Preparing Your Child for Preschool
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| HUGE List of Preschool Activities |
| Preschool Games |
Playing with Flash Cards
You can turn something simple like playing with flash cards into something so
much more. We use stickers as rewards for correct flash card guesses. My
daughter usually puts them on a sheet of construction paper.
Playing with a Deck of Cards
Playing cards is nice, as there are so many games that you can play. For
instance, your child will likely love go-fish. You can also play a game commonly
referred to as war. This game will test your child’s math skills by learning which
numbers are higher and lower than each other.
Playing Bingo
In our home, we love to play bingo. We usually play the LeapFrog Bingo game,
which uses colors, animals, numbers, and shapes on their bingo cards. You can
also make your own at-home bingo game, should you wish to do so.
Playing Preschool Computer Games
Playing preschool computer games is a great way to help your child learn to use
the computer, as well as educate them at the same time. Many preschool
computer games help your child solve problems, as well as learn their letters,
colors, numbers, shapes, and so much more. Preschool computer game
software can be purchased for affordable prices, but you should also be able to
find free preschool computer games online as well.
The “What Is It Game”
The what is it game is a game that your preschooler or toddler will likely love.
What you should do is collect a number of items from around your home and
place them in a box, bowl, or cup. These items can include anything from
macaroni noodles (cooked or uncooked), paper clips, seeds, and so forth. You
can either blindfold your child or have them close their eyes and guess what
each item is by touch. The same can also be done with sounds and smells.
Playing with Puzzles
Puzzles are a fun preschool activity that just about any child loves. Although
preschool puzzles come in a number of different formats, I recommend the
wooden ones, as they are stronger. Purchasing educational puzzles, like ones
with ABCs or numbers, is a great way to make this fun activity educational as
well.
Playing Charades
Charades is a fun preschool game to play with your child, but there are
additional steps that you can take to make it much more fun. For instance, you
can incorporate dress up into charades. For example, you can take a cowboy
hat and act out riding a horse, and so forth. The combination of dress up and
charades is sure to bring fun and excitement to the face of your child.
Have a Scavenger Hunt
This type of game has so many possibilities. You can tell your child, verbally,
what they need to find, or you can make a picture list for them. Be sure to hide
relatively large, colorful objects that would be easy to notice. This preschool
game is ideal for indoor play or even outdoor play.
You can turn something simple like playing with flash cards into something so
much more. We use stickers as rewards for correct flash card guesses. My
daughter usually puts them on a sheet of construction paper.
Playing with a Deck of Cards
Playing cards is nice, as there are so many games that you can play. For
instance, your child will likely love go-fish. You can also play a game commonly
referred to as war. This game will test your child’s math skills by learning which
numbers are higher and lower than each other.
Playing Bingo
In our home, we love to play bingo. We usually play the LeapFrog Bingo game,
which uses colors, animals, numbers, and shapes on their bingo cards. You can
also make your own at-home bingo game, should you wish to do so.
Playing Preschool Computer Games
Playing preschool computer games is a great way to help your child learn to use
the computer, as well as educate them at the same time. Many preschool
computer games help your child solve problems, as well as learn their letters,
colors, numbers, shapes, and so much more. Preschool computer game
software can be purchased for affordable prices, but you should also be able to
find free preschool computer games online as well.
The “What Is It Game”
The what is it game is a game that your preschooler or toddler will likely love.
What you should do is collect a number of items from around your home and
place them in a box, bowl, or cup. These items can include anything from
macaroni noodles (cooked or uncooked), paper clips, seeds, and so forth. You
can either blindfold your child or have them close their eyes and guess what
each item is by touch. The same can also be done with sounds and smells.
Playing with Puzzles
Puzzles are a fun preschool activity that just about any child loves. Although
preschool puzzles come in a number of different formats, I recommend the
wooden ones, as they are stronger. Purchasing educational puzzles, like ones
with ABCs or numbers, is a great way to make this fun activity educational as
well.
Playing Charades
Charades is a fun preschool game to play with your child, but there are
additional steps that you can take to make it much more fun. For instance, you
can incorporate dress up into charades. For example, you can take a cowboy
hat and act out riding a horse, and so forth. The combination of dress up and
charades is sure to bring fun and excitement to the face of your child.
