Looking for a comprehensive list of preschool learning activities? You’re in the right place! In this post, I’ll share more than 80 awesome activities you can do with your preschooler.
There are so many great ideas out there, but sorting through them all can be time-consuming and even a bit overwhelming. I’ve gathered some of the best ones here so you don’t have to keep scrolling through Pinterest searching for them.
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What Is the First Thing to Teach a Preschooler?
One of the most amazing things about preschool-aged children is they intuitively know how to learn. Young children learn through play, and playing is what they do best!
While it’s good to be intentional about giving them fun activities, knowing this takes some of the pressure off of being the perfect mom.
Plus, let’s be real. Perfect moms don’t exist.
Sure, some moms may have advantages, but at the end of the day, we’re all just trying to do the best for our families.
As a reformed perfectionist, I can tell you that perfection is way overrated.
Click to learn more about Raddish Kids, a cooking club for kids – delivered straight to your front door.
A huge part of learning and growing (for kids and adults alike) is failing. We all make mistakes, and the beauty in problem-solving is getting back up again, stronger than we were before.
Some of the best learning happens when we don’t get it right the first time. It’s important for children to see this play out in real life.
They need plenty of opportunities for trial and error problem-solving.
RELATED: 20 Fun Snacks for Kids
Why Grit Is Important for Learning
I’m reading a great book right now that highlights the importance of developing grit. It’s called Grit by Angela Duckworth. Maybe you’ve read it?
You can watch the Angela Duckworth TED Talk below.
Through years of research, she’s found that grit is a bigger predictor of future success than talent. People who are grittier and stick with their goals (even after repeated failures) and achieve more than super-smart people who don’t have grit.
This is good to know when we’re working with preschoolers because we want them to develop grit. I know as a mom it can be hard to see your child go through difficulties. But know that you don’t have to protect them from making mistakes, because they can learn a great deal from them.
80+ Super Fun Preschool Learning Activities
Here are over 80 awesome activities your child is going to love!
Hands-On Activities
Letter Park // Days With Grey
Paper Blocks // Babble Dabble Do
Sink Or Float? // The Chirping Moms
Hands On Shapes // Learning 4 Kids
Edible Map // Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers
10 Little Dinosaurs Puppets // Stay At Home Educator
Kinetic Sand // Kids Activity Blog
Paper Airplanes // The Crafting Chicks
Marshmallow Sculptures // Motherhood On A Dime
Get the FREE 62-page Preschool Learning Activities Kit.
Sensory Activities
Ocean Slime // Little Bins For Little Hands
Animal Walks // Lemon Lime Adventures
Giant Water Bead Bin // Busy Toddler
Glitter Jar // Little Bins For Little Hands
Minion Sensory Bottle // Little Bins For Little Hands
Washing Farm Animal Bin // Coffee Cups And Crayons
Garden Water Table // Happy Toddler Playtime
Shaving Cream Pups // Days With Grey
Calming Lavender Sensory Bin // Coffee Cups And Crayons
RELATED:
- Sensory Play Benefits And 10 Simple Sensory Activities For Your Preschooler
- The Science of Sensory Play: 7 Benefits for Your Child’s Development
Motor Activities
Preschool Fine Motor Activities
Egg Carton Flower Crown // Hello, Wonderful
Tie-Dye Shirts // Happiness Is Homemade
Washi Tape Butterfly Craft // Happy Toddler Playtime
Golf Tees // Mess For Less
Button Activity // Coffee Cups And Crayons
Fruit Loop Towers // Mess For Less
Rainbow Pasta Necklaces // The Imagination Tree
Threading With Pipe Cleaners // The Imagination Tree
Easy Homemade Playdough // Living Well Mom
Gross Motor Activities
Hula Hoop Activities // Active For Life
Bubble Wrap Runway // Hands On As We Grow
Streamers Maze // Teach Preschool
Core Strengthening // The Inspired Treehouse
Alphabet Yoga // Pink Oatmeal
Alphabet Relay // Fun Learning For Kids
The Floor Is Lava // Hands On As We Grow
Tennis Ball Games // Little Bins For Little Hands
Mud Target Practice // Hands On As We Grow
STEM Activities For Preschoolers
Science Activities For Preschoolers
Melting Ice Science Experiment // Artful Parent
Oobleck // Babble Dabble Do
Rainbow Jar // Playdough To Plato
Jelly Bean Science // Teach Preschool
Egg Shell Squeeze // Kids Activities Blog
How Clouds Make Rain // The Happy Housewife
Discovery Tubes // Babble Dabble Do
Lemon Volcanoes // Babble Dabble Do
Candy Chromatography // Playdough To Plato
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Preschool Math Activities
Preschool Build And Measure Center // Play Teach Repeat
Roll And Dot The Number // Fun Learning For Kids
Introducing Addition // Busy Toddler
Ladybug Counting Busy Bag // Preschool Inspirations
Money Muncher // Teaching Mama
Lego Math Game // The Imagination Tree
Q-Tip Number Tracing // Toddler At Play
2D Shape Hunt // Playdough To Plato
Find The Shapes // Busy Toddler
Literacy Activities For Preschoolers
Alphabet Tunnel Play // Toddler Approved
Shaving Cream Letters // Gift Of Curiosity
Alphabet Ice Game // Days With Grey
Fishing For Letters Game // No Time For Flash Cards
RELATED: Preschool Letters Activities for Fun and Learning: How to Make Learning Fun
Alphabet Ball // Playdough To Plato
Alphabet Sound Jump // The Imagination Tree
Marshmallow Name Craft // Fun A Day
Learning Letters Lineup // Hands On As We Grow
Name Hide And Seek // Days With Grey
Open-Ended Art Activities
Bounce Paint Process Art // Days With Grey
Painted Salt Sculptures // Fun At Home With Kids
Seashell Painting // Fantastic Fun And Learning
Spin Painting // Artful Parent
Splat Art // Fun A Day
Tie-Dye Bookmark // Happy Hooligans
Bubble Painting // Early Learning Ideas
Marbled Milk Paper // Babble Dabble Do
Paint With Flyswatters // Early Learning Ideas
Music Activities For Preschoolers
Musical Statues // Empowered Parents
Sound Jars // The Keeper Of The Memories
Drum Games // And Next Comes L
Rhyming Songs // Early Learning Ideas
Homemade Musical Instruments // Kids Activities
Garden Xylophone // The Moments At Home
Giant Chalk Keyboard // And Next Comes L
Homemade Harmonica // Mess For Less
RELATED: Harnessing the Power of Music and Movement for Young Children
What activities are good for preschoolers?
How do preschoolers learn? They learn by:
- Doing
- Hands-on activities
- Trial and error problem solving
- Sensory exploration
- Interacting with the positive role models in their life (that’s you!)
Give your child plenty of opportunities to play, create, and learn. Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be hard.
Keep things simple. Your child doesn’t need expensive toys or high-end preschools to grow and learn.
Also, spending time outdoors helps them improve their motor skills, enjoy the fresh air, and is the perfect place to set up sensory bins for them to explore.
RELATED: 9 Music Activities For Preschoolers At Home
Cooking With Kids
I hope you’ve enjoyed this comprehensive round-up of fun kids’ activities! I used to enjoy preparing meals with my kids when they were little. We had a wonderful time in the kitchen and it was a fantastic learning opportunity as well.
Raddish Kids offers an at-home cooking class for kids. Raddish Kids is a subscription service that allows parents to teach their children chemistry, mathematics, and more while having a memorable time together.
What are some of your favorite preschool learning activities?
