Attending Birthday Party for 2 Year Old Boy

My feeling is you don't have to spend much! I have a 2-year old boy and his favorite toys to play with are trucks - any and every kind. I will tell you that the gift that has gotten MAJOR play since his birthday party is a Brio Firetruck that is filled with Brio blocks. They are chunkier than Legos, so easier for him to manage. I have seen this item at Target and K-B Toys for about $20. (After reading some other responses, I think they are Mega blocks, not Brio blocks!!)

Well, I think how much you spend depends on how close you are to the family. I never spend less than $25, but have spent $50, too.

As for what to buy, as the mom of a 2 year old I can tell you what not to buy:

Stuffed Animals - yea, they're cute but our son has about 50 of them - and I'm not exaggerating.

Toys that aren't age appropriate - we rec'd a gift for 3+ years on his 1st bday. Now, this can be looked at in a positive way, he plays with it now and it was like a new toy to him.

Books where the pages rip - although our son is getting better, he still likes the sound of ripping and crumpling paper. The cardboard books are great.

Clothes, unless you know where Mom/Dad shop and exact sizes - our son is a skinny minny and at 2 y/o was wearing 12m shorts, still. And although overalls are cute, he HATES them. You never know with a 2 year old! Lol.

No matter what you give, try and give a gift receipt. We received 2 Hokie-Pokie Elmo's for Christmas last year and were lucky to be able to return one for a different toy.

Please, if you read this post don't take it the wrong way or think in anyway that I am unappreciative of the gifts our sons receive. We have very generous family and friends and I'm extremely thankful for the love they show our boys.

As for ideas, one of my sons favorite toys is a plastic bowling set he got that cost less than $10. He LOVES it. He also loves his Home Depot tool box (it said age 3, but I took out the small pieces). When he sees me or my DH with a screw driver or tape measure he runs to get his "ooo box".

Any toys that encourage thinking, sorting, and creativity are great. Wooden puzzles are fun. We have one that makes the animal sounds when you put the right piece in. Melissa and Doug make some cute ones.

Oh yea, the Crayola (I think) Color Wonder Markers are GREAT. They only color on the special paper so you don't have to worry about your wall or floor getting some extra color to it.

Have fun.

T.

We generally spend $20-25 for gifts. We might spend more depending if its family or really close friends. I'm really big on educatioal gifts. Anything by Leap Frog is good. I also love it when my daughter gets clothes but make sure you get a gift receipt just in case the clothes don't fit. I'm sure anything you get will be greatly appreaciated.

With the number of parties my kids are invited to, we wouldn't be able to afford gifts for our own family if we spent $25-50 on every gift for every school friend! I think the toy manufacturers know that there's a $10-18 price point, and you will find tons of very nice toys in that range, especially for preschoolers. Books and music CDs are a great gift if you don't know the child well or are trying to stay away from "plastic" clutter.

Also, remember that you will be buying for other kids for decades now that you have a child of your own - don't start out overspending or you will feel obligated to keep it up later on. (I don't know about you, but we also have 13 nieces and nephews - Toys R Us should give us some sort of kickback, for all we buy there!)

My kids did get savings bonds and I think that is a GREAT IDEA!! Because seriously what does a 2 yr old need? I do try and check with the family though considering how fast kids grow, an outfit or shoes is sometimes needed. I am more of the practical type so I try and make sure it is something the family can use...diapers, wipes, anything with a character the kids likes on it! The child really doesn't mind as long as people are there, they get to play and tear open paper... Seriously whatever you get put in a big ol cardboard box with a box of crayons and that will be the most played with of all!! I have found that the adults at the party can be WAY more judgemental of the gift at times. So keep your heart in the right place and the gift will be treasured!!

It's my rule to spend less than $15. A good gift for a two year old is a nice puzzle. The wooden ones might run closer to $18, though I got some beautiful Melissa and Doug wood puzzles at TJ Max for about $12 each. The average price for a wood puzzle is $15. Again, it's a great gift.

I usually shoot for $20 and buy books, puzzles, or art supplies. For my daughter's 2nd bday she got a play-doh set that was a huge hit with her.

My 3 kids and I are part of a large playgroup for the past 4 years now. We always spend between $15 and $20 on birthday gifts, and we usually buy educational stuff - books or puzzles - that sort of thing. Or, art and craft type stuff - crayons and coloring books. Those are especially good because they are used and thrown away and don't add to the general clutter for long:).

Hi D.,
Another good gift is blocks. Mega blocks are a great gift and are age appropriate (1/2-3years). Also wooden blocks or soft blocks. My daughter is nearly 3 and plays with these toys over any that she has.

Hope this helps,
R.

Depends on how well you know the family. When my boys go to a friends party fron school I let them spend $10-15, but if it is someone we are good friends with I spend about$25-30(I always spend alittle more on them than they do on us because they have 4 kids to buy for I almost all my friends only have 2 children.) And it always a matter of how much you can afford.

HI D. ,

My 2 yr old son recieved a DVD by Imagination movers and he just loves it . Playdooh, bathtub toys or I personally think a great gift for a 2 yr old is puzzles . Ive been known to spend 20-25 on a kids b-day party so depending on how close you are should determine your cost . Also more importantly remember a gift reciept .

K.

In my experience, it seems gifts are now costing closer to $20-$25, or else yours will be the smaller of the group. Ideas would be...a Disney DVD movie or The Wiggles, Any Thomas the Trains, 2-3 nice hardcover books (If you give a Moose a Muffin series is a great one), Bucket of Dinosaurs.

I always get the kids EE savings Bonds. I spend $25 and later on they get $50. Most parents hold onto to these for college of first car or whatever. For my nieces, I give them one for every occassion (birth, birthdays, christmas, easter, etc...) and I am thinking by the time they turn 18 they will have acquired a lot of them just from us alone!