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25 (super easy!) activities for preschoolers to do at home - Aleteia EN

If you’ve got little ones at home, you know these days in self-isolation can feel like time is ticking backwards. There are only so many episodes of Daniel Tiger you can watch in a day, and if you can’t get outside, the options of things to do feel so limited. Luckily some clever and creative parents have come up with plenty of easy ideas for the rest of us!

These activities use very basic supplies, are easy to set up, and create minimal mess. And your little one will love them! Even older kids can join in the fun for most of these.

1

Pouring Station

If you’ve got water, some kitchen utensils, and any kind of tray or box or cookie sheet, you’ve got an engaging activity. Water play makes everything better! And if it spills, no worries – your floors will get cleaner!

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πŸ’¦POURING STATIONπŸ’¦ Thank goodness for the pouring station on days like today πŸ˜‚ Swipe to see this activity over the years – ending with my sweet Sam, age 25 months in one of the first photos we ever posted to Instagram 😭 Pouring Station is legit – and it just doesn’t get old πŸ™ŒπŸ» ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ In a storage container, add cups, bowls, scoops, funnel – whatever you have on hand… I promise it’ll work πŸŽ‰ This is my beloved storage container / sensory bin (a 41 qt bin from Target – I call it the “two buns bin” because it’s great for siblings) and my kids will play here on and off all day πŸ’¦ Here’s the 411 and some FAQ: yes, that’s just normal food coloring in the water and nope, it won’t stain πŸ™ŒπŸ» It’s totally optional, but it’s diluted so much in the containers that it works for us πŸ˜‰ I put a towel under this to catch drips and spills – you can also move this outside or to the bath tub πŸ’¦ Every now and then, I move all the cups out of the bin, tip it, and pour water back into the jars to “reset” the activity πŸ‘πŸ» Of course the water was totally a brown color by the end but the kids don’t care 🀣🀣 If you have questions about how my kids learned to play with set ups like this, I have an IGTV called “sensory bins 101” where I explain how I guide my kids in managing this type of play πŸ‘πŸ» ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Finally, the amount of learning going on here is amazing πŸ‘πŸ» This is how my kids have learned to pour and fill over the years, about capacity and volume, and how liquids behave 🀯 Today, Kate (5) figured out displacement 😱 This is hands-on learning at its finest πŸŽ‰ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Keep the Pouring Station in your back pocket right now – it’s a gem to pull out when you need a moment to breathe ❤️ Again, check out that IGTV on Sensory Bins if these are new to you – I promise it’s doable 😘

A post shared by Susie Allison | Busy Toddler (@busytoddler) on

2

Lego Bath

Bath time is a great way to pass the time when it feels like the clock is ticking backward, and you can greatly extend the fun with new toys and activities while your kids splash around. DUPLO in the bath is a classic.

3

Toy Wash

When was the last time you washed your kids’ toys? Never, if you’re me, but it turns out kids LOVE to give their toys a good scrub. Grab some soapy water, washcloths or scrub brushes, and a bunch of waterproof toys. Boom, you’re in business. You can make it even easier by having the kids wash their toys in the sink, so there’s zero set-up.

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🧼TOY WASH🧼 aka how to actually get toys clean 🀣 It’s fun, it’s easy, it’s basically free and who doesn’t need cleaner toys + playing kids in their day πŸ‘πŸ»πŸ‘πŸ» ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This is an easy one to set up with LOTS of options to make it work at your house πŸ˜‰ For our set-up, I started with my beloved 41 qt storage container (from Target) and a second, smaller tub inside that one – it’s like a turducken of sensory bins πŸ¦ƒπŸ¦†πŸ” The smaller bin has tear-free soapy water, the other side plastic toys. I add in brushes and wash clothes, dry towels, etc – anything to help the kids with their cleaning 🧽 Yes, water got on my floor, so now I’m saying I basically mopped today 🀣 Close enough 🀣 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ OTHER OPTIONS: do this in the bath tub, do it outside, do it with a towel underneath. Theme it – maybe all cars, all dolls, all animals πŸ› Keep the party rolling πŸŽ‰ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ My kids (almost 7, 5, and 3) have loved this for years – when they finished here, they moved the supplies outside and worked on their backyard toys πŸ™ŒπŸ»πŸ™ŒπŸ» It’s an oldie but a goodie – a classic for a reason ❤️❤️ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ UPDATE: it’s been a month since I put my “Playing Preschool” homeschool program on sale with the code HOME25. That code is still active and will remain active as so many of us face the reality of schools closing for the rest of the year. If you’re interested in learning more about my ebook – check out the link in my profile OR my story highlights “What is PP?” and “PP FAQ” ❤️

