Bringing Up Little Learners

January 14, 2025 ·

20 Boredom Busting, Screen Free Activities for Young Kids

Engaging Activities· Kid Crafts· Learning Games· Learning Tools· Mom Resources· No Screen Activities· Sanity Savers· Toddler Art Supplies

Need some great screen free activities for young kids? Here are 20 great activities for toddlers and preschoolers to enjoy!

Do you ever just need for your kids to play something on their own while you finish a chore, make dinner, or take a breather? It’s easy to turn on a show or movie, but if you’re like me, that’s not your favorite option.

My kids do have a few shows they watch every now and then, but we try not to make it a daily habit. I would much rather them play a game together, do a hands on activity, or do something to be creative or imaginative.

Need some new screen free activities for young kids? This list will help you build a collection of activities for calm, quiet moments your child and you both need.

How to engage kids without screens?

Sometimes in the moment of loud children, a messy house, and just feeling overstimulated, it’s really hard to think of an activity for your kids to do that doesn’t involve watching a show.

I wanted to create a list for myself to hang on my fridge that I could quickly glance at (while holding a fussy toddler), to divert their attention to something they would enjoy and that would calm everyone down for a hot minute.

Now, these ideas are for things that won’t necessarily be out for the children to play with on a regular basis. That would take the excitement and surprise away for the kids.

I don’t want to just stick another toy in their face, hoping it will make them calm down. That rarely works.

Rather, I want this to be something hidden that I can pull out that the kids will be excited about, that can be contained and cleaned up easily, and that will calm our house down for at least 10 minutes (hopefully longer!).

So, if you are like me and need some activities to switch gears from loud, wild, and fussy to calm, enjoyable, and dare I say relaxing, then let’s get to it!

How and where should I store these activities?

I have a storage cabinet that I keep our activities in. Granted, it could be much more organized. (Add that to my do list.)

I keep hands on activities, puzzles, craft supplies, etc. in this cabinet. The kids are not supposed to get into this cabinet, but they know that’s where the extra things come from and will often ask if they can get something out of there.

I love using these type clear storage containers with the lids that snap together. Any other type lids are hard to keep on, especially if they are stacked. The clear containers are really nice so you can quickly see what is in each container. You could even label them if you need to/want to.

For smaller activities, these clear zip bags are wonderful. They are sturdy, easy for the kids to zip, and you can see what’s inside clearly. Again, you could label these if needed, or even place these in the clear storage boxes to store nicely.

Again, I would try to keep these activities stored away, so that they can be “new” and exciting each time you bring them out.

Ok, let’s get to the list of boredom busting, screen free activities for young kids!

20 Boredom Busting, Screen Free Activities for Young Kids

I use these with my toddler and preschool age children. You can see what would work for your family.

You may already have some of these items to set up a full activity, or you may need a few simple supplies to complete an activity. Or, you may have some completely different materials already that you can make an activity kit with.

See what you have, and consider asking for other items for Christmas or birthday gifts for your kids. They probably don’t need another toy, but you could probably use a new activity to store away for “one of those days”.

Here are some of my favorite hands on, creative activities for toddlers and preschoolers:

You can gather these over time, look at resell shops, or ask for some of these ideas for kid’s gifts!

Of course, going outside is always a great screen-free activity and should happen almost everyday! This list focuses on indoor activities that kids can work on quietly by themselves, or with a parent for a calm playtime together.

1. Play-Doh and tools

We bought our kids a Play-Doh ice cream maker toy, and honestly just the regular tubs of Play-Doh and some great hand tools have been the popular pick with my kids. And it’s much easier to store!

So, get you one of those clear storage containers (with the snapping lid!) and fill it with different color Play-Doh and some tools (to cut with, roll the dough, shape cutters, etc.).

This is a great thing to ask relatives for when they ask what to get your kids for presents.

I ask my kids to keep Play-Doh at the kitchen table, where it’s easy to spread out and play for them and easy to wipe down and clean up after.

2. Kinetic Sand

If you have had kinetic sand in your home before, you probably have an opinion on it. Some parents strongly dislike it because of the clean up. I ask my kids to keep it in the tray they are playing with and at the table. It can be messy if it spills, but as long as it’s on a hardwood type floor, it’s easy to sweep up.

Even with the potential mess, it’s such a fun sensory thing for kids to play with.

I have two deep trays and two different colors for my kids to play with. I add the kinetic sand to the tray with a few different tools or toys to play with.

We have used small shovels, plastic spoons, little cups, animal figurines to make tracks or set up a zoo, trucks to scoop and fill dump trucks, and even letter magnets with things that start with that letter.

You can plan this out as much as you like, or just throw some random items in with it and see what your kids come up with.

Again, I wouldn’t buy a whole kit for this, just a couple colors of kinetic sand, some deep trays (a thrifted cake pan works great), and some things to play in it.

