At two-years old or around twenty-four months your toddler is almost a kid, but not quite! Some two-year old toddlers are taking regular naps after lunch and some toddlers have thrown them out the window. Your two-year old wants constant entertainment and turns to you for company. For those exhausted days when you have run out of ideas – here are some extra entertainment tips that just might help.
Two-Year Old Growth and Development
In The Girlfriends Guide to Toddlers [The Berkeley Publishing Group 1999] by Viki Lovine, the toddler years are the ages of one to three. However, every toddler develops differently. Before planning activities, make sure you understand the developmental stages of your twenty-four month old, including,fewer naps during the day, increased independence, increased talking and a strong attachment to caregivers.
According to the PBS Parents Child Developmental Tracker, your two year old should be:
- Mobile. Running, jumping, climbing, walking, creeping, kicking, rolling, crawling.
- Responsive. Begins to understand logic, routines, recognizes patterns and numbers.
- Communicative. Exploring songs, using their voice for singing and yelling.
- Practicing Motor Skills. Dancing, banging instruments, making art, exploring textures.
Make sure to check in with your pediatrician or family physician if you are concerned about your two-year old and his development.
Long Lasting Activities
At twenty-four months toddlers have the ability to entertain themselves for a longer period of time. The following activities can fill a half-hour period throughout the day, depending on your toddler.
- Color Time. Two-year old toddlers have greater control over fine motor skills. They prefer thick, wrapped crayons and large sheets of paper. To make this an independent activity, use thicker paper so your twenty-four month old does not have to sit at a table. Better still, color with him! Gather some paper bags and make funny faces, then put on a puppet show, making different expressions and voices for each puppet bag!
- Playgroup. Toddlers are social creatures. Just like grownups, they want to be around people their own age. Find a toddler playgroup in your area through services such as Moms Club International, your local church or even through your daycare center. Your toddler will appreciate the playtime and you will appreciate the long nap time after!
- Cooking Time. When it is time to make dinner – let your two-year old help! Give her several plastic bowls with sliced bananas or other non-hazardous food items. Your toddler will enjoy making dinner right along with you. By the time you are done with dinner, your toddler will be ready to move on from this activity as well!
- Jump Time. Your twenty-four month old loves to jump, run, creep and crawl! Now is the time to make a fun game of his new ability. Set up pillows and blankets in your living room for your two-year old to crawl under, jump on, and climb over!
- Park Play. For active toddlers, going to the park never gets old! Take a soccer ball with you and don't be shy to introduce yourself to other toddler parents! Look for a park that is toddler friendly. A toddler friendly park will have playground equipment low enough for your toddler, baby swings and padded play areas. A sandbox is a plus!
Extra Entertainment Ideas
Entertaining your two-year old can be hard work. Even the most dedicated parent needs extra help once in awhile. The activities above are geared towards your twenty-four month toddler and meant to entertain for longer than a few minutes at a time. Still, what if you just want to make a phone call?
Try these quick and easy activities:
- Play put and take. Set up a few containers and ask your two-year old to take out the objects and put them away again.
- Pick a age appropriate online activity.
- Follow the leader. Your twenty-four month old loves to be helpful. Give your two-year old toddler a task (or two or three) to do and watch him go to work.
Activities for Your Two-Year Old
At two, your toddler wants to participate in many activities, but does not often know where to start or what to do. As he gets older, your toddler will begin to direct activities by himself. Until that time, it is important to understand the developmental abilities of your twenty-four month old. Activities that involve running, jumping and using vocal skills will result in meaningful and entertaining playtime!
For under twenty-four month old toddlers see: Activities For Your One-Year Old.
