My grandsons 2nd birthday is coming up next month and I want to get them each a wonderful toy. They love to push buttons and pull levers to cause things to light up and make sounds.
Might you have something in mind to suggest?
Dude, I got my friend’s toddler (girl) a toy chainsaw.
I kid you not. It makes “RrrRRrrRRR” noises and has a chain that actually moves (in super slow motion and stops if you touch it). The same toy company makes a hysterical jack hammer too. I think it cost less than $20. It has some light on it too.
If the label says, “Made in China,” walk away from it.
I’m going to step out on a limb here and say, “Nothing from China.” :eek: 
ETA: damn you, Duckster.
Oh, wait. I think the chainsaw is for ages 3 and up.
Well, my kids are 13 and 17 now. I never took the age suggestions very seriously, and they’ve grown up nicely.
I wish I could help. I’ve got a 21mo old and a 3.5yr old. They’ve got an entire room full of toys and they play with very few of them.
At two, they’re probably too old for the Busy Ball Popper. That was a fun/noisy one we’ve had, but like all toys it is now boring.
They might be a little young for their own cd player but that’s another idea. I think my eldest got hers at two, though. She loves to listen to kids cds, and since it’s back in the playroom I don’t have to listen to “The Ants go Marching Two by Two” fifteen times in a row.
Two is a tricky age - they’re too old for baby toys and too young for the more complicated ones.
A cardboard box. Fill it with tissue paper.
(We also have a basement FULL of plastic toys the kids never played with).
This thread is better suited for IMHO.
I’ll move it for you.
Cajun Man
for the SDMB
It’s indestructable. It’s not made in China. And it mixes in with regular Playmobil when they’re old enough not to swallow the pieces.
My son is 10 and my daughter is 7. They STILL play with some of the 1-2-3 we got when my son was a baby.
BarnOwl, Have you seen the Cranium Super Fort ? I know this says it is for 4 and older; but, I had the best time playing with it with my cousin’s little boy! I definitely think that it would be something fun that the family could play with together even with a 2 year old. Keep it in mind for another year if you get something different. B and I made a space shuttle. He went to the moon and I stayed back and kept radio contact with him.
I can’t wait until my 3 week old niece is old enough to get one!!!
but you can also order everything on-line.
Solfy - My sister used to box up about 1/3 of her kids toys and put them away. In about 4 months she’d pull out the box and the kids would act like it’s Christmas. Suddenly those old toys were fun again. And into the same box would go another bunch of toys, waiting their turn for reincarnation.
StG
An iPhone.
The best toy I ever got The Monster at that age was a box of tissues.
Of course, it helps if you manage things so that you don’t have to actually be the one to clean up the mess once they’re done with it. 
More seriously, crayons and coloring books are really good.
Now this is my kind of Playmobil.
Is it too early for puppets? Puppets are pretty great.
Browse here. WARNING: Have your loved ones hide your credit cards before you pull it up. Seriously. It’s chock-full of scrumptious irresistible toys, and you can drop a couple hundred bucks, easy, in about 15 squeeing minutes.
Bookmark the ones you like, then sleep on it for a day or two before you decide.
This isn’t what you asked for, but as the mom of three boys whose grandparents give them scads of stuff, I would suggest looking into whether there is a children’s museum or zoo or other similar place near them that offers yearly memberships. THAT is a great present! You’re giving an experience that will be fun, educational, memorable and doesn’t end up broken at the bottom of the toy box.
Good luck!
Last Christmas, my mom got my nephew (age 20 months) this John Deere Atv. He freakin’ looooves that thing, even now. It makes sounds and when you press the horn, the John Deere song comes on (sounds kinda like “King of the Road”) which is one of his favorite parts. (although kinda annoying after a while)
I can’t respond. Playing poker right now. Later.