Have a Scavenger Hunt
This type of game has so many possibilities. You can tell your child, verbally,
what they need to find, or you can make a picture list for them. Be sure to hide
relatively large, colorful objects that would be easy to notice. This preschool
game is ideal for indoor play or even outdoor play.
************************************
| Preschool Pretend Play |
Playing Pretend Store
To do this, you will want to have a play cash register and play food. You and
your child can buy food from each other. This is ideal if you want to educate
your child on healthy eating, as well as teach them about money.
Playing Pretend House
This is ideal if you have a play kitchen and play food. You and your child can
“cook,” meals for each other. This is nice, as it can help to educate your child
on healthy foods, as well as get them interested in cooking later on in life.
Playing Pretend School
When preparing your toddler for preschool or homeschool preschooling them,
there is a good chance that you will play the role of the teacher. You may want
to have the roles reversed and have your child be the teacher. Whether they
quiz you with their own questions or flash cards, it will sure to be a fun, yet
educational experience for them.
Playing Dress Up
What is nice about dress up is that just about anything can be used. For
instance, you can use old clothes, clothes you purchased from a thrift store or
a yard sale, or you can buy outfits designed specifically for dress up, like
princess gowns and wands. Whether your preschooler is a boy or a girl, dress
up is a preschool activity that they will likely enjoy.
To do this, you will want to have a play cash register and play food. You and
your child can buy food from each other. This is ideal if you want to educate
your child on healthy eating, as well as teach them about money.
Playing Pretend House
This is ideal if you have a play kitchen and play food. You and your child can
“cook,” meals for each other. This is nice, as it can help to educate your child
on healthy foods, as well as get them interested in cooking later on in life.
Playing Pretend School
When preparing your toddler for preschool or homeschool preschooling them,
there is a good chance that you will play the role of the teacher. You may want
to have the roles reversed and have your child be the teacher. Whether they
quiz you with their own questions or flash cards, it will sure to be a fun, yet
educational experience for them.
Playing Dress Up
What is nice about dress up is that just about anything can be used. For
instance, you can use old clothes, clothes you purchased from a thrift store or
a yard sale, or you can buy outfits designed specifically for dress up, like
princess gowns and wands. Whether your preschooler is a boy or a girl, dress
up is a preschool activity that they will likely enjoy.
| Preschool Craft Projects |
***********************************
Coloring
Coloring is a nice activity for toddlers and preschoolers as it can help them
with their hand-eye coordination. What is nice about coloring is that it can be
done on a simple sheet of paper or on a coloring book page or a printable
coloring page, which you can find online. Coloring is also nice with crayons,
markers, and colored pencils.
Drawing
Drawing is a little bit different from coloring, as it is often done with a pencil,
but your child can use colored pencils for a little bit more creativity. They can
use their own imagination or stencils that you purchased or made yourself.
Painting
Painting is another preschool activity that has so many options. You can paint
with kid’s paint or water colors. You can also paint on traditional paper or you
can make a whole craft activity out of painting, like by making your own foam
bowl hats.
Making a Picture Book
If your child loves to draw, color or paint, you may want to turn some of their
pages into a picture book. You can even take the pages to have them
laminated at one of your local office supply stores, should you wish to do so.
Whether you place the picture book pages in a binder or make your own bind
with a hole punch and yarn, a homemade picture book is something that you
and your child can forever cherish.
Foam Bowl Hats
Speaking of making foam bowl hats, this is a fun project that you and your
toddler may enjoy. When making foam bowl hats, you will need to have the
bowls, but you may also want to have items like paint, markers, glitter,
feathers, pom poms, and foam stickers. The decorative hats that you and
your child can develop are literally endless.
“Telescopes”
You and your toddler or preschooler can make your own “telescopes,” with
the inside of roll of paper towels. You can decorate the cardboard roll with
construction paper, paint, stickers, markers, and so much more.
Mailbox
You can make a mailbox or a mail holder with a box, like one from some pop-
tarts or other boxed treats. You will want to start by covering up the boxes
with paper, namely colorful construction paper. Your child can then decorate
each box with stickers, paint, markers, crayons, and so much more.
