20 Easy Learning Activities for 2-Year-Olds at Home

Talking and early literacy

• Picture book chat: instead of reading every word, ask "What's that?" and "Where's the dog?"
• Sock puppets: make a puppet sing a nursery rhyme and let your child answer it.
• Name the photos: look at family photos and name everyone.
• Rhyme fill-in: sing a familiar rhyme and pause before the last word.
• Narrate the day: describe what you're doing as you cook or shop.

Early maths and thinking

• Sorting socks: match pairs by colour or pattern.
• Big and little: compare shoes, spoons and teddies.
• Stacking cups: build towers and count the cups.
• Simple puzzles: chunky 2 to 4 piece puzzles or shape sorters.
• Container play: fill and empty cups with water or dry pasta (supervised).

More ideas in how to teach a toddler to count.

Movement and music

• Dance party: put on a dance song and freeze when the music stops.
• Action songs: Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, fast then slow.
• Pot band: wooden spoons and saucepans make a great drum kit.
• Obstacle course: crawl under a table, over cushions and through a box.
• Ball games: roll, kick and throw a soft ball.

Pretend play and senses

• Teddy picnic: set a pretend table and feed the toys.
• Car wash: wash toy cars in soapy water.
• Playdough: squash, roll and cut with a blunt knife.
• Nature tray: collect leaves, sticks and flowers on a walk.
• Colour hunt: find five red things in the house (see teaching colours).

Tips that make activities work

• Keep it short. Five to ten minutes is plenty at this age.
• Follow your child's lead and let them repeat activities they love.
• Offer two choices rather than open questions.
• Always supervise water play, small items and anything that could be a choking hazard.

Questions parents ask