Pre-K kids are such a joy! Parenting the 3-5 year age group, especially if you have more than one, can be like herding cats. So for all of you homeschooling, potty training, and working from home, we have come up with a few simple ways to keep your little people on task. The great thing about this age is that they learn through play. So you can "play school" with hands-on instruction for 10-15 minutes and let them work independently role-playing with their "classmates". Keeping a schedule allows you to maintain the routine they're accustomed to at school. Just tweak it according to your needs.
These activities use low-cost or free items you probably already have at home. A few like the wooden clothespins and plastic tubs are available at discount retailers. Feel free to substitute items with things you already have at home.
Supplies:
Index cards 3x5, cut in half
Permanent Marker, black
Highlighter, any color
Crayons and/or washable colored markers (whatever you have is fine)
Blank paper, white or colored, feel free to use recycled paper
Wide-ruled note paper or composition notebook (can also substitute the Kindergarten writing tablet)
Package of rice and/or beans for sensory bins
Condiment Packets from takeout meals
Cotton balls for sensory bins
Various plastic tubs or bowls to use as sensory bins
Stuffed Animal or Doll Classmates
Wooden Clothespins
Cardboard boxes, shoe boxes are good or anything with an edge to clip the clothespins on. You could use twine or string to make a clothesline.
ABCs and 123s
- Using the mini-flash cards you made from the index cards, spell out your child's name writing one letter per card.
- Do the same for the numbers 1-20
- Use your clothespins to clip the letters to the edge of the box.
- When doing numbers, keep it simple and pin 5 numbers at a time.
- Write their name on the blank side of the packets, one letter per packet. Spell their name out and have them touch the packet while saying the name of the letter. It also works for learning numbers.
- Keep the box with the clothespins and their name spelled out nearby as a reference. Give your child the packets, have them spell their name. Repetition is key so just make it fun and do it a couple of times then let them play with them for a few minutes
Level Up Skills
- Use cards to spell out emergency contact information like your name and phone number.
- Using blank packets, white-side up, have your child count 10 packets. Then work on sorting them into groups of twos, threes, fours, etc.
Fine Motor Skills
- Using the writing tablet or ruled paper (draw lines with a black marker to make groups of three lines like the tablet.)
- Write their name on the paper then have them trace the letters using the highlighter. As they improve you can let them use a pencil or colored markers.
- Have your child pick up packets or beans one by one and put them in a plastic container or box. Beans are still choking hazards and sometimes can be put up the nose or in the ears so you'll need to supervise this activity.
- Now do the same with the cotton balls and rice, if using, keeping everything in separate containers.
- Have your child describe the items in the sensory bins. If you have small toys that fit in the bins your child will enjoy playing with them in the bins. Here are more ideas for indoor activities and sensory bins.
Free Play
- This is where children get to play and you can take a break. Have your child help you set up different play areas in the room. A blanket and pillow and some books make a great reading nook so your child can practice reading stories to their friends or taking their daily after-lunch nap.
- Grouping like toys together like baby dolls or kitchen items and having in different areas helps your child get used to rotating between areas and cleaning up as they go.
- Coloring is a good quiet activity. Have your child use paper and crayons or washable markers to draw objects like fruit or vegetables. Alternately a coloring book works fine but drawing engages their creative side.
- Talk to your child as ask what they usually do at school so that you can replicate it so when they do go back they'll still keep a similar schedule.
Water Play - Bonus Fun
- Kids love their water table at school! There are several ways that you can replicate this at home. One way would be to use a kiddie swimming pool and fill with those plastic balls used in ball pits. You don't need a lot of water for his activity. Your child can take plastic toys for a swim.
- If you have food coloring and disposable cups or plastic containers, fill with a little water and swirl food coloring in primary colors like red blue or green. Give your child a small paintbrush and have them paint on the white paper. You could even take plain water outdoors and have them paint rocks or on the sidewalk.
The great thing about these activities is that you can tailor them to the needs and interests of your child(ren) and have fun playing while learning. Cleaning up is something they're taught at school so you may want to ask if there is a special song they sing while doing it. Other activities to try would be dance or yoga for kids. Videos are readily available online. See our event calendar here for links to printables and videos for you and your child to enjoy together. You can also see if another family would like to Facetime or Zoom while watching the same video so they can have a dance party or sing along to their favorite movies. Whatever you choose to do we hope you have FUN!!!
