Creative Ways To Keep Preschoolers Active and Busy
Both teachers and parents of preschoolers need creative ideas to keep those bouncing three- and four-year-olds busy. I’ve got some creative ways to keep preschoolers active and busy for those days y’all need a break and the kids need new ideas.
Be a Helper
Kids love to help, especially preschoolers. Let little ones help you with projects. You can let them help you:
- Fill up a plastic tub full of soapy water for washing dishes.
- Clean up the house or classroom while singing a cleanup song.
- Sweep the floor with a little broom.
- Brush or feed a pet.
A preschooler won’t do the job as thoroughly as you, but helping out gives them a sense of responsibility, and preschoolers love it.
Assign Tasks
If y’all need to settle down a room full of kiddos or just your little one at home, start giving orders. Believe it or not, children prefer a task over boredom. Here are a few task ideas:
- Organize toys, blocks, books, and puzzles. Make sure the kids know where each item goes.
- Draw a picture for someone.
- Wipe off tables.
- Find a certain object or number of objects.
- Count how many… (lights, chairs, shoes, etc.).
Any task you can think of, big or small, makes an eager-to-please preschooler happy.
Play Outside
Playing outside is one of the best ways to keep preschoolers active and busy. It never gets old. No matter the weather, get outside for fresh air and exercise.
Indoor Playground
Rainy days are the perfect time to find an indoor playground for little ones. If y’all run your own preschool, indoor playgrounds are the perfect addition to keep the children active and busy. They don’t have to be large. Even a small trampoline can benefit children by allowing them to exercise and burn off energy.
Art Projects
Art projects bring smiles to preschoolers’ faces. Keep these supplies at the ready when fussy kids need a distraction:
- Finger paints
- Watercolor paints and brushes
- Paper
- Pencils, crayons, and markers
Audiobooks
Do you need to keep kids busy? Do you also need some quiet? Set up a corner with a beanbag chair, headphones, and a stack of audiobooks for preschoolers to enjoy.
Playdough
How many generations have enjoyed playdough? Mine sure did! It never gets old and continues to keep kids busy. Make some homemade playdough in large quantities, and store it in the refrigerator.
Mix It Up
Find some plastic boxes and bins, and fill them with all kinds of items for pouring, stirring, and sifting. Kids can share large bins, sit on the floor, and stay busy for quite a while. Here are some ideas for filling a bin:
- Rice
- Birdseed
- Beans
- Sand
The idea is to use things that you’ll be able to sweep up easily when they’re done. Add some spoons and cups to the bins so that kids can get creative.
Building Blocks
Another classic, keep a building block area available for those times when preschoolers need to get busy. Ask the kids to build the biggest tower they can.
Preschool is a magical time of curiosity and fun. Keep those little ones active and busy with these ideas and some of your own as well.
