EARLY YEARS LEARNING FRAMEWORK
CURRICULUM ACTIVITIES MADE EASY
In this book there are activity ideas you can use to put into your
weekly program plan. Following the Early Years Learning
Framework.
You can also make changes to these activities to suit the needs of
children you care for. Please use your own ideas as well as the
activities provided.
Creative Family Daycare expects you to be implementing activities
like these, into your weekly program plan. Your co-ordinator will be
monitoring this at every monthly home safety check, to ensure you
are following our policies and procedures correctly.
Popcorn Picture
Materials





Popped popcorn
Glue stick or white glue
Construction paper
Brown paper bag (optional)
Tempera paint powder (optional)
Directions
1. Rub the glue stick on a piece of construction paper or spread white glue with
a brush
2. Stick popped popcorn on the construction paper to make a collage
3. For a winter scene, use plain white popcorn
4. For spring blossoms, shake the popcorn in a brown paper bag with powdered
tempera paint, then glue the popcorn onto a flower shape cut from
construction paper.
5. For variety, try using cheerios or puffed rice cereal instead
BOXES AND BUILDINGS
Materials



Cardboard boxes
Masking tape
Paint (optional)
Directions
With the materials listed and some imagination, the children can build all kinds of objects
and buildings from old boxes you were going to throw away. Here are some ideas; train,
boat, car, spaceship, village, doll house, skyscraper, robot or space station. Try creating a
scene from a favourite story or use the buildings as a backdrop for a play.
WATERFALL GAME
Materials



Pennies
Bowl, cup or other container
Water
Directions
1.
2.
3.
4.
Fill a container almost to the top with water
Give each player a supply of pennies
Take turns dropping a penny into the container
The game ends when one player drops in the penny that makes the water
overflow
SALT PICTURES
Materials





Salt
Dry tempera paints in powder form
Drawing paper
Glue
Baby food jars
Directions
Mix the salt with the paint powder in a baby food jar, a separate jar each colour. Have the
children either brush or dribble the glue to make patterns on the drawing paper. The
children may wish to spread the glue around more with their fingers. Now sprinkle the salt
mixture over the paper using one or more colours. Wait until the glue dries and then tip off
the excess coloured salt. Make several pictures and hang the collection in the hallway.
PICTURE A STORY
Materials


Paper
Crayons or markers
Directions
1. Have the children draw a series of four or five pictures
2. Have the children then dictate a story to go with each picture
3. You can write the story on the bottom of the picture as it is told
THREADING SPOOLS
Materials


Shoelace or thin plastic tubing
Items for threading: empty thread spools, large beads, hair curlers, tubular pasta,
paper towel tubes cut into 1-inch rings
Directions
1. collect a variety of round objects such as empty spools, large beads, plastic hair
curlers, large tubular pasta, or paper towel tubes cut into 1-inch rings
2. show children how to thread these items onto a shoelace or length of thin plastic
tubing
3. tie one of the objects being threaded to the end of the lace or tubing to prevent the
rest from slipping off
PLAY WITH BOXES
Materials

cardboard boxes in various sizes
Directions
1. The children can put supermarket boxes of all sizes to good use
2. They can make a train or a fort for themselves or build a dollhouse or create a car.
You can be sure the children will think of something new every time they play with
these boxes
TWO TRUTHS AND A FIB
Required:

Your time only
Two rights might not make a wrong, but two truths and a fib can make for a lot of fun!
With this group activity, each player takes turns offering up descriptions of two events that
actually happened (like, "I went to school on Thursday and had a science test," and "We had
nine homework questions in history"). They also have to create one, shall we say, less-thanaccurate statement ("During recess my right shoelace came undone.") It's up to the other
players to separate the facts from fiction and identify the "untruth" by asking good sleuthing
questions. When everyone has had a turn and the fibs are uncovered, change the challenge to
find the truth from two or more fibs.
If players are stumped during the questioning process, the inventor of the truth/fib set can
give subtle body language hints, such has raising one eyebrow or twiddling thumbs during
questions relating to a fib.
Aha, so your left ear twitches whenever you make your statements. What does that mean?
RAISIN PLAY
Materials

Toothpicks

Raisins

Paper

Pen, crayon, or marker
Directions
1.
Put a raisin at the tip of each toothpick; the raisins will connect the toothpicks and keep
them from being easily jostled apart.
2. On a piece of paper, draw letters and shapes that correspond in size to the toothpicks.
3. Have your child connect the toothpicks to create each letter or shape.
4. You may not need to draw the letters or shapes for older children.
5. Keep in mind that your child will eat some of the raisins (which makes the activity more
fun), so keep plenty on hand.
BOMBERS
Materials

