Fish for letters and words

Some of the best learning experiences can come from child-led questions and ideas. Recently, my three-year-old asked about fishing. After giving him my vegetarian take on fishing (fish are friends- a line borrowed from Finding Nemo), we decided to "fish" for letters and words. This proved to be a great way to assess his recognition of letters and to reinforce letter sounds and letter sound combinations. Watch out Kindergarten... here we come!

*Tip* After first experimenting with tape, we found that using paper clips and a magnet proved to be a much more effective way to "fish" for letters and words.

Make muffins together

Kids love to cook... and making muffins together provides the perfect opportunity for the preschool child to hone his culinary skills. Set out needed ingredients, measuring cups, a large bowl, and a spoon. Let child help measure, pour, and stir as together you make some yummy treats. Don't hesitate to sing The Muffin Man song as you work.


*Update* These pumpkin muffins from Vegan Lunch Box are terrific and pack a healthy punch of pumpkin and flax.

Indoor sensory box

Fill a plastic container (a small baby bathtub works well too) with puffed wheat/rice cereal, pasta, rice, etc. Let child play with buckets, shovels, dump trucks, measuring spoons, diggers, or even throw in some small dinosaurs and encourage him to have a paleontologist hunt!

Tiny dishwasher, tiny window washer

Give your preschooler a chance to "help" in the kitchen. Let him stand at the sink armed with toy tea sets, bowls, cups, etc., and give him the task of washing the dishes! Once he has finished this chore, hand him a spray bottle filled with water or mostly water a small amount of vinegar (1/4 cup). Give child the bottle and a cloth and let him wash the windows.

Cleaning Coins

Give child his piggybank and let him empty it. Talk about the coins together. Then, give him an old toothbrush, some mild soap, and water in a bowl or sink. Give child the task of cleaning the coins. A small amount of salt and vinegar work well for making coins super shiny!

* Adapted from The Preschooler's Busy Book

A baker's box

Create a baker's box for your busy preschooler. Fill it with cooking tools, large bowls, wooden spoons, cookie cutters, a cookie sheet, measuring cups, spatula, etc. For added fun, through in a few tubs of homemade playdough.

* Idea adapted from The Preschooler's Busy Book