5 activities your preschooler will simply love!
Created by Neeta Kadam Updated on Feb 10, 2020
I was sure that Saee, my daughter, at 2.5 years, was ready to learn some new activity that would not only enhance her motor skills but will also ensure that she is engaged constructively. So I got her to do the five activities listed below and it worked out super. Let me just tell you that I am no professional; I am just a mommy who is inspired by the Montessori Method*. Depending on your child’s interest, you can start with any of the below activities and then add on as you go along. First I demonstrate the activity to her, and then I let her be and play along as she wishes.
So here we go… the five easy and DIY learning activities that Saee just loved...
1. Recognition of capital letters
I bought the word game that has those bog plastic capital letters. Saee loves playing with alphabets. I have a book of capital and small letters with pictures and I ask her to recognise the letter and put the plastic letter on it. Like, where is the alphabet A? A for Apple, and then she puts the letter A on that picture.
2. Coin drop activity
I have given Saee a small piggy bank that looks like a house and she loves it. Instead of coins, I have made 10 small squares from an old cardboard and have written numbers from 1 to 10 on them. Then I ask my daughter, where is number 5? – so she picks it up and puts it in the house (piggy bank). This is one of the fine motor skill activities which improves eye coordination. Your child will also learn and able to identify numbers.
3. Match shapes
Saee’s first book was a book of shapes. At that time, she was just 11-months-old. I had made that book at home! Using thick card paper and stick colour paper, I drew the shapes on the card board and coloured them with A colour pencil. It gets a bit challenging for her to match the coloured shape with its corresponding colour – but then that’s the way to learn!
4. Rice Pouring
This is a super one – trust me, it will have your child interested in an instant! It’s simple – Saee just has to transfer the grains from one vessel to another. I demonstrate this only once before she indicates that she wants to try it herself! I use two small bowls. Once she gets used to this then I will use other cutlery like a small glass, jar, different shapes of cutlery through which she will be able to pour the grains. Yes, there will be lot of mess but don’t you stress – focus instead on how much your child is enjoying it, and learning as well.
5. Stickers
Every toddler loves stickers...right? There are a variety of stickers available in the market. I use small butterfly stickers, but you can get any which interests your child – star, Barbie dolls, Mickey Mouse etc. I draw a big triangle and ask my daughter to stick the sticker inside the triangle. Then I draw a circle, a square or any shape, which she wants and she sticks the stickers inside the image.
All these activities are from the kitty of Montessori*. Try these and let me know if you have any queries – simply post your feedback in the comments section below and you will hear from me soon. Also, would love to know how you keep your little one engaged… do share!
*Montessori is an education method, which is based on self-directed activity, hands-on learning and collaborative play. The main function is to allow the child to develop skills for independent learning, according to his or her inner psychological directives.
This content has been checked & validated by Doctors and Experts of the parentune Expert panel. Our panel consists of Neonatologist, Gynecologist, Peadiatrician, Nutritionist, Child Counselor, Education & Learning Expert, Physiotherapist, Learning disability Expert and Developmental Pead.
| Feb 21, 2017
this is great way of making kids learn. i use learning by doing method for my baby. whenever i bring fruits n vegitsbles frm market i ask her to give me frm ban one by one by telling their names.. again if i hv bring out smthing frm fridge i ll open d door n ask her to bring d particular fruit of veg .. this way c leant almost all d veggi n fruit's names.
| Feb 21, 2017
he started doing 2piece puzzles wen 1yr 6 months. now at 2 yrs he keeps a 15 piece puzzle without assistance. Making them do Jigsaw puzzle is a wonderful play to enhance attention. He separates all veggies and put them in a cover, once bought from market.... sense of touch creates a major impact in children. arranging the shoes stand, with right pair is something that v cn help in knowing them right and left. children who r old say 3 yr old.. start the game of sand tracing.. of alphabets and that will help them to An extent.
| Feb 21, 2017
@Punit start by gvng bold crayons, let her scribble , gradually bring in the idea of having a margin with wat she scribbles, later make her explore various thickness or grip like ball point, sketch, crayons and pencil.. keep assisting her bt all though all this we try, ensure she slowly understands the right way of pencil holding.. the above activity of crayons extra will help her adjust to various grip.... and make her also do joining g straws, holding spoon and self eating. basically whhAt u say is a fine motor enhancement issue. which cn b achieved very easily.
| Feb 28, 2017
@Priya Gabba : Rice pouring activity : give your child rice in a bowl with spoon. demonstrate to him how to transfer rice by using spoon in other bowl. This improve motor skill. For more details plz visit my blog link http://memoryflies.blogspot.in/2016/03/learning-activities-for-preschoolers.html?m=1
| Feb 28, 2017
@Punit, First you have to develop gripping of his finger to hold pencil. Just try out the following activities 1. ask D child to tear the paper by hand only. 2. use small tong, u will get in market to pick up the tear paper or pom pom. 3. make at least 3 to 4 hole to the lid of any plastic bottles n give D child straw to enter through the hole. Do this first den give him pencil, crayon. you will see D difference. Thank you
| Apr 20, 2017
Here is the Easy Hands-on Activities to Teach Patience to Your Child. https://www.parentcircle.com/article/8-hands-on-activities-to-teach-patience-to-your-child/
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