For 2-year-olds! Fun craft activities and indoor play ideas
As children reach the age of two, a sense of independence—“I want to do it myself!”—begins to emerge.
You’ll start to see them eagerly taking on new challenges and acting with confidence and initiative.
As their fine motor skills improve, the range of crafts they can make using tools and techniques expands significantly.
In this article, we’re introducing craft activity ideas that are just right for two-year-olds’ development.
From season- and event-themed projects to activities that lead into pretend play and ones that use unique techniques, we’ve gathered fun ideas that will boost children’s motivation to create.
Through these activities, we hope children can experience the joy and sense of accomplishment that comes from doing things on their own.
We hope you find these ideas helpful.
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For 2-year-olds! Fun Craft and Indoor Play Ideas (11–20)
Strawberries with cotton swab stamping
Let’s make strawberries using cotton swabs as stamps.
Cut the red construction paper into the shape of the strawberry fruit, and the green construction paper into the shape of the strawberry calyx.
When using scissors, be sure to keep an eye on your child.
If your child isn’t yet comfortable with scissors, it’s a good idea to do the cutting in advance.
Once you’ve cut out the shapes and combined the fruit and calyx, dip a cotton swab in yellow or gold paint and dab it on.
These dots will become the strawberry’s seeds.
You’ll end up with very cute strawberries, so give it a try!
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!
Shirokuma-chan’s Hotcakes
Let’s jump into the world of picture books! Here are some ideas inspired by Shirokuma-chan’s Pancakes.
The heartwarming picture book Shirokuma-chan’s Pancakes, in which Shirokuma-chan makes warm, fluffy pancakes and everyone eats together, is beloved by both children and adults.
This time, let’s try creating a scene from the book! It’s unique how mixing shaving foam with craft glue can recreate the fluffy texture of pancakes.
Give it a try!
Summer at-home fun you can get all at the 100-yen shop!
Everything you need from the 100-yen shop! Here are some ideas for summer play at home.
Have you heard of a sensory bag? It’s a pouch-like item used as a toy to stimulate children’s senses, letting them play while engaging their perception and sensations.
This time, let’s make a DIY sensory bag and play with it! You’ll need a vacuum/compression bag, decorative pom-poms, beads, and liquid laundry starch or school glue.
You can also add glitter for extra sparkle.
The cool, chilly feel makes it perfect for summer.
Handmade musical instruments
Let’s have fun making sounds and playing! Here are some ideas for homemade instruments.
Try playing while getting familiar with music using DIY drums, maracas, and castanets.
You can make instruments like drums, maracas, and castanets using paper plates and paper cups, and by freely decorating them with stickers and pens, you’ll nurture children’s creativity.
As they make sounds and keep the beat, they can experience the joy of playing along with music, which also helps develop fine motor skills and a sense of rhythm.
Ball Collecting Game
https://www.tiktok.com/@dukids3/video/7451931189474036999Here’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.
For 2-year-olds! Fun craft activities and indoor play ideas (21–30)
Balloon roly-poly
https://www.tiktok.com/@soramame.sensei/video/7464447014768528658Let’s play by controlling how much force we use! Here’s an idea for a balloon roly-poly toy.
It’s a perfect, fun activity for curious two-year-olds.
Put a weight inside a balloon and inflate it, then toss it into a hula hoop.
The balloon will bounce without toppling over, which is fun to watch.
As children adjust their strength to match the balloon’s movement, they can develop dexterity and concentration.
Aiming and tossing the balloon into a specific spot helps them experience the fun of controlling their force.