21 Educational Games You Can Play With Your 2-Year-Old Kids

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21 Educational Games You Can Play With Your 2-Year-Old Kids 7

A child is no different from a teenager. Still, the primary difference is that a two-year-old learns something novel every minute of the day. There’s a critical facet that must be controlled to practice brain-smart capabilities in its growth, and that’s called “bonding through the brain.”

The brain has the function to carry and regulate all commands to all parts of the human body. And every child has a matchless way of grasping concepts because not every brain functions the same way.

A child in its development demands superior attention from parents. Most parents have busy schedules and find it troublesome to meet the attention of a two-year-old. Still, parents must gather the time to provide their children with numerous play-able gadgets to have a good time as an easy way out.

But there is something that parents always fail to acknowledge – their child is very young, and he/she won’t always understand the purpose of a specific toy/game unless you explain it to them. In such cases, parents must prioritize spending as much time as they can with their kids.

Educational games contain many potential and provide intrinsically captivating learning experiences that engage and immerse the learner. Furthermore, the much-heralded perks of educational games for children rarely deliberate the one-size-fits-all strategy to the education they embody.[1]

Many learning ways can be considered, but education must be associated with fun in toddlers. Otherwise, the child will lose interest and refuse to learn anything. Gratefully, we’ve presented some incredible toddler-related games that are excellent for both bonding and brain development.[2]

Your thoughts: Oh, boy, I have so many errands to run; how can I manage to give my two-year-old the attention he/she deserves?

It’s not rocket science. There are numerous ways for parents to bond with their two-year-olds and, in return, encourage cognitive development. Therefore, educational games are the perfect way to begin.

Some games can improve a child’s intelligence, while others might just be all-for-fun. Nevertheless, here’s a list of the top 21 best educational games you can play with your two-year-old.[3]

21 Best Educational Games For Two-Year-Olds

1. Hide the toys

Outdoor activities always spring joy among two-year-olds. And this educational game involves a perfect hiding spot, which is the outdoors.

Now, don’t hide all the toys; just pick that one toy your child plays a lot with. Hide that toy and ask your child to search for it. Arrange a few clues that will lead to the toy and explore with her/him. Please prefer to use cues like “colder and “warmer” to guide him/her.

Furthermore, you can use flashlights for the sear or prefer to hide objects at a particular timeframe. It will ignite your child’s interest, and they will use their adorable Sherlock-senses to find their toys.

2. Simon Says

An educational game that you can play one-on-one or with a group of children!

Simon Says isn’t just a game, but it’s a technique. Many teachers use this classic game to teach kids how to follow the instructions. The rules to this game are easy: You’re Simon and whatever you say goes.

Call out commands–Simon says, touch your knees!–and your child has to follow them. They must pay attention to the words “Simon Says.” Moreover, if you call out commands like “stand up!” without including Simon says, players will be eliminated. Also, to make this fun and engaging, add a few silly commands, such as “Simon Says dance, hop like a frog, wiggle your ears!”

This is an excellent game for kids to acknowledge the names of their body parts.

3. Hokey-Pokey

Another amazing game! This one is a super fun game that also encourages kids to learn their body parts’ names. Hokey-Pokey is an easy song with instructional lyrics. And playing is comfortable–just do what the song says. Also, this game has no losers!

4. Make a Mailbox

This game is even more educational if you have a creative child. It involves creating a mailbox by elaborating an old cardboard box or shoebox and making a slit on the top. You can fill it up with all the junk mail you have ever received and ask your child to open it.

This develops fine motor skills as he/she opens the mail and takes out what’s inside. You can use it to teach your two-year-old fundamental concepts. Please talk about the letters, colors, and pictures; help him/her sort it by shape, color, or size; or count the papers. You can also make the game more interesting by playing post office.

5. Pledge Conversation

Hand over a plush toy or a doll, and encourage your child to hold, dress, take care, and talk to it. Parents can set an example by talking to the stuffed toy the same way they speak to their children. This develops language skills and teaches imagination and creativity.

Furthermore, to make this game even more interesting, why not add an element that speaks? For instance, you can buy touch-activated dolls for your child, such as the Adora My Cuddle & Coo baby doll. This doll coos, kisses, says momma, and cries–with a touch! It is ideal for when you want your kids to devour, speaking and communicating with others.