Marbles
Directions
1. This game requires two players. The first player shoots a marble any direction
2. This marble becomes the target marble
3. The second player stands over the target marble. Holding a marble at the eye
level, he tries to drop his marble onto the target marble
4. If he hits it, he wins the target marble
5. If he misses it, the first player wins the second player’s marble
6. Have players take turns shooting the target marble and trying to hit it
LAUGHING HANDS
Directions
This activity involves two people.
1.
One person stands or sits directly in front of the other with hands behind the back. It is
important that this person's arms do not show.
2. The front person provides the voices and facial expressions for the scene.
3. The person in back extends his or her arms around the front person and is the hands.
4. Pick scenes to act out that would involve hand movements such as putting something
together, eating at a restaurant, brushing teeth, and washing your face.
5. This is fun to do in front of an audience, so get family members or neighbors to watch.
6. Let each person have a chance to be the "hands."
EGGSHELL COLLAGE
Materials







Washed eggshells
Paint
Paintbrushes
PVA glue
Paper (any colour)
Newspaper
Tray
Directions
1. At a newspaper covered bench, paint the eggshells inside and outside.
2. Set aside to dry.
3. When the eggshells are dry hold over a tray and break them into pieces.
4. Lay out a page of paper and paint with glue.
5. Stick the colourful eggshell pieces to the wet glue page.
6. Arrange in patterns or colour groups.
7. Set aside to dry.
8. Once dry your children have a beautiful eggshell collage to hang up or turn
into a card for someone.
INDOOR TENT
Materials


Sheet or blanket
Empty table
Directions
1. Place a sheet or blanket over the table to make an indoor tent
2. Put a special snack inside and give the children a flashlight
3. If you like, furnish the tent with pillows and blankets, and let the children camp out
all morning
VOLCANO EXPERIMENT
Materials

Dirt or wet sand

Small shovel or spoon

Two teaspoons baking soda

White vinegar
Directions
1.
Build a mound of dirt ten inches high.
2. Dig a deep hole in the middle of the mound with a small shovel.
3. Put two teaspoons of baking soda in the hole.
4. Then slowly pour in vinegar and watch your volcano erupt!
LITTLE CARPENTER
Materials

Golf tees

Styrofoam

Toy hammer
Directions
1.
Give your child some golf tees, a toy hammer, and a piece of Styrofoam.
2. She can hammer the golf tees into the foam in a design, or just hammer for the sake of
hammering.
GROCERY-BAG BLOCKS
Materials

Paper grocery bags

Newspapers

Packing tape
Directions
1.
Lay a paper bag flat on a floor or table.
2. Fold the top over 6-8 inches and make a crease.
3. Scrunch up newspaper one sheet at a time and fill the bag to the fold line.
4. Fold the top over and tape the bag closed.
5. If you like, paint or decorate the blocks before using.
6. Make a tunnel for your child to crawl through or a tower for her to knock down, or just let
her carry the blocks around the house.
MAGIC CELERY
Time

5 to 10 minutes
Materials

Celery stalks

Clean jars

Food colouring
Directions
1.
Celery stalks take on beautiful flower-like colours when you place them stem down into
jars of coloured water about an inch deep.
2. Leave several hours or overnight.
Extensions

For a rainbow effect, add several colours, one at a time, waiting several hours in between.