If you are worried about the mess, keep an old tablecloth (the vinyl, flannel backed ones work great) as a play area. Fold it up and dump the mess outside or in the trash after playtime.

3. Ready to go sensory bins

You can fill some of these trays with lids, a thrifted cake pan with lid, or the clear storage containers with lids, as a ready to go sensory bin.

Add some material like large glass beads, dried beans, dried pasta, sea shells, etc. Think about what is safe for your age kids!

Then, make a sensory bin with different materials and close the lid. Keep it put away and pull out for a ready to go sensory play time.

There are tons of ideas for these – see what you have on hand!

You could even add some water toys, sponges, and then add some water when it’s time to play.

Keep an old, waterproof tablecloth for the kids to stay on when they play with these for easy cleanup.

4. Shape Matching Games

These are fun games that will help your child work on shape recognition, matching, and fine motor skills. And they are fun!

Here are some great ones to try:

Egg Carton Shape Matching Game

Wooden Shape Sorting Box

5. Magnet Tiles

Magnetic tiles are such a fun thing to play. A storage container of these can be lots of fun.

You can find different sets here.

This can be a fun thing to play with your kids, too!

6. Water Color Doodle Mat

These are so fun, and fairly mess free – as long as the water doesn’t spill. I set ours out on the hardwood floor and keep a towel close by.

The kids just use a paint brush or pen dipped in water and it creates beautiful colors on the mat.

It’s a great way for kids to unwind and have fun while being creative and artistic.

You can find different water color doodle mats here.

This would be a great present for kids, too!

7. Peg Board Game

Add this one to your kid’s birthday or Christmas list.

This is a fun game for kids to build and work on counting, colors, and fine motor skills.

This is a great peg board game option.

8. Magnetic Fishing Game

This is a fun game for young kids to play alone or with a sibling.

You can store this in a clear zipper bag to keep everything tidy.

Here’s a great magnet fishing game option.

9. Connect 4 Game

Young kids may not get the concept of this game, but they love to put the pieces in.

It’s a great way to practice taking turns and work on those fine motor skills. As they get older, you can teach the idea of the game, but for younger kids, it’s just fun to put the pieces in.

You can get the Connect 4 game here.

You may have some other games already, that you can put in a bin or zipper bag for the kids to play – even if they won’t be able to play the “right way”.

10. Stamps

You may already have some stamps and ink pads on hand. I’m a big fan of using what you have!

You can place stamps, an ink pad, and a notebook or composition book in a zipper bag for a fun art activity.

These Melissa & Doug stamp sets are great for birthday gifts. You can keep them in the wooden box, or place them in a zipper bag for easier storage.

11. Paint Sticks + Sketchbooks

Paint sticks are my new favorite thing to use for art time with the kids!

They are so easy for the kids to use (think a glue stick, but paint), they make beautiful pictures with vibrant colors, and are really easy to clean up if they get off the paper.

You can place a sketchbook for each child and a set of paint sticks in a zipper bag for a great DIY art time activity.

Here are the paint sticks we use.

12. Puzzles

There can be a wide range puzzles for young kids. For the 2.5-5 year old range, I really like the 9 piece – 24 piece puzzles.

They are a little challenging, but keep the kid’s attention for more than a minute. At first, you may have to work these with your child, but after some practice, they can work them alone.

You can start with the larger pieces that only have 4-12, and then work towards the puzzles with more pieces.

Keep these in the clear zipper bags for easy storage. If you have several puzzles in zipper bags, you can keep all the bags in a bin to keep them all together. If needed, you could label them to know how many pieces and what puzzle it was.

Here are some great options to try:

Mudpuppy Animals of The World 4-in-A-Box Puzzle Set

Wooden Vehicle Puzzles

9 Piece Animal Puzzles Set

13. Reusable Stickers

Reusable stickers can keep a child’s attention for an extended period of time and are one of those great activities that children can work on pretty quietly.

This is a great activity to pull out while you are making dinner. The kids can work at the table or kitchen island, while you work on dinner nearby.

We have a couple different types of reusable stickers, and both my kids love them!

You can try of one of these options:

14. Magnetic Dress Up Kits

My daughter received a magnetic doll dress up kit, and it keeps her attention for a long time. It does have a lot of pieces, so I would recommend storing the pieces in a clear zip up bag. The wooden boxes are tricky for kids to clean up and move without spilling.

There are also great options for boys, or those children that aren’t into girly dress up games.

Try one of these kits:

15. Bear Dress Up Game

I got the kids this game when we were doing our theme lesson on bears, especially for the Goldilocks and the Three Bears lesson.

They love to dress the bears up in different outfits, and it works as a puzzle, too, since each bear is a different size.

You can get this bear dress up game here.

16. Dot Markers

Dot markers are so fun for kids and easy to use without being right there beside them.

