If you’re looking for the best building toys for 2 year olds and up, you’re in the right place.

Building toys are some of my favorite toys for kids because they give so much room to figure things out on their own.

Stacking blocks, connecting pieces, building a tower, knocking it down and trying again might look like simple play, but there’s actually a whole lot going on.

They’re working on hand skills, hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness, problem-solving, creativity, and even that very important skill of sticking with it when something doesn’t work the first time.

And that’s exactly why I love open-ended building toys. There’s no one right way to play with them and no little button telling your child what to do next.

A two-year-old can stack six blocks into a very questionable tower, while a five-year-old might use those same blocks to build an entire house for their stuffed animals. The toy grows with them, even though the way they play with it changes as their skills and imagination grow.

So this list of the best building toys is made up of toys that aren’t just fun for a few weeks and then forgotten in the back of the playroom. These are building toys that can be enjoyed for years and make great gifts for toddlers to big kids.

Plus they’re actually fun for parents, siblings, and other grown ups to sit down and play with too. Because honestly, some of the best learning happens when we’re right there building alongside them.

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There are a lot of building toys out there, so what makes one worth bringing home?

For me, I’m looking for toys that give kids room to do the thinking themselves. The best building toys for kids aren’t necessarily the ones with the most pieces or the most bells and whistles.

They’re the ones that can be

• played with in lots of different ways
• easy enough for little hands to get use
• give them something new to figure out as they grow.

I also love a toy that earns its spot in the playroom for more than one season. A good set of blocks might start out as stacking practice for a two-year-old and eventually become houses, roads, towers, castles, or whatever else they decide to build.

So as you’re looking through these building toys for 2-5 year olds, I’ve included a mix of classic toys, newer favorites, and open-ended options that can grow right along with your kiddo. Even beyond the kindergarten years!

Just a heads up! This page includes affiliate links and I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you if you purchase from the links I share.

Starting our with the most classic building toy of them all! Wooden blocks have been a well-loved kid toy for over a century (literally) and sets like this even add a modern, sensory upgrade! Two years old is the perfect age to introduce a beginners set like this one with a couple special features to make it extra fun. If you’re looking for a more traditional or intermediate builder option, then this 100-piece set is perfect and it comes in different color (or colorless) options. 

Why We Love It:

1. 1. Classic with fun sensory sensory twist options
   2. Solid wood and “child safe” paint
   3. Rounded corners so no boo boos

Skills It Builds:

Problem Solving, Cause & Effect, Creativity, Fine Motor Skills, Hand-Eye Coordination, Shapes and Colors, Figuring Things Out, Imaginative Play

There’s a reason these have never been rotated out of our playroom over the last three years. My kids (currently 2 and 4) have truly never gotten bored of them! They are the elite building toy, but there are also so many fun ways to play with these tiles beyond that. Some of our favorites are creating mosaics on the fridge or washer/dryer, seeing what surfaces in the house are magnetic, and making our own tangram puzzles. 

Why We Love It:

1. Magnets make it easy to build
2. So many ways to play
3. Zero issues with breaking after 3 years

Skills It Builds:

Figuring Things Out, Colors & Shapes, Fine Motor Skills, Hand-Eye Coordination, How Things Fit

If you want a beginner version of legos, Megablocks are the best first step. They’re easy enough for little hands to grasp, they don’t take much force to put together, and they’re big enough to not be a major choking hazard. Duplos, which are basically just big legos, are a great option too but personally I wouldn’t go that route unless the kiddo has mastered Megablocks and is beyond putting things in their mouth.

Why We Love It:

1. Easy to use
2. Open-ended play
3. Comes with a carry case for easy clean up

Skills It Builds:

Problem Solving, Cause & Effect, Imaginative Play, Fine Motor Skills, Hand-Eye Coordination, Shapes and Colors

If your little builder is already pro at Megablocks, then Duplos are the best next step in the Lego world. They work and look exactly like Legos, except in a jumbo size. This set has been a family favorite of ours because it comes with all the basic pieces plus a couple extras like people, a car, windows, and some flowers. One thing to be cautious about is the size – a few pieces could fit in their mouths of it the kiddo really wanted to. Use caution if they’re still putting everything in their mouth.

Why We Love It:

1. Everything you need in one convenient starter set
2. Comes with a storage box
3. Has a building ideas pamphlet

Skills It Builds:

Problem Solving, Cause & Effect, Imaginative Play, Fine Motor Skills, Hand-Eye Coordination, Shapes and Colors, Numbers, Figuring Things Out, How Things Go Together, Following Instructions

I wish I’d known about these sooner because they are so cool! They’re basically Megablocks with a fun sensory twist. These squishy, jell-o like blocks can interlock and build just like legos but without the dreaded foot pain when you step on them. They even have a few blocks that are filled with fun things like foam beads, sand, and glitter. But don’t worry, their website says they go through a rigorous play test so no amount of kiddo stretching, pulling, or poking should break them open. 

Why We Love It:

1. Fun twist on a classic toy
2. Has a storage box with grid play surface on top
3. MESH accredited and safety-tested

Skills It Builds: 

Figuring Things Out, Cause & Effect, Fine Motor Skills, Exploring Textures

These are always a hit with kiddos and adults because the possibilities are endless. These blocks can stick together at any angle and even defy gravity so you can build all kinds of things you couldn’t with regular blocks. This set even comes with round pieces you can use as wheels to make all kinds of vehicles! 