Pledge Conversation
  • Touch-Responsive Interaction: This delightful doll engages children with five heartwarming touch-activated responses, including genuine cries that evoke compassion, contented coos, infectious giggles, playful kisses, and the tender word "Momma" spoken in a voice that warms the heart. These interactions create a rich and dynamic play experience, allowing children to form a deep bond with their doll while fostering empathy, emotional intelligence, and a sense of responsibility.
  • Encourages Nurturing Play: Designed for ages 3 and up, this doll inspires limitless nurturing and open-ended imaginative play, fostering a strong sense of care and empathy in young children. It cultivates a profound sense of care and empathy in young children, allowing them to engage in play scenarios that mirror real-life caregiving experiences. Through this interactive and open-ended play, kids develop essential social and emotional skills while forming a deep connection with their dolls.
  • Realistic Details: Crafted with painstaking attention to detail, this 15" doll boasts lifelike features that mirror those of a real baby, creating an incredibly authentic playtime experience. Its soft, cuddly body invites warm embraces, while the silky hair adds a touch of elegance. This attention to realism not only enhances the sensory experience but also encourages imaginative play, allowing children to immerse themselves in nurturing scenarios and develop a strong sense of care and empathy.

6. Trace His/her body

Place a sheet on the floor and have your child lie down on it. Trace the outline of his/her body. Because the child has to stay put to be traced, he realizes self-control. You can show him/her where the nose, mouth, and two eyes go. Moreover, do not impose anything on your child; if he/she wants to color all over it, let it happen.

7. Play Dress Up

The easiest and most intuitive forms of educational play–dress up!

Haul out a bunch of clothes and let your child pick commence dress up. You can participate as well, but it is better to encourage group play with a few other children their age. During this game, your child learns imagination, social development, creativity, and above all, language skills. It’s the kind of game that almost any child would love to play.

8. Hopscotch

A favorite and ever-engaging game among kids of all ages! Hopscotch is an activity that can be played in the open-air or inside. If you plan to play inside, prefer to use painter’s tape on the floor to design your board, add buttons, beanbags, or roll up socks instead of rocks.

When played outside, make a court with chalk and use rocks as markers. The guidelines for this game are simple, and it can be played with friends or alone.

9. Count it all

When played correctly, count it all can bloom several portions of your child’s cognitive development. It’s straightforward to play. Collect some toys or objects that are safe and child-safe; stack them all in a row. Count the items loudly and point your finger while you do it. Let your two-year-old repeat after you until she/he memorizes all the numbers.

Start from one to ten, and gradually go up to 20, 30, 40, and so on, as the day’s progress. Count it all encourages the brain to learn numbers, and it enhances counting skills.

Also, you can buy some number of games to encourage counting in a fun way. Prefer to use the Learning Journey Match it counting game . It contains a few cards with images, and your kid has to guess how many objects are on the card.

Sale
Count it all
  • 30 PUZZLE PAIRS: This bright collection of two-piece puzzles aimed at children ages 3 and up is a perfect introduction to jigsaw puzzles. Designed to introduce counting and encourage early math skills, the colorful illustrations help your child learn to count in a relaxed and fun way.
  • IDEAL PREPARATION FOR SCHOOL: The puzzles are a perfect introduction to the early math skills they will encounter at school. They also strengthen the child’s developing concentration skills and build focus, which will help them with the transition into education.
  • IMPROVE MOTOR SKILLS: Thick, durable cardboard construction makes cards easy to grasp and use, and also a great way of improving hand-eye coordination and encouraging the development of essential motor skills.

10. Balance Beam

Balancing things is an art, but for a two-year-old, it involves toys and other objects. Using actual gymnastic beams isn’t the only way for a child to understand balance; it can be done indoors.

Use painter’s tape to draw a straight life on your floor. Root your child to walk on it without losing balance. You can make your child walk sideways, backward, and forwards. It’s better to add a few motivational elements, such as “the rest of the floor is lava.” That way, your child will effortlessly walk on the charted line.

Furthermore, when your child crosses the finishing line without losing balance, it’s time to step the game up a notch. Add zigzags or semi-circles if you want the game to be a real challenge.

11. Water Game: Fill the bucket

Another balancing game! Provide your little one with two buckets (one larger, one smaller) and a cup. Position the smaller bucket a few inches away from, the larger one and fill the larger one with water.

Hand your child the cup and let him/her scoop water from the larger bucket to the smaller one. Add a little challenge, have your child dance their way to the bucket, or poke some holes in the cup. This game is beneficial; it improves agility and determination.

12. Neighborhood Search

Leave the stroller at home because you won’t be needing it. Prepare a list of items to search while keeping track of time. Walk with your child and check if they can spot a stop sign, a red rose, a cat, or anything else around.

Check off the objects from the list or use your electronic device to take photographs to review later.

