Activity Sets
Set 1
Literacy:
Move like animals in this poem
Jump or Jiggle by Evelyn Beyer
Frogs jump
Caterpillars slump
Worms wiggle
Bugs jiggle
Rabbits hop
Horses Clop
Snakes slide
Seagulls glide
Mice creep
Deer leap
Puppies bounce
Kittens pounce
Lions stalk
But- I walk!
Language:
Make up a story with your child. Go back and forth until you have finished the story.
Math:
Fill it up: FInd some containers, count how many objects it takes to fill it up
Physical:
Fine Motor: Scrunch up one (1) sheet of newspaper in one hand—great for building strength!
Set 2
Literacy:
Sock Puppets
Using socks as puppets, act out a story. Try to have your child understand the problem.
Language:
Show and Tell: take turns with your child showing and telling something special.
Math:
Rocket Ship Blast off: Squat low on the floor, count down from 5 and then blast off- try counting down beginning from different numbers
Physical:
Fine Motor: Scissors: Cut up junk mail or magazine subscription cards.
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Set 5
Literacy:
Play restaurant- have your child set the table. You and your child can draw pictures of food and drink items. Take turns being the customer and server.
Language:
Pour sugar or salt on a paper plate. Have your child write different letters with their finger.
Math:
Count fingers and toes, see how many other body parts you have. You have a pet count their body parts- legs, tail!
Physical:
Fine Motor: Attempt to turn over cards, coins, checkers, or buttons, without bringing them to the edge of the table.
Set 6
Literacy:
Trace letters on your child’s back. Have kids guess which letter you are tracing. Start out with letters that are very easy to distinguish, like “X” and “O”.
Language:
Practice taking turns with your child saying different sentences. After saying each sentence have you and your child count the number of words in the sentence.
Math:
Rock- Paper-Number- Count: Move your fist while saying each word. You and your child then hold up fingers with one or both hands. Count your fingers and the person who has more fingers up is the winner.
Physical:
Play Freeze Dance: play music and have your child stop dancing when you pause the music.
Set 7
Literacy:
Alphabet Hide and Seek: Write each alphabet letter on a piece of paper. Stick each paper around your home at eye level. Call out a letter and have your child walk around to find that letter.
Language:
Talk about how words can be broken down and put together: like strawberry, airplane.
Math:
Have your child group of toys and/or books and put them in a pile on the floor. Then have them count out groups of 10. They could also sort the toys and/or books by color, shape, or size.
Physical:
Dance the hokey pokey
Set 8
Literacy:
Tell or read your child a story but do not show the pictures. Have your child draw the pictures instead.
Language:
What’s better: This fast paced game simply asks kids about their preferences between two things –
“What’s better – banana or apple?”
“Banana”
“What’s better – banana or cheese?”
“Cheese”
“What’s better – cheese or chocolate?”
“Chocolate”
“What’s better – chocolate or ice cream?
Math:
Shape Hunt: Draw different shapes on slips of paper. Have your child go around your home to find objects that match each shape.
Physical:
PLay red light ,gren light. Whn you say green light your child can walk forward and when you say red light h/she has to stop.
Literacy:
Tell or read your child a story but do not show the pictures. Have your child draw the pictures instead.
Language:
What’s better: This fast paced game simply asks kids about their preferences between two things –
“What’s better – banana or apple?”
“Banana”
“What’s better – banana or cheese?”
“Cheese”
“What’s better – cheese or chocolate?”
“Chocolate”
“What’s better – chocolate or ice cream?
Math:
Shape Hunt: Draw different shapes on slips of paper. Have your child go around your home to find objects that match each shape.
Physical:
PLay red light ,gren light. Whn you say green light your child can walk forward and when you say red light h/she has to stop.
Set 9
Literacy:
Fill a ziplock bag with shaving cream or hair gel. Have your child trace letters or numbers in the bag.
Language:
Play I spy: Tell your child " I spy with my little eye something"... that is... red/bigger than than arm/ the possibilitis are endless
Math:
Draw a shape on a slip of paper. Using any object in your house: coins, buttons, anything small, have your child put the object on the outside of the shape.
