Activities for 2

20+ Best Learning Activities for 2-Year-Olds That They'll Love

We know that parenting a toddler can be both rewarding and challenging, so we’ve put together a list of activities to help your little one learn and grow while having lots of fun. Welcome to our guide of 20+ fun and learning activities for 2 year olds!

From simple crafts and games that help with fine motor skills to more active pursuits that will get your toddler moving, there’s something here for everyone. And the best part is that most of these activities can be done using things you already have around the house, so there is no need to go out and buy anything special.

We hope you enjoy trying out these activities with your toddler and that they help make your days a little bit brighter.

What you’ll need: Construction paper in different colors, crayons, markers, or paint

What to do: Cut out different shapes from each color of construction paper. Talk about the different colors with your toddler as they sort the shapes. You can also have them trace the shapes with crayons, markers, or paint.

What kids will learn: This activity is great for promoting color recognition and fine motor skills. Toddlers also learn about shapes as they play.

Related Reading: Free & Fun Colouring Pages for Kids to Foster Creative Development

What you’ll need: Construction paper, scissors, crayons, markers, or paint

What to do: Cut out different letters from construction paper. Talk about the different letters with your toddler as they match them up. You can also have them trace the letters with crayons, markers, or paint.

What kids will learn: This activity is great for promoting letter recognition and fine motor skills. Learning letters at an early age can also help your toddler with reading and writing later on.

What you’ll need: Construction paper, scissors, crayons, markers, or paint

What to do: Cut out different patterns from construction paper. Talk about the different patterns with your toddler as they match them up. You can also have them trace the patterns with crayons, markers, or paint.

Some patterns that toddlers can work with include stripes, polka dots, and zigzags.

What kids will learn: This activity promotes pattern recognition and fine motor skills. It also helps toddlers develop their problem-solving skills.

What you’ll need: A computer with internet access

What to do: Many great math and reading games for toddlers are available online. Spend some time playing these games with your toddler to help them learn new skills. Ensure that children aren’t spending too much time looking at screens. For toddlers, 20–30 minutes is enough screen time.

What kids will learn: This activity encourages children to improve their math and reading skills. Toddlers also learn about computer use and basic game skills.

What you’ll need: A toy train set, such as the Thomas the Tank Engine Wooden Railway Starter Set.

What to do: Let your toddler help you put together a simple toy train set. They can connect the track pieces, place the trains on the tracks, and press the buttons to make them go.

What kids will learn: This activity promotes problem-solving, fine motor skills, and hand–eye coordination. Toddlers also learn about cause and effect as they play.

What you’ll need: Watercolors, paintbrushes, water, and paper.

What to do: This is a classic activity that toddlers will love! They can experiment with mixing the colors, painting different strokes, and adding water to create different effects.

What kids will learn: This activity is great for promoting art and creativity. Toddlers also learn about colors and mixing different shades.

Related Reading: Painting Ideas Kids Can Have Fun With & Easily Pull Off

What you’ll need: Nothing!

What to do: One of the best activities for 2 year olds, this is a great way to promote language development. Talk to your toddler about anything and everything. Describe what you’re doing, such as “I’m making lunch.” or “I’m putting on my shoes.” You can also ask them questions and encourage them to answer.

What kids will learn: This activity is great for promoting language development. Toddlers also learn about communication and conversation.

What you’ll need: Paper, a pencil, and some crayons or markers

What to do: Help your toddler trace their body on a piece of paper. Then, they can decorate it however they like! This is a great way to encourage creativity and self-expression.

What kids will learn: This activity is great for promoting art and creativity. Toddlers also learn about their own bodies and how to use different art supplies.

What you’ll need: Some clothes, shoes, and a mirror.

What to do: One of the most important activities for 2 year olds is to learn how to get dressed independently. You can start with simple clothing items, such as a shirt or pants. Show them how to put on clothing and then let them try it themselves. As they get better at dressing themselves, you can add more items, such as shoes, socks, and jackets.

This is a great activity to do when you are vacationing with the family as you can afford the time and patience it needs to help your kids learn how to button their shirts or tie their shoes correctly.

