2 Year Old Birthday Party Games - Barrington,IL

For a 2 yr old, games with simple instructions are best. A version of hot potato, pin the tail on the donkey or anything similar. Pretending to be an animal or person and others have to guess. Dropping something into a bottle or buckets. These are all simple games to play that won't confuse with too many instructions.

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I had great luck at our 2 yr. party - with older kids as well - we did bubble blowing (bought a set of different wands and blowers for 1.99 at Target) and an electric bubble blower - 9.99 at Target. Also, a pinata, and decorating sugar cookies- I made sugar cookies ahead of time and colored frosting, and let the kids frost them and put sprinkles on them. SO to not get sugar overload, I let the cookies "dry" and put them in baggies for the kids to go home with, and put little trinkets in the pinata along with some candy.

tossing game - put out a target that has to do with the theme (a hula hoop size) and then throw things onto the target (bean bags, stuffed animals, plastic animals, etc)

bucket game - set up a line of buckets and throw something into them one by one

musical chairs type game - set up chairs, papers on the ground, or hula hoops, one less then there are people. Play music, when it stops everyone has to stop in a hoop or on a chair. Take away a landing spot each time. IF you want to make it where you have one winner then have people out, otherwise keep having them try to squeeze on what is left.

carrying game - set up a cup at one end and a pile of something (marshmallow, jelly beans, balls, etc.) at the other end. They have to carry the somethings from one end to the cup using a spoon or shovel or whatever goes with the theme.

Hi D. Try games like ring around the rosy, pin the tail on the donkey and inflatable structure where kids jump up and down in.

A really fun summer activity is to buy a roll of paper and some non toxic, washable, finger paints and let the kids go wild in the back yard. When they are done just hose down everyone and everything. You can even take a long piece of paper and hang it from the fence as a canvas or just lay it on the ground so you can do footprints, too. Be allowed to make a total mess is a great party idea when you're a kid!

I suggest musical chairs (enough chairs for everyone) w/o taking any chairs away - they just have fun marching to the music and scrambling for the chairs. If you are having a theme you could make a big poster and play pin the tail....e.g. years ago at a Scooby Doo party we did pin the goatee on what's his name. Just pick out some part to pin and blindfold the kids but don't make them dizzy. Freeze dance is good and chaotic as well as a cakewalk type game. Just be sure everyone wins and gets a prize. And remember, at 2 they will play these games for a very short period of time so plan accordingly. Have fun!

Oh, and I forgot - Elefun is a great party game for up to four kids.

I ditto your previous post's response. Simple is best. Even doing a simplified bozo-bucket type game or some type of ring toss or a bean-bag type throwing game. That way, the older children can enjoy a little more of a challenging game. Balloon games can be fun but if they pop, they may startle young kids (i.e. running with a balloon between your legs, keeping a balloon bouncing in the air, etc...) Kids that age even love Simon Says.

With an outdoor party, you can always put a sprinkler on and let them just run if they get bored.

Good luck.

most 2 yr olds are a little young for specific party games. If you have a back yard, I would get some kind of sprinkler toy and let the kids splash with the water. The rest of the time, they can just run around and play with toys etc.

simple is best, but games with no winners, work well. Follow the leader, a race, bubble blowing, ring around the rosie, or dancing. I have made a big felt board, we used the shape of a lady bug and had the kids put their "spot" on the ladybug. That was a hit. No blindfold, they just did that over and over and over again. If you have room/budget a small bouncy house is always great(if you have the party on a sunday it will be cheaper too). If you fill a bucket with water and put different size paint brushes(like the ones you paint a room with), that will keep them busy too.

Good luck!

K.