Ideas for indoor play, physical activities, and games suited to the development of 2-year-olds
Around the age of two, children’s vocabularies grow and they begin to assert their feelings more strongly.
As their walking stabilizes, they’re also able to perform a variety of whole-body movements.
Here, we’ll introduce recommended indoor activities that suit the physical and mental development of two-year-olds.
From active, full-body movement games to group games that involve playing with friends, and activities that let children freely express themselves—there are plenty of options that give kids a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction from “I did it by myself!”
Use these ideas as a reference and enjoy a fun time together indoors.
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Ideas for indoor play, physical activities, and games suitable for 2-year-olds (11–20)
bowling
Plastic bottle bowling you can freely enjoy making with leftover origami, stickers, scissors, and more.
Start by sticking on small stickers to use those fingertips, and let children feel the joy of “I did it!” with single snips of the scissors.
On a sheet of white construction paper, stick the colorful pieces you’ve cut and the stickers.
Wrap that around a plastic bottle, line them up, and the bowling tournament begins! Roll the ball and enjoy knocking the bottles down—it’s fun and also a full-body activity you can do indoors.
Cleaning Eurhythmics
Let’s make use of handkerchiefs and organza fabric! Here are some ideas for “cleaning-themed eurhythmics.” Eurhythmics is an educational method that combines music and movement, and it’s said to be especially effective in early childhood.
This time, let’s play with a cleaning theme through cleaning eurhythmics.
By using handkerchiefs, children can move their hands and arms in time with the music.
A nice benefit is that they can develop a sense of force control and rhythm while having fun.
Using light, soft materials also makes them easier for children to handle!
Daikon Game
Let me introduce the “Daikon Game,” a fun activity you can enjoy indoors while moving your body! Get everyone excited by having them pretend to be daikon radishes.
Lie down in a circle holding hands.
Stay in character as daikon and don’t let go of your friends’ hands so the ‘oni’ can’t pull you out.
The child who stays until the end wins! Rules vary by region, but if you link arms instead of holding hands, you can become even stronger daikon! It’s also fun to let the kids come up with ways to avoid being pulled out, so I highly recommend it.
Moving House Game
Let’s move to a distant base! Here’s an idea for a “Moving House” game.
In this game, the cue word is “Moving House,” and children simply move from one mat to another.
Once they get used to it, teachers or guardians can try to interrupt them along the course.
The fun part is seeing whether they can complete the move while avoiding the teachers or guardians! It’s also a great idea for deepening bonds among the children by giving them a shared goal.
Sinking Game
Recommended when you want to be active and play indoors! Here are some ideas for a “Sinking Game.” The Sinking Game is a fun activity that gets everyone excited while enjoying communication.
Pretend the room is the ocean and create islands using mats and vaulting boxes.
Teachers or guardians play the role of sharks, and the unique rule is that the children run away so they don’t get caught by the sharks! As they play, children can develop listening and decision-making skills, so be sure to incorporate it into your activities!
Playing with plastic bags
Versatile for all kinds of play! Here are some ideas for games using plastic bags.
These are unique activities you can enjoy with two-year-olds.
Plastic bags are light and sturdy, making them great for easy, varied play.
In the video, we introduce 10 different ways to play, such as inflating a bag to feel the breeze and making a ball using a bag.
Using familiar materials like plastic bags can help nurture creativity.
Let’s spend time full of smiles with the children!
Ideas for indoor play, physical activities, and games suitable for 2-year-olds (21–30)
Crawling through a tunnel
Crawling through a tunnel is surely a familiar game children have enjoyed since infancy.
You can make a tunnel with cardboard and play, or an adult can spread their legs so the child can crawl underneath.
There are also songs for tunnel-crawling, so it’s fun to play while playing those.
If an adult is being the tunnel, try adding variety by changing the width with how far you spread your legs, or suddenly making a tunnel while walking.
Crawling helps strengthen the core, so it’s also recommended to play this with children who have already learned to walk.