What kids will learn: This activity is great for promoting fine motor skills and independence. Toddlers also learn about different types of clothing and how to put them on.

What you’ll need: A toy box or bin and some toys.

What to do: Show them how to put the toys away in the toy box or bin. As they get better at this, you can add more toys or make it a game by timing them to see how fast they can put the toys away.

What kids will learn: This is a great activity for teaching toddlers about organization and responsibility. It is also a good way to promote problem-solving skills. Toddlers thus learn about cleaning up.

What you’ll need: Some music or you can clap your hands yourself

What to do: Help your toddler clap their hands to the beat of the music. As they get better at this, you can add other body parts, such as their feet or head.

What kids will learn: This activity is great for promoting music and rhythm skills. Toddlers also learn about following directions.

What you’ll need: Any good picture books, like The Very Hungry Caterpillar or The Cat in the Hat.

What to do: This activity is great for promoting literacy skills. Sit down with your toddler and read one of their favorite books. As they get better at this, you can start asking them questions about the story or having them point out different objects in the book.

What kids will learn: This activity is great for promoting literacy skills. Studies show that early exposure to reading is linked with higher reading achievement later in life. Toddlers also learn about communication and conversation.

Related Reading: Funny Children’s Books to Read With Your Kids That Will Have Them ROFL

What you’ll need: A video or audio recording of animal sounds, or you can make the sounds yourself.

What to do: This activity is great for promoting listening skills. Help your toddler identify different animal sounds. You can play a recording of the sounds or make them yourself. As they get better at this, you can start asking them questions about the animals, such as “Where does a lion live?” or “What does a cow eat?”

What kids will learn: This activity is great for promoting listening skills. Toddlers also learn about animals, their sounds, and maybe their habitats.

What you’ll need: A play kitchen, some pots and pans, and some plastic food

What to do: Show your toddler how to pretend to cook in the play kitchen. Let them help you stir the pots and pans or cut up the plastic food. As they get better at this, you can start asking them to make specific dishes.

Some 2 year old development activities that can be done in a real kitchen include; helping to pour ingredients into a bowl, using a child-safe knife to help cut soft foods, or helping to stir—all with adult supervision!

What kids will learn: This activity is great for promoting imaginative play. Toddlers also learn about cooking and following directions.

Related Reading: Extracurricular Activities Examples for Kids: The Best List

1. Pillow Roller Coasters

What you’ll need: Pillows, blankets, and a lot of space on the floor.

What to do: Create a pillow roller coaster for your toddler to ride. They will love going up and down the hill. As they get better at this, you can start asking them to go faster or slower.

You could create a smaller pillow road for their toy vehicles. Children can hold a race with their toy cars and make them go up and down the road.

Remote-controlled tanks or any other remote-controlled toy can also be used for this activity.

After your 2-year-old is done playing with the pillow roller coaster, you can just put the pillows, blankets, and toy cars away—no mess to clean up!

What kids will learn:

This activity is great for promoting gross motor skills. Toddlers will also learn about ramps and the energy needed to go up and down the slopes. These basic experiential learning can help them in their future physics classes.

What you’ll need: Clear zip-lock bags and small plastic animals.

What to do: Put their animals in clear zip-lock bags. Now ask them to help the animals get out by using their hands or opening the zip.

You can say, “I see the lion is roaring. It wants to come out. Can you help him?”

You can also put different kinds of objects in the zip-lock bags like fruits, vegetables, leaves, etc. This will help your toddler learn about different textures and shapes.

After they are done playing with this activity, you can store animals and zip lock bags separately or throw them in the toy box just as they are.

What kids will learn: Such games and 2 year old activities help kids learn about animal names, sounds, and textures. It also helps them develop their fine motor skills.

What you’ll need: Balloons and a sharp object (like a pin or a needle).

What to do: Help your toddler blow up the balloon and then let them pop it with the sharp object. Be sure to supervise them closely so that they don’t hurt themselves.

Your toddler will have a blast popping the balloons. The toddlers love the loud noise of the balloons popping and the feeling of popping them.

This activity can get a little messy since the balloon bits will be scattered around. But, it is easy to clean up—just gather all the pieces and throw them away.

