Lovely childcare

Ideas for performances recommended for two-year-olds’ recitals and play events

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.

Teachers searching for ideas for performances and recitals that “2-year-olds will enjoy” won’t want to miss this.

This time, we’re introducing ideas for activities recommended for 2-year-olds.

We’ve gathered lots of fun, exciting ideas—like dramatic play, instrument play, songs, and fingerplays—that will spark 2-year-olds’ “I want to try it!” motivation.

We’re also sharing several videos of children actually doing these activities, which should help teachers picture what the real performance will look like.

Please use these as a reference and adapt them to match the children’s interests and developmental levels.

Ideas (1–10) for performances recommended for two-year-olds’ recitals and play events

[Play Acting] The Giant Turnip

[Daichi] Play-acting: 'The Giant Turnip'

[Play Acting] The Giant Turnip

The very famous tale “The Giant Turnip.” The grandfather tries to pull out a turnip, but he can’t do it alone, so he calls the grandmother, then calls someone else… and not just people—dogs and cats are called too, and everyone struggles together to pull out the turnip.

How about adding a few original elements to this “Giant Turnip” story? In the original, a dog and a cat appear, but we could have various animals—like rabbits and mice—join in, and have everyone pull out the turnip together!

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[Play Activity] The Insects’ Concert

FY2021 Minami Nursery School – Life Presentation Day, Peach Class (2-year-old class) – Play Theater: “The Insects’ Music Concert”

[Play Activity] The Insects’ Concert

Here’s a perfect play activity for two-year-olds.

This play uses a theme kids love—bugs—so even two-year-olds who can’t remember many lines can move the story along with fun music and instruments.

Children can choose their favorite instruments, like castanets, tambourines, or bells, so it feels like a natural extension of everyday daycare, helping them relax and enjoy the performance.

It’s also recommended to make the instruments used in the play as a craft during daily activities.

Performing with instruments they made themselves can make the recital even more enjoyable.

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[Dance] Age-Age DonutsYuichiro Hanada / Atsuko Ono

[Age-Age Donuts] - 9th Life Presentation - #2-year-olds #Small Nursery Yumenomi

[Dance] Age-Age Donuts Yuichiro Hanada · Atsuko Ono

“Ageage Donuts” is a song that was sung on NHK’s “Okasan to Issho.” Its Latin-flavored rhythm and pop, cute lyrics are perfect for a dance by two-year-olds.

Be sure to prepare costumes and choreography that showcase the children’s adorableness.

If each child can express themselves freely to the music, the recital will be a great success.

By enjoying the practice process, they may be able to greet the big day with smiles and without too many nerves.

Wishing you a fun and joyful recital!

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Ideas for performances recommended for 2-year-olds’ recitals and play events (11–20)

Song: The Little Ant on an Errand

#131 [Music Concert] ♪ Busy Little Ant 🐜 [2-Year-Old Class]

Song: The Little Ant on an Errand

Let’s sing the popular children’s song ‘Otsukai Arisan’ at the recital.

‘Otsukai Arisan’ is a song about a little ant who goes here and there and, when it bumps into something, completely forgets its important errand.

The word choices in the lyrics are truly adorable, and when children sing it, their earnest expressions overlap with the busy little ant, making them look even cuter.

Why not add some simple choreography and try dancing too? Wearing an ant hat while singing would be adorable as well.

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[Play-Acting] The Please Seat

FY 2017 Minami Nursery School Living Presentation, Peach Class, Play-Acting (The Please Chair)

[Play-Acting] The Please Seat

This is a play based on the picture book “Dozo no Isu” (The Please Chair).

In the story, there’s a chair made by a little rabbit.

Various animals come to the chair placed in a meadow, and all sorts of things happen.

It’s a heartwarming performance where everyone will smile at the adorable sight of children transformed into animals, moving around the stage.

For two-year-olds, it can still be difficult to carry the story with lines alone, so it’s recommended that the teacher add narration except for the most memorable lines.

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[Dance] Furu-Furu Fruit

[Childcare] “Furu-Furu Fruits” Ages 2+ — Sports Day & Recital Dance [PriPri]

[Dance] Furu-Furu Fruit

This is the song “Furu Furu Fruits,” perfect for having children dress up as fruits and dance.

The lyrics are packed with all the fruits kids love.

The dance, where they pretend to be fruits, is super cute! When the children transformed into fruits start dancing, everyone will be captivated by their adorableness.

The choreography is simple—twirling in place and wiggling their bottoms.

It’s a dance number we’d love 2-year-olds to try, so if you’re unsure what to perform at a recital, consider choosing this song.

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[Dramatic Play] The Three Billy Goats Gruff

Takio Kindergarten 2-year-olds’ play, Feb. 18, 2017

[Dramatic Play] The Three Billy Goats Gruff

The picture book The Three Billy Goats Gruff by American author-illustrator Marcia Brown is one of her best-known works.

Although it’s an overseas title, it’s also a popular picture book in Japan.

Many children have probably encountered the story through read-alouds, haven’t they? Let’s try presenting The Three Billy Goats Gruff as a dramatic play! For two-year-olds, it’s difficult to carry the story using only lines, so having the teachers add narration will help the performance proceed smoothly and make it easier for the audience to understand.

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