Grab some cheap sketchbooks from the dollar store, or a dot marker activity book, and let the kids work while you get something done or sit with them for a nice, quiet activity.

There are tons of dot marker options here.

17. Write and Wipe Books

These books are great for kids to trace things, work on writing letters and numbers, and trace shapes.

Kids use a dry erase marker and wipe with a little towel after they are done.

My 4 year old really loves these!

Here are some options to try:

18. Car Building Blocks

We have this set (I got it at a consignment sale for just a few bucks) and the kids love it. We actually keep ours out all the time since the kids play with it often – I use a large clear bin with a snapping lid, so it can’t be spilled out, unless they are playing with it.

You could keep this put away for special times when you need a fresh activity for the kids.

It’s a great way for kids to work on something with their hands, and they can make so many different creations. Both my 2 year old son and 4 year old daughter love these!

You can get the car building blocks here.

19. Rainbow Scratch Paper

This is such a fun, artsy activity for kids. We have this set and love this one particularly, because it comes with individual paper and multiple scratch pens, so it can be shared among siblings.

This would be a great activity to set out while you are getting dinner on the table!

Store these materials in a clear zip up bag, so everything is easy for the kids to use and put away.

You can get this awesome rainbow scratch paper set here.

20. Crayola Color Wonder

Add one of these sets to your stash of extra activities to pull out when your kids need a refresh.

These are so cool – the markers only show up on the special paper (which means you have to buy more paper when you run out). But, they are still really cool and the kids think they are special!

You may want to just give each child one paper each time you get these out to make it last longer.

Here are a few Color Wonder sets to try:

I can only get a few, which ones should I pick?

These are all great options for extra activities to have stashed away for “one of those days” when your kids need a refresh, and you need a minute to get something done.

However, you don’t need tons and tons of them! That might be overwhelming to you, hard to store, and a little expensive to get all at once.

You can get new activities for your kid’s birthdays or ask for these type gifts from relatives when they ask what your child might like (because they probably don’t need another toy, and you definitely don’t need another toy to pick up!).

That said, I would suggest starting with the ideas that will be long lasting and that your kids will get a lot of play time out of. Things like:

paint sticks
stamps
water color mat
car building blocks
dress up games
play-doh
magnet tiles

Think about what your kids would play with the most, and what might hold their attention the longest.

You can definitely just start with one, solid activity that you keep stored away for special times.

When do I pull these activities out?

You’ll know.

I keep these type of activities stored in a cabinet, not in our main play area. So, the kids don’t play with them or even see them everyday.

I like to keep them special and “new”.

When I notice my kids having big feelings, acting too wild, or when everyone seems frustrated – I will have everyone come to the table to do a special activity. They usually cheer up and get excited about what I’ve brought out.

Other times, I need to get something done and I could use a little space – they can play with one of these activities nearby. (Most of the time at the kitchen stools while I work on dinner).

You may have a set time of day when you pull an activity out, too! That would work great!

Should I pick the activity or let the kids pick?

That’s up to you!

I personally pick the activity myself, because my kids would choose everything all at once.

How do I get this set up?

You may already have some activities you can put away, or gather some up slowly, or ask for these ideas for gifts.

Find a hidden (from your kids) storage area, and place the activities in clear storage bins with snapping lids or clear zip up bags, so the kids can easily open them and put them back.

When you need a refresh or a change in the mood, have everyone come to the table to do a fun activity together (or separate if needed).

I hope this helps bring more joy and calm into your home, especially in those difficult hours of the day! You’re doing a great job, mama!

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January 8, 2025 ·

What I’m Using to Teach My 2 Year Old At Home

Curriculum Suggestions· Mom Resources· Preschool Lessons· Preschool Planning

It might sound a little early to start teaching a 2 year old preschool, but if they are interested and you are willing, it can be a great time to learn some very basic things and start developing a love of learning.

I started teaching my first child preschool at home when she was 2, and have started preschool with my second child now that he is 2.

Now, please don’t picture us doing a long, in depth lesson over here, because that is not the case.

We keep it very short, simple, and fun.

I have a short stack of materials for my 2 year old, and another short stack of materials for my 4 year old each day.

We probably spend around 10 minutes working on my 2 year old’s preschool, and 15 minutes working on my 4 year old’s work. We also do another bible time together at snack time, and we read books throughout the day, as well.

I like breaking up our work, so the kids don’t get frustrated or too tired of sitting down. For young children, play time is most important, but it’s great to get a little learning in, too.

Below I’ll share what I’m using to teach my 2 year old at home and some tips I’ve learned, too.

What I’m Using to Teach My 2 Year Old At Home

Thinking about starting homeschool with a 2 year old? Here are the simple and fun ways I'm teaching my toddler at home!