What kids will learn: This activity is great for promoting gross motor skills and hand–eye coordination. Toddlers will also learn about cause and effect as they see that their actions (popping the balloon) result in the desired outcome (the balloon makes a loud noise and pops).

What you’ll need: Square pieces of colored paper

What to do: Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding. There are many simple origami shapes that even toddlers can make.

You can start with something simple like a paper airplane or a boat. Just fold the paper in half, and then in half again. Then, help your toddler make the folds to create the shape. Once they get the hang of it, they’ll be able to do it on their own.

We all know 2-year-olds love to display their creations, so be sure to have a spot ready to showcase their origami masterpieces.

What kids will learn: This activity is great for promoting fine motor skills and concentration. Toddlers will also learn about following instructions and different shapes.

What you’ll need: Magnetic letters (you can find these at your local dollar store or online) and a metal surface

What to do: Stick the magnetic letters on the fridge or any other metal surface. Then, help your toddler spell out words with the letters. You can start with simple three-letter words and then move on to more difficult words.

You can even use these magnetic letters to offer clues to your toddler during a treasure hunt or pass on messages like a detective.

What kids will learn: This activity is great for promoting literacy skills and creativity. Toddlers will also learn about the alphabet, spelling, and simple words.

Related Reading: Best ABC Song for Kids That Will Make Them Dance & Enjoy

What you’ll need: Clothes pegs and containers or surfaces to decorate

What to do: Accept it: Painting with your baby can be a messy affair. Clothes pegs allow you to bring a pop of color and beautiful works of art together. And, with this method, you don’t have to worry about paint stains.

Just let your toddler put clothes pegs around the containers or surfaces. You can even use them to create patterns or shapes.

If you want, you can paint the clothes pegs before your toddler starts decorating or buy cheap plastic clothes pegs in different colors. This will add an extra layer of color and fun to the activity.

What kids will learn: This activity is great for promoting creativity and imagination early in children. They will learn that anything can be turned into a work of art with a little bit of creativity.

What you’ll need: Two cardboard boxes with lids and some toys or books

What to do: You will be surprised how much a toddler loves to help you do a chore and win compliments and hugs from you. It is a great way to keep them occupied while you’re busy with other things.

To set up, put some toys or books in one box and then close the lid. Then, have your toddler transfer the items into the other box. You can even make it a race to see who can transfer the most items in a minute.

You can easily make this a sorting and organizing activity, asking them to sort books, toys, or other objects by colors, shapes, or sizes.

What kids will learn: This activity is great for promoting fine motor skills and concentration in toddlers. It is also a good opportunity for parents to inculcate a sense of responsibility and ownership in their toddlers and build their confidence.

Related Reading: Best Concentration Games for Kids to Develop Super Focus & Attention Skills

What you’ll need: Kinetic sand and some plastic toys

What to do: If you haven’t played with kinetic sand before, you’re in for a treat. It’s a type of sand that’s moldable and easy to shape. And it’s also very therapeutic to play with.

Let your toddler explore the sand and mold it into different shapes. You can even use the sand to make patterns or write words. If you want, you can add some plastic toys to the mix and see how your toddler plays with them.

And it does not create any mess! You can easily store the sand in a container when you’re done playing.

What kids will learn: This activity is great for promoting creativity and imagination in toddlers. They will also learn about different textures and how they can be manipulated.

Related Reading: Easy Activities for Preschoolers [With Tutorials]

Learning activities for 2 year olds must be creative, hands-on, and FUN! Parents must realize that a young child’s attention span can be short. So, the activities must be structured to maintain their interest, even outdoor activities for 2 year olds must be engaging and interesting. The key is to keep it short and sweet.

Do you need some “you” time? Engage your toddlers in one of the fun activities for 2 year olds mentioned above and take that five-minute break. These activities will not only occupy your toddler but also help their overall development.

Related Reading: Enjoyable Kids’ Activities for a Whoopee Time!

How to decide which activity is age-appropriate for 2 year olds?

Most two-year-olds can start with sorting shapes and colors, finding things hidden under objects, and doing simple puzzles. They may complete sentences in books they read regularly, follow two-step instructions, and love make-believe games. Activities built around developmental milestones for toddlers can help them progress to the next level.

