This category is for entertaining those little ones that need variety, need change, and need to physically experience their surroundings. Yes, it seems that they have a lot of needs!!!! And it can be challenging to come up with those ideas to keep them happy and entertained.

Picture Scavenger Hunt

Required: Small bag and paper

For those little ones that cannot read yet, make a scavenger hunt list with pictures you have drawn on a sheet of paper. Here are ideas that you could draw for them: a feather, small stone, acorn, maple leaf, oak leaf, various leaf designs in your area, small twig or stick, dead bug (draw him with legs up) pinecone, flower (only if they can pick one), worm, pieces of grass, clover leaf and any other ideas you can come up with. Make sure that you go over the list with them just incase your not the World’s Best Drawer. That’s okay, we’re all blessed with special gifts, and at least you’re the World’s Best Parent. R. Scheel, Fun-Attic, Inc.

Popsicle Fan

Required: Popsicle Sticks, thin cardboard, and crayons

Make a fan using Popsicle sticks and thin cardboard backing, perhaps the cardboard that comes out of the packages of pantyhose or use a paper plate. Clue or staple the cardboard to the stick and fan away. To entertain the troops further, let them color their fans with crayons before they're attached to the Popsicle sticks. You could add glitter, beads or holes with a hole punch. You could also string ribbon through the holes. Submitted by D. Wilson, Baltimore MD

Popsicle Puppets

Required: Magazines or newspaper, paper, glue, scissors, and Popsicle sticks

Have the kids go through magazines looking for picture they like. If the picture is really thin and has a hard time of standing straight up glue to a thicker piece of paper first. Once the glue has dried cut out and glue to Popsicle stick. Have them come up with an idea for a play or story and use their new made puppets.

Popcorn Tambourine

Required: Paperplates, stapler and popcorn seeds Optional: Hole punch, ribbons, markers, yarn and bells

Place one paper plate face up on table, pour in a tablespoon of popcorn seeds and then place another paper plate upside down. Staple around the edge of the plates while together, about every ½ to 1 inch to enclose the seeds. You can use other types of throwaway plates. To decorate your tambourine take a hole punch and makes holes in between the staples. Cut short pieces of ribbons and tie on bells or you can weave yarn through the holes for a decorative look. Kids can also decorate them with markers or crayons. R. Scheel, Fun-Attic, Inc.

Pretend Painting

Required: Bucket or small container, water and house paint brush

A great past time when we were little - my mom used to give us a paintbrush and can of water. We’d go out and practice our painting skills for the future. They can paint the side of the house, garage or a nearby fence. Kids love water. R. Scheel, Fun-Attic, Inc.

Safe toys for toddlers!

Rock Paintings

Required: Washable paint, paintbrushes and lots of rocks

If you have a lot of rocks, paint rocks, they can be on display outside. You can use one rock for a body and smaller rocks for different parts of the body. Get those creative juices flowing. R. Scheel, Fun-Attic, Inc.

Shaving Cream Sponge

Required: Shaving cream, sponges, tongue depressors, and food coloring

Spray shaving cream into several small bowls, add food coloring and mix with tongue depressors. Use regular sized house sponges and if the sponges are totally dry, moisten them first. Allow participants to apply colored shaving cream to the sponges as if icing a cake.

Tape Vase

Required: Plastic 20oz pop bottle, masking tape, cloth, rubber gloves, brown shoe polish

Pre-schoolers can make a vase for those wonderful wildflowers that they have collected. Take a 20 oz plastic pop bottle, tear or cut 2-4 inches pieces of masking tape. Have the pre-schoolers completely cover the plastic bottle with masking tape pieces. Once this is complete put on gloves and rub small amounts of brown shoe polish onto the taped bottle. Wait about 10 minutes then rub the excess off with a clean cloth. Now you have a unique vase to put your wildflowers in. R. Scheel, Fun-Attic, Inc.

Toy Wash

Required: Washable toys, water, small bucket, sponge and lots of bubbles

On a hot day you can take outside all those washable toys and have them start cleaning them. R. Scheel, Fun-Attic, Inc.

Wiggle Wiggle

Required: Large dark room

Let the kids stand in a room---preferably lots of space-----. Turn out the lights & yell, “Wiggle, Wiggle”. They move about all they want, but when you turn on the lights, yell “Freeze!”. They then have to freeze where they are & wait until the lights go out again. You can vary this game by letting them act like animals (if you’re teaching an animal theme) or cars or whatever. It’s so fun & easy to do almost anywhere. This is such a simple game for Preschoolers, but they love it! Submitted by Kim Mariano

Preschool Activities     1     2     Back to Index

       
             

Remember-The object is for everyone to have fun. The moderator is the all-powerful dictator. You may at any time change the rules or boundaries or handicap players to help balance out the wide spectrum of abilities. We want the tentative athlete and the superjock to play together at the best of their abilities. Have Fun! Now here are some colorful ideas to liven up play time. If you have a fun game that is entertaining and healthy for kids of ANY age, you can send it to us for consideration and addition to our Games and Activities Guide. Join our mailing list to receive our periodic newsletter and be kept up to date on new games, ideas and activities. Back to Index