Physical:
Play Teddy Bear Says:
Have your child hold their teddy bear (or another stuffed animal they love). You’ll say: “Teddy Bear says put him __________” and then your little one will follow the direction. For example, you might say, “Teddy Bear says put him above your head.” or “Teddy Bear says put him next to the lamp.”
Set 10
Literacy:
Create a name puzzle for your child. Write their name on a piece of paper, then cut the letters apart. Have them put the letters back in the correct order to spell their name. You can also do this with names of friends and family members.
Language:
Sing Five Litter Speckled Frogs (https://childrenlovetosing.com/kids-action-song/five-little-speckled-frogs/)
Five little speckled frogs sitting upon a log
eating a most delicious bug, yum, yum!
One jumped into the pool, where it was nice and cool.
Then there were four green speckled frogs.
Four little speckled frogs sitting upon a log eating a most delicious bug, yum, yum!
One jumped into the pool, where it was nice and cool.
Then there were three green speckled frog.
Three little speckled frogs sitting upon a log eating a most delicious bug, yum, yum!
One jumped into the pool, where it was nice and cool.
Then there were two green speckled frog.
Two little speckled frogs sitting upon a log eating a most delicious bug, yum, yum!
One jumped into the pool, where it was nice and cool.
Then there were one green speckled frog.
One little speckled frog sitting upon a log eating a most delicious bug, yum, yum!
He jumped into the pool, where it was nice and cool.
Then there were no green speckled frogs
Math:
Gather a group of toys. Have your child measure each toy using paperclips or some other small object. 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.
Physical:
Set up a boot (or tall toy) on the ground. Put a piece of tape on the ground for your child to stand behind. Then have them throw a ball or beanbag at the boot (or tall toy) to knock it over! To add some more challenge, have them roll a die, then step back that many steps before tossing the ball or beanbag.
Literacy:
Create a name puzzle for your child. Write their name on a piece of paper, then cut the letters apart. Have them put the letters back in the correct order to spell their name. You can also do this with names of friends and family members.
Language:
Sing Five Litter Speckled Frogs (https://childrenlovetosing.com/kids-action-song/five-little-speckled-frogs/)
Five little speckled frogs sitting upon a log
eating a most delicious bug, yum, yum!
One jumped into the pool, where it was nice and cool.
Then there were four green speckled frogs.
Four little speckled frogs sitting upon a log eating a most delicious bug, yum, yum!
One jumped into the pool, where it was nice and cool.
Then there were three green speckled frog.
Three little speckled frogs sitting upon a log eating a most delicious bug, yum, yum!
One jumped into the pool, where it was nice and cool.
Then there were two green speckled frog.
Two little speckled frogs sitting upon a log eating a most delicious bug, yum, yum!
One jumped into the pool, where it was nice and cool.
Then there were one green speckled frog.
One little speckled frog sitting upon a log eating a most delicious bug, yum, yum!
He jumped into the pool, where it was nice and cool.
Then there were no green speckled frogs
Math:
Gather a group of toys. Have your child measure each toy using paperclips or some other small object. 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.
Physical:
Set up a boot (or tall toy) on the ground. Put a piece of tape on the ground for your child to stand behind. Then have them throw a ball or beanbag at the boot (or tall toy) to knock it over! To add some more challenge, have them roll a die, then step back that many steps before tossing the ball or beanbag.
Set 11
Literacy:
Let your child be the teacher and show YOU the parts of a book: title, front cover, back cover and when to turn the pages. Empower your child to understand how to use a book by having to explain it to someone else.
Language:
Take a walk outside. As you walk collect souvenirs like leaves and rocks. When you get home talk about where you both found the souvenirs. You can also keep rocks and take them out later and talk about what they look like.
Math:
Using an empty food box and spoon have your child tap out a rhythm. You can also put dried peas or peas in a liquid container like a soda bottle or milk bottle. Your child can shake the bottle to different rhythms.
Physical:
Build and navigate obstacle courses with furniture, pillows, boxes, and blankets will develop large motor skills
Set 12
Literacy:
Cut out letters that you see in magazines or from junk mail. “Can you cut out 3 letter M’s?”
Language:
Stretch your child’s vocabulary by expanding on what they say. Then add a comment or idea onto what your child say. Repeat what your child says, then add a little more description to extend type of words your child is exposed to.