For a special treat, buy some white or light-coloured carnations and colour them with the
same process.
INDOOR OBSTACLE COURSE
As you design your obstacle course, keep in mind the ages, abilities, and number of children
involved as well as the space you have. Make the course simple at first and change the stations as
they're mastered. If you like, time the kids to see who can complete the course fastest. Below are a
few ideas to get you started. Ten stations is a good number for most kids.
Directions
1.
Crawl under or over a row of chairs.
2. Crawl under a string stretched between two chair legs.
3. Jump into and out of a Hula-Hoop five times.
4. Walk on a balance board.
5. Throw a beanbag into a laundry basket.
6. Run while balancing a beanbag on your head.
7. Do a ring toss.
8. Play one hole of Newspaper Golf.
9. Ride a tricycle along a predetermined route.
10. Somersault from one point to another.
11. Do a handstand.
12. Skip in place while reciting a jump rope rhyme.
13. Do ten jumping jacks.
BACKYARD WATER GAMES
The pool ain't the only place for wet summer magic. Put on your suits and stay poolside.
More fun to come!
Water Limbo
This game can be played on the back lawn. What you'll need is a hose with a nozzle that will
allow for a straight, steady stream of water. You can either play the game as a limbo game
or a hurdle game. Use the steady stream of water as the limbo stick. Kids must maneuver
their bodies under the stream of water without getting soaked. The lower the stream is, the
harder it is to go under it. The stream will be lowered when every kid makes it under the
previous stream.
You cannot crawl on the ground to get past the stream—you have to walk—arching your
back as you go! If the ground is too slippery for kids to arch their backs while walking under
the stream, let them hunch forward instead—we don't want anyone to get hurt!
If you decide to play the game as a hurdle, you might want to put some padding on the
ground because kids could slip when they land on the ground. Try some rubber matting—
something that might have a little traction for wet, slippery feet.
Water Gun Wars
Here's a good way to enjoy a hot summer day without a swimming pool. For this game, you
might want to invest in some of those supersoaker water guns. They don't have to be the
super-powered supersoakers because, again, the idea of water play is safety. But some of
the super capacity but low-powered supersoakers are perfect. If you can't get a
supersoaker, a regular water pistol will do. To play the game, you can just fire at each other,
or you can include a game of Tag in all the squirting!
The player who is “It” gets the water gun and must tag the other players by squirting them
with the gun. The person who is tagged first gets to take over the gun and do the squirting.
Try playing this game as Freeze Tag. You must freeze in place when you are squirted by the
water pistol. You can be unfrozen by having another player crawl (or swim) between your
legs. If “It” manages to freeze everyone, he or she gets to squirt again.
You can also play that “It” has the pistol, but only until he or she is tagged by another player.
If “It” cannot squirt the player before being tagged, he or she must relinquish the power of
the pistol to the person who tagged him or her.
You can also play this game in the pool. It just makes it harder to get out of the way when you're waistdeep in water.
Freeze-Up
Try this game on a really hot summer day in your backyard kiddie pool. Kids will love it, but believe me—if
it's hot enough adults will play, too.
Fill the kiddie pool with water and add ice cubes! Have each person try to remove the ice cubes with their
feet. You'll be cool before you know it! For a real challenge, have each person remove the ice cubes using
only one foot. The person to remove the most ice cubes is the winner. With adults, don't worry about
who wins—just think … “cold!”
Action Jumping
Each of these rhymes is meant for group jump rope. As everyone chants the rhyme, the jumper
jumps while dramatizing the actions.
I'm a little Dutch girl dressed in blue.
Here are the things I like to do:
Salute to the captain, bow to the queen,
Turn my back on the submarine.
I can do the tap dance, I can do the splits.
I can do the hokey pokey just like this.
Spanish dancer, do the splits.
Spanish dancer, give a kick.
Spanish dancer, turn around.
Spanish dancer, get out of town. (Jumper runs out.)
Benjamin Franklin went to France
To teach the ladies how to dance.
First the heel and then the toe;
Spin around, and out you go.
Backyard Weather Stations
Age: Elementary and up
Time: 2 hours or more
Type of Activity: Backyard science
Materials needed:

Thermometer: To record temperature.

Rain Gauge: To measure rainfall.

Wind/Weather Vane: To record wind direction.

Barometer: To measure atmospheric pressure.

Anemometer: To measure wind speed.

Psychrometer/Hygrometer: To measure relative humidity.

Journal: To record your readings and data.
Ever think of building a backyard weather station with your kids? It's fun, easy, and makes a
great family project! Your kids will learn the basics of scientific observation and recordkeeping while satisfying their natural curiosity about weather.
A weather station is a set of devices for measuring elements like temperature, rainfall, wind speed, and
pressure. You can buy these devices in your local hardware store, or you can make them from scratch
using common materials found around the house.
A Few Notes on Record-Keeping:
Decide which weather events and data you want to record and how often you want to take
measurements (once a day, twice a day, etc.). The more detailed and accurate your measurements, the
more specific your picture of the patterns will become. A ruled notebook or ledger is an ideal place to
record the measurements. List measurement types down the side (one event per line) and print the dates
across the top to create a simple grid sheet.
Hint: Numerical data can also be entered into a simple spreadsheet-type program and manipulated to
create impressive visual charts and graphs to display data. Your kids can also take a crack at creating a
wall chart to create a stunning data display. It would make a great science project or extra-credit work in
any earth science course.
Carrots and Beets
Materials

Carrots or beets

Shallow dish of water

Small pot

Potting soil
Directions
1.
Cut two inches off the top of a carrot or beet. Set cut side down in a dish with half an inch
of water.
2. Change the water every one or two days.
3. When roots appear plant your carrot or beet, cut side down, in a pot of moist soil.
4. Set it in a sunny window and keep it wet.
Bubble Contest
Nothing to do on a summer afternoon? Organize a bubbleblowing contest! Mix up some bubble
solution, assemble some tools for blowing, and you're set. These contest ideas come from the
book Science Wizardry for Kids by Margaret Kenda and Phyllis S. Williams.
Materials

Bubble solution

Bubble-blowing tools: drinking straws, funnels, wire loops, and so on

Marble or other small toy
Directions
1.
Give each contestant a supply of bubble solution and some bubble-blowing tools.
2. Wet the tabletop with bubble solution and have the kids get blowing.
3. Who can blow the biggest bubble?
4. Who can create the biggest pile of bubbles in thirty seconds?
5. Whose bubble lasts the longest?
6. Whose bubble is the prettiest?
7. Who can blow a bubble within a bubble?
8. Who can get a marble or other small toy inside a bubble?
Water Play
Time

30 minutes
Materials

Wading or plastic tub with a few inches of water

Waterplay equipment such as empty squeeze bottles, plastic cups, boats, funnels, balls,
floating objects, plant sprayer, sponge or dish rag, etc.
Directions
1.
Babies love water, and you won't need to give them directions except to set out the water
and get playful.
2. Add anything that seems interesting. Remember to never leave your baby unattended,
even for a few moments.
Extensions

Add a few drops of scented extract, such as lemon or peppermint.

