Activities for 2-3year old's?

Question

The summer is coming up and I need lots of different activities to do with 2-3 year olds in a nursery environment. Due to the holiday month we have a holiday fun at the nursery I work and I do so many activites and want to do lots more, Im running out of ideas, any messy play, outside play, indoor play etc ideas would be great. Thankyou.

Answer 1

my son's school always does great things.

-teach them weather - water on dry ice makes fog. shaved ice in a collander being shaken around makes raindrops, fans can be wind.  etc.

-a hoola hoop in a small wading  pool of bubbles can be lots of fun. you can actually enclose the kids in the bubbles

-sprinklers

-may pretend sparklers.  put confetti or little orange pieces of paper in straws and let them blow it out.  its not exactly the same but they like it.

-let them decorate or even help mix and bake cupcakes. use red white and blue frosting or sprinkles.  

-teaching them about disabilities- show how people still can do things even when different. read a book. then have them paint with their feet .

-go for walks!

-have them "help with spring cleaning." spray bottles with water or soapy water and a cloth will do fine. brooms and dustpans.  it may make an even bigger mess but theyll feel like they contributed.

-if they have  a computer, maybe you can create an outline of a  flag or something on paint and save it and they can fill in the sectinos of the flag with colors and print it for their families.

-and lastly, ask them! sometimes they have great ideas that you can use or incorporate.

Answer 2

flash cards are fun I know that my 3 year old nephew likes them and liked them at 2 also. The ones with animals and stuff. He always pulls them out and asks me to go over them with him.

Answer 3

do thing's like pass the parcel, party game as kids love thing's like that (well my kids do anyway. try also hand and feet drawing's (get a roll of wall paper, roll it out and let the children draw round there feet and hands or even let them do there our pictures etc on it. then put it on the wall for all to see. try dancing to sound's (like play sounds of car's, foot sleeps and see what the children do to each sound.all these things have worked for me

Answer 4

playdoh, space mud or gak (look up recipes on the internet), shaving cream, sand play, water play, chalk, paint (fingerpaint, watercolor, painting with brushes or stamps), bubbles, tag, fishie fishie cross my ocean (for three year olds more than two year olds), block building, puppets, reading stories, making forts (blankets and chairs or pillows or big boxes, decorating large boxes like cars or houses, ride-on toys, puzzles, making simple instruments like kazoos or drums and having a parade, making an "art gallery", songs with action (shake your sillies out, limbo, wheels on the bus...)

Answer 5

play makeover days if they are girls girls love to play with make up nails and hair but also play dress up and i mean you too xx

Answer 6

Dressing up. I used to love it and my two year old and 3 year old love it. Even if its just a scarf or  hat, silly glasses.. cloaks , macs whatever. you can educate them bout the seasons whilst you do it too. Its my fondest memory as akid at nursery! xx