What are some engaging indoor activities for two year olds that require few or no equipment?

Here are some indoor activities for 2 year olds that don’t require much equipment, if at all:

• transferring books and toys from one box to another
• sorting objects by colors, shapes, or sizes, 
• playing with kinetic sand or clay,
• playing online learning games.

40+ Quick & Easy Activities for Two-Year-Olds

Our two-year-old kids *love* to BE BUSY with all sorts of activities.   We have a two-year-old boy and girl and they are constantly doing and creating. I am sure my toddlers are not alone in the seemingly boundless energy. Below are some of the games that my 2-year-olds love to play.

Fun Activities for Two Year Olds

1. Measuring Activity for 2-Year-olds

Help your child learn how to measure using kitchen stuff in this fun activity from Kids Activities Blog.

2. Letter Recognition Activity

Your 2-year-old will enjoy learning about letters when you make letters with playdough along with them!

3. Simple Baking Soda and Vinegar Experiment

Related: More fun activities for toddlers

Awaken the scientist in your toddler as you both explore chemical reactions with baking soda and vinegar.

4. Fun Music Time with Toddlers

Jam to musical instruments with your 2-year-old in this fun musical activity!

5.

Play with a muffin tin and toy balls as a color game for toddlers.

6. Colorful Playdough Hair Activity

Get wacky with your 2-year-old as you both decorate faces with playdough hair.

7. Fun Squishy Aquarium Project

Make Squishy bags into an aquarium for your kids to explore.

8. Healthy Snack Necklace

Make a fruit (or veggie) snack necklace for your little ones to make and eat.

9. Wondeful Toddler Birthday Party Ideas

Throw your child’s favorite toy, a birthday party.

10. Bubbles and Balls Bath Play

Play with bubbles and balls in a tub.

11. Awesome Music Tubes for 2-year-olds

Get some PVC pipes, add some seeds – tubes for toddlers!

12. Foam Plate Fun Activity

Stab at a foam plate with this toddler activity from Creative with Kids.

Help your Child Develop With these Fun Toddler Activities

13. Cut-Up Straw Bracelets

Make bracelets from cut-up straws. Great for fine motor development!

14. Pick-Up Items Game for 2-Year-Olds

Dig out the kitchen tongs and have fun picking up items.

15. Super Fun Pompom Game Idea

Play with pompoms! Let your kiddo try blowing them across the floor.

16. Fun Craft Stick Ideas For 2-Year-Olds

Build with craft sticks –  just use Velcro dots to make them reusable.

17. Collage-Making Toddler Project

Make collages together. Here are a few of our favorites:

• Nature collage from Studio Sprout
• Foil art collage
• Easy flower collage

18. Basketful of Play Items for Toddlers

Create a basket of play items like this one from The Imagination Tree.

19. Plank Walk Balancing Game

Practice balancing with a plank of wood (aka. Balance beam).

20. Yummy Edible Sand

Create an edible “sand” using cheerios and start the afternoon toddler fun!

Easy Toddler Crafts & Ways to Get creative with Play

21.

Use beads and pipe cleaners to create sculptures like this example from Studio Sprout.

22. Colorful Spray Bottle Paint

Watch your kids have fun and create with “spray bottle” paint.

23. Fun Outdoor Nature Activity

Go on a nature hunt around your neighborhood with your 2-year-old.

24. Lovely Luminary Project

Make a night light for your kids to interact with. This tutorial is for a Halloween luminary but you can easily make it with any shapes and characters your child loves.

25. Edible Jewels for 2-Year-Olds

Play with “edible jewels” and eat pomegranate seeds.

26. Toddler Finger Painting Activity

Finger paint while in the bath. It is a great way to have less-mess art time.

27. Fun Chalkboard Games

Make chalkboard games with your kiddo, outside!

28. Clever Animal Tracks in Playdough

Let your little ones make tracks in playdough with their favorite toy animals.

29. Awesome Pouring Activity with 2-Year-Olds

Practice pouring with your child. Give them a pitcher and some cups.

