Lovely childcare

[For 2-year-olds] Let’s get moving! A collection of ideas for physical play and movement games

20 years of experience as a nursery teacher / kindergarten teacherhiyoko sensei
I’m Hiyoko-sensei, a former nursery school teacher from Hyogo Prefecture. Ever since I was five, my dream was to become a childcare worker, and before I knew it, 20 years had passed since I achieved that dream. Through singing and playing with the children, I kept working with the spirit of someone in their twenties, even as I increasingly felt my physical limits year by year (haha). From here on, I’d like to share helpful information carefully and thoughtfully, drawing on my on-site experience.
Nursery Teacher Mom Writertsukada moe
After working for five years at an after-school childcare club and three years at a nursery school, I began working as a freelance writer. I’m a mother of two children. Inspired by playing the flute in the school wind ensemble in elementary school, I joined a jazz club at university. I’ve also incorporated ukulele and piano performance into childcare. Playing, laughing, feeling sad, feeling frustrated—through all kinds of experiences, I want children to grow.

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.

[Age 2] Let's Get Moving! A Collection of Physical Activity and Game Ideas (21–30)

Penguin Race

No.11 [Parent–Child Play / Motor Skills Improvement] “Penguin Race” Waddle waddle, humorous—oh my, the balloon is floating here and there! Don’t lose, little penguin!

Penguin Race

Here’s a game where you walk while holding a balloon between your knees.

Since the way you walk looks like a penguin, it’s called the Penguin Race.

If you squeeze too hard, the balloon might slip out from between your knees and float away, making it hard to reach the finish line.

Split into teams and pass the balloon to the next runner like a baton.

You could also skip teams and run it as a tournament or round-robin for extra fun.

It’s a race that can be enjoyed as a parent–child activity too, so give it a try!

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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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 Support After-school day service #SoramameKids #StayHomeTime #Indoor Play Parent-child time #HandmadeToys child # 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.

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[For 2-year-olds] Let’s get moving! A collection of ideas for physical play and games (31–40)

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! ♡♡#SoramameKids Kotoba no Kyoushitsu Soramame Kids # developmental support (ryōiku)#KagoshimaRehabilitation Child Development Support After-school day service #Indoor Play #Tissue Recreation
♬ 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.

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Cleaning Eurhythmics

♫49 [Review] This is what the Cleaning Eurhythmics was like

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!

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Target shooting game

Balloon Play: 10 Simple Games for Preschool and Kindergarten 🎈

Target shooting game

Let’s have fun with a balloon target game! Tie yarn to inflated balloons and hang them on the room’s wall.

Once you’ve prepared several, crumple up newspaper to make balls and secure them with tape so they don’t unravel.

Now you’re ready to play.

Mark a throwing line with tape, and have the children throw the balls from that line, aiming at the balloons.

Drawing pictures on the balloons and saying, “Let’s aim for that picture!” makes it even more fun.

Target games help develop visual tracking and control, so they’re perfect to play with kids.

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gomudan

Gomdan

gomudan

Here’s how to play Gomu-dan (rubber band jumping).

First, prepare a flat elastic band, and have two people hold the ends.

Let’s start with a simple jump-over game.

Hold the band at ankle height and jump over it.

Even if your feet catch on the band, it’s a success as long as you make it through to the other side.

Try different ways of jumping, like two-footed jumps, backward two-footed jumps, and cartwheel jumps! You can also raise the height to increase the difficulty and excitement.

Be sure to keep the band pulled tight—if it’s slack, it can be dangerous.

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Bomb Game

[Guaranteed to be a big hit with toddlers] An ultra-easy “Bomb Game” you can play

Bomb Game

Heart-pounding and thrilling—the Bomb Game is here! The word “bomb” might sound scary, but in this game we use a soft rubber ball as a pretend bomb.

The rules are super simple: if you don’t get hit by the ball the teacher throws, you win.

Start with an easy level so anyone can win, and add variations as everyone gets used to it.

If you snap your wrist to put spin on the ball before throwing, its bounce after it lands becomes unpredictable—guaranteed to get everyone excited!

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