Paper Plate Masks
When making paper plate masks, your child can decorate their masks anyway
that they want, but my daughter loves making animal faces. Once completed,
you can use a hole punch to make two holes on each side of the paper plate
and attach a string, making it easier for the plate to stay on your child’s head;
however, use caution when doing so.
Printable Paper Masks
In addition to making your own masks with paper plates, you should also be
able to find a number of printable masks online. These masks may be of
animals or popular cartoon characters. A standard internet search should be
able to help you find these printable masks. You and your child can have so
much fun playing with them.
Paper Bag Puppets
When making paper bag puppets, you need lunch sized paper bags, paints,
and paint brushes. You can also use other items like markers, crayons, or
stickers. You will want to paint or decorate the paper bags, while making a
face on the fold. Once completed and dried, you and your child can put on
your own puppet show.
Paper Bag Costumes
To make paper bag costumes, you will want to try and find store sized paper
bags. You may need to use them when grocery shopping, but some stores will
allow you to just take a few. You and your child can then paint the paper
bags to make fun and exciting costumes. Popular costumes include animals,
princesses, and racecar drivers. Before you and your child start decorating the
bags, be sure to cut out holes for their head and arms.
Necklaces
Your child can easily make their own necklaces with a little bit of string, namely
yarn. They can string items through, such as cereal, like Fruit Loops or Apple
Jacks, as well as macaroni noodles.
Play Dough
Play dough is something that all children love. They can make an unlimited
number of items or masterpieces. Once your child has started to like playing
with play dough, you may want to think about molding clay, as it can help to
preserve some of their masterpieces and turn them into decorations for your
home!
Making a Piggy Bank
Children love piggy banks and collecting their own money, so why not have
your child make their own piggy bank. This can be done a number of different
ways. You can have your child make a cardboard piggy bank, out of a small
box, or they can use a chip can, like from Pringles. They can then decorate the
outside of the box or can with construction paper, paint, markers, stickers,
feathers, and much more.
Musical Instruments
Making your own musical instruments is a fun preschool craft project that
many preschoolers and toddlers love. With a few items, such as a tissue box
and rubber bands, you can easily make your own guitar. You can also use
sunflower seeds, macaroni noodles and a box or a chip can to make maracas
and so forth.
Popsicle Stick Picture Frames
With popsicle sticks, namely the jumbo size ones that are designed for
preschool crafts, you can easily make your own popsicle stick frames. You will
want to create a back base, by gluing the sticks together. Next, you will want
to insert your picture and then make a frame around the picture with other
popsicle sticks, which can be decorated with markers, paints, or stickers.
Make Your Own Stuffed Animals
Children love stuffed animals and what could be better than making their
own? This fun preschool craft project can be done a number of different ways.
There are a number of retailers, like Build-a-Bear Workshop, which allow you
to make your own stuffed animals in their stores. You can also find online
retailers that allow you to order your supplies and make your bears at home.
Cardboard Animals
This is a fun preschool craft project that boys and girls will both love. What
you will want to do is cut animal shapes out of cardboard. If you need
assistance, you should be able to find outlines online. Your toddler or
preschooler can then color or paint the cardboard animals or add feathers or
fur to it. Feathers and fur can be purchased for reasonable prices at most craft
stores.
Coloring is a nice activity for toddlers and preschoolers as it can help them
with their hand-eye coordination. What is nice about coloring is that it can be
done on a simple sheet of paper or on a coloring book page or a printable
coloring page, which you can find online. Coloring is also nice with crayons,
markers, and colored pencils.
Drawing
Drawing is a little bit different from coloring, as it is often done with a pencil,
but your child can use colored pencils for a little bit more creativity. They can
use their own imagination or stencils that you purchased or made yourself.
Painting
Painting is another preschool activity that has so many options. You can paint
with kid’s paint or water colors. You can also paint on traditional paper or you
can make a whole craft activity out of painting, like by making your own foam
bowl hats.
Making a Picture Book
If your child loves to draw, color or paint, you may want to turn some of their
pages into a picture book. You can even take the pages to have them
laminated at one of your local office supply stores, should you wish to do so.