Why We Love It:

1. More open-eneded play options than other blocks
2. Comes with a plastic container for easy clean up and storage
3. Grows with them as they learn how to make more complex things

Skills It Builds: 

Concentration, Fine Motor Skills, Exploring Textures, Problem Solving, Imaginative Play, Creativity

If you want an alternative to magnet tiles (see #2), magnetic cubes are a super fun building option. They stick together like magnet tiles but look more like building blocks, which makes them easier for little hands to build towers. These cubes also stick to any magnetic surface so we’ve used them on the fridge and washer too!

Why We Love It:

1. Great intro to building without the frustration of constantly toppling
2. Over 1.5” in size, larger than other brands
3. Comes with a manual for building ideas and matching games

Skills It Builds:

Fine Motor Skills, Problem Solving, Baby Physics, Colors, Stacking, Following Instructions

These tiles play like magnet normal magnet tiles except they have a fun twist –  these have an open center instead of being a solid piece of plastic. This makes them a fun change for kiddos who love magna-tiles but could use some variety to make them interesting again. Plus, this kind is really easy for little hands to grip because the open middle makes every piece like a handle to hold. Best part, these can connect with other magnetic tiles so if your kiddo already has those, this set would be a really fun to add to the building possibilities. 

Why We Love It:

1. Comes with a drawstring storage bag
2. Open center makes for more playing possibilities
3. 3rd generation design for extra upgraded safety and fun

Skills It Builds:

Figuring Things Out, Colors & Shapes, Fine Motor Skills, Hand-Eye Coordination, How Things Fit, Open-Ended Play, Creativity

If you have a little extra room, these jumbo blocks are insanely fun. Kids loving building towers as big as themselves then knocking them down. And the lightweight foam in these means no one gets hurt if the tower falls on them! These bigger blocks are also way easier for little hands to grip and stack when they’re still developing those skills and muscles. 

Why We Love It:

1. Variety pack with vibrant colors and fun shapes
2. Easy to clean with soap and water
3. Comes with a storage bag

Skills It Builds:

Cause & Effect, Colors and Shapes, Figuring Things Out, Fine Motor Skills, Creativity, Baby Physics, Creativity, Hand-Eye Coordination

A nuts and bolts set saved us on a 3 hour flight, so I know it’s something kids love. This set is great for beginners and has just enough jumbo pieces to be interesting and fun but not so many that it’s overwhelming. It also has bolts with different thicknesses to help with matching – like the triangle nuts can only fit on the triangle bolts. If you have a kiddo who’s ready to level up, you may want to go with a more advanced set like this one. It has screws (not great for little ones), plates, toy tools (including an electric drill) and a peg board tool box to build on and store everything!

Why We Love Them:

1. Sneakily encourages a ton of skills in a fun way
2. Have activity books or instruction manuals
3. Come with a storage bag or box

Skills They Build:

Colors & Color Matching, Figuring Things Out, Hand-Eye Coordination, Fine Motor Skills, Shapes & Shape Matching, Focus, Sticking With It, Counting, Problem Solving, Following Instructions

If you want to branch out beyond the typical magnet tiles, these interlocking ones (with no magnets) are super cool! These ones come in different shapes, sizes, and colors and can be combined to make basically anything. Plus, they’re half the price of most magnet tiles for over double the amount of pieces – 180 in this set! But for those “everything in the mouth” kiddos, the windows are only 1”x1” so you may want to hide those pieces away until they move out of that phase. 

Why We Love It:

1. Great bang for your buck 
2. A “grow with them” toy they’ll use for years
3. Comes with a storage bag and building ideas manual

Skills It Builds:

Colors, Shapes, Figuring It Out, Fine Motor Skills, Hand-Eye Coordination, Baby Physics, Creative Thinking, Problem Solving, Sticking With It, Focus, Following Instructions

These stacking blocks are such an interesting twist on regular building blocks. The set comes with several sizes that are designed to stack into their other pyramid-style, but they’re not just for building pyramids! You can make all kinds of cool stacked towers and the vibrant color make it even more fun! Plus it gives a great chances to learn more about colors, matching, and sizes. My one caution – the smallest piece is 1.3″ according to the website, so make sure to keep those out of reach of any little ones still putting things in their mouths.

Why We Love It:

1. Comes with a storage bag and building idea manual
2. Solid, smooth pieces make them easy to clean and sanitize 
3. Different take on a classic to make it super interesting

Skills It Builds:

Creative Thinking, Figuring It Out, Fine Motor Skills, Colors, Matching, Sizes, Hand-Eye Coordination, Problem Solving, Stacking, Following Instructions, Focus, Imagination

The best building toys are the ones that keep getting pulled off the shelf, even after the new-toy excitement wears off.

I love toys that give little ones room to try new things, figure things out, and come up with their own ideas (even if that idea is just building the tallest tower possible and then immediately knocking it over).

Hopefully this list gives you a few new ideas for your playroom or helps you find a gift that will get years of use.

That’s the goal, right? Toys kids love that they’ll play with for years!

Looking for more toy ideas? Check out my posts on Best Gifts for One Year Olds: Educational Gift Guide for First Birthdays and Holidays for non-junk toys that will grow with your child.

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