2 year olds are wild, curious, creative, and full of energy. It is probably one of the many reasons why I love them so much, but let’s be honest as a mom it can be exhausting! Having some easy to prep or no prep activities for 2 year olds can be a lifesaver for you to have on hand. Add these ideas to the list of at home activities for toddlers to keep them entertained day after day.
What types of activities should 2 year olds do?
2 year olds are so active! They love climbing, jumping, running, hopping, crawling like cats, and many other fun activities. By age 2 your child is capable of many fun active activities that you will want to make sure to expose them to everyday. This helps inspire them to be active throughout their life.
Developmentally your 2 year old is growing each and every day. The more you expose them to, the more they will soak in. Having games and puzzles on hand that are age-appropriate will help them with brain development.
Social interaction is especially important. You can do this by playdates, park days, reading, preschool, church nurseries, and more. The more you expose your child to socially the more they will learn to interact with others. And oh the questions they will ask!
Are you exhausted just thinking about all the things you can do with your child? No problem we are sharing all the activities for 2 year olds with you to help make your life easier!
Indoor Activities for 2 year olds
Popsicle Stick Drop
Kids love the cause and effect of things, so they are for sure to love this activity. Just grab an empty plastic bottle with a wide mouth and give them popsicle sticks. Have them pick up one at a time and drop it into the bottle. Once they have dropped all the popsicle sticks they can then dump it upside down to remove them all. This is a great skill for developing fine motor skills.
Blocks / Duplo Legos
Introduce your toddlers to blocks at a young age. This type of activity will help their imagination soar to new heights. As their brain develops you will see them go from stacking one block on top of another to creating houses, cars, and much more.
Puzzles
Wooden puzzles with knob handles are great to have on hand for your 2 year olds. Here they will work on problem solving skills as well as fine motor skills as they learn how to fit each puzzle in its place.
String Cereal
If your 2 year old is like most they love any type of cereal that is an O shape. Set them at the table and give them a string and have them string cereal together. Once they finish they will have a snack that they can then enjoy.
Ice Paint
While this activity takes a bit of prep, it is worth it. Grab an ice cube tray and add water. Then add a few drops of food coloring to each ice tray. Place in the freezer and then freeze. Once frozen, you can remove and let your kids paint with the ice.
Pom Pom Pick Up
I love activities that encourage those fine motor skills! Grab two bowls a pair of tongs and a bunch of pom pom balls and let your 2 year old pick up a pom pom one at a time and move them from bowl to bowl.
Sorting Bears
Grab some sorting bears and let them practice their colors. They can even use these to practice patterns and various other fun activities.
Hide and Seek
Who doesn’t love hide and seek? One of my favorite activities for 2 year olds is hide and seek. When you get close you hear little laughter or they always hide in the same place. It is one of those games that never gets old to them.
Playdough
Playdough is a great sensory activity that takes no prep and costs very little. You can make your own playdough that lasts months and give them basic supplies from the kitchen. Your kids will love mashing the playdoh and creating all kinds of fun things.
Pom Pom Drop
You know all those toilet paper tubes and paper towel tubes you were saving? Well, it is time to pull them out with this fun activity. Take the tubes and tape them to a wall. You can have some going straight down, some at angles, and even some under others. Then give your kids some pom pom balls and let them put them in the tops of the tubes and let them watch what happens!
Outdoor Activities for 2 Year Olds
There is a whole world to discover outside with kids. Here are some fun activities you will want to introduce them to.
Sidewalk Chalk
Kids love sidewalk chalk. Pick from this list of fun sidewalk chalk ideas and get creating together!
Scavenger Hunt
2 year olds are curious and they love exploring. Download this fun outdoor scavenger hunt and explore together the great outdoors. While outside talk about everything that they see, the smells, and the colors.
Plant Flowers
At 2 kids love helping, so let them. Go to the nursery and grab some dirt and seeds and have your kids help you plant flowers. They will love watching them grow and transform into beautiful flowers.
Hopscotch
Get your kid’s energy out by creating a fun hopscotch game. Grab some pavers and create it, or even just draw it on the driveway or sidewalk with chalk. This will help with coordination all while having fun.
Swim Lessons
While this does take a bit of money and prep, enroll them in a mommy and me swim class. Here they can begin learning life-saving skills to keep them safe all summer long. My kids loved these classes and it was a great way to bond with one another.
Sprinklers
Summer is the perfect time to get wet. So grab a fun sprinkler and run through the sprinklers with each other. If you do this right after lunch it is a great way to tire them out before naptime.
Have a Picnic
Have your 2 year old help you pack a picnic and go to the park. Her eyou can set out a blanket and enjoy the sunshine. Take some balls or a kite or play on the playground together.
Make Mudpies
Making mudpies is a part of life each child should thoroughly enjoy. Grab some kid kitchen utensils and let them play in the mud, get it wet, and make mudpies for one other. I am telling you, they will love this! Just make sure to run through the sprinklers after to get all the mud off them!
Water Table
Grab an inexpensive water table and let your kids play and explore. It is a great activity where they will see cause and effect as the water moves through the various activities.
Obstacle Course
Set up a fun obstacle course for the kids to do! Have them jump, kick balls, climb, run, and balance their way through it. They will love the challenge of trying to be faster than everyone else.
There you have it! Fun and educational activities for 2 year olds that they will love! What activities would you add to the list? Share in the comments!
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