My kids are in middle school and I am having trouble remembering the toddler years! My niece is turning 2 and I am considering getting her play doh with a few tools (roller, cutting thing, etc.). Is this appropriate for a 2 year old or is it more for a 3 year old? She doesn’t put toys in her mouth (my kids did). |
I don't think I'd do playdoh as a gift for a 2 year old just because of the mess factor. I'd do something like play food or puzzles. My daughter loves all the Melissa and Doug food sets when she was that age. |
OP. Thanks for your perspective. Again, memory is fuzzy but I don’t think play doh was particularly messy for my kids because they did it in their Tripp Trapp seats at the kitchen table. Certainly nothing like our finger painting odyssey where they surprised me by painting their bodies. Play food is a good suggestion. My own kids hated puzzles and mainly just dumped them all out, which I hated cleaning up. Goes to show all kids are different. |
my daughter (21 months old) loves play doh. Yes, it can be messy, but what isn't at this age ![]() |
My 2yo loves playdough. I do not; it's messy and hard to vacuum off the carpet, even if they're trying to play on the table. I suggest asking the parent, OP. |
Only buy play dog if the parents have requested it or you hate them. Same goes for bead kits. |
Play doh isn't messy. 2 year olds love play doh with little tools and cut outs. It's great for sensory and developing fine motor skills. |
We did play dough in the high chair at 2. Great gift. My kids loved the fuzzy pumper barber shop...though that might be more for a 3 (do it next year) |
You can gift her model magic instead of play doh. It’s not messy at all, almost miraculously so. Not sure about what happens if she tries to eat it though. It’s made by crayola, so I assume it’s nontoxic. |
Yes they love playdoor but some parents don’t. For us it’s a grandparents only toy! But they can just keep it for the grandparents house if they feel that way. |
It's way easier to clean up than moon sand.
For us, playdough was something we did outside on the back patio. |
We used to make a flour/salt/water dough for toddlers. Do people still do that?
It's useful because it is totally edible and doesn't have added colors that would stain. I wouldn't necessarily limit the toddler to it, but if she's never had play-doh, it might be useful for someone to try out something a bit less likely to stain to see how she uses it. Kids are so different. One will make little animals of it at a table, and another will be rubbing it into their hair, the wall hangings, and between their teeth. You don't always know for sure which way it will go. |
Check lakeshore learning for gift ideas by age. In think play dough might be a 3-4 year old gift personally. |
Yes! We make our own all the time with flour, water, oil, salt, cream of tartar and food coloring. Easy to make big batches and it lasts a long time. Plus, the kids love the process of making it. I think it’s kid specific but my kids were most into play dough from ages 3-4. My almost 2 year old really likes busy boards and magnatiles |
Yes! Playdough is perfect for a 2 year old. |