Whether you place the picture book pages in a binder or make your own bind
with a hole punch and yarn, a homemade picture book is something that you
and your child can forever cherish.
Foam Bowl Hats
Speaking of making foam bowl hats, this is a fun project that you and your
toddler may enjoy. When making foam bowl hats, you will need to have the
bowls, but you may also want to have items like paint, markers, glitter,
feathers, pom poms, and foam stickers. The decorative hats that you and
your child can develop are literally endless.
“Telescopes”
You and your toddler or preschooler can make your own “telescopes,” with
the inside of roll of paper towels. You can decorate the cardboard roll with
construction paper, paint, stickers, markers, and so much more.
Mailbox
You can make a mailbox or a mail holder with a box, like one from some pop-
tarts or other boxed treats. You will want to start by covering up the boxes
with paper, namely colorful construction paper. Your child can then decorate
each box with stickers, paint, markers, crayons, and so much more.
Paper Plate Masks
When making paper plate masks, your child can decorate their masks anyway
that they want, but my daughter loves making animal faces. Once completed,
you can use a hole punch to make two holes on each side of the paper plate
and attach a string, making it easier for the plate to stay on your child’s head;
however, use caution when doing so.
Printable Paper Masks
In addition to making your own masks with paper plates, you should also be
able to find a number of printable masks online. These masks may be of
animals or popular cartoon characters. A standard internet search should be
able to help you find these printable masks. You and your child can have so
much fun playing with them.
Paper Bag Puppets
When making paper bag puppets, you need lunch sized paper bags, paints,
and paint brushes. You can also use other items like markers, crayons, or
stickers. You will want to paint or decorate the paper bags, while making a
face on the fold. Once completed and dried, you and your child can put on
your own puppet show.
Paper Bag Costumes
To make paper bag costumes, you will want to try and find store sized paper
bags. You may need to use them when grocery shopping, but some stores will
allow you to just take a few. You and your child can then paint the paper
bags to make fun and exciting costumes. Popular costumes include animals,
princesses, and racecar drivers. Before you and your child start decorating the
bags, be sure to cut out holes for their head and arms.
Necklaces
Your child can easily make their own necklaces with a little bit of string, namely
yarn. They can string items through, such as cereal, like Fruit Loops or Apple
Jacks, as well as macaroni noodles.
Play Dough
Play dough is something that all children love. They can make an unlimited
number of items or masterpieces. Once your child has started to like playing
with play dough, you may want to think about molding clay, as it can help to
preserve some of their masterpieces and turn them into decorations for your
home!
Making a Piggy Bank
Children love piggy banks and collecting their own money, so why not have
your child make their own piggy bank. This can be done a number of different
ways. You can have your child make a cardboard piggy bank, out of a small
box, or they can use a chip can, like from Pringles. They can then decorate the
outside of the box or can with construction paper, paint, markers, stickers,
feathers, and much more.
Musical Instruments
Making your own musical instruments is a fun preschool craft project that
many preschoolers and toddlers love. With a few items, such as a tissue box
and rubber bands, you can easily make your own guitar. You can also use
sunflower seeds, macaroni noodles and a box or a chip can to make maracas
and so forth.
Popsicle Stick Picture Frames
With popsicle sticks, namely the jumbo size ones that are designed for
preschool crafts, you can easily make your own popsicle stick frames. You will
want to create a back base, by gluing the sticks together. Next, you will want
to insert your picture and then make a frame around the picture with other
popsicle sticks, which can be decorated with markers, paints, or stickers.
Make Your Own Stuffed Animals
Children love stuffed animals and what could be better than making their
own? This fun preschool craft project can be done a number of different ways.
There are a number of retailers, like Build-a-Bear Workshop, which allow you
to make your own stuffed animals in their stores. You can also find online
retailers that allow you to order your supplies and make your bears at home.
Cardboard Animals
This is a fun preschool craft project that boys and girls will both love. What
you will want to do is cut animal shapes out of cardboard. If you need
assistance, you should be able to find outlines online. Your toddler or
preschooler can then color or paint the cardboard animals or add feathers or
fur to it. Feathers and fur can be purchased for reasonable prices at most craft
stores.
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