Many of our toy recommendations are cross a range of different age groups so make sure to check our other gift guides.

Please note that our age group recomendations are based on development and are for guidance only, children using toys under the age recommended by the manufacturer should be supervised at all times.

1. Balance Bike

Starting early on a balance bike can have lots of benefits for your child's development. It can improve their motor and cognitive skills, boost their confidence, encourage outdoor play, and give them the skills needed to start pedalling on their own.

We love the styling of the Little Dutch balance bikes. They are made of steel, provided with a scratch-resistant and environmentally friendly coating. The bike has 12" rubber tyres with adjustable seat and handlebars so can be used until they are ready to move on to a pedal bike. It comes in 3 lovely matte colours.

2. Games

Games are such a great way to connect with your children while helping them hone important skills and having fun. They can also help with language, math, and social skills, and even help children learn to cope with stress (and losing).

One of the first games we introduced to our daughter was Where is the Cheese? It is a ingedient based observation game where you can use fewer cards for younger kids or you can use the full set for older ones. It continues to be a firm favourite in our household.

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3. Large Stepped Pyramid

There are many benefits to block play. For the littlest ones, it promotes the development of spatial awareness and hand-eye coordination as they learn to stack. As children grow, they learn about gravity, balance, and geometry as they build various structures.

One of the most popular blocks for learning is the Large Stepped Pyramid. It can be used for colour recognition, learning about proportions, introduction of math concepts as well as open ended play. It is also availabe in a Natural finish.

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4. Sensory Play Tray

Sensory Play is play that engages your childs senses: touch, sight, sound, smell and taste. It helps build nerve connections in the brain, encourages learning through physical exploration, problem solving and creativity, and also helps with language development and motor skills.

The Inspire My Play Sensory PlayTRAY is great for all kinds of sensory and small world setups. It comes with 6 removable compartments, a deeper tray for wet play and a shallower non-slip lid.

If you’re anything like me and don’t know where to start with sensory setups, the Play Tray Activity Cards are invaluable. They have simple instructions for different sensory bases and indicate what age each one is suitable from.

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5. Kinetic Sand

If you’re after a pre-made sensory kit, Kinetic Sand is a great option. Kinetic sand is play sand that is soft and crumbly, but also holds its shape when squeezed or pressed.

Our daughter loved this Construction Set and would keep her independently engaged for ages - which at this age is a huge win! The best thing is that it can be easily packed back up in its box and ready for more play another day.

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Gift ideas for 2-3 Year Olds