Hands-on Preschool Activities

Lists of preschool activities may appear simplistic at first glance. But underneath this simplicity lies a dimension of discovery and brain pattern building that will start a child developing a life long passion for learning.

Here are some activities to enjoy with your preschooler.
 

Make a birdhouse out of a gallon jug or 2-liter bottle and some string.

Go bird watching.

Play Sink and Float in the tub. Take a few items to the bath and predict if each object will sink or float. (Try sponge, ping-pong ball, plastic tub with holes in the bottom, spoon, apple)

Collect leaves/seeds. Make a nature box.

Play toss with a water balloon.

Fly paper airplanes.

Measure your child’s height. Then help your child measure how long his foot is, the circumference of his wrist (use a tape measure), etc.

Show your child how to use a magnifying glass.

Blow bubbles.

Put whipping cream into a clean glass jar and shake until it becomes butter!

Make homemade gifts for family members. Have your child gently push her hand into a plate with fabric paint. Then make handprints on plain potholders. Grandparents will adore these!

Toss a ball into the trashcan or laundry basket.

Play sorting games with buttons, shells, coins, rocks. Sort into big and little piles. (Or rough/smooth, sort by kinds of coins, type of shell.)

Make binoculars out of cardboard tubes. Go exploring outside.

Make stick puppets with photos of family members. (Put their heads on the stick bodies.) Make up a puppet play.

Read a story and act it out.

Let your child help plan for a party or special event.

Sort laundry.

Let your child help bake surprise muffins to serve for dinner. Use a basic muffin recipe and drop “surprises” into the middles as you pour the batter into the tins. (marshmallows, cherries, cheese, jam filling, etc.) Everyone will be excited to try a muffin and discover the awaiting surprise!

Bake surprise cookies!

Make balloon beanbags.

Blow up a balloon and let it go.

Let your child experiment with a magnet to see what it will stick to.

Blow across pop bottles to make different sounds.

Play with sand and water.

Run around under a sprinkler on a hot day.

Paint with watercolors on wet paper.

Decorate paper with stickers.