Activities for Two-Year-Olds

Arts and Crafts

• Two-year-old use motor skills to explore creative arts. Have the children color printed pages. At this age, remember coloring will not be as precise as an older child. To help develop motor skills, encourage the children to stay within the lines.

  Print out large single letters. Cut up some colored construction paper into small confetti pieces. Have the children practice gluing the colorful pieces into the large letter.

Verbal

• A two-year-old may just be starting to learn and understand his own voice, hence the yelling and screaming around the house. Have him use his voice in a more controlled manner by teaching him simple songs to sing, such as "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star," or "Mary Had a Little Lamb." Grab some instruments or pots and pans. He can clank to the beat while singing. Include songs that focus on hand movement, such as "Itsy Bitsy Spider." If you think he's ready, use alphabet flash cards and have him repeat each letter you show him. Do the same for numbers from one to ten.

Physical

• Hide-n-seek and tag are classic games that children of all ages like to play. Simon Says helps develop children's listening skills while teaching them how to follow simple directions, such as "Simon says touch your toes." Have the children separate into groups of two. They can practice catching skills by tossing a ball back and forth.

  Create an obstacle course that is simple enough for a two-year-old to play. For instance, set up some cones and have the children carry a lime (or small ball) in a spoon around the cones and to the finish line. If this is too difficult, skip the cones and have the children run a relay race, just carrying the lime in the spoon. Relay races can also be done with water balloons and stuffed animals.

Other Activities

• Gather together a group of two-year-olds and have them perform simple exercises, such as twisting or touching the toes. Ring-Around-the-Rosies is a game that includes both singing and physical activity. For rainy days, sit with your-two-year-old and practice naming letters, numbers and colors on the computer. Reading a book is an activity to slow down your two-year-old and prepare her for nap time.