I’ve tried several curriculum plans for both my children, as well as developed some plans of my own. I finally feel like I’ve found something that works well for me and the kids.

I don’t want to spend a lot of time planning out the work, but I do like to have some input and flexibility.

Some programs have been too rigid and difficult, some too boring for the kids, some way too simple and easy. It’s hard to find the right preschool plans that you enjoy as a teacher, and that work for the child’s attention span and learning level, too.

Sometimes it takes a little trial and error to find the right thing for your family. I enjoy trying new plans and ideas, and switching things up from time to time, too.

I think with homeschooling, you don’t want to get bored, burned out, or disconnected with what you are using.

But that’s the beauty of homeschooling, too, you can always switch it up when something isn’t working anymore, and you have the time to devote to figuring out how your kids learn, what they enjoy, and what works well in your home.

Each day is a new day, and there is a lot of grace in that, as well.

Here’s what is working best for my 2 year old right now:

If your child is ready to start a small amount of preschool learning, these are my favorite options.

However, if you child does not seem interested, don’t push it! All kids start talking, learning, and developing at different times. If you are unsure, I would start with just reading books and talking about them. Ask them to point to certain things in the book, and work on saying different words.

1. Memoria Press Preschool Curriculum

I just purchased the curriculum manual to save money, and I get the books from our library or a used book website.

I don’t follow this curriculum manual exactly, but I do follow which books to read each week, the questions to go along with the book, and the lessons for the week. I like to highlight the parts I want to do each week.

Note: We do bible time all together, normally at snack time, to break things up.

We read the same book all week, and by the end of the week, he knows what to point out, what to count, and is learning the story really well.

I used this program with my first child as well, and we both really enjoyed it for the 2-3 year old age.

You can get the Memoria Press Preschool Curriculum Manual here.

2. Counting

We started counting to 3, then to 5, and we are now mastering counting to 10. I don’t use anything to teach this except my fingers. (For my 4 year old, I use a number chart, so she can learn the visual numbers, too.)

3. Preschool Beginner’s Activity Set from Christian Light

We are working through the first book right now (About Three) and it is the perfect workbook for this age. It’s mostly working on tracing lines and matching things that are the same.

We do one or two pages each day.

I have a supply box for each child, with their own pencils and crayons, so they feel like they have their own nice materials to work with. (Pick their favorite color or add stickers to make it more fun!)

It’s very simple and age appropriate, but a great starter workbook to get ready for more advanced work later on.

The other workbooks in the set work on color recognition, counting, cutting with scissors, more line tracing, and visual discrimination. The books build on each other, and get a little more difficult.

You can get the Preschool Beginner’s Activity Set from Christian Light here.

You can teach your 2 year old at home!

As you can see, I keep it very simple for this age.

There is no need to have a lot of work for a 2 year old.

Really just reading a great book together, asking some questions about it, pointing at things in the book, and working on vocabulary is a great way to start.

You can count as you go through your day, or count before you start reading.

If you feel like your child is ready for a workbook, the Beginner’s Activity Set from Christian Light is a great place to start.

If you want to keep it really simple, just make a simple plan of a book to focus on each week. It can be as simple as that!

We also keep a lot of pretend play games in our home, which I love for letting the kids be creative and use their imagination.

Here’s a few more ideas:

Take your child to the library weekly for new books and storytime.
Keep a basket of fine motor activities, and pull one out each day.
Read to your child at breakfast time, snack time, bedtime, and all throughout the day.
Talk about what you are doing throughout the day.
Let your child help you in the kitchen.
Have your child help with laundry or other simple chores.
Go for walks and explore nature.

Your child will learn just by being with you, talking with you, and watching you. So, enjoy that time, mama! You’ve got this!

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January 7, 2025 ·

How to Teach Bible Lessons to Toddlers and Preschoolers: 9 Favorite Bible Resources for Kids

Bible Lessons· Curriculum Suggestions· Favorite Books· Learning Tools· Preschool Lessons· Uncategorized

Wondering how to teach the bible to toddler and preschool age children? Today, I’ve rounded up our favorite resources for teaching the bible to our 2 and 4 year old children.

We’ve tried several different bibles and bible story books, and we’ve found what works best for toddler and preschool age kids.

So, you can save yourself some money and time and check these out, instead of wasting your money on books that aren’t the best for this age.

How to Teach Bible Lessons to Toddlers and Preschoolers: 9 Favorite Bible Resources for Kids

Wondering how to teach bible lessons to toddlers and preschool age children? Here are my favorite, simple resources you and the kids will love!

For this age, I really think it is best to keep it simple and repeat the lessons and stories often. If you go too fast or teach the more complicated stories, your kids won’t know the basics as well.

We start at the beginning, start small, keep it simple, and keep growing and adding more as they are ready.

How do you teach young kids the bible?