30. Crafty Slime Recipes for Kiddos

Make different slime recipes with your kids to expose them to many weird and ooey-gooey textures.

More Toddler Fun for 2 Year Olds

31. Baby Shark in the Bathtub Game

Your 2-year-old will love playing with Baby Shark crayons in the bathtub.

32. Fine Motor Practice with Scissors

Give your child a pair of funky scissors and let them shred paper.

33. Lovely Floating Bouquet

Let your little ones play with petals in a floating bouquet.

34. Playdough and LEGO Activity

Make lego puzzles in playdough to teach your 2-year-old about shape matching.

35. Crafty Felt Binder Activity

For a quiet-time Kids Activity, have your kids play with a felt activity binder.

36. Floating Bouquet Project for Toddlers

Play with petals in a floating bouquet in this super fun activity!

37.

Make edible play dough, just in case.

38. Fun Crafts and Activities for Toddlers

Here are 32 *other* fun ideas of things to do with your kids.

39. Colorful Sensory Bags for Little Ones

Create sensory bags with your toddler and watch them get amazed!

40. Clever Invitation Ideas

Create an invitation to playtime – in a bag! Every kid will love to get one.

Toddler Early Learning Fun

Have you tried the ABC Mouse app? Our toddlers learned how to count and learned the alphabet from playing games on it! Check it out and get a 30-day FREE trial here!

More Fun Activities For Kids from Kids Activities Blog

What 2-year-old activities are your toddler’s favorite play ideas?

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Events

Grade 2

Special for the teacher - Events Grade 2 and others useful materials for working at school, which you can choose and download for free in this section.

Environmental project

Events

Project goal: Raising respect for fresh water. Ability to be economical Objectives: Learn about fresh water reserves. Find out where we are losing

"Fun Starts" for 2nd grade.

Activities

d "Fun starts" for 2nd grade.

Olympiad: English language 2 - 11 classes

Extra-curricular event in the Russian language "Journey to the magical land of Grammar"

Events

Extra-curricular event in the Russian language "Journey to the magical land of Grammar"

Front roads

Events

The development is aimed at the development of patriotic education of younger students.

educational event

Events

The event is aimed at the formation of patriotic education of junior schoolchildren.

Fairy tale quiz game for junior schoolchildren "Along the fairy paths"

Events

Quiz game based on Russian folk tales. Activity for 2nd grade.

Extracurricular event on traffic rules "Rights and obligations of passengers"

Events

Extra-curricular activity according to traffic rules "Rights and obligations of passengers"

Extra-curricular event on traffic rules "Movement of vehicles and pedestrians on a country road"

Activities

Vehicle and pedestrian traffic on the country road.

Ecological tournament of nature connoisseurs “Know-Kee!”

Events

Raise awareness of the importance of environmental management and protection.

“There is such a profession - to defend the homeland!”

Activities

Purpose: to cultivate a sense of patriotism and pride in one's Motherland; to bring up respect and love of children for the defenders of the Russian army.

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Extracurricular activity for grade 2 "Be kinder!" | Class hour (grade 2) on the topic:

VII City Pedagogical readings

"Light of Rus'"

Outline of extracurricular activities

"Let's be kinder!"

For students

2 class

Nomination: “Best Summary of the Lesson (Lesson)”

Primary school teacher

MBOU secondary school No. 20

Kharlamova Elena Vasilievna

Arkhangelsk

Summary of the classroom hour Let's be better!" for 2nd grade students

Form of extracurricular activity: Conversation using information and communication, gaming and health-saving technologies. 9

Tasks:

1. Form the concept of “kindness” in the minds of children;

2. To expand the knowledge of schoolchildren about kindness, about its role in the life of every person;

3. Expansion and activation of vocabulary, "greed - generosity", "lie - truth", "anger - affection", "laziness - diligence".

4. Formation of a favorable psychological microclimate in the classroom.

Cognitive

• ability to cognize the world around:
• willingness to carry out directed search, processing and use of information.

Regulatory

• ability to work in a group
• control of the process and performance

Communicative

• engaging in an educational dialogue with a teacher, classmates,
• participating in a general conversation, observing the rules of speech behavior;
• the ability to ask questions, listen and answer them, formulate one's own thoughts, express and justify one's point of view;
• build short monologues.

