Games play 2 year olds

The 25 best games for 2-year-olds

Close out the apps and remove the elaborate board games from your shopping cart. When it comes to entertaining a 2-year-old, little is required. In fact, for this learning, exploring, constantly-on-the-go age group, less is always more.

Looking for ways to entertain a 2-year-old? Here’s what you need to know, along with expert suggestions for games you can buy or do for free!

Simplicity is key

Two-year-olds are still trying to figure out how the world works, so when you’re looking for games, skip ones with complicated rules in favor of activities that are simple and open for interpretation.

“The best games for 2-year-olds are ones where they create, usually with a parent, older child, or another adult,” says Tovah Klein, director of the Barnard Center for Toddler Development and author of “How Toddlers Thrive.” “This can be engaging in imaginative play with a tea set, rolling balls around or building with blocks. Any open-ended items, such as blocks, give toddlers the opportunity to create without rules. Games shouldn’t have a right or wrong at this age; they should just be fun.”

Get involved

Simple, repetitive activities may err on the side of mind-numbing to you, but to a toddler, they’re the epitome of fun — and they’re also a great opportunity for bonding.

“Toddlers learn the most from simple games that are engaging and interactive,” says Rebecca Schrag Hershberg, author of “The Tantrum Survival Guide.” “When parents and children play together, the point is to foster connectedness, which is the foundation for everything else — particularly learning. The most important thing a parent can do is encourage a sense of comfort and security when playing a game with their little one. This way, the child is free to work things out on their own.”

Incorporate life skills

For children who have yet to master the art of sharing (read: all toddlers) Lisa Clegg, author of “The Blissful Toddler Expert: The Complete Guide to Calm Parenting and Happy Toddlers,” suggests sneaking a few life lessons in during game time with the toddler.

“Toddlers don’t have a very long attention span and many haven’t grasped the concept of sharing yet, so playing games that involve taking turns can be helpful,” she says. “To avoid boredom, though, take care not leave anyone waiting too long.”

Ready to get playing? Here are 25 games for 2-year-olds that are sure to be a hit.

Best board games

1. Picture Lotto

“I love picture or number bingo because it’s easy and fast paced to play,” says Clegg. “Kids don’t have to wait long to have a turn, and you’re able to teach them things like colors, numbers, letters and pictures.”

Where to buy: Picture Lotto Game ($23, Amazon)

2. Roll & Play

Not only does Roll & Play help toddlers hone their memory skills and learn their colors, they’ll get a kick out of having to act out each of the activities. Roar like a lion? What 2-year-old ever said no to that?

Where to buy: ThinkFun Roll and Play Game ($20, For Small Hands)

3. First Orchard

In addition to being a quick game to play (about 10 minutes), First Orchard fosters a sense of togetherness and cooperation by having kids work together to pick the fruit before the raven reaches the end of the path.

Where to buy: HABA My Very First Games First Orchard Cooperative Game ($30, Amazon)

4. Bunny Bedtime

The always-relaxing Bunny Bedtime is one of the best games for 2-year-olds because it lets children make decisions, such as which bath toy the bunny should use and what pajamas she should wear, all while helping them develop social-emotional skills. Win-win.

Where to buy: Peaceable Kingdom Bunny Bedtime ($17, Amazon)

5. Funny Faces Game

The Funny Faces Game is fun and silly, and it helps little ones develop a multitude of skills, including fine motor skills, critical thinking and emotional intellect.

Where to buy: Pic’nMix Funny Faces Educational Puzzle ($29, Amazon)

6. Happy Farm Game

The Happy Farm Game has 5-star customer reviews almost across the board on Amazon, and with good reason: It’s a great game that will hone numerous skills. And the best part? Parents can tailor the way the game is played for children ages 2-5.

Where to buy: Pic’nMix Happy Farm Game ($27, Amazon)

7. Feed the Woozle

Feed the Woozle is a cooperative game that will have 2-year-olds in stitches. While fine-tuning her dexterity and counting skills, the little one’s belly will get a good work out as she giggles at all the silly snacks the monster eats.

Where to buy: Feed the Woozle Cooperative Game ($22, Walmart)

8. Hello Sunshine

Hello Sunshine is an adorably simple game for 2-year-olds that will teach children basic directions, as well as spatial awareness. It’s also the perfect game for a toddler to play with an older sibling.