Add a few drops of food coloring.

Add a small amount of baby shampoo and work up some bubbles with your hands.

Pat the water with your hands so it splashes.
Growing Plants
Materials

Seeds

Shallow dish of water

Planters

Potting soil
Directions
1.
Your preschooler will be fascinated to see how plants grow from seeds or cuttings.
2. Soak seeds from an orange, apple, grapefruit, lemon, or lime in water for a day or two.
3. Fill several planters with potting soil and place three or four seeds in each one about half
an inch deep.
4. Water the seeds, place the pots in a sunny spot, and watch for the green shoots to grow.
5. You can try plantings seeds in a pattern or shape: a letter, number, square, or circle.
Astronomy Activities
by Dennis Randall
Since the first child looked up and pondered the heavens, kids across the ages have gazed at the moon
and stars with a timeless sense of awe and wonder.
Now it's your turn to introduce your child to the marvels above our heads. And your backyard is an
ideal place to start a learning journey that can last a lifetime. Sometimes getting started is the hardest
part. To help, we've outlined a few sample talking points and simple activities for you and your child.
Preschool
With young children, it's usually best to begin with the basics. Grab some blankets or lawn chairs. As
you lie under the stars, try these conversation starters:

Look for landmarks in the sky. Where's the moon? Can you see the face of the man in the
moon? Why does the moon change shape?

Star light, star bright, is the first star you see tonight a star or a planet? What's the difference?
(A star has it's own light like a flashlight. A planet works like a mirror and reflects the light of
the nearest star, our sun.)

Bring the night sky indoors. Read nursery rhymes, poems, and other stories that talk about
the stars and the moon. By the way, why did the cow jump over the moon?
Elementary and Middle School
With school-age children, explore the constellations and the stars. Here are a few talking points to get
things started:

Constellations: Which ones can you identify? Each constellation has its own name, story, and
legend: What are they? When are different constellations visible? Where do they rise in the
sky? Are the constellations the same or different in the winter, spring, summer, and fall?

Which days of the week are named after objects in the sky? (All of them!) Monday is the
moon's day, Tuesday is named for Mars, Wednesday for Mercury, Thursday for Jupiter,
Friday for Venus, Saturday for Saturn, and Sunday for the sun.

Stars: Where is the brightest star? Is it the closest or farthest one? Is it a planet or a star?
High School
Grab a pair of binoculars and your teenager, then head outdoors! With teens, the sky is the limit.

Why are stars different colors? What do stars burn to make light? What are they made of? Do
you know why they twinkle?

Can you tell what time it is by the position of the stars in the sky?

Looking at the stars is looking back in time. The light reaching your eyes may have begun it's
journey millions of years ago. What's the most distant star and the farthest back in time you
can see?
Coming Indoors
Next to a good pair of eyes, the Internet is the backyard stargazer's best friend. There are almost as
many great websites devoted to astronomy as there are stars in the sky.
Learning activities can be as simple as noting the time and location of sunset and moon rise, and as
complicated as finding the names of the brightest stars in the sky. Have fun!
Flotation Experiment
Materials
1.
Bathtub or sink
2. Lightweight objects corks, feathers, plastic lids or caps, sponges
3. Heavier objects paper clips, pencils, buttons
Directions
Fill the bathtub or sink with water. Set all the objects nearby within your child's reach. The object
of this activity is to see which objects float and which ones don't. Some may float for a while and
then sink. Some small objects may sink immediately, while some large objects stay floating. Make
a guessing game out of it. Before putting the item in the sink, guess if it will sink or float. Ask your
child questions: Why do you think this object is sinking? What makes this float? Then notice if
the water goes up on the side of the sink when an object is added. Let your child hold each object
in his hand, determining if it is heavy or light. Have him hold one object in each hand and say
which is heavier.
Climb Aboard
Time

5 to 10 minutes
Materials

None
Directions
1.
By positioning yourself on the floor in a playful position, you invite a decision to
participate.
2. While lying on the floor, call your crawling baby to come play with you.
3. Let your baby approach and initiate the rest of the game, such as climbing on top of you.
Extensions

Cover your face with a small blanket or pillow and play peekaboo, allowing your baby to
remove the cover.

Say, "Want to go up?" and lift your baby into the air.

