Preschool activities, games, conversations that a child engages in during the first 5 years make a lasting impact and help shaping the child’s growth. And the good news is – you don’t need to necessarily send your little one to preschool for educational, learning activities!
Here are 50 preschool activities for home that your homeschool preschooler can indulge in.
Table of Contents:
Why Teaching Preschoolers at Home is Important?
Literacy Preschool Activities for Home
Science Preschool Activities to do at Home
Math Preschool Activities to do at Home
Art Preschool Activities for Home
Gross and Fine Motor Preschool Activities for Home
Why Teaching Preschoolers at Home is Important in Early Years?
To put it to perspective, consider this. Babies, fragile and completely incapable of anything at birth, pick up language and start walking, by the end of the first year. At two years they start building their vocabulary, analyzing, self-feeding among many other things.
And by the time they are 5, most of them are multilingual, understand social relationships, can do basic math, ride bikes and are quite independent. For the next 13 years, they learn to be self-sufficient.
Isn’t it amazing? The progress made in the first five years of life clearly outsmarts that made in later years.
Even though no major motor skills are developed during the latter years. Rather, most to all learning that happens later is contingent to the skills acquired during the initial five years.
The point is that this extreme ability to learn is unmatched. Never during the course of their life, humans learn as fast and as much as during the first five years.
Well thought of preschool activities to do at home, which follow preschool curriculum guidelines, can provide young children with the right positive experience and thus help shape their future thoughts and personality.
Related: Don’t let your toddler fall behind! Here are 60 Low-Prep, Easy Toddler Activities to get you started.
Preschool activities need not be ‘educational’ in a conventional way. That is to say instead of focusing on just teaching alphabets, you may choose to read aloud to your child, like a preschool teacher would at circle time.
Related: Read Community Helpers Books for Kids to sneak in preschool curriculum into your kiddo’s reading routine.
The sole aim of these preschool home lessons and educational activities should be to spark the joy of learning and inculcate curiosity.
Preschool Literacy Activities
1. Play Dough Letters
Another fun way to practise fine motor skills while learning letters is through making play-dough letters. Preschoolers absolutely love rolling and playing with play dough, so why not challenge them to make letters using it?
Step into the role of a preschool teacher and encourage your little one to make play dough letters. Great ideas like this one are perfect for preschool learning activities at home.
Related: Skip store bought play-doh and make playdough at home with this simple 5-min Playdough recipe that is super easy and a great way to get kids hands-on.
2. Letter Sensory Bins
Another much loved activity by preschool teachers and parents, this one combines the magic of sensory bin with early literacy skills.
These sensory bins can be modified to teach letter recognition, enhance vocabulary and letter sounds.
Quick Tip: Pair these activities with Fun Virtual Field Trips for Preschoolers to take learning to the next level.
3. Snowball Throw Alphabet Game
This playful game not only builds literacy skills but also enhances your little one’s gross motor skills. All you need is a ball and some post-its to bring preschool at home!
You can modify the game and put pictures instead of letters. Your little one hits the picture that has the same beginning sound as that of the letter called out.
Quick Tip: Every child learns differently. If your preschooler has aced skills of her age, try Hands-on Activities for Kindergarten to challenge her mind in the most fun way.
4. Alphabet Relay
For all those of you who are blessed with children who can’t stay still, here is one letter game that will make movement fun. Kids love movement based learning activities and Alphabet relay is just that!
It is a great game and much fun when played with more than one child. That way it transforms into a race and point making game.
5. Magical Letters
A great way to teach letters to your little one the magical way. Watch them jump with joy as the letters magically appear as they paint.
Fun activities like this one are a favourite with preschoolers as well as preschool teachers.
Quick Tip: Get your kids talking and peep into their curious minds with these Fun Questions To Ask Kids!
6. Letter Hunt
This one is good for children who have mastered their letters and are now beginning to learn small and big letters.
Such simple activities are great for homeschooling as they are easy to set up. Make sure you give this a try.
