2 Year Old birthday---THE Must Have Gift?

TVs in the the room lead to REALLY bad habits. Get him a family membership to the children's museum or Zoo. He'll think that's WAY cooler at his age.

I have to agree with the others who said not to get the TV. At his age you still need to monitor what he is watching, and he may never want to leave his room! Don't overdo it, since he is only 2 years old. One big present would be enough excitement for one big day. My son is almost 2, and he would still rather play with an empty cardboard box than any expensive toy from a store. Besides, if you set the standard so high this early, you'll be spending thousands of dollars on each kid every occasion by the time they are in their teens. For now, keep it simple & cheap!

My advice would be to save something for the 3rd birthday. One big gift is more than enough. I feel children learn from doing daily life activities like getting shoes and sox and helping put the spoons away. Really, the less they have, it seems, the more they appreciate it.

I'm sure I'll offend you or someone else but you asked....

He's TWO! Give him the best gift - your time and undivided attention. Raise him to be nice, respectful and considerate. Giving lots of toys and "stuff" has been proven to lead to kids being ungrateful -- especially if you start this early. The best toys for learning and many hours of entertainment are open-ended toys. With the battery toys, most kids just learn A-happens-when-you-press-B. With open-ended toys, like blocks, kids learn pre-math skills, balancing, problem-solving, spatial awareness, etc. Other toys include stuff like matchbox cars, legos/duplos, balls, sand bucket & shovel, water toys, nesting blocks, etc. Many educators agree that the best thing you can teach your toddler is problem-solving skills. Read "Einstein Never Used Flashcards". Kids who don't fully develop problem-solving skills as toddlers/preschoolers (which are best learned through free play) have more difficulty in school later on.

Frankly, I'm appalled at the list of stuff he already has and what you plan to buy him. There's no reason for a toddler to have a TV in their room! The drum set would be nice but keep it simple - you can expect him to trash it because he's TWO. A trampoline (I'll assume you mean the single-person one with handle that is designed for toddlers/preschoolers) is actually a good thing for an active toddler - especially when bad weather keeps him inside this winter so let your MIL get it for him.

TIME is the must have gift for a two year old. Time with you, time with his Dad, time in the park, time in the back yard, time in the tub with a few old yougurt cups to play with. Time spent with his own little imagination is the only way he will grow a great big imagination. By filling his life with stuff you will make him dependent on what he as and what other people can do for him. You want him to be dependent on himself.

Things are not what they are cracked up to be. Take most of that stuff back and evaluate what is important. The more stuff you get him, the more stuff he will feel entitled to have and one day soon you will be wondering how he became so demanding for so much with so little gradetude for all that he has.

Just today, my favorite first grade teacher of all time told me that her kids this year aske if they could have a party every day. She told them that if you have a party every day, you don't understand the joy a party can bring you. You do want him to feel and appreciate joy, don't you? These are very wise words.

The must have thing for any two year old is knowing that you will always be there, spending time with him, taking care of him, and making him safe.

Time is the gift he needs.

Martah

THE must have gift is YOU!!!! Sounds like he already has too much and now you're putting a TV in his room? I agree with the other moms, give him some boxes, etc. and let him use his imagination! Get down on the floor and play along with him!!! I know it may not always be possible with a five-month old also needing your time but you need to do it!! And a trampoline is very dangerous for a two-year old!! Sounds like this is the first grandchild. Tell your MIL to wait till he's a little older for that one!!!

He has enough already. One or two new things at a time is all he can enjoy. A TV in his room is a horrible idea. Bedrooms are for sleeping, period. TV's in children's rooms foster sleeping problems later in life when they are tempted to turn on the TV to fall asleep and always need something to fill the void of silence and solitude.

If he is the love of your life, do what is best and foster creativity and imagination by giving him open-ended toys for free-play. One such that hasn't been mentioned is a bilibo available at www.fatbraintoys.com. Just watching him figure out what to do with it is great entertainment for you. Don't be tempted to show him. Let him discover. It will evolve over several months possibly. Good luck and enjoy them while you can. They grow up so fast.

J.,
I did not read all the responses so I hope I am not repeating myself. But what about a membership to either like the zoo or a museum. My son's bday is Christmas Eve so we always take some of the money that he gets from Christmas/ birthday and renew the membership. We have always gotten our moneys worth and it last all year long. So, just a thought. Hope that helps!