Invite your baby to lie down next to you to giggle and play.
Paddle boat Voyage
Materials
1.
Scrap block of wood: 4" x 8" x 2"
2. Thin strip of wood: 2" x 8" x ¼"
3. 2 long nails
4. Rubber band small and thick
5. Hammer
6. Sandpaper
Directions
This activity requires an adult to help hammer or hold the wood steady while the child hammers.
The wood can also be sanded smooth before beginning to avoid splinters. Hammer the two long
nails into one end of the block of wood, just far enough so that they can't be pulled out. Test the
rubber band to see that it stretches tightly across the nails. Place the thin strip of wood inside the
rubber band and wind it round and round. The piece of wood is the paddle for the boat. Hold the
paddle still while the boat is placed in the bathtub or sink. Release the paddle and watch the
paddle boat move through the water.
Talent Show
Directions
In order to have a successful talent show, everybody has to participate. Talent comes in many
forms: read a poem, play an instrument, do a dance, tell a joke, do a charade, act out an event
from your week, sing a song, tell a personal story, stand on your head. Do anything you want to
express yourself. Give everyone a few weeks notice to get their acts together. Someone might
want to write a program when all the acts have been decided. Whoever organizes the show is in
charge of refreshments to eat between acts.
Note: This is a fun event to organize on a special holiday. Friends and relatives could participate
in skits or personal performances.
Fizzy Bath Balls
Makes four to six balls
Age group: 18-40 months
Duration of activity: 10 minutes
Materials:

1 cup baking soda

1/2 cup citric acid

1/2 cup cornstarch

2 tablespoons coconut or almond oil

1 tablespoon water
Liven up your child's bath time with these homemade fizzy bath balls. Your toddler can also
participate in making them!
1.
Combine dry ingredients.
2. Mix oil and water, and drizzle onto dry ingredients while stirring. Stir to combine
thoroughly.
3. Shape into balls. Allow to dry 24-48 hours.
4. Add a fizzy ball to the bath water. The ball will fizz for a few minutes.
Mini-Museum
Time

15 to 20 minutes
Materials

Low shelf or counter space
Directions
1.
Four year olds love to collect just about anything, and sharing discoveries with others
engenders a lifelong love of learning. You can help by providing a reachable, central space
for the display of whatever your child collects or finds interesting.
2. Talk about the display and share it with others.
Extensions

Set paper and pencil by the display so family members can leave comments and
questions.

Bring part of the collection to the dinner table and talk about it while everyone eats.

Ask a question about the display that requires research and help the child find the
answers.
Dress-Up Relay
Materials

Two suitcases or boxes

Dress-up clothes (hats, scarves, jackets, skirts, pants, boots, and so on)
Directions
1.
Fill two suitcases or boxes with equal amounts of clothing. The clothes must be big
enough to fit all the players.
2. Place the suitcases or boxes at one end of the room.
3. Divide the players into two equal teams. If there's an odd number of players, one player
on the team with fewer players takes two turns.
4. Have the teams form two lines at the end of the room opposite the suitcases.
5. At the word go, the first player from each team runs to one of the suitcases or boxes and
dons all the clothes in it over the clothes he's already wearing. Decide ahead of time
whether buttons, zippers, and so on must be fastened.
6. When a player is completely dressed, he then quickly removes all the dress-up clothes,
puts them back in the suitcase or box, and runs to the end of his team's line.
7. The next player then takes a turn and so on until everyone on the team has had a turn.
8. The first team to finish wins.
Family Tree Activity
Making a visual family tree that shows your extended family is a project your child will really
enjoy.
Materials

Photos

Poster board

Pencil

Markers

Scrap paper

Glue
Directions
1.
Collect photos of the people you want to include in your family tree.
2. Before you draw your tree on poster board, sketch it on scrap paper.
3. Show your child and her siblings at the bottom of the tree and work your way up the
branches to show her extended family.
4. Using your sketch as a guide, pencil your family tree on poster board, then draw over
your pencil lines with markers.
5. Glue each photo in its proper spot onto the tree and label it with the name and birth date
of the person pictured.
6. You might also note marriage and death dates if you like.
7. Post your family tree in a prominent place where the whole family can admire it.
Indoor Seedlings
Your child should grow seedlings indoors about one month before he wants to plant them
outside.
Materials