Quick Tip: Club these learning activities with these Fun Indoor Activities for Kids.
7. Crocodile Circle Game
Teaching preschool is easy when you integrate fun ideas with the preschool curriculum. This fun activity for kids is simple, easy to set up and is a great way to teach letters to preschoolers.
Whether your little one feeds the called out alphabet to the croc or pulls out alphabet cards from croc’s mouth and recognizes its sound, either way it is a fun game to play.
8. Ping-Pong Literacy Game
Make use of empty toilet roll tubes lying around to play this fantastic ping-pong alphabet game that clubs literacy with fine motor skills.
All you need is empty toilet roll tubes and ping-pong balls. Such a fun way to teach preschool at home. Wonderful for hand eye coordination as well, you can never go wrong with this matching game for preschoolers .
9. Sensory Nature Letters
This one is our personal favorite. You can use leaves, flower petals, even grass blades for this beautiful preschool activity that combines craft with learning activities.
Preschool activities like this one not only aid fine motor skills but also spark imagination and creativity! So give your child’s little fingers some practice while they experiment with making their own art.
10. Feather Tip Salt Tray Writing
Disguise letter writing practice into this fun salt tray feather activity. Your little one will just love practicing writing with feathers.
This activity works wonders for fine motor skills and adds sensorial dimension to your child’s menu of writing activities.
11. Alphabet Squish
This is a fun learning activity to teach letters to your preschooler. Little children just love messy play and this one is just that.
However, it is not uncontrollably messy, which would make it your favorite too! We used cupcake tin with fewer letters initially to help young kids warm up to the activity.
Once your kiddo is thorough with all the letters, you can try the original version.
12. Pipe Cleaner Letters
Pipe cleaners are a great sensorial tool for preschoolers and a favourite with most preschool teachers. They are versatile and handy, which makes them just the perfect learning accessory for preschool curriculum.
Challenge your preschool kids to make letters by bending and moulding pipe cleaners. They can start with easy letters like C, I, J, L, N, O and gradually progress to trickier letters.
13. Alphabet Bingo
Such board games are a great addition to homeschooling preschool curriculum. It is an exciting, educational game for kids who are getting a grasp on the letters.
Related: Check out more Preschool Board Games for bringing preschool at home and making learning interactive!
Preschool Math Activities
Make learning numbers easy and exciting. Preschool curriculum should embody fun learning activities and hands-on ideas.
Below preschool number activities are easy to incorporate in homeschooling and are simple enough for young kids to understand.
Related: Also check out these exciting Kindergarten Math Activities & Games that make sneak learning into play.
14. Pom-Pom Patterns
Use pom-poms in different colors to create patterns and let your preschooler recognize the pattern and build on the pattern.
Related: Explore more hands-on Pattern Activities for Preschoolers. These kids activities are great for circle time as well as preschool activities to do at home.
15. Number Pocket Game
Bring preschool at home with this lovely, hands-on math game for your little one. This math activity for preschoolers targets number identification and matching while secretly working on visual discrimination skills and fine motor skills as well.
Sure to keep your preschooler busy for a good 20 minutes, it is a must try math activity! Great for grabbing some quiet time with kids.
Related: Accompany these learning preschool activities with Community Helper Activities for Kids.
16. Button Counting
Bring preschool at home with this lovely, hands-on math game for your little one. This math activity for preschoolers targets number identification and matching while secretly working on visual discrimination skills and fine motor skills as well.
Sure to keep your preschooler busy for a good 20 minutes, it is a must try math activity! Great for grabbing some quiet time with kids.
17. Snakes and Ladders
Snakes and Ladders is a classical board game that has been around for ages. This time, teach numbers to your preschooler as you play with this board game.
Let them roll the dice and navigate on the board to discover a world of numbers. Perfect for three year olds who are learning to count and recognise numbers.
Quick Tip: Math Riddles are a fun way to engage kids with maths. Give them a try!
18. Water Balloon Target Practice
Now this is one water game for kids that your little one may get addicted to! Just chalk down some numbers on the floor and let the fun begin.