I would recommend finding a time of day that works for your family, so you can get into a simple routine.

What about bible stories at breakfast time? You can read while your kiddos eat, and then do a coloring page when they finish.

Or, at snack time? Set up a snack tray and a basket with your materials.

Or after dinner as a whole family? Clear the table after dinner and get everyone involved in some great family time.

Having a bible basket is a great way to keep your materials organized, and easy to grab when you are ready to have your lesson together.

Your kids might sit and lesson better if they are having a snack, or a coloring page to work on while they listen.

9 Favorite Bible Resources for Kids:

Here are the bible resources I have loved the most teaching our young kids the bible stories and lessons.

I hope you find the helpful for your toddler, preschool, and early elementary aged kids, too.

Here are my favorite ways to teach toddlers and preschoolers Bible stories:

1. The Beginner’s Bible (with coloring book)

This bible has been wonderful for my kids and the kids I’ve taught in Sunday School.

All of the major bible stories are included, and some have more than one chapter for each story. This has been a great way to break the lessons up into manageable chunks appropriate for this age.

The text is clear and simple, and the illustrations and inviting for children and clearly describe what’s happening in the story.

This is my go-to bible for most lessons.

I also love The Beginner’s Bible coloring book, however it does not contain a coloring page for each story – just a few coloring page options for the major stories of the bible. The coloring pages are simple and fun, and have been a great addition to our story time.

You can get The Beginner’s Bible here (updated copy with different illustrations).

You can get The Beginner’s Bible coloring book here.

This is a great place to start, and really all you need at the age if you just want to read the stories with your kids.

Here’s an inside look at the bible:

And here’s a look at the inside of the coloring book:

I make copies of the pages, so I can use it over and over again!

2. The Preschooler’s Bible

This is another great bible for preschool age children. It includes all the major stories with simple text and beautiful pictures.

The wording in this one is more conversational that The Beginner’s Bible with simple questions, telling who is obeying, or how the people might be feeling.

You can get The Preschooler’s Bible here.

And here’s a peek inside The Preschooler’s Bible:

I always like to see a sample of something to know what it’s really like!

3. My First Hands-On Bible

This is a new one for us, but I am loving it. I would say it’s a little more advanced for the toddler age kids, and more appropriate for preschool, pre-kindergarten and early elementary age kids.

This bible includes the major stories with really fun illustrations, and lots of actual text taken straight from the bible. It summarizes, but also includes “real” bible passages.

Each story has a few handprints along the way, with a side note that tells a fun short activity to try, or a question to ask the kids.

For example, in the story of creation, it said to have the kids turn the light off and say “In the beginning it was dark”, and then turn the light on and say, “Then God said, let there be light. My kids LOVED that and still do that daily.

At the end of each story, there is a short prayer, a couple of discussion questions, and a couple of activities to further the lesson.

It’s been a great way for us to discuss the lessons further, and bring the stories to life.

You can get the My First Hands-On Bible here.

And here are a couple of samples from the My First Hands-On Bible:

4. Bible Stories to Read + Bible Pictures to Color

If you want a simple workbook style program to follow, the Bible Stories to Read paperback book and the activity book that goes with it, Bible Pictures to Color is a wonderful choice. These are from Christian Light and a really great resource.

The Bible Stories to Read book has simple to read bible stories, and some follow up questions to strengthen the child’s understanding. There is also a bible verse to learn.

The coloring book that goes along with the stories, Bible Pictures to Color, has simple coloring pages that correspond perfectly with the stories.

This is a great program to add to your preschool, pre-kindergarten, or kindergarten homeschool work.

You can find the Bible Stories to Read book here.

You can find the Bible Pictures to Color book here.

Here’s a look in the Bible Stories to Read book:

Here’s a look inside the Bible Pictures to Color book:

If you are wanting a bible program for homeschooling, I am using this Bible 101 set from Christian Light with my 4.5 year old. It’s listed under Grade 1, but it’s worked really well for us.

5. The Beginner’s Bible books

We have Noah’s Ark and Stories About Jesus. These are great to really focus on specific stories.

You can make a whole week out of these books, and incorporate crafts, coloring pages, and fun activities to really drive home the lesson.

I believe some of my copies are outdated, but you can search for these type story books here.

6. VeggieTales Very Veggie Devos for Little Ones

This is a wonderful devotional book for toddler and preschool ages. It’s simple to understand, fun to look at, and includes a great devotional and prayer that young kids can follow along with.

A devotional book is a great way to bring the bible into our lives and learn more about God. I love the simple prayers that kids can learn overtime, as well.

You can get the VeggieTales Very Veggie Devos for Little Ones here.

And here’s a look inside to see how fun this VeggieTales devotional is:

7. The One Year Devotions for Preschoolers

This devotional book follows a group of kids, and includes great lessons, beautiful pictures, a bible verse, and a short prayer each day.

