Start circle time with a song; even children as young as 2, who may not know the words, will enjoy listening to music and singing. Select a song that is a simple, classic favorite, such as "Old MacDonald Had A Farm," "Five Little Monkeys," or "The Wheels on the Bus." Play music to get the children active. Create some fun hand movements or actions to accompany the words of the song, such as pointing, waving, or clapping.
Dedicate a few minutes to the calendar. Introducing the children to these important concepts will make the calendar familiar and easier to retain the information when they are older. Use an oversized, colorful calendar. Felt calendars with Velcro labels for the months, days and numbers are especially fun for children, who enjoy sticking the labels onto it. List the months of the year and days of the week with a song to make calendar time fun and informative for young children.
Practice counting. Stick to smaller numbers when counting with 2-year-olds. Pick some age-appropriate items and practice counting them, such as stuffed animals or balls. Teach counting rhymes, such as the "Five Little Monkeys" song, to allow children to practice counting.
Talk about the weather. Encourage the children to look out the window and describe the current weather conditions. Show flash cards or printed icons of different types of weather, such as sun, clouds, rain, or snow. Allow the children to pick out the icon that best matches the day's weather. Use this time to discuss the differences in the types of weather and what activities are fun to do in each type of weather.
Finish with another song or a story. Singing together is a good way for young children to release some energy. Stick to songs that allow for some movement, such as "the Hokey Pokey." Children may enjoy being read to if the group is calmer and can follow the colorful illustrations of books such as "Knuffle Bunny," "The Dr. Seuss Alphabet Book," or "The Very Hungry Caterpillar."