Start by shooting the water balloons on the numbered floor. Or alternatively you can call out the number and the preschooler hits it with the water balloon
Start by shooting the water balloons on the numbered floor. Or alternatively you can call out the number and your little one has to hit it. Either way, it is oodles of fun.
19. Giant Wall Dot-to-Dot
Take dot-to-dot to the next level with this easy wall dot-to-dot. This fine motor activity is good for children who have learned their numbers and sequencing.
Such exciting preschool learning activities at home add joy to your child’s routine while making number lessons fun!
20. Counting & Math Skills With Play Dough
Teach your little one counting and quantification with this simple set up. All you need is play-dough and matchsticks.
You may use spaghetti or any other loose parts like pebbles for this activity. It is a must-do.
Also check out Math Jokes for Kids to add humour to homeschooling!
21. Number Hop
This is a great way to teach numbers to your little one at home who just cannot sit still! Children love jumping and hopping and this activity clubs it with learning numbers.
One of the best outdoor activities for preschoolers, Number Hop takes classroom outdoors and lets kids learn numbers the fun way while practising their motor skills.
What’s more, this preschool activity is a great way to burn off excess energy. A win-win for both parents and kids!
22. Play Dough Geometry
Don’t limit the preschool numeracy skills of your tot to numbers and counting! Add some shapes for complete learning with Play dough geometry.
Shapes are an integral part of early mathematical skills and this simple activity will help your little one experiment and learn shapes hands-on.
Related: Looking for kids activities that teach shapes? Check out these Geometry Activities for Preschool to make learning shapes fun and exciting.
23. Measuring Soup Vegetables
Measurement is an early math activity for preschoolers. While many ignore these basic mathematical concepts, be sure you are not one of them!
This activity helps children establish correlation between math skills and life skills. Bonus points: Toddlers are much likely to eat what they help you make!
Related: Check out our list of 40 Preschool Math Activities for more fun idea to make maths hands-on.
24. Outdoor Graphing
Head outdoors and teach your child to count and graph with this fun outdoor graphing activity. Simply, ask your preschooler to collect as many fallen leaves or twigs as she can.
Next, ask your child to sort them and arrange them into clean lines to make an eye-catching pictograph in your backyard.
Such easy and simple activities for preschoolers are a BIG hit with homeschooling parents. These activities bring preschool at home without spending too many resources – both in terms of time and money.
Preschool Science Activities
Preschoolers are naturally curious and ask a zillion questions. Make sure to encourage this innate genius streak by including preschool science activities at home.
These simple, easy to do science activities will help your little champs exercise their mental muscle, build critical reasoning and logical thinking.
Quick Tip: Pair preschool activities with Easy Brain Teasers for Kids to build lateral thinking.
25. Flavoured Salad leaves
This is such a fun science activity for preschool to do at home. It is easy, fun and requires readily available supplies from your pantry.Let your preschooler make flavoured salad leaves by simply placing the salad shoots in water. Here is how to do it:
Step 1: Take some salad leaves or lettuce. Don’t trim their shoots.
Step 2: Take two cups of water. Dissolve salt in one cup and sugar in another cup.
Step 3: Place the leaves in both the cups making sure their shoot/stem is under the water.
Step 4: Taste the leaves from the different cups after 5-6 hours.
Your little one will observe that the salad leaf from the sugary water tastes sweet while the one from the salty water has picked up salt from the water.
This is such an easy and hands-on way to teach preschoolers at home how water and nutrients are transported (capillary action) to different parts of plants.
Quick Tip: Make these experiments more fun by punching in a science joke or two! Humour is great way to improve engagement and retention.
26. Make Oobleck
Oobleck provides a wonderful sensorial experience to kids. It is easy to make and fun to play with, making it a much loved activity of preschool curriculum at school as well as homeschool!
Related: Pair these science activities with Exciting Fun Facts for Kids. This way they are far more likely to absorb information and retain it.
27. Toilet Roll Rattle
Let your preschoolers experiment with sound by making this simple DIY musical instrument.