For example: If your child says, “Look at my hands, Dad!”
You say: “I see you have purple jelly on of your fingers. (Clarify and expand) Wow, that looks sticky! (Extend)”
Math:
Count items in the house such as toys, books, or cookies.
Physical:
Paper plate skates: Use paper plates to glide along on a carpet. Try to imitate speed skaters, hockey players, or figure skaters.
Literacy:
Cut out letters that you see in magazines or from junk mail. “Can you cut out 3 letter M’s?”
Language:
Stretch your child’s vocabulary by expanding on what they say. Then add a comment or idea onto what your child say. Repeat what your child says, then add a little more description to extend type of words your child is exposed to.
For example: If your child says, “Look at my hands, Dad!”
You say: “I see you have purple jelly on of your fingers. (Clarify and expand) Wow, that looks sticky! (Extend)”
Math:
Count items in the house such as toys, books, or cookies.
Physical:
Paper plate skates: Use paper plates to glide along on a carpet. Try to imitate speed skaters, hockey players, or figure skaters.
Set 13
Literacy:
Engage with your child by teaching them how to hold a back-and-forth conversation. Taking turns modeling for children how to tune-in and listen to another person, then how to articulate a response.
Ask your child questions about their toys, their favorite characters or books; make sure to get down on their level, make eye contact and listen closely as they speak. Take turns when talking with them.
Language:
Often parents simplify how they speak hoping it will help their child more easily understand what they mean. Instead, aim to use “rich vocabulary,” interesting words and phrases with bold descriptive words. Give your child every advantage by being intentionally specific about the words you choose. Your effort will expand their world of knowledge!
Instead of: “Did you see that dog?”
Try: “Did you see that gigantic, gray dog sprinting across the street?”
Math:
Sort snacks e.g. by size, shape, color
Physical:
Use tape on the floor to:
- Create a balance beam by sticking a line on the floor (straight or zig zag)
- Make shapes that can be used to jump in and out of
- Put together a hope scotch
- Create “drawings” from it: a robot, a car, a flower, a star etc
- Make roads for cars
Set 14
Literacy:
Engage with your child by teaching them how to hold a back-and-forth conversation. Taking turns modeling for children how to tune-in and listen to another person, then how to articulate a response.
Ask your child questions about their toys, their favorite characters or books; make sure to get down on their level, make eye contact and listen closely as they speak. Take turns when talking with them.
Language:
Have your child toss you a ball, then think of a word to rhyme, like “Dad”. Pass the ball to your child and have them think of a word that rhymes, like “pad”. Then pass it back and forth to each other with each rhyming word. The person who is stuck with no more rhyming words is out.
Math:
Practice using numbers by:
-counting objects (e.g. windows, doors)
-drawing a picture to show how many were counted
-writing the numeral to show how many
-counting two different sets of objects and comparing the amounts
Physical:
Get your child involved in cleaning or doing chores around the house.
Some ideas include:
- Wiping down the table after dinner
- Cleaning windows (maybe after their use window markers to draw on it)
- Vacuuming
- Helping to rearrange furniture
- Cleaning toys
Set 15
Literacy:
ABC by Me. Provide paper for kids to create their very own alphabet book. This is a project to do over several weeks as making pages for one or two letters per sitting is a good pace for kids this age. Once they understand the concept, your child can work on their own to draw, use stickers or cut out pictures from catalogs or magazines to illustrate each letter of the alphabet. Help your child create captions for each illustration. When finished celebrate by reading the book!
Language:
Go on a Direction Scavenger Hunt: This scavenger hunt is like a revamped version of a game you probably remember from childhood: Hot and Cold. Instead of telling the seeker if he's getting “warmer” or “colder” as he narrows in on a hidden object, you’ll use words like up, down, over, and under.
Without your child seeing, hide several objects around the house (or yard) for him to find: individual pieces to a new puzzle, small trinkets, shells, candy, matchbox cars, beads, stickers.
Math:
Put small objects in a row. Gather some coins and ask your child how many there are. After she has counted them, rearrange them in a circle or row, and ask her again.
Physical:
Row, Row, Row Your Boat: This indoor physical activity is great for toddlers’ physical development and socialization with no equipment necessary. In this exercise, your child sits facing you with feet touching. You hold hands and lean forward and backward while singing the classic, “Row, Row, Row Your Boat.”