Where to buy: ThinkFun Hello Sunshine ($25, Toy in Town)

9. Freeze Dance

Want to get a little one moving while showing her how to follow simple directions? Freeze dance!

“We’re big fans of freeze dance in our house,” says Kelly Goodman, of Toms River, New Jersey. “My toddler is always genuinely surprised when I stop the music, and I love watching her adorable moves!”

10. Simon Says

Simon says: Be adorable! OK, so they’ve got that down. But children will pick up so many new moves while playing this classic game — all while getting some giggles out, too!

11. Hot and Cold

Toddlers love being on the hunt, especially when it’s for something they love. Simply hide a stuffed animal or small toy, and warn them with a “hot” when they’re getting closer to the object and a “cold” when they’re moving farther away.

12. Pass the Parcel

Pass the Parcel is a classic camp game that’s a hit with multiple age groups, particularly 2-year-olds. Gather a group and have everyone sit in a circle while passing around a wrapped object to music. When the music stops, the person holding the package has to try to open it before the tunes start back up.

13. Musical Chairs

In a similar vein, musical chairs will have kids scrambling to find a seat before the music stops. This age-old game ticks off all the toddler must-haves: laughing, moving and being silly.

14. The Concentration Game

Liz from Love and Marriage has a fun twist on an old classic (the Memory Game). Arrange some of the toddler’s favorite toys on a table. Have him take a mental picture, and then have him leave the room while you remove one of the objects. See if he can guess which one is missing.

15. Hide the Music

Got a noisy toy in the house? What family doesn’t?! Instead of silently cursing the musical object every time it goes off, make a game of it! Have the little one leave the room, turn it on and hide it. The 2-year-old will love going on a hunt.

16. Hokey Pokey

You put your right foot in… Well, even if the child is yet to know their left from right, they’ll love dancing along with you to this catchy tune.

“My son loves playing — or, I guess I should say doing — the Hokey Pokey,” says Erica Randolph of Fairport, New York. “Whenever he’s on the verge of a tantrum, I start singing it and he’s immediately back in play mode.”

17. Run and Chase

“Run and Chase is one of my favorite games for toddlers,” says Klein. “When you’re playing, have the child lead, and it will give the message that no matter how far they run, you will always catch them. It’s a metaphor for life that lets them know you’re always there for them.”

18. Hide and Seek

Hide and Seek is another game Klein highly recommends.

“Hide and Seek is great for 2-year-olds, especially when the toddler hides,” she says. “Each time they’re found, they’re utterly gleeful.”

19. Obstacle Course

Every toddler will love making their way through a mini (age-appropriate) obstacle course. Hula hoops, cones, makeshift tunnels — the configurations are endless. And so are the gross motor skill benefits.

20. Hopscotch

There’s no need to stick to strict rules when playing hopscotch. No matter how you play, children will get a better grasp of numbers while working on their jumping at the same time.

21. Soccer

Whether you have a real goal or a makeshift one, few 2-year-olds can resist trying to kick a ball toward a designated spot.

22. Scooping and Sorting Lids

Jenae from I Can Teach My Child had the great idea of filling up a small container with water, along with lids of varying sizes and colors. (Food pouch lids work perfectly.) Have little ones scoop out the red ones and place them in a red cup, and so forth. Ideal for a hot summer day.

23. Bean Bag Toss

All you need are some bean bags and a bucket for this one. See if the little one is able to toss the bags into a bin or bucket. And if they can’t, well, what 2-year-old doesn’t love throwing?

Where to buy: Tytroy Primary Color Nylon Bean Bags ($27 for 12, Walmart)

24. Hide the Object in the Sand

“Just as they love Hide and Seek, toddlers love to hide and find objects or toys in sand, in play dough and under cartons,” says Klein. “This makes for a great game — simply open and close a box with a hidden toy. They love finding it over and over.”

25. Chase the Bubbles

“When it comes to 2-year-old games, I’m old school,” says Hershberg. “I’d argue that a child is going to learn more at this age from playing an engaging game of Chase the Bubbles in the grass than they are from something billed as a learning game, per se.”

When it comes to this age group, really, there’s no need to spend a lot of money or overthink things.