How to Make it:
Step 1: Take an empty toilet roll. Let your preschooler colour/decorate it using colours or stickers.
Step 2: Your preschooler might need help with this step. Take two balloons and cut off their necks. Discard the neck. Stretch the remaining part of the balloon over one end of the toilet roll. Secure it with a rubber band.
Step 3: Pour some dried beans into the toilet roll and seal the other open end with the second balloon.
That’s all! Your Toilet Roll Musical Rattle is ready.
28. Weather Mobile
Glue these wether icons on one end of the twine and the tie the other end onto a twig. That’s it! Your cute weather mobile is ready. Hang it near a window and let your preschooler call out what’s the weather like each day of the week.
Teach your toddler and preschooler about the weather with this cute STEAM activity. Simply cut out a puffy white cloud, raindrops, a bright sparkly sun and a snowflake from sparkle foam sheet or construction paper.
Related: Check out our exhaustive list of Preschool Science Experiments for more great ideas.
Preschool Art Activities
29. Puffy Painting
Puffy paints are so much fun and a far cry from the usual painting and colouring activities. They are a must try for every kid who loves to paint and make artwork.
30. Paint With Feet
Another interesting preschool idea that your preschooler must engage in!
Instead of using hands, encourage your little one to try using their feet to create art. Let them hop, walk, twist to see how each movement influences their art.
31. Tin Foil Art
Children love experimenting with different materials. This helps them understand the world around them and nurtures their innate curiosity.
Home preschool ideas like this one help children take notice of the different materials in their surroundings and in turn increase their observation of their environment.
32. Finger Print Art
You can never go wrong with this creative, sensorial preschool idea for home!
Children love stamping their hands. Take a big chart paper, stick it on the floor and you are ready to let your kiddo create their masterpieces.
Join in to add more fun and make a family mural.
33. Leaf Crowns
Add some nature to your art projects with these leaf crowns. Your kids are going to love these simple, easy to make leaf crowns. Let them wear them and flaunt around.
34. Clay Structures
Let that little engineer inside your kiddo come out and play. All you need is clay, some loose parts of your child’s choice and imagination.
These activities are great at building comprehension and understanding in young children.
35. Paper Towel Art
This is our favourite for a number of reasons. First, it is open ended. There is no right or wrong way to do it. Second, it is great for sparking creativity. Third, not only does it nourish the innate creative side of preschoolers but also strengthen their fine motor and observation skills.
Perfect for exploring Color theory and learning at home for preschoolers!
Related: Learn how you can team Arts With Math to enhance learning and engagement.
36. Painting with Marbles
Another open-ended art project for preschoolers at home, this one is sure to keep your toddler busy while minimizing the mess. All you need is a deep dish, a few marbles and water paints.
Tweak it with primary colors and let your child discover how these primary colors mix to form secondary colors.
Such a fun and hands-on way to learn Color theory and discover how primary colors mix to form secondary colors.
37. Rainbow Art with Cars
An excellent rainbow art project that is based on the principles of movement and gravity. Set it up for your vehicle crazy child and let her explore while creating her own piece of art.
38. Stamp Art
Make use of the empty toilet rolls lying in the house to create your own stamp art. An excellent way to reuse things and add geometry to art, this one is surely going to charm to preschool learning activities at home
39. Back And Forth Art Game
This preschool idea for homeschoolers helps preschoolers and toddlers unlock their creativity and think out of the box! While most activities are solo in nature, this is a wonderful preschool activity that brings parents, teachers and children together to create a collaborative art.
Preschool teachers and children love it because of its free nature. There are no specific directions, just one rule – follow your heart!
Gross and Fine Motor Preschool Activities
Preschoolers are learning to master their motor skills and need plenty of practice at home to fine-tune these essential motor skills.
These easy preschool activities to do at home will provide ample opportunities to your little ones to work on their gross as well as fine motor skills.
40. Sticker Lines
There ain’t no preschooler who does not love stickers. Transform this love into a learning activity for preschoolers by challenging them to put stickers along a line drawn on a sheet of paper.