Styrofoam cups

Potting soil

Seeds

Pen

Tray

Spray bottle full of water

Plastic wrap
Directions
1.
Fill Styrofoam cups with potting soil.
2. Plant the seeds according to the instructions on the seed packets, then label each cup with
the name of the plant in it.
3. Put the cups on a tray and spray them with water until the soil is damp.
4. Cover the tray with plastic wrap and place it on top of your refrigerator.
5. Don't put the tray in a sunny spot.
6. Every day, lift the plastic from the cups for an hour. Water the plants when the surface of
the soil looks dry.
7. When green sprouts appear, remove the plastic wrap and place the tray in a sunny spot.
8. When the plants are four inches tall, you can transplant them.
9. Help the plants adjust by putting the seedlings outside for a few hours each day before
you transplant them. After a week, they'll be ready for planting in your garden.
Penny Can
Materials
1.
Plastic or metal cylinder with a plastic fitted lid
2. Assorted stickers, stamps, and gummed labels
3. Masking tape
4. Coloured markers
Directions
Completely cover the outside of the cylinder with stickers, stamps, and labels. Use white glue to
attach, if necessary. Make a small slit in the plastic lid big enough for coins to fit through. Put the
lid on and tape it down securely. Use coloured markers to decorate or conceal the tape. There will
be more incentive to save pennies when the bank has been self-constructed. When the can begins
to fill, open a bank savings account so your child can deposit his coins.
Soap Crayons
Makes 12 crayons
Age group: 18-40 months
Duration of activity: 15 minutes
Materials:

1 cup soap flakes or powder

3 tablespoons of water

Washable tempera paint

Ice cube trays or small Dixie cups (for molds)
This activity combines an opportunity for creative expression with bathtub fun. Your child can
use these crayons to draw on the tile or on himself!
1.
Mix soap and water together to make a stiff dough that can hold its own shape. Add more
soap powder or water as needed to reach the desired consistency.
2. Divide the mixture into three or four balls. Add a few drops of paint to each portion to
create desired colours.
3. Press mixture into molds and let set for a few days before using.
Balloon Fun
Time

5 to 10 minutes
Materials

Package of balloons
Directions
1.
This activity helps your child to explore force and motion. Inflate the balloons and tie
them off with the string.
2. Suspend them from the ceiling just low enough to be reached, and hit them gently with
the palm of the hand.
Extensions

Try to move the balloons by blowing them.

Hit the balloons using only the head.

Put your hands behind your back and walk through the balloons, letting them brush your
faces.
Three-Legged Race
Materials

Scarves or fabric strips long enough for tying legs together (one for each pair of children)

Two ropes
Directions
1.
Divide children into pairs, matching children of similar height and build.
2. Have each player stand next to his partner and put his arm around his partner's waist.
3. The partners' inside legs (the right leg of the partner on the left and the left leg of the
partner on the right) should be touching. Tie the partners' inside legs together so each
pair of children has three legs rather than four.
4. Use two ropes to mark a starting line and a finish line.
5. Have the players line up at the starting line. At your signal, have players walk or run as
fast as they can to the finish line.
6. It sounds easy, but it takes practice to make two legs work as one! The winners are the
pair of children who cross the finish line first.
Jug Catch
Materials

Utility knife

One gallon-size plastic jug per player

Duct tape (optional)

One tennis ball or beanbag per player
Directions
1.
Use a utility knife to cut a one-gallon plastic jug in half horizontally.
2. Recycle the bottom half of the jug, but save the top half (the half with the handle).
3. If you like, cover the cut edge of the jug with duct tape.
4. Two or more children playing together can use the jugs to toss a tennis ball or beanbag
back and forth without touching it with their hands.
5. child playing alone can toss a ball or beanbag in the air and catch it in his jug, seeing how
many successful catches he can make in a row.
What's Missing? Memory Game
Test your preschool child's memory skills. Can she tell what's missing in this fun game?
Materials

Various household objects or small toys
Directions
1.
Test your preschooler's memory skills by placing a few toys or household objects in front
her.
2. Allow her to study them, then have her close her eyes while you remove one object.
3. See if she can tell you which object is missing.
Number Matchup
Materials

Index cards

Pen or marker

Old magazines (optional)

Scissors (optional)

Glue (optional)
Directions
1.
Make up two sets of index cards. On one set write numbers from 1 to 10, or higher. On the
other set, draw (or cut out from magazines) pictures of objects that correspond to the
numbers of the first set.
2. Lay all the cards on the table, face up, and have your child match each numbered card to
the card with the corresponding number of objects.
Powers of Observation
Materials

Fifteen to twenty small household objects (key, bottle cap, paper clip, safety pin, coin, and
so on)

Tray or tabletop

Towel or sheet

Paper

Pencils
Directions
1.
Place fifteen to twenty small household objects on a tray or tabletop.
2. Cover the objects with a towel or sheet.
3. Have the players stand around the tray or table so each has a good view.
4. Remove the sheet or towel and let the players look at the objects for one to two minutes.
Then cover the objects again.
5. Give each player a sheet of paper and a pencil.
6. Challenge the players to write down as many objects as they can recall.
7. The winner is the player who correctly recalls the most objects.
8. f a young child who can't write is playing, pair him with an older child or adult.
9. After the younger child has viewed the objects, have him dictate what he recalls to his
partner, who writes it down.
Shell and Pea Game
Time

5 to 10 minutes
Materials

3 small plastic cups

Small object
Directions
1.
Place the 3 cups open-side down on a table.
2. Let your child watch you put the small object under one cup and then rearrange the cups
as he watches.
3. Ask your child to decide where it is.
Extensions

Let your child take a turn at mixing while you do the guessing.