On the topic of a big cardboard box...my mom got my son a book called "Not A Box" for his 2nd, duct tape, paint, and paint brushes. The idea of the book is all the things you can do with a box - turn it into a plane, boat, etc. he loves it- we made it into a house.

Also we got him a pet fish - a beta - he really likes it but not as much as my husband does!
Also-
Sidewalk Chalk
Crayons
Thomas Coloring Book

Happy Birthday to your little one

In my experience, your 2 yr old will love the boxes everything came in more than the gifts themselves.

Also, the games and toys nowadays with all the bells and whistles and that are supposed to be so "fun" are not as interesting to the kids as the "old-fashioned" cars, etc. that they have to push around and use their imaginations. The ability to use your imagination when you play -- now that is the best gift, in my opinion.

L.

ps - are you sure you want to put a TV in his room??

He is turning two, and you are getting him a TV for his room? I am 28 with three yr old twins, my sister is 25 with a five year old, and we were just discussing that this week and how we feel it is innappropriate for our kids to have TVs in their bedroom. That room is for sleeping and resting!!! Isn't it enough for him to watch TV in the living room or his play room?

When my girls turned two, they were happy to open presents and that was the most fun for them. Girls are different than boys (in what toys they play with) but little people was a big deal, and they still play with their house (they make fire houses, boats etc for non-girly toys). Coloring and the desks we bought are still big hits. Don't get me wrong, i admit my girls are spoiled, but there has to be a line that is drawn as what is appropriate for a two year old compared to what mom/dad think would be "fun" or that they missed out on as kids. Let your little guy grow up, don't rush him.

He's two, you could get him a giant box and a sheet and he would be happy till he destroyed it. In my experience, the more noise the toy makes (i.e. the more I HATE it) the more they seem to love it. We have a plasma car that my daughter absolutely l.o.v.e.s. and even if he can't figure out how to use it yet by wiggling it, he can still use his feet to scoot it but you need wood/tile floors or a good area of concrete for them to be able to play on it.
J.

I don't think that there is really a MUST have gift for a two year old. They're not really old enough to get all the marketing gimmicks yet. Thank goodness! Just stick with what he likes. It sounds, to me, like you're all set for his birthday. You don't want to overdo it on the toys. They get so overwhelmed at this age. They can't really grasp getting a ton of stuff all in one day. Personally, I would stick with one big toy that you know he'll love (like the trampoline OR the drum, but not both) and then get him some smaller gifts. I know clothes are boring, but they are necessary! If he loves books and puzzles, get him a few books, a new puzzle and he'll be all set! You could get him the other big gift at Christmas. If you're really looking for the perfect gift, I don't think the TV is it. I'd bet you any money that he'd like and use the drum set a lot more than the TV. At least, my two year old would! Happy birthday to your little guy. Two is a fun (and very trying) age!

From my experience with 2 y.o.'s, and I have had several gifted kids in the family, is any kind of box. Kids love boxes, any size and shape will do. A box he can play with and in is great.
R.

What about a nice cool bicycle with training wheels and a bell and helmet. My boys got that for their second birthday and still talk about it. Yes, they were pretty small, but LOVED having a bike! The last thing in the world I would get a two year old is a TV for their bedroom, seriously! Good luck.

I agreee that it sounds like he is getting alot already, but something to keep in mind maybe for Christmas is a train table. We got my son the Imaginarium table with the wooden Thomas trains and he LOVES it!! He gets up every morning saying "I wanna play choo-choos." It can keep him occupied for long periods of time, and you can change the track around to make the set up different for him. He can also use the table for Hot Wheel cars or other trucks/cars. It is a GREAT toy, and from what I have heard, is something they will play with for several years. We are three months into it, and he hasn't even started to lose interest yet! Good luck!

Hmmm I think the "Can't live without gift" would be food, shlter and LOVE. I know you love your child, and you already bought 2 nice gifts, and he is 2 (my daughter will be 2 in October too) so he probably isn't going to completely realize what is going on. I spoil my daughter at times, but I think you will be setting the expectation that the only way to have a great birthday is to get a lot of great stuff, and that isn't necessarily true. No offense.