10 fun and educational games to play with toddlers

Photo: iStockphoto

You’ve probably heard the saying that kids are like sponges—this is especially true for toddlers. Little ones between the ages of one and three are always absorbing new things. Their main mode for learning: Playtime. They begin by playing side-by-side (called parallel play), then progress into more interactive stuff, where they engage with and absorb information from their playmates. The right game can boost your kid’s cognitive, physical, and emotional skills, so get your toddler started with one of these games:

1. Simon Says

A game that you can play one on one or with a group of kids, Simon Says is a classic that teaches kids how to follow instructions. The rules are easy: You are Simon and what you say goes. Call out commands—“Simon says touch your toes!—and your kid has to follow them. It’s key they listen for the words “Simon says”—if you call out a command like “Jump up!” without prefacing with Simon says, players can be eliminated. Be sure to throw in some funny commands, too—do a silly dance, wiggle your ears, hop like a frog! This game is great for teaching toddlers the names for their body parts.

2. Hot and cold

See his favourite stuffy over there? Hide it and then have him search the room. If he’s wandering away from it, he’s cold, and as he gets closer he’s warm, warmer, hot! If he gets frustrated, you can hold his hand while he looks around. This game will sharpen your kid’s emotional skills—he’ll learn patience, perseverance and the idea that just because you can’t see something, it doesn’t mean it isn’t there.

3. One for you, one for me

Perfect for younger toddlers, this game teaches sharing (see here for more on teaching your toddler how to share). Set out a pile of objects like crayons or buttons and ask him to distribute them between you while saying “One for you, one for me.” Make sure you each have a container to hold your growing collections.

4. Hokey-Pokey

Another classic, this one is super fun to play and helps your kid follow instructions and learn the names for his body parts. The song “Hokey-Pokey” is a simple one with instructional lyrics. Playing is easy (you just do as the song says) and there are no losers!

You put your left foot (you can substitute for any body part) in,

You put your left foot out,

You put your left foot in, and you shake it all about!

You do the Hokey Pokey (Raise hands, wiggle fingers, move arms—you can do whatever, really)

And you turn yourself around (Turn around in a full circle)

That's what it's all about! (Clap with each syllable)

5. Parachute

Often played at daycares or preschools, this game is best with more than two people. Spread out a large sheet (or a parachute if you have it!) and have everyone hold an edge tightly in both hands. Working together, you can slowly raise it overhead and say “Up, up, up!” then lower it saying “Down, down, down!” When you call “Under, under, under!” everyone can let go of the sheet and hurry under. Alternatively, you can get under the sheet while still holding its corners. This games helps kids develop their fine motor skills while teaching them to wait and listen.

6. Scavenger hunt

Is there anything more fun than a scavenger hunt? Send your toddler hunting for objects around the house based on commands, such as “find me something round” or “find me something red.” Or, you could ask her to choose a bunch of random objects and ask her questions like “Which one is blue?” or “Which one is longer?”

7. 

Teach your little kid problem solving skills by hiding from him! Or, if you’d rather not hide, you can always ask your her to hide an object in another room or sneaky spot of her choice—it could be as simple as asking her to go put a wrapper in the trash without telling her where the trash can is.

8. 

Promote gross motor skills, coordination and balance with a fun, safe obstacle course. If space allows, you can set up a small course in your living room or outside in the yard to get your kid rolling, jumping and running around, over or under objects or markers.

9. Puzzles

Puzzles are great games for toddlers because they cover all bases: Physical (from making the pieces fit), cognitive (actually solving the puzzle) and emotional skills (learning how to be patient.) Building a puzzle can also boost your kid’s memory, teach him about different shapes, and help him set (and meet!) simple goals. This 24 piece puzzle celebrates the diversity of nature, while encouraging learning through play.

10. Odd one out

Place a series of blocks of the same colour in front of your toddler, making sure to add at least one block that’s a different colour (you could also do this with small fruit or veggies). Once she’s had a chance to look at all the blocks, ask her which one is the odd one out. You can make this game harder by using flash cards of shapes or plants, then ask her which ones are similar and which ones are different.

Educational games for 2-year-olds with their parents at home

A game for a 2-year-old kid is not just fun. Through this type of activity, the child learns the world. He learns, remembers information, gets acquainted with new things. The task of parents at this stage is to choose games for harmonious physical and intellectual development.