Use 2 small objects and ask your child to pick the cup that has nothing under it.
Who's Hiding?
Materials
1.
Pictures of animals and favourite things
2. Cardboard
3. Glue and scissors
4. Felt markers
Directions
Cut out the pictures of people, animals, and favourite things. Paste them onto squares or shapes
of cardboard. On separate cards, write the names of each picture that you've glued to a card: dog,
apple, house, duck. The object of the activity is to teach your child to match the word cards with
the picture cards. It is often easier for children to remember words when they are looking at and
naming familiar people, places, and things. While your child is watching, turn one picture card
face-down and ask, "Who's hiding under here?" Your child then tries to guess by placing the
matching word card where he thinks it belongs. Once you have the idea of the game, try putting
three or more picture cards down at a time.
Who Said That?
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 18-40 months
Duration of activity: 15 minutes
Materials:

Photos or magazine pictures of animals

Index cards

White craft glue

Recording of animal sounds that match the pictures
This fun game will help your child with auditory memory skills. You can also play this game
using sounds from common household objects that make distinctive noises, such as an alarm
clock or telephone.
1.
Glue the pictures to the index cards.
2. Play the recording of animal sounds. Ask your child which picture shows the animal that
makes that sound.
Colour Lotto
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 30-40 months
Duration of activity: 30 minutes
Materials:

Index cards

Scissors

Coloured construction paper

White craft glue
Lotto games enhance your child's memory and problem-solving skills. You can adapt this game
for shape, letter, or number recognition as well.
1.
Make two lotto cards for each colour by cutting an index card in half crosswise.
2. Cut pieces of coloured construction paper to fit the halves of each card.
3. Have your child help glue the paper on the cards. Each card should have a coloured side
and a blank side.
4. Mix the cards up and then arrange them in rows coloured side down.
5. Your child is to flip over two cards and try to find a match. When she does, she can
remove the cards from the layout. If she does not make a match, she is to turn the cards
back over and try again. Do not worry about strictly following the rules. Your child may
need to turn over more than two cards or even keep them facing up.
Kickball
I have very fond memories of Kickball. Where I grew up we called it Soccer Baseball—not a bad
title for the game because you use your feet to kick the ball and the rules are basically the same as
Baseball.
My friends and I discovered the game out of sheer boredom in our schoolyard one day. We were
too old for clapping and Jump Rope games. We'd gotten very tired of hitting a tennis ball against
the school wall, and the champ squares were always too crowded. As we sat upon the school wall
complaining about the crowded schoolyard, I looked down and noticed the baseball diamond.
Our schoolyard was made of concrete and there were hopscotch boards and champ squares
painted on the ground. What we'd failed to notice were the two baseball diamonds at opposite
ends of the schoolyard. I went inside and asked the gym teacher if we could borrow a large rubber
ball and my friends and I started a schoolyard trend that became the most popular activity for
years to come.
In order to play the game for fun, you really just have to know some basic rules of Baseball.
You'll need enough yard space to play the game and a big solid rubber ball. It has to hold up to
some hard kicking and should be tough and light enough to fly through the air.
Set up your playing area in the same way you'd set up a baseball diamond. You'll have a home
plate, first, second, and third bases, and a pitcher's mound. In this game you don't want to pitch
from a mound, but rather a flat surface. The best location to play the game is on a flat paved or
gravel surface, but if you must play on grass you'll have just as much fun, but you might not be
able to pitch as accurately because the grass will slow the ball's roll.
You divide into two teams—one team is the kickers while the other is the outfielders. The kickers
line up behind home plate in order of who kicks first, second, third, and so on.
The outfielders can take their locations in the field. You'll need a pitcher, base-players, and a
couple outfielders. If you only have a few people playing then the base players can double as
outfielders, but they should be prepared to do a lot of running.
To pick the order of kickers you can go by alphabetical order of the last names. If your last name
starts with a “W” and you get sick of having to go almost last every time (if you get a chance to
kick at all), try going in reverse alphabetical order when you're up for the kick again.
The pitcher must pitch the ball toward home plate where a kicker will be ready to make that ball
fly. The pitcher holds the ball in one hand and rolls it with a little bit of speed toward home plate.
Like in Baseball, the pitcher can try to make the kicker strike out. If the ball rolls over home plate
and the kicker misses or doesn't kick, that's a strike.
Three strikes equal an out. Three outs mean the next team is “at bat” (or up for the kick) and the
kickers become the outfielders. You'll need a catcher to stand behind home plate and an umpire
to call the shots.
If the kicker kicks the ball, he or she has to run to first base. If he or she sees that the ball is far
enough out of the way, he or she can try to run to second base. It's the job of the base players and
outfielders to try and tag the kicker before he or she can run all the way to home plate. If one of
the outfielders catches the ball before it hits the ground, that's an out!
You can play as many innings as you want. There may not be enough time to play a full nine
innings like in Baseball, but make sure you all agree in advance on the number of innings you
have time to play. If you have all day, go for the full nine—if you only have recess period at school,
play until the bell rings and pick up again where you left off the next day. One way or another,
once you start playing, you'll be hooked!
How to Play Charades
Directions
1.
Choose a player to start the game. The player thinks of a book title, a famous person's
name, a saying, a movie title, or a song title to pantomime.
2. He should choose something with which the others will be familiar. If you like, designate
a category like sports or Disney.
3. The player then pantomimes the word or phrase he's chosen to the other players.
4. Here are some common clues used in charades:
To indicate a book, pretend to read a book.
To indicate a song, pretend to sing.
To indicate a movie, pretend to crank an old movie camera.
To indicate the number of words, hold up that many fingers. (Then hold up one
finger before pantomiming the first word, two fingers before the second, and so
on.)
To pantomime a word that rhymes with the word you want players to guess, first
tug on your ear to say "sounds like."
5. The first person to guess the word or phrase gets a point.
6. If you like, divide into teams before playing. Players from each team take turns
pantomiming for their teammates. The first team to guess the word or phrase gets a
point.
7. Keep track of the points earned by each player or team.
8. The one with the most points at the end of the game wins.
Wall Ball
Materials

