniebox enthusiast — chances are they'd excitedly shout "B-L-I-P-P-I!" when they unwrap this one. Yes, it includes a snippet of the catchy "The Excavator Song."

17. Scavenger hunt cards that will entertain even the most active kids for a while — these cards send them on a "secret mission" to discover "treasures" hidden around the house. (And it will keep them busy while you get things done!)

18. A set of parachute toys they'll have a blast tossing from the second floor and watching them drift down repeatedly without needing help untangling — a win for everyone involved!

19. A collection of over 500 puffy stickers that will make any creative child jump for joy — don't worry, they peel off easily and leave no sticky mess behind!

20. A collection of Bluey toy figures, including one inspired by the fan-favorite episode "The Sign" — perfect for kids to recreate their most cherished moments from the show in their own playroom.

21. A set of 72 mini dinosaur toys that children will adore playing with in dirt, sand, the bathtub, and beyond. With so many in the pack, you won't have to worry if a couple go missing during their wild adventures.

22. A Nugget couch with four versatile pieces your kids can arrange into any shape — be it a rocket, a ramp, or even a castle! If you're lucky, they might even use it for a nap...dream big!

23. A cloth panel designed to turn their play couch into something completely different, like a coffee shop, post office, or food truck (just to name a few ideas). It’s a great way to inspire kids to dive into some creative, imaginative play instead of hearing them say, "I'm boooooored."

24. A set of snowball-making molds, so you and your family can compete in the ultimate snowball fight with your neighbors and make the most epic snow battle your neighborhood has ever seen.

25. And a snowman decorating kit that includes everything you and your family need to bring Frosty to life right in your front yard.

26. A set of Mega Bloks for energetic toddlers who can't get enough of building towering structures and then toppling them down like tiny King Kong causing mayhem in the city.

27. A Fisher-Price kitchen playset loaded with a pretend tablet, recipe cards, play food, kitchen tools, and a fabric bag to carry all the ingredients — if your kiddo's tired of watching you cook, they’re ready to join in the action!

28. A handheld card reader designed for little learners eager to discover new words. Simply switch it on, insert a card, and listen as the machine reads two words aloud per card — soon enough, your child will be chatting non-stop!

29. A DJ turntable for kids — perfect if you're dreaming of your little one becoming the next Daft Punk. This fun set will fill your home with music, excitement, and learning opportunities!

30. A toy crab that will scurry around after your little one, all while blasting an upbeat tune (warning: it's catchy, and you might not be able to get it out of your head). Get ready for endless giggles!

31. An interactive Fingerlings baby monkey — this toy will make your kids feel like they've earned their very own pet, with sensors that react to touch and over 70 sounds and responses. Plus, it's just irresistibly cute.

32. A kid-friendly bath bomb that contains a surprise squishy dinosaur inside — it might even make bath time a little easier by getting your little one excited to hop in the tub! A win-win for both of you!

33. Wooden stacking rocks designed to divert your kids from collecting the stones you intentionally arranged along the path to your yard — each one varies in size, color, and weight to make stacking towers much more engaging (and tricky!) than a typical stacker toy.

34. Crayola Color Wonder Frozen Coloring Pages and Markers that let kids color to their heart's delight without the usual mess, as the markers only work on the included special paper, ensuring your home stays clean while they enjoy their creative time.

35. A ball pit featuring soft sides, 200 colorful balls, and a stylish design that blends seamlessly with your home's decor. Kids will love bouncing in and out of this fun new playroom addition.

36. A wooden grocery store play set that will inspire endless creative play, though you might hear them say things like "sorry, we're out of oat milk"—a phrase they've surely picked up while you were grocery shopping! Oops, indeed.