Related: Club these motor activities with Sensorial Activities for Preschool to get kids excited and exploring their senses.
41. Matchstick Shapes
This is one of the must try preschool ideas at home. Hand over matchsticks to your kiddo and encourage them to make shapes using them.
Think of a rocket, a hexagon or a bee hive. Let their imagination unleash.
42. Geoboard String Art
Use a geo-board and bakers twine to let your preschooler make their very own string art. It is a great practice for those little fingers and squishy, soft hands.
43. Pen Cap Matching Activity
One of the most easy preschool activities to set, Pen Cap Matching requires just an assortment of coloured pens. All you need to do is take off the caps from the pens and let your preschooler match the colored pens with their respective caps.
Such a nifty, easy to set up activity!
44. Make Moon Sand
If you think playing with moon sand is fun, wait till you try making homemade moon sand! Making moon sand at home is wonderful motor skill activity for young children.
It offers children opportunity to make their own plaything and play with it as well. What’s more, there is even a taste-safe edible moon sand recipe to try if you fear your kids putting it into their mouths!
Related: Kinetic Sand is also a wonderful sensory material to work on motor skills. Try this DIY Kinetic Sand Recipe and let your kids work those hand muscles.
45. Rainbow Fine Motor Activity
Home learning preschool activities are incomplete without practising fine motor skills. Preschoolers need to strengthen their finger grip and the concerning muscles before they can hold pencils.
This rainbow themed activity for preschool helps little kids strengthen their hand muscles and at the same time practise sorting skills.
Related: Did you know some rainbows occur upside down and are called ‘Smile Rainbows’? Head to Rainbow Facts for Kids to learn more exciting rainbow fun facts!
46. Gross Motor Indoor Activity
This is an excellent gross motor activity for preschoolers on a rainy day or just otherwise. Simply use coloured masking tape to make a grid on the floor and let the fun begin.
We adore how this simple preschool activity at home can be modified to include learning.
47. Rubber Band Activity
Rubber bands are an excellent tool for strengthening finger grip and hand muscles. Try this activity to add finger exercises to your child’s routine.
48. Water Balloon Cricket
Practise those motor skills the fun way with water balloon cricket. Water games are a hit with children across ages and this one certainly fits every age group.Just grab a plastic bat, a couple of water balloons and let the game begin!
49. Apple Smash
Home learning preschool ideas like this one are a BIG hit with kids. You can use play dough balls instead of baked cotton balls to save time. Either way it is fun and your preschooler will thoroughly enjoy it.
Quick tip: Club numeracy with this activity by calling out the number of apples you tot needs to smash.
50. Sensory Walk
This is an immersive outdoor activity for preschoolers learning at home. Perfect to invoke their senses and challenge them to feel and explore materials and textures through their feet.
51. Stick Ladder
52. Flaming Hoops
Transform your own home into a circus themed play zone with this Flaming hoops activity for preschoolers at home.
You would be surprised what all your little child can do with hula hoops and little creativity. Definitely one of the best house games to indulge preschoolers in.
53. Play With Cloud Dough
Let your kids roll cloud dough or any other sensory dough to make shapes, letters or pretend play props like cakes and balls.
Rolling, squishing, pulling and stretching sensory dough is an excellent fun activity to build motor skills and pre-writing skills.
54. Tic-Tac-Toe
Make a giant tic-tac-toe on the floor using a masking tape and let your kids toss small bean bags as they play the classic game of tic-tac-toe. Only this one is much more fun!
Note: It is always suggested to perform preschool activities under adults’s supervision.
FAQ
1. Literacy activities
2. Science experiments
3. Math games
4. Art and Craft
5. Gross and Fine Motor activities for preschoolers
1. Playdough Letters
2. Flavoured Salad Leaves
3. Snakes and Ladders
4. Puffy Painting
5. Matchstick Shapes
6. Geoboard String Art
7. Make Oobleck
8. Number Hopping
