Two-year-olds run, climb, jump, swing and pretend, often all within ten minutes. They are past the first wobbly steps and ready for real challenges, but still need equipment sized for small bodies. The simplest way to choose is by kind of play. For each one below, there is a pick for indoors and a pick for the backyard.
Quick answer: The best play equipment for a 2-year-old is rated from age 2 or younger and sized for small bodies: a low climbing gym or jungle gym indoors, a toddler slide, an indoor swing set, and a wooden playset with a slide and swing outdoors. Check the age range on each listing and put mats or deep surfacing underneath.
What a 2-Year-Old Is Working On
By around age 2, the CDC's developmental milestones note that most children run, kick a ball and walk up a few stairs, and by around two and a half most can jump off the ground with both feet. A low climbing gym sized for their age gives them room to practice. Every child develops at their own pace, so ask your pediatrician if you have questions.
Paired Picks at a Glance
| Kind of play | Indoors | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|
| Climbing | Cherry, Magnolia or Bush climbing gym | Outdoor Chestnut or Palm |
| Sliding | Holland folding slide | The slide on the Outdoor Chestnut or Palm |
| Swinging | Juniper climber and swing | The swing on the Outdoor Chestnut |
| Helping and pretending | A kitchen tower or a playhouse | Mojave picnic and sand table |
| Sensory play | Large Foam Ball Pit | Outdoor Wooden Water Table |
Climbing
Indoors: at 2, a low climbing gym is the step up from a Pikler triangle. The Cherry stays 43 inches tall with a ramp, ladder, arch and slide, for ages 18 months to 5. For more challenge, the Magnolia adds monkey bars, a rock wall, a swing and a slide, and the Bush 6-in-1 adds a rock wall, a rope ladder and monkey bars, both for ages 2 to 6. These are the best indoor climbing toys for 2-year-olds who are ready to go higher.
Outdoors: the Outdoor Chestnut is a foldable cedar jungle gym for ages 2 to 8, with a rock wall, a ladder, monkey bars, a rope net, gymnastics rings, a swing and a slide. The Palm is a 5-in-1 with a 4-foot slide, sized for patios, decks and compact outdoor spaces, for ages 2 and up. Either makes a strong outdoor playset for a 2-year-old.
Sliding
Indoors: the Holland is a folding slide with easy-climb steps and grip rails for ages 18 months to 4.
Outdoors: both the Outdoor Chestnut and the Palm have slides built in, so one structure covers climbing and sliding.
Swinging
Indoors: the Juniper is a foldable indoor swing set and climber with a slide, a rock wall and two swings, for toddlers up to age 5, and it folds flat to store when playtime is over.
Outdoors: the Outdoor Chestnut includes a swing, so it doubles as a swing set for a 2-year-old. Use a toddler seat with a high back until your child can hold on securely. Our guide to outdoor baby and toddler swings explains when to switch seats.
Helping and Pretending
Indoors: 2-year-olds want to do what you do. A kitchen tower like the Laurel or Date lets them stand at the counter and help. For pretend play, the Evergreen playhouse is designed for ages 1 to 6.
Outdoors: the Mojave Picnic and Sand Table, for ages 1 to 12, turns digging and pretend picnics into a backyard game.
Sensory Play
Indoors: the Large Foam Ball Pit comes with 400 colorful balls and is made for ages 1 and up. Our guide to ball pits for toddlers covers setup and cleaning.
Outdoors: the Outdoor Wooden Water Table, for ages 1 and up, gives little hands water to pour and splash. Stay within arm's reach whenever there is water.
Safety Basics for 2-Year-Olds
Check the age range on every product. Some backyard sets start at 3 or older, so look for ones that include age 2.
Soft landings: mats indoors. Outdoors, the CPSC Outdoor Home Playground Safety Handbook calls for at least 9 inches of loose fill such as wood chips, mulch or shredded rubber under play equipment up to 8 feet high.
Supervise climbing, and teach "climb down, don't jump" from the start.
High-back swing seats until your child can hold on securely.
Stay within arm's reach during water play, and keep small parts away from children who still mouth toys.
Your Questions, Answered
What is the best outdoor playset for a 2-year-old?
One rated from age 2, with low platforms, a gentle slide and a toddler-friendly swing, like the Outdoor Chestnut, for ages 2 to 8, or the Palm, for ages 2 and up.
What are the best indoor playsets for 2-year-olds?
A low climbing gym like the Cherry, for ages 18 months to 5, or a jungle gym with monkey bars like the Magnolia or Bush, both for ages 2 to 6. Add a toddler slide for climb-and-slide play.
What swing set is good for a 2-year-old?
A set with a high-back toddler seat, rated for age 2. The Outdoor Chestnut includes a swing, and the indoor Juniper combines a climber and swing.
Can a 2-year-old use a jungle gym?
Yes, if it is rated for their age. The Magnolia and Bush indoor jungle gyms are made for ages 2 to 6. Stay close while they climb, and put mats underneath.
How do I keep a 2-year-old busy indoors?
Give them somewhere to climb, slide and swing every day, plus a real job like helping at a kitchen tower. Our winter indoor activities guide has more ideas.
For the stage before this, see our guide to play equipment for a 1-year-old.