This is a one-year devotional, so it goes along with the calendar if you prefer that format.

You can spark some great questions with this book!

Get The One Year Devotions for Preschoolers here.

You can see a sample page of The One Year Devotions for Preschoolers here:

8. First Virtues 12 Stories for Toddlers

This book has 12 stories with a different animal, character trait, and a story to go along with it.

This is a great way to teach children about being patient, obeying, being a good friend, and so many other great traits.

Each story has a bible verse to go with it. You could read one story a week, and focus on that bible verse and character trait for the week.

You can get the First Virtues 12 Stories for Toddlers here.

And here’s a look inside:

9. Abeka Bible Verse Picture Cards

I have been using these with my pre-kindergarten child and they have been a wonderful tool to help her remember bible verses.

We just work on one at a time with our homeschool work, until she has memorized it, then I go to the next one.

One side has a beautiful picture, and the other has a verse on it.

You can find these bible verse memory cards here.

What should I pick to teach my toddler and preschooler the bible?

Decide which of the above resources most interests you, and aligns with how you want to teach the bible lessons.

Do you want to keep it super simple? Just grab The Beginner’s Bible and coloring book.

Want a program that fits with your homeschool time? Try the Bible Stories to Read and Bible Pictures to Color books.

Eager to go a little deeper? Add a devotional like the VeggieTales one.

Want to teach bible verses to your older preschooler or pre-k kid? Grab the bible verse picture cards.

How do I get started teaching my kids the bible?

1.Choose a time of day that works best for your family: breakfast, snack time, after dinner, etc.

2. Set up a basket with your materials (bible, memory verse cards, devotional book, coloring pages and crayons, etc.)

3. Commit to it. Work with your children multiple times a week. You can teach the same lesson all week, or work through the beginner’s bible one story at a time.

4. Keep adding as your children grow and learn. As you see they are ready for more, add a devotional, or ask more questions with the Hands-On bible.

You can teach your kids the bible, Mama!

You can do this! Get you a basket, add your materials, and make it a fun time that you and your kids look forward to.

Add some snacks or special treats to your basket, so this is an enjoyable time that you can sit, relax, and learn together.

You’ve got this, Mama!

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December 31, 2024 ·

15 Favorite Pretend Play Games for Imaginative Play

Learning Games· Learning Games· Learning Tools· No Screen Activities

Looking for some fresh ideas for pretend play games? We love our kids to engage in imaginative play and have lots of fun and simple pretend play games and activities for them.

To me, there is nothing sweeter than a young child making up a scenario and acting it out with supplies they find in the home. It could be doctoring a sick teddy bear, scanning the groceries from the pantry, or making a library from a bookcase filled with books.

Our playroom has several pretend play games set up or available for our kids to interact with, but they also come up with some fun (and silly) games on their own. Which is great!

Kids using their imagination, being creative and resourceful with what’s around them, and using some critical thinking skills is such a great way for them to spend their time playing. They are having fun, but also learning a lot along the way.

I wanted to list some of our favorite pretend play games, that you may want to incorporate into your play area to inspire imaginative play.

15 Favorite Pretend Play Games for Imaginative Play

These pretend play games are wonderful ways for children ages 2 and up to spend playtime being creative and using their imagination!

Before we jump into this list, I want to quickly mention that you don’t have to purchase a single thing to set up pretend play activities for your children. Look around your home to see what materials you can put together, or simply just watch your children to see what games they are already playing and what materials they are using to make a simple game.

I like to set up baskets in our cube storage to store our pretend play games, so the kids can quickly access them, and (hopefully) place them back where they go.

Here’s a quick FREE tip for some pretend play games: Use your junk mail!

You know that junk mail you get and it goes straight to the trash, your kids would probably love it!

These aren’t always long lasting games, but could be fun for a while. Here’s some ideas:

Use a jewelry store advertisement to set up a jewelry store. Cut out the pictures and write prices on them.
Use a furniture store magazine to sell furniture. Cut out the pictures and write prices on the.
Use a to-go menu to set up a restaurant. Have your child take orders and make you food.
Use un-wanted coupons for a pretend grocery store.
Use a garden center ad or seed ordering catalog to set up a flower or garden shop.

Take a second look at that junk mail before you toss it in the trash!

Here are some great pretend play games you can setup to inspire creative play in your home:

I snapped some pictures of our games to give you some realistic ideas. Most everything was either purchased second-hand or hand-made.

Get creative with what you have on hand and don’t be afraid to make your own games with what you have on hand!

You’ll find most of our set ups are less than perfect, but the kids really don’t care. They have so much fun being creative with what they have and less is usually more when it comes to toys. Bu

What are some examples of imaginative play?