Set 16
Literacy:
Listen to a story online!
Language:
Place an object inside a bag or box so your child can't see it. Offer a clue about the object inside. Your child will call on their previous knowledge to make guesses about the contents. Continue offering additional clues using as many descriptive words as possible. Use some new words that might push your child's understanding.
Math:
Build a stick of construction blocks. Ask your child to hold it behind his back and use his sense of touch to count how many blocks there are.
Physical:
Musical Hide and Seek: Play music from a phone and hide it from the children. You and the children can then search together to figure out where the music is coming from.
Set 17
Literacy:
Tissue Paper Letters: Draw letters on a piece of paper with a marker. Have your child glue scrunched up tissue paper or regular paper along the letter shapes.
Language:
Question of the Day: A question of the day gives children a chance to develop and share an answer. Choose a different open-ended question each day. The question should allow the preschoolers to create a two- or three-word answer that takes some thought. Examples include what rules they would make if they were in charge, what type of books they like to read or their favorite part about the current season
Math:
Measure the dimensions of a room in paces
Physical:
Imitate Animals: While on their hands and knees, your child can move, stretch, and play like animals. Your child can hop like a frog or waddle like a penguin. They can arch their backs, roll on their backs, reach as high as they can, and walk on all fours.
Set 18
Literacy:
Boost your child’s word power by taking a “naming walk” indoors or outdoors, naming each item you come to—dog, chair, car, tree, etc. (A, B, C, F, H)
Language:
How Was Your Day: Go around your table and each person says their favorite and least favorite part of their day. Try to open up the conversation by asking open ended questions instead of questions that have a yes/no answers to them.
Math:
Let your child share out candy (or any snack) equally between family members.
Physical:
Follow the Leader: Stand in front of your child and tell them to watch you carefully and copy your moves. Touch your nose, hop on both feet, stomp in a circle, or crawl on all fours. Choose simple actions and use large motor activities.
Literacy:
Boost your child’s word power by taking a “naming walk” indoors or outdoors, naming each item you come to—dog, chair, car, tree, etc. (A, B, C, F, H)
Language:
How Was Your Day: Go around your table and each person says their favorite and least favorite part of their day. Try to open up the conversation by asking open ended questions instead of questions that have a yes/no answers to them.
Math:
Let your child share out candy (or any snack) equally between family members.
Physical:
Follow the Leader: Stand in front of your child and tell them to watch you carefully and copy your moves. Touch your nose, hop on both feet, stomp in a circle, or crawl on all fours. Choose simple actions and use large motor activities.
Set 19
Literacy:
With your child, look for things in your home that begin with the first letter of your child’s name: “J is for Jack—what else starts with J? Jelly, jar, juice…” (A, B, E, F, G)
Language:
Word Categories: Play this easy category game with your child. Choose a category: e.g. Clothes. Begin brainstorming names of items that fit that category such as: Shorts, pants, T-shirts, sweaters, hats. Build up to more complex categories such as: Clothing items we wear in the winter.
Math:
Talk about and compare things that illustrate concepts of full and empty (volume) and light and heavy (weight).
Physical:
Feed the Lion: On a cardboard box, draw or paint a lion’s head and cut a hole for the lion’s mouth. Have your child take crumpled balls of paper and try to toss them into the lion’s mouth. Afterwards, your child can count how many balls they fed the lion.
Literacy:
With your child, look for things in your home that begin with the first letter of your child’s name: “J is for Jack—what else starts with J? Jelly, jar, juice…” (A, B, E, F, G)
Language:
Word Categories: Play this easy category game with your child. Choose a category: e.g. Clothes. Begin brainstorming names of items that fit that category such as: Shorts, pants, T-shirts, sweaters, hats. Build up to more complex categories such as: Clothing items we wear in the winter.
Math:
Talk about and compare things that illustrate concepts of full and empty (volume) and light and heavy (weight).
Physical:
Feed the Lion: On a cardboard box, draw or paint a lion’s head and cut a hole for the lion’s mouth. Have your child take crumpled balls of paper and try to toss them into the lion’s mouth. Afterwards, your child can count how many balls they fed the lion.