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

[Play Activity] The Mitten

Play 'The Mitten' - 2-year-olds - 2019 Mehae-kai (Budding Festival)

[Play Activity] The Mitten

The picture book The Mitten, based on a Ukrainian folktale, is one of the most popular stories around the world.

This is a play based on The Mitten.

On stage there’s a large mitten prop, and children playing animals like a mouse, a rabbit, and a wolf come one by one to climb inside the mitten.

Their exchange—“Let me in!” “Okay!”—is adorable.

It seems like the perfect performance for two-year-olds, who are just beginning to engage more with their friends.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

[Song] What Will You Be When You Grow Up

Song: "When I Grow Up" ... Sakura Class (2-year-olds)

[Song] What Will You Be When You Grow Up

In the 2-year-old class, we perform “What Will You Be When You Grow Up?” with singing and accompanying gestures.

Using fingers to show 1-2-3-4-5, it’s a fingerplay that starts with becoming a doctor, then a barber, a cake shop owner, a police officer, and a sumo wrestler.

This fingerplay, “What Will You Be When You Grow Up?”, is very popular in our daily childcare as well, but when the children line up and present it to the piano accompaniment, we can watch each child’s expression, feel their growth, and share a sense of achievement and joy.

Another key point is that the piano can adjust its sound to match the children’s pace!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

[Dance] Fruit Punch!

[Sumire Class, Age 2] Graduation Festival Performance: 'Fruit Punch'

[Dance] Fruit Punch!

Here’s a perfect dance for adorable two-year-olds! It’s a routine set to the Fruit Punch song that kids love.

Let the children choose costumes that match the fruits mentioned in the lyrics, and they’ll enjoy practicing even more.

The song also fits the cute movements of two-year-olds perfectly.

There are no difficult steps, so each child can have fun dancing at their own pace.

You can make the costumes with colored plastic sheets, and the children can decorate them freely with origami paper and tape.

It could be a great craft activity to incorporate into your childcare program.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

[Dance] Mickey Mouse March

#21 [Daycare] 2-Year-Olds’ Dance ♬ “Mickey Mouse March”

[Dance] Mickey Mouse March

The “Mickey Mouse March” is a song that’s hugely popular with kids.

For the recital, you can either prepare costumes that match the music or outfits the children want to wear—let everyone enjoy it in their own way.

Just by hopping to the beat or mimicking Mickey’s ears, it becomes an adorable performance unique to two-year-olds.

A key point in practice is for the teacher to keep the energy high.

Aim for practices that make people say, “You’re full of energy today!” and head into the big day with that spirit.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

[Dance] Mela!

Mela! Tried dancing! [2-year-old] [Ryokuoushoku Shakai] [Dance] [Children's performance]

[Dance] Mela!

Let’s dance to “Mela!”, a popular song by the four-piece band Ryokuoushoku Shakai! If you know “Mela!”, you might think, “Isn’t that song really fast…?” But by keeping the choreography simple, even two-year-olds can enjoy dancing to it.

Have them make their hands sparkle like stars in a banzai pose, wiggle their hips to the rhythm, and pump up the chorus with some air guitar! There’s no official choreography, so feel free to come up with moves that make your two-year-olds look extra cute.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

[Dance] Younger Boyfriend

“Younger Boy” (Song): A dance performance by HUG Kids ages 2 and up in 2019!

[Dance] Younger Boyfriend

We’d like to introduce a dance recommended for children aged two and up! It’s a cute choreography set to the well-known song “Toshishita no Otokonoko,” familiar across generations.

The highlight is that kids from age two through the oldest kindergarteners can enjoy it together.

You can adjust the choreography by age, letting the more skilled older kids perform in the front row.

The two-year-olds can have fun dancing while watching the older children in front.

Cute costumes will delight the kids too.

It might also be fun to make visors and outfits together with adults as a handmade project.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Ideas for performances recommended for 2-year-olds’ recitals and play events (21–30)

[Instrument Play] Stroll

#130 [Music Concert] ♪ Stroll 🌼 (2-year-old class)

[Instrument Play] Stroll

“Sanpo,” the ending theme from Studio Ghibli’s animated film My Neighbor Totoro, is a song that many children know well! Since it’s all about the beloved activity of taking a walk, it’s a fun tune for kids to imagine the scenery as they sing.

When performing it at a recital, try incorporating simple instrument play while singing.

For two-year-olds, easy-to-handle instruments like bells or castanets are a great choice.

Keep the rhythm with the instruments and sing out cheerfully!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem