Age appropriate Christmas toys for a 2 year old

WV Sawmiller · December 05, 2018, 11:57:54 AM

I am no finish wood worker but I figured this would be an appropriate set of toys for my grandson who will be 2 y/o next week. I took a bunch of my small cut offs and scrap pieces of wood and made cubes, 2"X4"X2", and 1"X4" X 1" blocks, 1"X1" strips 4-12 inches long, triangles, wooden circles with my hole saw, half inch dowel pieces of assorted lengths for axles and flag poles, etc. I bore half inch holes in the rounds and several other pieces at random. I sanded them just enough to knock most of the rough off and clean up some of the dirty pieces. I made a small crate to keep them in. I figure this ought to be something to keep a 2 year old busy stacking and arranging. Its simple, no real expense and should let him be creative.

A full crate of assorted pieces

Squares, cubes, triangles, circles, strips, rods, cutouts, etc.ed

Jeff · December 05, 2018, 12:04:36 PM

It would also be age appropriate for me!

Dan_Shade · December 05, 2018, 12:29:09 PM

My only recommendation is to make sure that you don't have any small parts that he can choke on.

Looks like some fun is in the future for the two of you.

thecfarm · December 05, 2018, 01:43:46 PM

I had some store bought wooden blocks. All different colors and shapes. I still remember them things. Good job.

Magicman · December 05, 2018, 01:52:31 PM

Ah Ha, you made them for yourself. You're just gonna let him play with you. 8)

WV Sawmiller · December 05, 2018, 02:01:52 PM

Quote from: Dan_Shade on December 05, 2018, 12:29:09 PM
My only recommendation is to make sure that you don't have any small parts that he can choke on.

Looks like some fun is in the future for the two of you.

Dan,

The smallest piece in the bunch is probably a 1/2" dowel about 5" long that was left over. Nothing sharp and nothing small enough they can choke on it. They look perfect to fit a small hand. Nothing heavy.

Nothing measured in the bunch. Slap a thick board on the tablesaw and slide the fence over to make it that wide, rip it then use the rip fence as a guide to cut cubes. Assorted lengths for the dowels and sticks which are just cut up stickers. The rounds were made with the hole saw on a drill. I only had one size but if I had a hole saw set I could have made circles inside of circles. Sanding took the longest and if I'd planed it before I could have avoided a lot of that.

I may make up a crate or two and take to the flea market and sell next summer or take to my consignment place. It is a great way to use up your small scraps because you can make something out of all of them.

I figure we will have a lot of fun with them. heck, I already had fun just making them and thinking how much he'd enjoy them.

Add-on

Here is a picture with more details of every item. 1X6X6, 2X4X4, 1X1X assorted lengths, 1"X4"X4", 2X4X4 cutout, cutout (circles), triangles, 1/2" dowels assorted lengths, 2"X2"X2" cubes/blocks, 3"X3"X3" cubes/blocks, crate from a lightweight spruce 1"X8"X12" with poplar 16"X 3/8"X 2" slats for bottom and sides so inside box is 12"X14"X8". Some random 1/2" holes in the rounds and other various pieces for good measure.

low_48 · December 05, 2018, 06:50:30 PM

From what I've read, if it fits in the end of a toilet paper roll, it's too small and is a choke hazard. I'd remove those small dowels for sure. They can go up the nose, or in the eye.

WV Sawmiller · December 05, 2018, 07:02:36 PM

His mom, my daughter, works at a children's hospital as a child life specialist and is super sensitive about anything that could remotely be a hazard so rest assured nothing risky will ever get to him.

BTW - I could not get one of those half inch dowels up my nose (Not that I have tried yet :D). I would not advise any smaller than that but it would take a lot to get hurt with anything in this mix.

low_48 · December 06, 2018, 11:43:13 PM

I'd appreciate the result of your daughter's evaluation. My 3yr old Grandson is starting to stack blocks in my shop. Thanks.

WV Sawmiller · December 07, 2018, 08:33:50 AM

Will do. The smallest thing in the kit is the half inch dowels. I could not get one of them up my nose so I am confident they are safe (or I would not have included them to begin with) but we will get the expert evaluation next weekend when they come up. I would not include them under 5-6 inches long but these look good to me.

