DIY Activity Ideas for Preschoolers

Making learning fun makes the lesson more memorable. Further, through physical demonstration of these activities, they are able to understand the practical implications of their knowledge. This helps build a more solid foundation for their comprehension, learning, and retention.

Without the grades and competition associated with learning in school, preschool activities at home serve to be a better motivator for children to keep learning. Without the fear of failing, they are keener to discover the secrets of the world and the answers to problems.

Home preschool activities do not have to follow a syllabus or a schedule. Parents can customize the learning goals and plans based on the child’s course and pace of learning. This allows for more open-ended well-fitted learning plans that the child begins to look forward to..

In addition to harnessing their creative potential, children also learn soft skills and motor skills through the element of play in their education. The nature of these activities can facilitate problem solving, communication, collaboration, and time-management skills, amongst many others soft skills.

Alongside curating preschool activities for children, we must also build an atmosphere at home that is conducive to their learning. This can be done through a few simple methods :-

Remove distractions such as TV remotes, gaming consoles, ipads etc. in the learning space and keep the space organized and decluttered. This helps the child’s focus on the task at hand.

We have put together a set of 8 easy ways to declutter your child’s learning space.

Every individual is unique - and this individuality is often reflected in their interests. While art and craft-based activities can be engaging for some kids, others may prefer movement or music-based activities.

To better learn of their preferences, passions, and interests, keep a mixed range of preschool games prepared for your child to choose from. Once the child picks the activity, they will feel encouraged to pursue it, more responsible to complete it, and happy about receiving the freedom to pick the activity.

The tools required for the activity- such as notebooks, stationery, and kits should be accessible to the child. When items are in their reach they are more likely to interact and engage with them more often during the day.

Most children prefer to have a sense of familiarity to their day. Not to be confused with a monotonous schedule, a routine involves blocking off time in the calendar towards fun-learning activities, family time, and play sessions. This will help children look forward to that specific time of the day and value their time more.

Last but not the least, preschool learning activities can be divided into various categories to ensure we cover a diverse range and encourage the holistic growth of the child. The following are some categories that are essential to cover along with activity ideas that enhance those skills -

Several students grow up fearing math. A big reason for that could be the lack of acquaintance with numbers at an early age. Math activities for preschoolers cover exercises that are related to cultivating reasoning, problem solving, and calculation skills.

Preschool worksheets and games related to math can help them perceive shapes, understand forms, teach them about the practical use and application of money, develop their motor skills related to sorting, and encourage them to nurture their creativity by finding logical and innovative solutions to various problems.

Some of the activities that help a child grow to love numbers are-

DIY tangrams are fun brain teasers that help build logical reasoning skills. To make it easier for them, you can outline the shapes, indicating where the puzzle pieces will fit into the complete image and provide colorful cut-outs of the shapes. This is an immersive activity that brings a sense of achievement and facilitates independent learning.

Add a fun twist to the traditional scavenger hunts by asking the preschooler to fetch a particular number of items. For instance, “please fetch me 5 crayons” can help teach them counting and comprehension. This activity also allows them to explore the space around them and feel immersed in the learning experience.

Healthy reading habits, letter recognition abilities, storytelling sessions, musical and rhyming sensibilities etc. come under the ambit of literacy.

Development of the spoken word and comprehension of language is crucial for instilling confidence in the child as they learn languages. Literary activities can be made as simple and effective as possible for them to engage in.

The following are some simple and yet effective literacy related activities that a preschooler can engage with :-

An interactive card-game based activity that helps your child develop reasoning, phonological awareness, listening skills, and more. Comprising a deck of 50 cards with instructions, such as “fetch me something beginning with the letter A,” this game will help the child in developing a healthy relation with words, along with building their curiosity and problem-solving skills.

A creative and immersive DIY game, Pom-Pom Letters can be the preschooler’s first lesson in letter recognition. In this game, children fill out alphabet cutouts with coloured pom-poms.This activity not only fosters a sense of achievement, but also makes retention and motivation to learn a second nature to them. You can place their letters at a visible space, prompting them to revise their learning by looking at their brightly coloured handiwork.

Storytelling not only helps the preschooler build vocabulary and get acquainted with the creative use of language but also strengthens the bond between the parent and child. Storytelling can take multiple forms, such as reading along and aloud from their favorite books, narrating daily activities to them, or even asking them to narrate different events from their day to encourage them to practice articulation and diction.

Work Knowledge covers general knowledge, STEM subjects, and experiential knowledge. This theme can include various engaging activities that can help them satiate their inquisitiveness, experiment with innovation, and utilize their full potential towards problem solving creatively. The following are two such activities-

With simply drawn venn diagrams (two overlapping circles) and a whole range of colors to choose from, preschool children can discover the magic that mixing colors can generate. Not only does this explain the potential of mixing colors together and color theory in a hands-on manner, it also allows for a space for them to express themselves creatively.

Introduce the child to picture books with various textures or bold prints that simplify complex problems like recycling or ecological processes. These books usually include question-and-answer activities and fun preschool worksheets that encourage kids to reflect on the information presented and apply them in practical situations.

One of the easiest ways to take children around the world is by introducing them to an atlas or a globe and help them to discover different countries and cultures. This shows them the plurality around them and opens them up to experiencing the world in a curious and inclusive manner.

Social and emotional learning helps children learn how to manage their emotions, cultivate compassion, and build on soft skills that are vital for their development as individuals. Learning to balance emotions leads to effective goal setting, healthier lifestyle choices, and better management of stress and other negative emotions. Many activities are recommended and are known to help in the development of social emotional learning at the preschool age.
These include:-

Use colorful sheets of paper for this fun DIY project to make a paper cut-out bird with beautiful feathers and sparkly eyes, and ask your child to make a comfortable nest for them to rest in. This will not only help them apply their knowledge in a practical way, but also teach them about compassion and empathy towards others.

Log your child’s daily activities or moments that they are grateful for. They can themselves also maintain this log and use interesting stickers and color codes to express how they felt that day. This helps in raising self-awareness and inculcating gratitude.

Keep a reusable drawing pad handy for your child to express their emotions through art. Not only does this help them be mindful of their emotions, but it also allows them to creatively explore and express their feelings and manage them.

Much of a child’s roots are set at home, and much of their learning starts at home. We hope this article helps you build a conducive learning environment for children in their homes so that they grow to be confident, empathetic, and wise leaders of the future.

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