13. Odd one out

Place a few blocks of the same color in front of your two-year-old, making sure to add at least one item that’s different (you could do the same with veggies or small fruit). Once he/she has checked out all the blocks, ask him/her which one is different or the odd one out.

If your child answers correctly, make the game harder by using other items, such as flashcards of plants or shapes, then ask him/her which ones are different and which ones are similar.

14. Sink or Float

This boosts your two-year-old’s scientific learning.

To play, collect some toys/objects and find the most toddler-appropriate bucket in your home. Fill the bucket with water. You can do this during bath time as well.

Drop all the items into the water, but not all at once, one by one, to check which one floats or sinks. Make sure to use objects of unique weights so that your toddler can effortlessly learn the difference between the two.

15. Color Mixing

With this game, you can make colors more fun for your child, regardless of the mess. For this game, you can use these color mixing lenses from the Learning Resources Store. It is perfect for two-year-olds and easy as well.

Teach your child how to make and combine new colors. Always begin with primary colors, such as blue + red = purple. This activity teaches color recognition and improves motor skills.

Color Mixing
  • Observe the world through colorful lenses
  • Kids can experiment with colors by making secondary and tertiary colors by matching the primary colored lenses
  • Includes 1 sturdy lens frame (with 3 slots) and 3 colored lenses (red, yellow, blue)

16. Catch

There’s a spark in every kid, and it takes time to ignite. That said, kids learn to catch at special rates, but working with them on this skill can start with throwing them a soft object, such as a balloon or rolled up socks, instead of a small or heavy ball.

Start the game by standing close to your two-year-old, and once they master the catch, move one step further.

17. Limbo

So, how low can you go? A fantastic game to play both indoors and outdoors! But for this, your child will need to use their imagination. You can either set the tavern low or make your child imagine the objects under which he/she must go without using hands or touching the floor. It can be a real challenge for most kids, so don’t exceed the limit if you believe your child is not that flexible.

Furthermore, objects could include a broom, a rope, or a pool noodle.

18. Obstacle Course

Outdoors or in, let your child’s imagination run wild as you create an obstacle course. Have your child climb over chairs, hop from one object to another, crawl boxes and underneath tables, jump over ropes and through hula hoops, or throw a parade of stuffed animals into a carrier, so on. Creating such obstacles will ignite the passion for winning with developing coordination, balance, and agility.

19. Video Games

Educational games aim to enhance a child’s motivation. Some parents might believe video games to be a waste for two-year-olds–but, they are not! Many video games uplift the learning process and stimulate the child to use his/here’s brain and hands to accomplish goals.[4]

Games like Pac-man and Sonic the Hedgehog are great for starters. They are not complicated, nor do they strain the brain. Ideal for two-year-olds!

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Video Games
  • Celebrating the 35th Anniversary of Pac-Man; Bandai's Pac-Man Connect and Play brings back your favorite classic video games right to your television
  • Game case styled in iconic Pac-Man design, cords store inside case
  • Connect the included cords directly into your television A/V jacks to play

20. Parachute

Mostly played at preschools or daycares, this game is perfect for playing in groups. Therefore, spread out a massive sheet (or use a parachute, if you have one) and have every child hold an edge in both hands. Holding together, you can gradually raise it overhead and scream “up, up, up!” then lower it by saying, “down, down, down!”

You can mix it up by saying, “under, under, under!” And everyone can stop holding the sheet and rush under it. Alternatively, you can hurry under the sheet while holding on to its corners. This is an excellent game for developing motor skills with a touch of patience.

21. One for you, one for me

Great for toddlers; this activity teaches sharing. Prefer to set out a series of objects like buttons or crayons and ask your child to distribute them with others (or preferably, you) while saying “one for you and one for me.” Additionally, make sure you have containers with you to hold your collection.

Learning and Enjoyment with Educational Games

You cannot open a book in terms of a two-year-old child and ask him/her to tell what’s inside. Instead, children prefer learning through fun activities because they never get bored.

That said, an insignificant difference has been discovered among the performance of the game with outdated guidelines. Researches used the game to highlight factors blurring learning performance.

Enjoyment while gaming has a fantastic connection with learning performance. Happiness and intention to use do not have a strong relationship with the learning performances. Additionally, satisfaction and enjoyment influence the decision-making of the learner via an educational game.

In simpler words, educational games have intensified the value of guided procedures in business and institutional organizations. Factors that motivate children’s’ adoption of educational games have been widely reviewed in the past; but these aspects’ effect on learners’ performance is yet to be determined.