I remember when we were kids we had tinker toys which were just a bunch of 2" wooden circles with holes drilled in the middles and along the edges and a bunch of 1/4" dowels to connect them all kinds of ways. I guess they would not be allowed for kids today.

The blocks/cubes are about the easiest to make with just a table saw and a rip fence to cut them all the same size on all sides. Knock the rough and dirt off on a sander and they are ready to go. You could paint them or put letter on them but then you introduce more risks of various poisons and carcinogens. I figure a toddler can stack an unpainted block as easy as a fancy painted one. For different colors make them out of different woods.

I may make up another box or two of these next summer and take to the flea markets with me. I'd bet nostalgic grandparents would be more likely to buy them than the parents. :D

WV Sawmiller · December 14, 2018, 02:40:44 PM

Okay update time. Today is Quinn's birthday and he is en route from Charlotte NC. Tomorrow we will have his combo birthday and Christmas party with his older cousins, aunt, uncle, pseudo aunt and MawMaw (My sons other grandparents think of Quinn as their grandson too just like we do their other granddaughter). His gift is wrapped and under the tree. We will see if he waits till tomorrow to get into everything.

As you can see we go all out on the Christmas tree around here.

samandothers · December 14, 2018, 10:33:08 PM

Great gift! Good job.
Look forward to hearing if anything is culled out.

WV Sawmiller · December 15, 2018, 06:03:11 PM

Okay, today Quinn got to open his box of blocks along with all the other toys he got. His mom inspected them and nothing got culled. She said they were all big enough and long enough not to be a hazard. They all seem to be the right size to fit his hands okay. I did have to take the half inch dowel pieces out to the shop and hit each end briefly on the sander to bevel them down just a little so he can get them to fit in the half inch holes I had augered in. They were too tight a fit as they were.

Had to start taking them out one at a time before he finished unwrapping the box.

They make great drumsticks too.

samandothers · December 15, 2018, 08:06:06 PM

Home Run! Way to go grand dad!

WV Sawmiller · December 15, 2018, 09:03:15 PM

Sam,

The funny thing I noticed was that while Quinn was tied up opening his other gifts I saw our 15 y/o guest (my granddaughter's first cousin from the other side of their family) got over and started playing with the set of blocks. I guess they transcend the various age brackets.

Jeff · December 15, 2018, 09:37:22 PM

If i was there I would want to play with those blocks!

DelawhereJoe · December 15, 2018, 11:16:54 PM

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thecfarm · December 16, 2018, 06:28:49 AM

I betcha she had some growing up.

caveman · December 16, 2018, 07:38:31 AM

WV, good idea for a present. This is one that you can add pieces and complexity to over the years.

Several years ago, I gave my youngest daughter a bunch of wooden pieces to "build" with. She made horse fences and stables - her creations would cover the entire living room for weeks at a time. Last week my girls and I were sitting around talking about what would be a good gift for our first grand child (hopefully will be born later today) and my 20 year old daughter suggested that the youngest, now 14, give him her box of building wood. She protested and said she would not part with them and even wanted more.

I will probably make him some when he is old enough to use them. Toys should be entertaining but also should teach and inspire thought. It is good to see families enjoying each other's company in stead of all sitting in the same room staring into cellular phones.

WV Sawmiller · December 16, 2018, 09:05:48 AM

Cavey,

I hope everything goes well with that new grandbaby. Quinn is due to get a baby sister in about 2.5-3 months. He was a miracle baby and his upcoming sister more so but all went well with Quinn and seems so with the new baby. We are on pins and needles as I know you all are.

The blocks were a lot of fun to make. I don't know who will have had the most enjoyment out of them - me or Quinn. Now I know what to do with all my little cut off and scrap pieces. There is nothing easier to make. There sure won't be much left for the fire pile.

samandothers · December 16, 2018, 08:16:11 PM

I am not surprised that the older child is playing with them. I Would too! They allow and foster imagination and creativity!

caveman · December 16, 2018, 08:51:54 PM

WV, Baby Tennyson arrived a little after 3 p.m. today. Baby, new mama and new daddy are doing well. I hope to be making wooden toys for him soon.

Good luck on the next grand.

WV Sawmiller · December 16, 2018, 09:26:46 PM

Cavey,

Well the biggest kind of FF congratulations to you and the whole family. I know you are all pleased and excited. Now you can get busy ~~spoiling~~ training him real soon.