Tennis ball

Wall
Directions
This is a game for one or two players. The idea is to throw and catch the ball according to a
sequence of tasks. When you miss, you lose your turn and have to start all over the next time.
Here are some tasks:

Meensies: Throw the ball and catch it before it bounces—10 times

Onesies: Throw the ball and catch it after one bounce—9 times

Clapsies: Throw the ball and clap hands before you catch it—8 times

Kneesies: Throw the ball and touch your knees before catching it—7 times

Twosies: Throw the ball and catch it after two bounces—6 times

Under the knee: Lift your leg and throw the ball under the knee before catching it—5
times

Highsies: Throw the ball as high as you can before catching it—4 times

Touch the ground: Throw the ball and catch it after touching the ground—2 times

Turn around: Throw the ball and catch it after turning completely around—1 time
Note: After going through the sequence without missing, go through again using the
right hand only, then with the left hand only.
Indoor Baseball
Games such as this help your toddler develop eye-body coordination and are suitable for indoor
as well as outdoor play.
Materials

Empty gift-wrap roll

Balloon
Directions
1.
Play baseball with an inflated balloon and an empty gift-wrap roll.
2. Take turns hitting, throwing, and running bases.
3. Due to the extreme choking hazard posed by pieces of broken balloon, remember to
always supervise carefully when young children are playing with balloons.
Bull's-Eye
Time

15 to 20 minutes
Materials

Variety of hand-sized sponges

Bucket of water

Chalk
Directions
1.
Draw a target on outdoor pavement.
2. Soak the sponges in the bucket of water and toss them into the center of the target.
Extensions

Play until the bull's-eye is erased.

Draw the target on a wall for a different throwing experience.

Alternate turns for 2 throws, letting the child keep track of who is up next.
Go Fish
Time

10 to 20 minutes
Materials

Yardstick

String or yarn

Small magnet

Glue

Colored paper

Paper clips
Directions
1.
Tape piece of yarn 3 to 5 feet long on the end of a yardstick.
2. At the end of the yarn, attach a small magnet with the glue and allow it to dry overnight.
3. Cut colored fish out of the paper and glue a paper clip on each fish, allowing it to dry with
the pole.
4. To play, put the fish on the floor and dangle the magnet over the paper clips.
Extensions

For an added challenge, pick a subject area that your child is learning (colours, numbers,
words) and put the components on each fish so your child can identify them when they
are caught.

Write the names of family members and friends on the fish and give the fish to those
people when it is caught.

Use envelopes instead of paper fish and seal in small pieces of cereal or raisins.
Hot Potato
This game is best played with five or more players.
Materials

Potato
Directions
1.
Have the players sit cross-legged in a circle.
2. One player sits in the middle of the circle; this player is the leprechaun.
3. The leprechaun starts the game by throwing a potato to one of the players in the circle.
4. The leprechaun then closes her eyes and keeps them closed while the potato is passed
among the players in the circle.
5. After the potato has been passed for a while, the leprechaun shouts, "Shamrock!" and
opens her eyes.
6. The player holding the potato at that moment leaves the circle and is out of the game.
7. Play continues until only one player is left in the circle.
8. That player is the winner and gets to be the leprechaun for the next game.
9. Keep playing until each player has had a turn as the leprechaun.