Preschoolers seem to have boundless energy. These little ones are always on the go, and finding activities that keep them engaged can sometimes be challenging. Luckily, there are lots of easy activities for preschoolers that can be created at home on a budget, with minimal prep.
Preschool activities can be simple and still fun
Preschoolers are not known for their long attention spans, and it can sometimes be challenging to keep them busy in constructive ways. At this age, it’s important to help your little ones develop fine motor skills, counting, color recognition, letter recognition and more.
Preschool activities don’t have to be complicated. There are lots of fun activities for preschoolers both inside and outside that are also simple and inexpensive for caregivers to put together.
No need to purchase expensive toys for this age. Instead, simple screen-free activities like playing with play dough, cutting paper, scooping and pouring sand, reading books together and creating messes outside can keep preschoolers entertained for hours.
“My 3-year-old girl loves sensory play, especially simple sensory bins,” shares Tamara of Thriving in Parenting. “She also loves to get her toys covered in mud in the backyard and wash them off outside.”
Fun indoor activities for preschoolers
This list of indoor activities for preschoolers will help you plan fun and entertaining ways to keep your children entertained, learning and exploring. The best part? These indoor activities all call for supplies you probably already have at home.
Rice writing
Preschoolers love sensory activities. Little learners can practice writing letters or numbers in dry rice using their fingers or a paintbrush. This activity can be made extra fun with rainbow rice, which can be used over and over again.
DIY superhero mask
Dressing up as a superhero provides so much fun at this age. For this easy activity for preschoolers, all that’s needed is construction paper, markers and glue. Trace a simple mask design onto a sheet of paper and cut out the holes for the eyes. Preschoolers can decorate the mask any way they like.
Color sorting
Color sorting is an activity that works for a wide variety of materials. All that’s needed are a few bins. Print out the names of each color and tape them to one bin. Instruct your child to fill each bin with the same color toy. This works great for Legos, small toys and even stuffed animals.
Art zone
Preschoolers love art and crafting. Create a safe art zone for your little artist with items that create a minimal mess, like markers, crayons, coloring books and printed activity sheets. Try paper plate flower craft or add glue sticks and scrap materials or small gems, pom poms or pieces of string, and give them the freedom to create with supervision.
Fun outdoor activities for preschoolers
Outside play is vital for a child’s development, and this collection of outdoor activities for preschoolers is full of creative ideas for even the littlest learners. Outside is a great space for messy activities. Make sure to first set simple ground rules and be sure clean-up supplies are nearby.
Nature color wheel scavenger hunt
This visual scavenger hunt game encourages children to find items outside that are the same color as the ones on the color wheel. It’s easy to DIY at home using markers, or just grab a free printable color wheel to use. Walk around the yard or neighborhood and challenge your child to find something that matches every color on their nature color wheel.
Car wash
Grab a bucket with some soapy water and a sponge, and let your child clean their backyard toys. To make this activity even more fun and last a bit longer, let them cover their backyard toys in mud and dirt first.
DIY mud kitchen
Mud kitchens are simple to set up in any size outdoor space and provide hours of entertainment for preschoolers. A simple table or bench, old pots and pans and sturdy cups and other kitchen items are enough to get started. Kids can create their own pretend meals, play restaurant and more with this space.
Backyard garden
The entire family can get involved with a backyard garden, and it’s a great way to teach about nature, the lifecycle of plants, our planet and more. Let your preschoolers have their own dedicated plants to help with, and watch their curiosity grow as their plants do.
Based in Atlanta, GA, Siobhán Alvarez-Borland is a pregnancy and parenting writer who has been featured in Southern Living, Better Homes & Gardens, Parents Magazine, Real Simple and more. A certified postpartum doula PCP(DONA), she is the creator of Mimosas & Motherhood and is passionate about empowering parents across the world.