[For 2-year-olds] Let’s get moving! A collection of ideas for physical play and movement games
By the time children are around two years old, they can do a variety of movements and their play becomes more dynamic.
Are there any teachers who want their children to play a lot but are struggling with a limited repertoire of activities?
It would be wonderful if teachers could promote children’s development by playing together with them as they grow each day.
With that in mind, we’ve gathered recommended physical activities and games for two-year-olds.
We’ve included ideas that don’t require equipment and ones you can do indoors, so please use them as a reference.
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[Age 2] Let's Get Moving! A Collection of Physical Activity and Game Ideas (21–30)
Thunder God has arrived.
Let me introduce the rhythm game “Kaminari-don Has Arrived.” In this game, you hide the body part that the Thunder God (Kaminari-sama) says, so he can’t take it.
The person playing Kaminari-sama calls out a place while singing, and the children should cover that place with both hands.
Any place is fine.
Since Kaminari-sama is famously known for taking belly buttons, starting with the belly button is classic.
You can also choose easy-to-understand places like ears, mouth, or head.
If the kids manage to cover it before it’s taken, everyone can shout “Safe, yes!” to celebrate—that’s part of the fun.
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.
Moving Game
I’d like to introduce the “Moving House Game,” which has a tag-like element and can be enjoyed even by young children who only vaguely understand rules.
First, set up two safe zones some distance apart, and have the children wait in the first safe zone.
When the game starts, the person playing the Wolf says, “Moving house!” When you hear it, quickly move to the other safe zone.
The Wolf will chase you, so be careful not to get caught.
This game requires a bit of space, but with some creativity—like crawling or pretending to be rabbits to escape—it can be enjoyed even in smaller areas.
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.
Pineapple Dance
Here’s a “Pineapple Dance” that even two-year-olds can do.
The song is “THE RAPID – Pineapple.” It’s an upbeat, rock-style track, and the choreography is very simple.
That said, it’s hard for two-year-olds to dance it perfectly, so let them watch adults having fun with it.
There are lots of moves that make you want to try them—stretching your arms in front of or to the sides of your body, curling up tight, and kicking your feet around—so they’re sure to enjoy it! It ends with a tight self-hug, and when kids do it, it’s so cute you can’t help but swoon!
Eurhythmics play
Let’s play with eurhythmics—moving our bodies to music! Any song is fine, but starting with animal-themed songs may make it easier to understand.
For example, if the children’s song “Zō-san” (Mr.
Elephant) is playing, you could use your arms to show a long trunk or mimic a sumo wrestler’s stomps to express the elephant’s size.
For frog or rabbit songs, try jumping; for a dragonfly song, run with arms spread wide.
Encourage full-body movements to explore different expressions.
It also helps to add contrast by having the children freeze when the music stops—that’s a fun trick to keep them engaged.
Hoop Daruma-san ga Koronda
More ways to play! Here are some ideas for playing “Daruma-san ga Koronda” using hula hoops.
You’ll need two balance beams, a hula hoop, a ball, and flat markers.
“Daruma-san ga Koronda” is a traditional game that’s long been loved.
Because the rules are easy to understand, many preschools and kindergartens include it in their activities.
By using hula hoops, balls, and balance beams, you can expand the range of play—highly recommended.
Once children are comfortable with the basic rules, give these variations a try!