A post shared by Susie Allison | Busy Toddler (@busytoddler) on

4

Popsicle Bath

Kids love Popsicles (who doesn’t?) but they can get so sticky and messy that it doesn’t seem worth the hassle. Popsicle bath solves that problem and is a fun, relaxing, special experience for little ones. Give it a try!

5

Creation Station

“Creation station” is a cute name for what should actually be called “dump the recycling bin on the kitchen floor and let the kids have at it.” The beauty of this activity is that you can use literally anything you have on hand. Markers, stickers, glue, safety scissors: Any craft supply works. And the thrill of getting to tear apart recyclables and rebuild them into a new playtime creation is a surefire way to ignite your kids’ imagination.

6

Ripping Bin

This is “creation station junior” for the toddler set. Toddlers love to rip up books and paper, as my poor mistreated home library shows. Give them a chance to indulge that fun in a way that’s totally harmless.

7

Ice Scoop

Scooping, pouring, playing with ice … it’s a preschooler’s dream! And you don’t need any special supplies: just water, ice, and something for scooping.

8

Apple Washing

This is a brilliant way to knock out a household chore and keep your kids happily entertained. You can use apples, potatoes, carrots, or any other sturdy produce.

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🍎APPLE WASHING🍎 A little fall felt so right, y’all πŸ™ŒπŸ» yesterday, I shared a go-to favorite for ours and an easy “activity framework” to copy for your kiddo πŸ‘πŸ» This is the classic “washing bin” activity and it is SO EASY to repurpose or personalize for your kiddo, their taste, the season, etc πŸ’₯ Here are Matt and Kate doing Apple washing for me last fall 🍎 I took our big 28 quart sterilite bin (from Target) and loaded it with apples ⭐️ In a smaller bin, some clean brushes and clean water πŸ’¦ Their job: wash the apples and they took it very seriously 😊 Making a washing station of ANY kind is always a win for my kids (cars, toys, pumpkins…) ✨ It’s so easy, so fun, so engaging and all πŸ‘πŸ»that πŸ‘πŸ» jazz πŸ‘πŸ» What’s the washing hit at your house? πŸŽ‰

A post shared by Susie Allison | Busy Toddler (@busytoddler) on

9

Bread in a Bag

Any kind of baking recipe would work, honestly. Kids love to knead dough, measure and dump ingredients, and especially mix everything together.

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🍞BREAD IN A BAG🍞 It works πŸ™ŒπŸ» And it’s also Unit 5 Food>Week 2, Wednesday> Measurement activity ❤️ This is the kind of hands on learning I’m talking about πŸŽ‰ So often with young kids and math, we say “They know their numbers” πŸ—£ And usually we mean is “they can count from memory” 🀷🏻‍♀️ There is SO MUCH MORE to numbers than memorized counting πŸ™ŒπŸ» One of the skills I put down in Playing Preschool is Number Sense – which is much more than “knowing numbers” πŸ˜‰ We want kids to KNOW what to do with numbers and what numbers can do: they show value, sequence, amounts, we can use them for data, for measuring, for combining, for determining size πŸŽ‰ And simple activities, like Making Bread in a Bag, can help kids use numbers in a really big way ✨ THIS ACTIVITY: In a nut shell, you mix ingredients in a ziplock bag, do some magic (jk), and somehow homemade bread is made πŸ™ŒπŸ» Amazing right?! ‼️ You can SEE THE RECIPE in my story highlight “Bread in a Bag” but what I love even more about this activity and eating warm bread as a butter delivery system 🀣 is everything it teaches: how to read and follow directions, how to use numbers to measure, using numbers to count amounts, using numbers to quantify time, seeing a chemical reaction, and starting a task and seeing it through to completion 😱 I cannot even with how amazing it is πŸŽ‰ Playing Preschool is my hands-on daily activities program and it’s an honor to share it with you all ‼️ Look in profile to learn more about my ebook ❤️❤️❤️

