Welcome to Week 3 of our At-Home Activities blog series. Keep reading to check out 20 at-home activities you can use this week with your preschooler. If you’d prefer to have these activities in a printable PDF format, you can download them from our shop HERE.
There are 8 weeks worth of free at-home activities in this blog series. Click each week to check them out!
WEEK 3 ACTIVITIES:
DAY 1:
Literacy: Tape the ABC Letter Cards from our FREE Activity Library (or any letter cards you have) to the wall. Turn out the lights, and let your little one shine a flashlight onto one of the letters. Ask them to say that letter’s name, sound, and a word that starts with that letter. Then repeat with another letter.
Math: For this activity, you’ll need 10 popsicle sticks or craft sticks. Write one number on each stick (1-10). Then have your little one put the corresponding number of rubber bands or hair ties onto the stick. Have them wrap them around the bottom of the stick, which is also great for fine motor practice. Then have them line the sticks up in numerical order.
Fine Motor: Volcano time! Add baking soda and dish soap to a plastic cup. Fill a squeeze bottle with vinegar, and have your little one squeeze the vinegar into the cup. They’ll be amazing at the eruption they create (and they’ll be working the little muscles in their hands at the same time!)
Gross Motor: Have your little one paint inside the shower using washable paint or shaving cream. They can practice painting their name, letters, numbers, or just paint a pretty picture! Having them stand up while painting works their core muscles.
DAY 2:
Literacy: Write out letters in alphabetical order on a large piece of paper, but leave some of the letters out. Write those missing letters on post-it notes, and have your little one put the post-its in the correct spots. Then have them create one and challenge you to fill in the missing letters.
Math: Write numbers 1-10 (or 1-20) in sidewalk chalk outside. Have your little one jump to the number you call out. If they’re ready, have them jump to the answer of a simple addition or subtraction problem. They can also call out numbers and have you jump to them.
Fine Motor: Fill a baking sheet or tray with salt. Have your little one practice writing their name, letters, and numbers in the tray. They can use their finger or a paintbrush to write. This is a fun way to practice writing without needing any paper or pencils.
Gross Motor: Go for a nature scavenger hunt outside. Write and/or draw 5 objects you know you’ll be able to find on your walk. Have your little one cross them off once they find them.
DAY 3:
Literacy: Choose a new book that you and your little one haven’t read before. Stop at different points while you’re reading, and have your little one make predictions, or guesses. Stop and ask, “What do you think will happen next?” After you keep reading, revisit their prediction and ask, “Did your prediction, or guess, come true? Why or why not?” Remind them that it doesn’t matter if they were correct or not. All that matters is that they made a prediction and were engaged with the story.
Math: Gather a group of books. Have your little one put the books in order from biggest to smallest. As an added challenge, you can trace the books on a large sheet of paper, and then have your little one match up the books to the correct outlines.
Fine Motor: Do you have a hole puncher? If so, your little one is going to love this activity! Have them use a hole puncher to identify the matching letters on each card of the ABC Punch Cards that are in the FREE Activity Library. If you don’t have a hole puncher, no worries! They can mark the correct letters with a small toy (like a lego), squish of play dough, mini-eraser, or piece of cereal.
Gross Motor: Do the Watch Me Dance brain break video from Jack Hartmann on You Tube. Such a fun one!
DAY 4:
Literacy: Draw pictures or use stickers of simple things, such as apples, dogs, etc. Have your little one say the beginning sound for each picture or sticker. Then have them write the correct beginning letter next to each picture or sticker.
Math: Tape the 0-20 Number Cards from the FREE Activity Library onto the wall. Cover up the numbers on top with a post-it note, and have your little one identify the number based on the ten frame only. They can then write the number on the post-it note and check underneath to see if they’re correct.
Fine Motor: Make a batch of Puffy Paint by using equal parts shaving cream and white glue, then mix it up. Use the Puffy Paint to paint a picture or practice writing letters or numbers. You can also use food coloring or liquid watercolors to change the color of your Puffy Paint.
Gross Motor: Write letters or numbers outside in sidewalk chalk. Fill up water balloons, and have your little one smash the water balloon onto the letter or number you call out. So much learning and so much fun!
DAY 5:
Literacy: Write simple CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words on pieces of paper (such as cat, dog, man). Put them in a hat. Have your little one choose a CVC word and come up with a word that rhymes. See if they can come up with more rhyming words than you!
Math: Gather a group of toys. Have your little one measure each toy using paperclips. Then have them measure each toy using their foot. Talk about why the answers are different. Then have them put the toys in order from biggest to smallest.
Fine Motor: Freeze small toys, magnetic letters, yogurt pouch lids, or other objects in ice cubes. Have your little one use a spray bottle filled with water to melt the ice and free the toy, letter, or small object. This one is always a hit in my preschool class!
Gross Motor: Play Letter Sounds Simon Says. Say things like, “Simon says act like an animal that starts with the /m/ sound” or “Simon says pretend you’re eating a food that starts with the /b/ sound.” Have them tell you the word they’re acting out to make sure they’re correct.
PRESCHOOL AT-HOME ACTIVITIES FOR WEEK 3
And that’s a wrap on our At-Home Activities for Week 3. I hope these ideas help keep your preschooler learning at home with you!
If you’d like a printable PDF copy of these activities (which includes all of the freebies mentioned in this post), head to our shop to download!
If you use any of these activity ideas, let me know! You can comment below or find me on Instagram (@littleslovelearningblog). I’d love to know how your little ones liked them!
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Happy Learning!
