They really are quite wonderful at two years old.
Most (not all) have a greater vocabulary and can nearly always communicate what they'd like.
Even if the vocab' is still limited, they've developed some form of communicating their needs or desires.
Barring any medical conditions,
the two year old is still investigating their world around them and learning relationships, ie, the hot tap produces hot water. The cooker or stove is also 'hot'
The cold water tap and refrigerator are cold.
The sky is where they'll look for aeroplanes or 'birdies'
Trees have leaves... and so on.
If your nephew is bouncing off the furniture, he has energy that needs depleting.
Take him for a walk outdoors?
Get him curious using his senses, what he can see outdoors, hear, smell, touch.
Practise his gross motor skills, - walking, running, climbing, lifting (objects)
He'll have no real concept of dangers, - busy roads, cliff edges, wildlife, plants, litter, bodies of water etc, so that will be your responsibility.
He may not be able to walk any great distance at two. More time will be spent discovering and exploring the finer details, fallen leaves, rocks/stones, discarded litter, walls, road and pavement surfaces, dog poo, tree bark, mud. Just about everything at their eye level and below.
Give his discovered treasures a name (noun) will expand his vocab. (and help to tire his learning brain out)
If you do take him for a walk, check with mum what clothing he'll need to wear.
Alot of two year olds understand basics or simplicity. Not so much abstract concepts. In the moment type of stuff.
Your reflexes may be due to inexperience. Mum may expect to have to catch him. She's had two years to get used to it
You'll learn, but at a slower pace than mum - who uses her reflexes around him 24 hrs a day.
Does that make sense?
This post is quite long already
Just a quick mention on 'indoor play'
The 15 month old I interact with regularly is fascinated with the properties of water.
A supervised sink half full of warm water and a squirt of dish soap to create bubbles.
Utensils and containers for scooping, mixing, pouring, sinking, splashing, lifting etc.
It's messy but holds his attention for longer periods
Supervised walking/ climbing up and down stairs. Repetitively. - practise his coordination, gross motor skills, exercise, discovery and sense of achievement.