Pretend Play = Imaginative Play

Pretend play is all about children using what’s around them to act out something they might see in real life (like at the grocery store or library), or more imaginative like making us something completely fictional – both are wonderful ways to enjoy playtime!

Here are some great pretend play games for preschoolers!

1. Ice Cream Shop

This pretend play ice cream shop was a birthday gift for my daughter, and the kids usually play it every single day. They go around and take orders and bring us ice cream, or they just walk around and pretend to eat ice cream cones.

They have had so much fun with it, and I love that there are different variations they can make to change it up.

You can shop for a pretend play ice cream shop here.

2. Chick Fil A

You can make this with any restaurant your kids love. My kids love Chick Fil A, so I found this awesome printable on Teachers Pay Teachers.

I laminated the pieces, so they will hold up well.

We play this all the time!

We have little trays to place the food on, a menu, and a order sheet, as well as the little food cards, and even a (used up) Chick Fil A gift card to pay with.

Get the Chick Fil A game on Teachers Pay Teachers here.

3. Farmer’s Market

I didn’t add a whole lot to this setup. You could add pretend food, or baskets to make it more fun.

I just made a printable with some things to buy at a farmer’s market, and pictures they could use as the things to buy.

This was especially fun to play in the fall, when we were reading books about vegetable gardening, pumpkins, and farmer’s markets.

4. Camp Stove / Grilling Set

This set was given to us as a gift, and the kids have loved it.

We have even set up a small tent inside to pretend camp. They love making different food creations and taking orders.

I couldn’t find this exact set, but there is a similar one here that looks really neat.

5. Race Cars

My talented mother-in-law made the kids this crochet race track, that we love to play.

You obviously don’t need a handmade race track, this is just what we have and use. Other options for a race track could be making one on the floor with painter’s tape, using a large piece of cardboard to make a race track, or you can purchase something similar here.

Have the kids make paper checkered flags for more fun!

6. Grocery Store

We found this gently used grocery store on Facebook Marketplace for my daughter’s birthday gift. It has been so much fun for both the kids.

They have used it mostly as a grocery store, and I will add empty boxes to it for new items to scan. We keep pretend money, reusable bags, and coupons for extra fun.

The kids have also used the scanner for all kinds of other pretend play shops, so this has been a great investment.

A simple table and cash register like this would work wonderfully, as well. Add some empty boxes from your pantry, and let the kids make the rest up.

This is a great option for a larger cash register setup.

7. Doctor Kit

You don’t need much for a doctor set. We have a basket of random doctor tools from consignment sales and gifts.

The kids will doctor their teddy bears, each other, or us parents.

You can find a simple doctor set here.

If you shop at consignment sales, you can often find doctor kits for pretty cheap, too.

If you want to add more to your doctor kit, check Teachers Pay Teachers for some fun printables to add.

8. Bug Exploring Game

We just finished a weekly lesson on bugs with lots of bug book reading, playing with pretend bugs, and finding bugs outdoors.

I added this bug exploring activity to our playroom since the kids seemed to enjoy it often.

This wooden tray came from a puzzle game, and the other materials were gifted to us. I loved putting this together to use up random pieces from our toy baskets.

You can see our whole weekly lesson all about bugs here.

You can make a simple bug exploring game with a magnifying glass, some pretend bugs, and a great bug book. Or grab a bug explorer kit like this one.

And, of course, take your exploring tools outside to find and observe real bugs, too!

9. Hot Cocoa and Cookies

I set this up for our winter themed week and the kids loved it!

You can find some hot cocoa printables on Teachers Pay Teachers or just make your own. I made a sign, a menu, and some pictures to print and laminate.

I found some leftover Christmas napkins and cups, and we used our Melissa and Doug coffee set with some cotton ball “marshmallows” for serving.

The kids played this over and over and had so much fun serving cookies and cocoa to everyone.

10. Donut Shop

This might be my favorite pretend play game we have created!

There are lots of pretend play donut shop printables on Teachers Pay Teachers, however, I usually end up making my own to have exactly what I’m looking for and to save some money.

I use Canva and found some great graphics to make a welcome sign, open/closed sign, a donut menu, an order form, and little donuts to sell. I laminated everything to make it durable, and so that we could use a dry erase marker on the order form.

I later ended up making some felt donuts for fun, so we added those as well as some confetti plates from the dollar store.

The kids use a dry erase marker on the order form, and then hand out those donuts.

I will update this post if I get my printables added on here!

There are some pretend play donut shop toys you can purchase here also.

11. Flower Shop

This one was really simple to put together and so fun for my daughter!

I found some great printables on Teachers Pay Teachers, some Dollar Tree buckets, and a good variety of artificial flowers (most I already had on hand or were given to me). We also had a flower seed catalog come in the mail, so I added that for more play ideas.

My kids enjoy laying all of the flowers out and either taking orders for flower bouquets, or making their own creations to put on our dinner table or as a tea party centerpiece.