Article content:

• Outdoor games
• Educational games
• Educational games
• Tips for parents
• Terminals

Outdoor games

The best place for active games is the street, but what to do in bad weather? It is not at all necessary to leave a two-year-old without movement. You can organize games in a city apartment. Take advantage of our advice. And the child will be happy, and the furniture in the house will not suffer.

2 years is the optimal age for outdoor games. The child already coordinates the body well, easily orients in space. He controls actions, likes to imitate adults and learns to be independent. The task of parents is to be an example for the baby and show all the movements. nine0003

✅ Who walks how

The game will help strengthen the body, and also give a good mood to both the child and adults. There are no hard rules. Just name different animals and try to draw them. Copy the walk and sounds. And let the two-year-old repeat after you. Or make it a little more difficult. Let the child try to guess the animals that you show.

✅ Hide-and-seek with a toy

Ordinary hide-and-seek is difficult to organize in an apartment, especially if there is not enough space. But the 2-year-old kid will definitely like the option with a toy. Take a plush animal or doll. Explain to the child that his task is to find a toy. Hide it first in a conspicuous place, then complicate the task. Be active. Clap your hands, count loudly while the baby is waiting with your eyes closed, comment on his actions, rejoice at the found toy together. nine0003

✅ Who is the first

What to do with a child whose energy is over the edge? If the walk is canceled, you can organize active entertainment at home. A great idea is to arrange mini-competitions. Come up with tasks: run to the opposite wall, jump to the closet, crawl to the door on all fours. The victory will be doubly pleasant if you prepare small prizes in advance.

Educational games

Active games are not the only way to entertain a two year old. There are many interesting quiet activities. Master them, and you will learn how to spend time at home with benefit. nine0003

Develop motor skills

✅Repeat after me

The easiest option for kids. You can play for up to two years, and as you develop, complicate the tasks. The essence of the game is to show the child various physical actions so that he can repeat. Squat, bend over, raise your hands, clap your hands. Combine two or even three actions at once. This is useful for both coordination and memory.

✅ Bead sorting

The development of fine motor skills is necessary to stimulate speech, so do not neglect finger exercises. Offer your child a fishing line and three types of beads of different sizes. Let him string small ones first, then medium ones, and then large ones. Remember safety. Do not leave the baby unattended when he plays with small parts.

✅ Creativity

Playing with plasticine, modeling dough, kinetic sand helps to develop motor skills. Guide the child. Show him how to make shapes correctly. Don't be upset if it doesn't work the first time. Praise for effort. nine0003

Developing logic

✅ Mother - baby

Prepare cards with animals and birds, divided according to the principle "mother and her baby". For example: a cat is a kitten. Let the child collect pairs. Do not forget to comment on the actions during the game. Talk about animals, describe them, demonstrate the sounds they make. So you not only develop logic, but also introduce the child to the outside world.

✅ Guess the object

Take a few things that are familiar to a two-year-old. It can be toys or fruits. Pack them in opaque bags. The task of the child is to determine by touch what is inside. If you can't guess, give hints. For example:

• edible or not;
• what it is used for;
What color is
• .

It is easier to develop logical thinking with toys. Parents of two-year-old children should definitely buy mosaics, cubes, large puzzles, plastic construction sets. Collect the figures according to the schemes, repeat the drawings from the pictures with the children. Restrain yourself if the kid is wrong. You can gently guide him in the right direction, but you should not correct him. nine0003

Develop speech

✅ Rhymes

At the age of two, children already begin to actively talk. Passive vocabulary is also expanding. This must be used. Long poems are not yet subject to the baby, and short and sonorous rhymes are remembered well. Read the lines to the baby, repeat aloud with him, accompany with active gestures.

For example:

• The kids came running - ra-ra;
• A leg up, a step bolder - lei-lei. nine0012

If you can't remember the line, have the child repeat the last syllable. The louder and clearer the sound, the better.

✅ Yes or no

In this game you will be asking questions. Warn your child in advance that you can make mistakes so that he obviously does not agree with you, but listens carefully. Ask:

• Are chamomile and cornflower flowers?
• Are oak and birch trees?
• fox and hare are birds? nine0012
• Is a car and a bus transport?

