Lovely childcare

Ideas for indoor play, physical activities, and games suited to the development of 2-year-olds

9 years of experience as a nursery school teacherShibata Risa
I am an active nursery school teacher with 9 years of experience. After graduating from university, I worked at a daycare center. The time I spent happily with children—playing piano, singing songs, and doing finger-play—are priceless memories to me. Currently, while raising three children of my own, I work at an after-school day service, engaging with children and providing individualized developmental support. Drawing on my diverse experiences as a childcare worker and as a mother, I hope to express and convey my thoughts through writing.

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.

Ideas for indoor play, physical activities, and games suitable for 2-year-olds (21–30)

Playing with plastic raffia (Suzuran tape)

Suzuran Tape Play for Ages 0–2

Playing with plastic raffia (Suzuran tape)

Let’s adapt the ways we play to suit children’s development! Here are some ideas for playing with suzuran tape.

Suzuran tape is a thin plastic tape known for its colorful appearance.

Because the material is light and flexible, you can cut it with scissors, tie it, or weave it, allowing for all kinds of creative variations and uses in different games.

This time, let’s try making a suzuran tape curtain, a suzuran tape “bath,” and suzuran tape pom-poms.

It sounds like these activities will spark excitement and fun.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

giant ball

@nacchi_asobi
Super excited! 😍 We played for another whole hour!!! ▫️Giant Ball▫️ ▷▷Materials • Trash bags (This time we used 45L and 30L 🫶🏻) • Vinyl tape ▷▷How to make it 1) Inflate the trash bag. Tip: Fill it up until it’s nice and firm with air! 2) Wrap 3–4 strips of tape all the way around. That’s it! 💓 ▷▷Tips for fun Throw it, roll it, kick it—when you toss it high, it floats down slowly and everyone gets super excited!! 😍 Please give it a try! ♡♡ ⚠️Safety Note Be careful to prevent accidental swallowing. Always have an adult supervising. Put it away out of reach after playtime. Please be mindful of choking and ingestion hazards! 𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃🎨 Thank you so much for viewing ♡♡ This account shares: / Play-at-home ideas for 1-year-olds from a childcare-worker mom 🎈 \ I hope this helps when you’re wondering, “What should we play today?” and need ideas for at-home time 🥰#AtHomePlay Simple Play Parenting Struggling with parenting 1 year old #1-year-old play #BoyMom Balloon Play 100-yen shop toy #HandmadeToys #DaisoPurchases #Seria purchases
♬ Turkish march 8bit game sound(910193) – KAN TAKEUCHI

Let me introduce a giant ball that kids will be super excited about.

The method is very simple: inflate a garbage bag and tie it off to make a large ball shape.

Wrap duct tape around it, and you’re done.

If you change the colors of the tape as you stick it on, it becomes a visually fun ball as well.

Hold it, throw it—use your whole body and play freely with the giant ball.

Another plus is that, since it’s made of plastic, it won’t hurt even if it hits your head or body.

It might also be fun to make several of the same kind and play with them like a maze.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Ball Collecting Game

@dukids3
A ball-collecting game that even 2-year-olds can play! They did their best to gather the balls into their own territory 🌟Naha Okinawa #English Translation #nursery Naha Nursery School Okinawa Nursery School　#bilingual Job Opening #international Naha International Okinawa City Nursery School Aspiring childcare worker Recruiting childcare workers Employment Okinawa relocation #dukids #DewKids Translation Parenting Au pair　Okinawa childcare worker　Translation　Omoromachi　Uruma City Nursery School　Okinawa International Ball play
♬ Merry × Merry Xmas★ – E – Girls

Here’s a ball-collecting game that even 2-year-olds can really enjoy.

The rules are very simple: scatter colorful balls on the floor and have the children put them into hula hoops placed on the floor.

The person who gathers the most balls in their hoop wins.

You can play individually or make teams of two or three and play a team match.

Grab the balls, put them in the hoops, run around, and move your bodies a lot.

It’s recommended to play in a spacious area to prevent children from bumping into each other.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Ball fishing

@yuka_asobi28
Let’s have fun strengthening your core and improve how easily you get tired! 🤭🌟# developmental support (ryōiku)#AtHomePlay #Indoor Play Physical play (exercise)2 years old Core training
♬ familie – Mrs. GREEN APPLE

Here’s a ball-fishing game that helps build both concentration and body awareness.

Wrap transparent tape around the tip of a pool noodle with the sticky side facing outward.

Use the sticky tip to pick up scattered colored balls one by one.

It can be fun to set a time limit and see who can collect the most balls the fastest.

If the pool noodle is too long, cut it to match the child’s height to make it easier to use.

Give it a try!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Sledding

Let's play with towels! Age-based sled play #physicalplay #childcare

Sledding

Here’s a sledding-style activity using everyday towels.

Prepare two towels, each large enough for one child to sit or stand on.

Have the child ride on one towel, and hold the other towel in their hands while the teacher pulls, moving as if it were a sled.

If the towel is tied once and the child holds the tied section, it’s easier to grip even with weaker hand strength.

Balance is key during this sled play.

Whether the child stands or sits should be chosen based on their developmental stage, prioritizing the safer option.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

mat exercises

Reiwa 5, 2-year-old Sumire Class: First Mat Exercises

mat exercises

We’d like to introduce fun mat exercises that get kids moving using a mat.

Lie on the mat, stretch out your arms and legs, bring your hands together and reach forward as you roll.

By rolling across the mat under your own power, you practice moving while maintaining full-body balance.

The hands-and-knees (all-fours) movement involves supporting posture while moving arms and legs alternately, making it perfect for engaging the whole body.

If that’s difficult, starting with simpler movements like crawling might be a good idea.

For safety, let’s have multiple teachers supervise while the children enjoy these activities.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Moguradon’snursery rhyme

November nursery rhyme “Mogura-don”

Moguradon’s Nursery Rhyme

Let me introduce a mole-themed nursery rhyme game that friends or parents and children can enjoy together.

Everyone forms a circle and holds hands.

One person sits in the center as the mole.

When everyone calls out, “Mole, wake up!” the mole answers, “Okay!” and wakes up.

At the same moment, the people around should try to run away so they don’t get caught by the mole.

The mole chases and tags someone.

Next, the person who was tagged switches roles and becomes the mole.

You can make it even more fun by discussing and changing the lines you say during the game.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem