Homemade Birthday Games for 2-Year-Olds

Bubble Fun

• There are many great games you can play with blowing bubbles. "Bubble Pop" is a game in which adults blow bubbles at the children, who race to pop them before they float away. Another variation allows the children to blow their own bubbles. Other ways to incorporate bubble fun is to use bubble blowers of different shapes and designs. Be sure you have enough bubble solution to last throughout the party. One large bottle per child is a good supply. Since young children tend to spill things, you want to overestimate what you will need.

Let's Go Fishing

• You can design a fishing game for young children with a small blow-up or plastic pool (water optional). Hang a sheet up in front of the pool and have an adult help behind the sheet by attaching prizes to the fishing poles. To make your own fishing poles, tie a string to a stick with a clothes pin on the end. Allow the children to cast it over the sheet and "fish" for their prize. You will need several adults to help out with this one: at least one for prizes, one for helping the child who is casting and one for everyone else in line and to keep them at a safe distance to avoid injury.

Ball Pits

• Ball pits are a lot of fun, easy to set up and there are many birthday games you can create with them. Place a plastic or blow-up pool on a softer surface such as grass or carpeting and fill it with play balls of varying colors. Allow the children to play freely among them. To create a game, draw a shape or picture on one or some of the balls and have them dig for them. Whoever finds the special balls in the ball pit gets a prize. Make sure to include enough prizes for everyone, and take turns until everyone gets one. A 2-year-old won't understand why some get prizes and some don't.

Musical Follow the Leader

• This is a great spin on regular Follow the Leader and it's simple enough for 2-year-olds to grasp and entertaining enough to keep their attention. Play some music in the background and then line all the children up. Have an adult lead the line by doing motions such as touching the nose, touching knees and clapping hands. Have the children follow the leader to the rhythm of the music. You can then let the children take turns as leader.