Have the child answer what the objects really are if you make a mistake. Such a game is useful for the development of not only speech, but also hearing, attention, logical thinking.

✅ Articulation exercises

At two years old, many sounds are still unclear. This is not a problem now, but it may be difficult in the future. Game exercises will help to cope with sound pronunciation. You can start with simple actions - blow out a candle, blow on water, blow into liquid through a straw. Then you can connect other exercises for the articulatory apparatus. nine0003

1. Watch. We move the outstretched tongue from side to side.
2. Hide and Seek. Pull out the tongue and hide it back.
3. Delicious jam. We lick our lips as if we are trying to reach the drops of sweetness.
4. Horse. We click, imitating the sound of hooves.
5. Fence. We show closed teeth as wide as possible.

To make the exercises feel like a game, do all the activities together with your child. Compete who does better. nine0003

Read also: speech development in children by age

Developing attention

✅ What is missing

All you need is your favorite children's toys. Take 4-5 pieces and lay them out on the table. Let the child look carefully, and then turn away. You remove one item. The task of the baby is to understand what has disappeared. You can complicate the game by adding a number of items, or do not remove the toys, but simply swap them or put new ones. nine0003

✅ Thimbles

Feel like a magician. Take three glasses, turn them over, and hide a candy under one. Move the glasses across the table. Let the baby follow where you hid the treat. Guessed the first time - deserved a sweet prize.

✅Clap

This simple game develops attention, reaction speed, coordination and hearing. Discuss the rules ahead of time. Come up with a code word. As soon as it sounds, the child should clap his hands loudly. Make sure he remembers it, and then start listing other words. Name any until you get to the right one. nine0003

Read also: how to develop a child's attention

Educational games

Two years is the age when you can connect learning elements to play activities. The child is already ready for basic knowledge. If you take the time to learn now, in the future it will be easier for the baby to cope with large amounts of information.

Learning Numbers

✅ Animal Treats

Use the plush toys you probably have in abundance. Place the animals at a makeshift table by counting them. Call the numbers loudly, clearly, slowly. So it will be easier for the baby to repeat and remember. Next, put a plate in front of each toy. Treat the animals with sweets, not forgetting to count. nine0003

✅ One - many

Need balls. Put them in the basket and ask the child how many there are. At two years old, children already operate with the concept of "a lot." Then distribute the balls one by one to the toys. Take it for yourself, give it to the baby. Ask how many items you currently have in your hands. Return the balls to the basket and ask how many there are. No balls? No problem. Count apples, tangerines, sweets.

✅ Butterflies

It is easier to memorize numbers if there is a good example in front of your eyes. Prepare five cardboard daisies and the same number of butterflies. Place the flowers in front of you and count them with your child. Plant a butterfly on each daisy and count the insects. Come up with different combinations. Plant two or three butterflies per flower. Speak out loud as the numbers change. nine0003

Learning colors

✅Ball game

Take colorful balls. Show them one at a time to your child and name the color. Let the two-year-old repeat after you. Sort the balls into groups together. Find other objects of the studied colors in the room. Do not rush to learn the whole spectrum at once. Start with 2-3 shades - the most juicy and brightest.

✅ Find a pair

For this game you need to prepare in advance. Cut out several houses of different colors from colored cardboard. Separately make roofs for them. Lay out the details and invite the child to assemble entire buildings by shades. Another option is to assemble the houses yourself, but with errors. Let the kid correct the inaccuracies. nine0003

✅ Hens and Eggs

Cut out chickens in different colors from cardboard. From paper of the same shades, make circles - eggs. The child will match the shades. Start with 3-4 colors. Wait until they are mastered and expand the palette. The more colors, the more difficult and interesting.

Tips for parents

Every child is different and develops at their own pace. Some will like these games even in a year or a year and a half, others will be interested a little later. Keep track of achievements, but do not compare the baby with other children. nine0003

Listen to the recommendations of psychologists and teachers on early development:

1. Focus on the response of the child. Do not insist on continuing the game if the baby is already tired. Do not start training if he is not ready, naughty, wants to spend time differently.
2. Remember the time. A two-year-old child holds attention for an average of 15 minutes. Then interest disappears, so it is better to change the type of activity.
3. Do not exercise your baby during illness. Change plans if you feel unwell, wait until you get better. Do not worry. You will be able to make up for everything. nine0012
4. Show your imagination. Ready-made templates and game scenarios are convenient. But it is not a fact that the proposed options, without exception, will please your child. Do not be afraid to deviate from the rules, come up with your own "chips". No one knows your baby and his preferences better than you.