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10

Ice Smash

So simple yet so brilliant, this activity is a beloved favorite in my home. Dump ice on ground. Invite kids to smash the ice. That’s it! Yet somehow it keeps them entertained so well. It’s best outside, but you could do set it up in a plastic bin inside as well.

11

Bubble Foam Baking

Got some liquid soap and basic baking utensils? You’ve got all you need for a crowd-pleasing activity. Let the kids have at it with no worries about the foam getting on your floor: It’s just soap!

12

Bobbing for Apples

Out of apples? Use limes, lemons, toy balls … whatever you’ve got on hand that’s round (ish) and will float! Add water, tongs, and a muffin tin, and you’ve got a great little project for preschoolers to strengthen their hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.

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🍏 BOBBING FOR APPLES 🍎 Action word —> GRIP πŸ’ͺ Let’s talk… πŸ—£ Do you know what? You’re NOT the only mom or dad in the world who struggles to take care of your kiddos while taking care of πŸ’«ALL THE THINGSπŸ’« like: paying the bills, cleaning up, and trying to find a last minute costume for yourself. πŸ€”Psst… just go as a tired parent. 🧟‍♀️It’ll be fine. πŸ€ͺπŸ˜‚But, seriously, we all need a few tricks up our sleeves to keep the sanity in our homes so that we can get a few things done without turning on the tv to pacify our kids (it’s okay, I totally do it too!!). But, this? πŸ‘‰This activity is not only on point with Fall, but it’s also so easy that you could set it up now and get something like the dishes cleaned. 😳Win/win!πŸ™Œ . HOW TO: 1️⃣Fill a bin with some water. Add apples (or lemons, limes, whatever you have on hand). 2️⃣Balance a muffin tin on the bin – we found that ours fits PERFECTLY on the corner! 3️⃣And let your little one *grip* the apples with tongs or ditch the tongs for another tool like a pasta spoon. πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘ . This not only works those little hands, but also crosses the midline, works on hand-eye-coordination, and gives you five minutes to plan that costume for yourself. 🦹‍♀️Easy peasy, but SUPER engaging. And, all my kids walked away eating an apple for snack so…. double parenting win! 🍏 πŸ™ŒπŸ™Œ Happy *almost* Halloween! Hears to staying sane πŸ€ͺ😘

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13

Freeze Toys in Blocks of Ice

I did this activity for the first time ever with my kids last week, and I couldn’t believe how much they loved it. Now they ask me to freeze more toys for them every night.

I put the ice block on a cookie sheet next to a bowl of very warm water, and my kids drip the water onto the ice to “set the toy free.” You could use a pipette, syringe, squeeze bottle, scoop, or just a spoon. I still can’t believe how much my kids love this super simple activity!

14

Shaving Cream Writing

As I compiled this list, I went to the experts for advice: I asked my kids (ages 5, 3 and 1) for their favorite activities we do at home to share with other families. My five-year-old said, “Tell them to play with shaving cream!”

Shaving cream is a staple for plenty of fun crafts (puffy paint, learning to write) but you can keep it simple and just let them squirt it everywhere in the bathtub, or out in the backyard on a hot day. Guaranteed to be a hit!