Also, happiness, intention to use and enjoyment are essential attitudes in learning through educational games and improving performance.[5]

Benefits of Game-Based Learning

It is now a well-searched fact that play is an essential and useful development tool for all children. New teaching methods use modern devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and computers, to provide an opportunity-filled chance for youngsters to enhance their motor and cognitive skills.

Now that we’ve mentioned all the games you can play with your two-year-old, it’s time to dive into the benefits of game-based learning.

Before we get into it, parents must understand that the toddler-age is the most important of all–why? For children, learning something new is like “first impression, last impression,” meaning they will believe the first concept they witness, either wrong or right.

To avert this from happening, parents must be vigilant and encourage positive reinforcement, such as game-based learning.

Enough talk, below are some of the most notable benefits that come from educational games.

More motivation

Learning through games improves overall motivation. Through games, children become more motivated to participate, pay attention, and learn.

Games encourage students to become a part of a team and take responsibility for their learning. Furthermore, they can also become a remarkable classroom management tool, taking motivation to different heights.

Strategy stimulator

A vast collection of education-based games demand problem-solving abilities and planning. By implementing a series of tactics in a game, children can use their cognitive skills to solve problems. Therefore, these activities stimulate the brain to generate numerous workable ideas.

Less Stress

Answering queries on a worksheet or writing a text can be daunting and stressful for a two-year-old. It can also create an unhealthy perception of a child’s learning capabilities.

The best alternative for books and worksheets are games. They are less stressful and offer nothing but joyful learning. In prime of that, being less stressed will encourage children to attain a positive mindset towards learning.

Mighty memory

Playing a variety of content-specific educational games can boost memory! While playing a game, children are forced to remember critical details of a subject to accomplish the game’s purpose.

Furthermore, games that were made by children can be the most effective. As children construct a game, they use their memory of specific content to create it, then use their memory of the subject to start playing the game.

Alert attention

Playing games demand children to pay attention to every detail. As educational games can escalate quickly; therefore, a child must remain attentive and alert.

This attentiveness while gaming can encourage children to stay focused on their activities throughout the play.

New knowledge

By now, it’s clear that educational games are motivational pillars among children to consolidate external knowledge. After teaching new games to your children, please provide them with a game that will support their understanding and develop connections with stuff they already know.

Asking a child to create his/her content-centered games can also be a fantastic way to measure their ability at the end of the day. But, since these are just two-year-olds, don’t forget to provide your input into the game-planning process.

Beneficial particularly for toddlers with attention disorders

Research has determined that educational games, including video games, can help children who suffer from attention disorders. Moreover, this notion has been discussed in many pieces of research due to its proven results.

Group cooperation

Indeed, two-year-olds grasp concepts faster when accompanied by games. Therefore, think of all the good you can do if you bought along with other children? Playing games in groups increase cooperation. This form of gaming can also be considered as an excellent team-building exercise.

This is helpful because two-year-olds are often egoistic; they keep their toys to themselves and hate sharing. With cooperation games, parents can change this habit. In this way, children learn how to build respect, take turns, play fair, and above all, listen to one another.

Take it outside

Lastly, playing games outside can be healthy for your two-year-old, plus he/she gets a chance to see various objects that are different from the indoors.

Going outside and enjoying the great outdoors can also offer a bit of a brain break for children, all while learning. So gather some bean bags, a few enthusiastic children, and hula hoops and make the most out of educational learning.

  1. Habgood, MP Jacob, and Shaaron E. Ainsworth. “Motivating children to learn effectively: Exploring the value of intrinsic integration in educational games.” The Journal of the Learning Sciences 20.2 (2011): 169-206.

  2. Peirce, Neil, Owen Conlan, and Vincent Wade. “Adaptive educational games: Providing non-invasive personalised learning experiences.” 2008 second IEEE international conference on digital game and intelligent toy enhanced learning. IEEE, 2008.

  3. Klopfer, Eric. Augmented learning: Research and design of mobile educational games. MIT press, 2008.

  4. Durkin, Kevin, et al. “Video games for children and adolescents with special educational needs.” Zeitschrift für Psychologie (2015).

  5. Giannakos, Michail N. “Enjoy and learn with educational games: Examining factors affecting learning performance.” Computers & Education 68 (2013): 429-439.

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Author

Diana Lucas

Diana Lucas

Hi, Diana here. Welcome to my blog and hope you like my sharing. I am a mother of 2 boys, 3 years old and a 1 year old. I dedicate my career in child development research and I focus on parenting tips, positive parenting, educational toys for my babies. Your time here means a lot to me! Diana A. Lucas

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