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

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 (21–30)

[Dance] Sorry for being cute

[2-year-olds] Life Presentation (FY 2023) #Dance
[Dance] Sorry for being cute

Released in 2022, HoneyWorks’ song “Kawaikute Gomen” became a huge hit, especially among girls.

With its sparkling, poppy melody, it’s a perfect track to make kids’ earnest dance moves look even cuter.

The lyrics portray a hardworking girl who affirms herself no matter what anyone says and lives boldly, inspiring us to hope that children will grow up with that same resilience.

How about dressing up in idol-like, adorable outfits and performing a dance to this song?

sasashina
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Song: Mountain Musician

♪The mountain musician – I’m a musician, a little squirrel of the mountain~♪ (with gestures)
Song: Mountain Musician

“Yama no Ongakuka” (The Mountain Musicians) is a fun song where animals play instruments.

If you’re doing it with two-year-olds, keeping the tempo on the slower side will make it easier to sing.

It’s also nice to prepare costumes for animals like little squirrels or small birds.

To help children visualize each instrument, using picture books or paper theater (papercraft puppets) is recommended.

Since there are lyrics up to verse 5, memorizing everything might be challenging.

It’s best to gauge how far to sing based on the children’s responses.

tsukada moe
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[Play] The Big Vegetable Party Commotion

FY2019 Minami Nursery School Entertainment Festival, 2-Year-Old Class: “Vegetable Party Commotion”
[Play] The Big Vegetable Party Commotion

This is a play for the two-year-olds’ performance day called “The Big Vegetable Party Commotion.” It recreates a popular picture book that the children love.

The kids appear in small groups, divided into parts such as princesses and princes, and vegetables like carrots, lettuce, parsley, lemon, and even mayonnaise, each wearing matching costumes.

Various vegetables make an appearance, and each group has lines and a simple dance—it’s incredibly cute.

At the end, everyone comes on stage together, sits down, holds hands, and sings a song.

The teachers introduce each part as well, making it a play where you can truly feel the cuteness and growth of the two-year-olds.

mayumi
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[Instrument Play] Toy no Cha-Cha-Cha

“Music Play” [Ages 0–2] | Gakuenchō Yūiku-en [Daycare/Kindergarten Event]
[Instrument Play] Toy no Cha-Cha-Cha

“Omocha no Chachacha” is a song with a fun rhythm.

Make the most of the “cha-cha-cha” parts and enjoy playing with instruments.

Using tambourines with two-year-olds might be a bit challenging, but they’ll learn by imitating the teacher—tapping or shaking them to the beat.

The song itself is also long for two-year-olds, so it may help to stop partway or repeat the first verse twice.

For the recital, dressing them in toy-like costumes would be a great idea!

tsukada moe
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[Dramatic Play] The Big Leaf

Introducing a model performance of the fun play “The Big Leaf,” perfect for children aged 2 to preschool. It’s one of the cutest stories from the theatrical presentation materials “Children’s Opera,” designed for kindergarten and nursery school teachers!
[Dramatic Play] The Big Leaf

Here is an introduction to the play “The Big Leaf.” One day, a big leaf had fallen in the forest.

In order, Mr.

Monkey, Mr.

Tiger, Mr.

Mouse, and Mr.

Caterpillar put on masks, come on stage for their parts, and say their lines.

Each animal uses the fallen leaf as a parasol, a plate, or a fan, but only Mr.

Caterpillar, who loves leaves, ends up eating it at the very end—making for a charming story.

At the end, everyone sings a lively song for the finale.

Since there’s also a picture book, it’s easy to introduce in early childhood settings, and children will likely enjoy taking part.

This play is recommended for ages around 2 through preschool (younger class).

mayumi
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[Instrument Play] The Mysterious Pocket

Musical instrument play: “The Mysterious Pocket” … for 2-year-olds
[Instrument Play] The Mysterious Pocket

How about a percussion ensemble of “Fushigi na Pocket” for a performance by two-year-olds? In the video we’re introducing, the children say the rhythms out loud—like “tan tan tan”—while playing their instruments, making it easy and fun even for two-year-olds to join in.

Of course, they can also play the instruments while singing, and the children will still enjoy participating.

Even just with percussion, it’s absolutely adorable, so why not include it in your recital or event? Adding simple choreography would be cute, too!

hiyoko sensei
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[Playing Instruments] PaprikaFoorin

Paprika, which sparked a huge craze, is still a favorite song for many children and teachers, isn’t it? If you slow the tempo down from the original, it becomes a tune that even two-year-olds can enjoy.

For instrument play, choose easy-to-sound items like maracas or toy castanets.

The key is to let them enjoy it in their own way—clapping along with the music or playing instruments to the beat.

Trying the song’s memorable choreography is a great idea, too!

tsukada moe
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[Play] The Three Little Pigs