How about like a V-Tech/Vsmile game for his new TV! He will probably need a little help at first, but he'll be a pro in no time. There are a ton of educational games to go along with it. My nephews have it and LOVE it. I opted to go with the hand held Leapster for my daughter when she turned 3, but I have heard wonderful things about the vSmile.

The large Tonka dump trunk. He can sit on it and ride around, put stuff in it and push it around, and most boys love it because it is an indoor/outdoor toy.
Now just a word of warning, you are setting a precident that will be hard to continue as your children get older. Christmas is coming and one or two gifts for a birthday are enough. If you do all of this now what are you going to do for Christmas?

I know the tv sounds like a great idea but if you start with the BIG stuff now, pretty soon you'll never be able to top the last gift. And he might not appreciate it. 2 years old is really young for a tv. He doesn't even know how special that is. You sound like a mom who just wants her son to know how much she loves him. Believe me, I'm sure he does. Just make a big cake and really make an EXTRA fuss over him. He's very lucky to have you!

Hi J.,

I don't think there is an "I can't live without" gift for two year olds.

The drum set or the trampoline sound good. Not sure he needs both at once. Is trampoline OK for 2 yo kiddos? just a thought. Skip the TV for his room. Seriously. He doesn't need that.

I like the train table idea that someone else mentioned. My boys had the wooden Thomas the Tank Engine toys and loved them. Our coffee table became the train table (which was fine).

The big box is also a good idea, it is a very open-ended toy. It can be a house, fort, train station, cave, etc.

Building blocks are also good if he does not already have them.

Most important gift is your time and your love!!

Enjoy them while they are small, these days pass quickly

K. Z.

I know you weren't asking for this, but please rethink your gift of the tv. The reason why, and before I say this, let me say that we are BIG tv people in my house. We love watching tv, love playing xbox, all that, so I'm not trying to be one of those parents who are saying tv is bad for kids.....BUT, spending time with the family is so important, and if the kids have a tv in their rooms, then the time they stay there to watch it is time away from the family. My mom has 2 kids, now 13 and 15, who have had tv's in their rooms since they were little. Their family is not close at all. Ever since the kids were really young, they were cooped up in their rooms a lot watching tv throughout the day. I told my husband I never wanted that. My kids are 5 and 7 and have definitely asked for tv's in their rooms. I explained to them that I would miss them while they were in their rooms and that I like it much more when we watch tv together. I will NEVER get them tv's for their rooms. It just gives an excuse to be away from the family.

So, to actually give you an idea for a present, I would say that all things Leap Frog at that age are very very important, fun, and beneficial. My son loves his tag book still, loves the globe, has a Leap pad that he's played with since he was almost 2, and also loves his room light that he has on at night that he got at age 2.

I also have to agree that a tv in the bedroom is not a great idea at this age. I didn't have one in my room until I was 12 and then it was black and white and only got 1 channel :) (I"m only 27 by the way).

As for gifts though, I have a 2 1/2 year old and his all time favorite toy is the Little People sets. They are very simple basic 'sets' and the people can be interchanged with all the different sets. My son has tubs full at his grandma's, she gets them all at Once Upon A Child for soooo cheap, and his knights ride horses to the grocery store and the zookeeper saves the princess :) He knows which people go to which 'theme' but likes to change it up which is a great imagination builder. He also likes blocks and books a lot. He has a few fancy toys but gets bored with those fast. Right now his fav toys at our house are the cheap ones that come in his Happy Meal!

My son is also turning 2 in October! I don't really think that there is really a must have gift at this age. I know that he really enjoys his powerwheels car and my mom just got him a little tikes basketball hoop that he has realy had fun with. My husband and I got him a lot of the Handy Manny toys for his birthday because that's one of his favorite showsright now. Also, we are thinking about getting him the bounce castle. It's a small bounse house. I think that he will really enjoy it. Hope this helps!

Sorry I haven't read all the responses so I may be repeating what others have said. My daughter just turned 2 last week and the two things she's played with and LOVES is her swing set- two sets of her grandparents and her aunt and uncle all pitched in and bought it. This gift will last for a long time. Also she received a kitchen (step 2). Now i know that you may not want to get your son a kitchen but maybe like a tool bench something that daddy does. At this point in life they just want to mimic us and be just like us so.... hope this helps.