Conclusions

Sometimes organizing outdoor or educational games for a child at home is more difficult than it seems. But lack of time or teaching skills should not be a problem. The Baby Club specialists will come to the rescue. Our network of kindergartens and centers is designed for the harmonious all-round development of children from 8 months. Here, each child is perceived as he is, revealing his individuality through classes. nine0003

Educational games for children from 2 years old

Reviewer Kovtun Tatyana Anatolievna

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October 21, 2021

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At the age of two, the child enters a phase of active development. He becomes more mobile, begins to more actively and comprehensively learn the world and develop. It is during this period that classes related to the development of fine motor skills, sensory and logic are important. And the most interesting thing to do is in the format of the game.

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Until the age of three, the child develops visual-effective thinking. It is important for the baby to see and do, so he puts everything in his mouth, grabs, tears and throws. Thus, the baby learns about the properties of objects: paper is torn, pillow is soft, water is cold. The more such experiments (of course, under the supervision of parents who ensure the safety of the baby's actions) a child has, the better he will understand the world.

Recommendations:

• The child must study the surrounding objects under the supervision and with the participation of adults, so that the knowledge of the world around him is as useful and safe as possible. For example, touch grass, stones, various fabrics and surfaces.
• Watch out for security. It is better to remove all dangerous and sharp objects from the fidget.
• Show how to play and what sound improvised objects or musical instruments make.
• Try visiting clubs close to home. nine0012

Educational activities for children 2-3 years old

Motor and sensory skills

Fine motor skills are the performance of small movements with the hands, fingers and toes. The centers of the nervous system that regulate motor skills and speech are interconnected; therefore, the development of finger movements prepares the ground for the subsequent formation of speech. In addition to the development of speech, fine motor skills affect thinking, memory, and imagination.

Sensorics is a representation of objects, phenomena and objects of the surrounding world. Sensory development occurs by recognizing the size, shape, smell, color of an object. To understand what an object is, the child needs to touch it or taste it. Sensory affects intellectual development, attention, imagination, memory [1]. nine0003

Games for shape, color, size, tactility will help in the development of fine and gross motor skills and sensory skills:

• Button and bead games. Mix buttons and beads in one bowl. It is necessary that the child put them in different containers. (The process of playing with small objects should always be under the strict supervision of adults!!!)
• Dice games. You can put together a tower, a house, a car from cubes. nine0012
• Drawing with a finger on a semolina. You can scatter semolina on a table or plate and invite the child to alternately draw geometric shapes with all fingers or any other pattern that he wishes.

With these games, it is not necessary to achieve indispensable compliance with the model - the process is more important than the result.

Classes for the development of knowledge of the world

At home, on the street, in a store, in nature, you need to show the child objects and say their names, as well as explain their purpose in simple language. So the baby will learn to speak faster. You can spend developing weeks, connecting all kinds of feelings. For example, spend a week studying birds, looking at pictures, listening to their singing and doing crafts. nine0003

Speech development classes

Reading and learning short poems together will help your child expand their vocabulary and strengthen their bond with their parents. It is better to use simple verses familiar from childhood, for example, Agnes Barto.

Physical development classes

At two years old, the child improves motor skills, so he likes to run, jump, climb wherever possible. Thus, he learns to coordinate movements and better maintain balance. The following games are suitable for fidgets: nine0003

• Game "Forest Animals". A child can be offered to jump on two legs like a bunny. Then walk on the outer surface of the foot, like a bear, squat down like a frog, or walk around, raising your knees high, like a heron.
• Jump-jump game. You can teach your child to overcome small obstacles. Try to jump with him over a stick in the park or over a pillow at home.
• Big-small game. nine0268 When the parent says "big", the child should stretch his arms up, and if he says "small", lower his arms and squat down. You can also swing left and right, or increase the pace a little when the baby gets used to it.