Decoration, equipment, props:

- computer, projector, Power Point presentation;

- drawing of a large stone:

- palm-shaped cards:

- box with plastic bottles, cans, paper;

- exhibition of drawings by students of the class "Where there is goodness, there is light."

Progress of the event:

1. Organizational moment.

1 slide

Children in the class sit on chairs in a semicircle in groups of 5-6 people.

The song "On the road of good" sounds.

2. Motivation (self-determination) for learning activities.

Teacher: Far, far beyond the mountains, beyond the seas, beyond dense forests, there is a huge country of GOODNESS. And there live little giggles. They are always cheerful, cheerful, kind and help each other.

- Would you like to visit them?

2 slide

- Then we will open the MAGIC DOORS OF GOOD.

3 slide

- Guys, and here is some letter. Let's read it!

4 slide

Text of the letter:

Dear guys! In our country, the terrible Zlobulya seized power. She immured all kind words, cheerful songs, laughter and musical sounds into the wall. She made greed, envy, gossip her friends, and fear became her main assistant! Now it's gloomy even during the day. Everyone fights and offends each other, gossip to Zlobulya. Help us! Save us from the terrible Zlobuli!

LITTLE MIXERS

5 slide

- Are you willing to help? (Yes)

- What do we need on the way? (Good mood, smiles, kindness)

- Let's smile and go on a trip!

III. Main part.

6 slide

- A large gray stone blocked our way. This is a wish stone. And now we will take it out of the way with our own hands. And on the stone we will leave good wishes to the inhabitants of this country, and then this stone will let us go further.

(The teacher gives out palms cut out of colored paper)

- Write on these palms what you wish each other.

(Children write and then go to the board, name their wishes and attach their hands to the stone)

7 slide

- We wish our friends, relatives and acquaintances health, joy, happiness, etc.

8 slide

- We have removed the stone from the road and we can move on, we have a straight road in front of us.

9 slide

But Zlobulya doesn't want to let us into the country of GOODNESS, we face the abyss of Evil.

-You can fall into the abyss. Only those who see shortcomings in themselves and want to get rid of them will be able to pass. But you can not risk it, but return back to the country.

- What will we guys decide?

- Since you have made such a decision, we must get rid of our shortcomings.

Teacher:

- I throw laziness into the abyss of Evil.

(Children throw small balls at a black box with words)

- I throw greed into the abyss of Evil (indifference, fear, cowardice, greed ....)

Physical education:

- We have been fighting evil for so long and we are very tired.

-Close your eyes and rest.

(At this time, the teacher pours plastic cans, bottles, boxes, pieces of paper, etc.) on the floor

-What should we do? (Remove)

-Let's help the people of the country and remove the rubbish so that animals and birds can settle here.

(Children collect all the garbage in a large box and take it aside)

11 slide

-We cleared the meadow, and it turned green again. How many beautiful flowers in the glade of joy.

-What can't be done in the forest? (Tear flowers, break branches, scare animals)

12 slide

Moving on. Before us is the village of Wisdom. The Wise Men once lived on it, but Zlobulya drove them away, and the Wise Men left. And now mosses and lichens grow there. Wise men dream of returning to their houses.

- Let's help them, and for this we will connect the beginning and end of proverbs about kindness.

Group work.

(Each group receives a package containing 6 fragments)

• A good deed praises itself.
• Life is given for good deeds. Phone:
• Live for people, people will live for you.

Children read, discuss and explain the meaning of proverbs.

(one person from the group speaks)

13 slide

- Wise men are glad that you know so much. And helped them to return to the village.

14 slide

- We have reached the river, but does it look like a river of kindness?

- Why doesn't she look like her? (Greed, lies, rudeness, laziness swim in the river)

- How to make the river of Evil turn into a river of Good?

- Let's replace these words with opposite ones.

Work is underway to "transform" words.

15 slide

• Greed - Generosity
• Lie - truth
• Anger - kindness
• Rudeness - affection
• Laziness - diligence

- Well done guys, we got rid of all the servants of Spite, and now the country is inhabited only by kindness and joy.

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