15

Stuffed Animal Houses

Cardboard boxes never disappoint for imaginative play, and this activity taps into kids’ creative abilities wonderfully. Between constructing the house and decorating it, it’s the perfect STEM project.

16

Giant Rain Clouds

Rainy April is the perfect time for this simple science experiment.

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GIANT RAIN CLOUDS 🌧 It’s raining AND it’s #weatherweek, so of course we had to make some rain clouds! We decided to pull out all the stops and grab some of our giant jars for this one. . . GETTING STARTED >> All you need is a jar, shaving cream, liquid water colors (or food coloring), and something to squeeze with. We use squeeze bottles, pipettes, and turkey basters depending on the day. Just put water in the jar and then add shaving cream on the top. Use your squeeze bottle to drop colored water onto the shaving cream “cloud.” . WHAT YOU’RE LEARNING >> So much fun simple science! Here’s what’s happening >> Shaving cream = clouds! The clean water = the air and the colored water = the rain. Once your child starts dropping the colored water, it fills up the cloud and gets heavy and then it can’t hold onto the water anymore! When this happens, the colored water “rains” down into the “air” (regular water). This is a simple way to explain how real rain falls down through the air. It is so fun to watch and repeat again and again! . . Don’t have a jar? Use a tall Tupperware container or even a tall vase. If you try it, let us know how it goes or send us a photo!

A post shared by Kristina | Toddler Approved (@kristinatoddlerapproved) on

17

Egg Drop

Put to good use those plastic eggs leftover from Easter with this activity that’s so simple yet entrancing to little ones.

18

Dinos and Eggs

This activity has so many variations: Any toy that’s waterproof and small enough to fit in an Easter egg is fair game.

19

Egg Grab and Drop

Another great use for Easter eggs and an invitation for creative play and fine-motor strengthening.

20

Build A Fort

A classic of childhood games, you can’t beat a good old-fashioned play fort in the living room.

21

Bubble Caps

It’s like a bubble bath, but in miniature in the kitchen, and with the bonus of turning junk-drawer odds and ends into an engaging activity.

22

Sock Match

Matching is a great educational activity, and assigning the job of matching socks to your preschooler lightens your laundry load a tiny bit too.

23

Pet Hospital

Setting up a toy hospital is a great way for kids to practice empathy and creativity. I remember playing “hospital” with my baby dolls decades ago; it’s an old one but a good one!

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PET HOSPITAL PRETEND PLAY ✨ We set this little animal hospital up on a whim the other day and the kids really enjoyed it. I love that Grae will still join in with pretend play… She really likes the setting up, organizing, sign making, and helping Sam part of it, which is a-okay with me. And Sam? Well, he just wants to do whatever his big sister is doing. ☺️⁣ ⁣ For this, all you need is a couple of little examination tables (we used our gymnastic mats from @ikeacanada, but blankets or big pillows would do the trick), a bunch of stuffies, and some doctor items. πŸ©ΊπŸ’‰⁣ ⁣ We have a really good stash of doctor stuff only because G’s 4th birthday party was doctor themed, but just find whatever you have around the house. Popsicle sticks, cotton balls, cotton pads, q-tips, little medicine droppers and cups, and play hammers all work well. I usually include a few bandaids and tensor bandages from our first aid kit just for fun too. 🩹⁣

A post shared by Jen | Mama.Papa.Bubba. (@mamapapabubba) on

24

Mail Letters

Creating some snail mail is a great way to brighten a loved one’s day. Have your kids scribble away on paper and just pop it in an envelope.

Pro tip: Ask your preschooler what they’d like to say to your loved one, and take down *exact* dictation. Their stream-of-consciousness words will be hilarious to read, and a sweet keepsake.

25

Doll Bath

This is a sweet way to encourage kids’ nurturing side with soapy, splashy fun.

Here’s hoping these activities my own children love will help you get through these days of quarantine!

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