[Childcare] Recommended play ideas for caring for 2-year-olds

Tail tag

[Childcare] Recommended Group Games for 2-Year-Olds [Nursery/Kindergarten]

“Tail Tag” is a classic game in early childhood settings.

The standard rules can be hard for two-year-olds, so try splitting into a team that wears tails and runs away and a team that chases, like a game of tag.

When a child grabs a tail, they tuck that tail into their own pants and switch to the runner role.

Conversely, the child who lost their tail becomes a chaser.

Some children may feel upset and cry when their tail is taken, but that’s an important experience too.

It helps them practice shifting gears, learn that sometimes you lose a game, and think, “I’ll try harder next time.” I believe it’s a play activity that fosters children’s emotional growth.

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sasashina

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Crawling through a tunnel

Let's go through the 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.

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sasashina

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giant ball

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.

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mayumi

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Balloon roly-poly

@soramame.sensei

Let’s make a roly-poly toy with a balloon and play a game! 😊 With friends! With family! An indoor game you can play even on rainy days ☔✨️Child Development SupportAfter-school day service#SoramameKids#StayHomeTime#Indoor PlayParent-child time#HandmadeToyschild# developmental support (ryōiku)translation

♬ A cute pop and bouncy song(1526882) – sanusagi

Let’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.

Tissue Catch

@soramame.sensei

Hello! This is Kotoba no Kyoushitsu Soramame Kids 🌟 The video we’re introducing today is “Tissue Catch”! It’s a very simple game where you catch a tissue falling from above using your hands or tools 😊 As you track the falling tissue with your eyes and catch it, eye–hand teamwork becomes very important 🎵 Let’s play a lot and help your eyes 👀 and hands 👋🏻 become best friends! ♡♡#SoramameKidsKotoba no Kyoushitsu Soramame Kids# developmental support (ryōiku)#KagoshimaRehabilitationChild Development SupportAfter-school day service#Indoor Play#TissueRecreation

♬ happy(1291154) – KIE

The softly fluttering motion of tissues falling is fascinating! Here’s a tissue-catching idea.

It’s a simple and fun activity perfect for 2-year-olds.

Toss a tissue gently into the air from a high position, and have the children try to catch it—it’s a unique game.

Watching the tissue drift down slowly delights kids, and they can try to predict its movement and catch it firmly with their palms.

It’s a playful way to nurture reflexes and concentration.

Ball Collecting Game

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.

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mayumi

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Ball fishing

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!

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mayumi

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