I don't really do "sex specific" gifts since most 2 yr old and 3 yr old girls like the same things my son did/does at that age.
My favorite gift for 2 year olds is a set of Bristle Blocks. Great for building, kids love them, and they're a little easier for dexterity than legos or mega blocks, which are also great gift ideas for kids a this age.
At 3 dress up clothes, puzzles, and musical instruments (microphones, bell sets, toy instruments) are a big hit.
Lets see we have been given dolls, tea party stuff, floor puzzles, books, dress up clothes. I'm the mean mom and tend to gravitate towards more learning stuff when I'm birthday shopping instead of just toys so I've done simple games (heads and tails, matching/memory, opposites, colors) or art stuff that is easily used up (color books -the color wonder by Crayola was a big hit with one of DD's friends as the mom loved that the markers only worked on special paper-reusable sticker pads are also a lot of fun).
I don't think thats mean at all. I like the learning stuff too.
Puzzles, books, art stuff, outside toys, bubbles, dvds, kids music cds, play food or kitchen accessories. Cars are one thing my daughter loves but we don't have a lot of. On the opposite side my nephews love dress up and cooking things probably because they don't have a lot of it. Mainly hats and stuff like that.
Re: Gift Recommendations
My favorite gift for 2 year olds is a set of Bristle Blocks. Great for building, kids love them, and they're a little easier for dexterity than legos or mega blocks, which are also great gift ideas for kids a this age.
At 3 dress up clothes, puzzles, and musical instruments (microphones, bell sets, toy instruments) are a big hit.