I love to see their creations, and the hands on play.

You really don’t even need any printables for this one – just a plastic vase or bucket and some loose flowers in a basket will be so fun!

12. Kitchen

Oh, how we love our free Facebook Marketplace kitchen! It came with a few stickers, but in great shape and our kids have played with it every day since it came home with us!

I have added scraps of plastic tablecloths, kid sized oven mitts, play food, empty food packages, washed cool whip and yogurt containers, and any un-needed items from my kitchen.

They make so many creations at this little kitchen and are always so imaginative playing here.

I will say, this takes up a whole corner of our very small playroom, but it is well worth it. This is one our play areas that gets used often and used in many different ways.

Check your Facebook Marketplace, local thrift shops, yard sales, or purchase a kitchen set here.

13. Farm Set

We love playing farm here. Our setup includes a couple of little barns and a basket of play animals, hay bales, and lots of animals.

We have acquired all of these things over time, and the kids love setting up a farm with it.

You can find some great farm sets here.

We will also play with our farm animals with play-doh, or kinetic sand to mix things up.

14. Trucks, trucks, and more trucks

I’m a big believer that every kid should have a basket of trucks and cars to play with. To me, there is nothing sweeter than a kid pushing a car around and making “vroom vroom” noises!

Our kids have always been super into playing with trucks, so we have acquired lots of cars and trucks over the years. I have no great organization with them (which would honestly seem silly since they are dumped out and played with daily). We keep a large basket in the living room and the kids set them up and push them all around the house.

We will sometimes have races and push cars down the hallway (with blue painter’s tape lines to show our distance when I’m feeling extra fun). The kids make up tons of scenarios with the trucks and I’m all for it!

You can find these at consignment sales, yard sales, or add them to your kid’s gifts for the holidays.

Search for toy truck ideas here for gifts.

15. Play Town Mat

This play town mat was my Christmas gift to my kids last year. It was something I had been wanting to make for them, since we play our cars so much and they were setting up little stores to go to.

I had so much fun making this, although it was very testing of my sewing skills. It’s far from perfect, but my kids have loved it and play with it several times a week.

This size mat is perfect for Hot Wheels size cars.

You can find some similar type play mats here – the ones that roll up are great, or some stay put like a rug for your playroom.

So, those are our favorite pretend play games. I really love watching my kids be creative, and make up different games and scenarios.

These games and activities are very DIY-friendly, so I hope you feel inspired to use what you have and get creative when you set-up pretend play areas in your home.

Using baskets and cube style storage bookcases has been a great way to keep the games together, so they kids know where to put it back.

I hope you and your family have fun with these pretend play ideas to bring more imagination and creativity into your home!

You might also enjoy:

December 12, 2024 ·

Bug Book Theme for Preschoolers: Teaching Preschoolers About Bugs

Educational Toys· Favorite Books· Learning Tools· Preschool Lessons· Themed Lessons

For our toddler and preschooler, I love to set up a weekly book theme in our playroom with related games, activities, coloring pages, and anything to help us learn or enjoy the topic.

This past week, we were reading all about bugs. We checked out bug books from the library, brought out our own bug books, played with pretend bugs, played a butterfly matching game, and enjoyed some fun bug coloring pages.

I wanted to show you how easy this was to set up and what I included in our bug learning section.

Bug Book Theme for Preschoolers: Teaching Preschoolers About Bugs

What a fun week enjoying our weekly bug book theme full of books and hands on play! Check out these easy ideas for teaching preschoolers about bugs!

Wondering how to teach preschoolers about bugs?

Making a weekly theme for your kids is a fun way to change things up and learn about different topics.

Think about what your kids might like to learn about, check some related books out from the library, print some fun coloring pages, and maybe even find a game or toy that relates to that topic.

This past week, we learned all about bugs. The best way to teach preschoolers is by reading books and doing related activities.

We had a great selection of bug books, a bug exploring set, and some fun coloring pages.

Here’s what we had out to learn all about bugs:

Here’s how to teach toddlers and preschoolers about bugs that’s perfect for their level of learning.

1. Bug Books

I start with finding books on the topic. We have a lot of books in our home, so I will find what we already have first.

Then, I will search the library database for related books and place some on hold to pick up. I usually do this at least a week before I set up the lesson to give the library time to pull the books and us time to go pick them up.

Here are the books I included:

Bugs Galore – a silly story about lots of different bugs with fun illustrations
Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! – a short and sweet book about bugs, with a preschooler aged fact sheet at the end
I Love Bugs! – a short book about different bugs, with fun pictures
The Backyard Bug Book for Kids – includes some great facts about bugs, as well as worksheets at the back for kids to trace and find things
Usborne Lift and Look Bugs – great for young kids that love lift the flap books
Some Bugs – a great book with wonderful illustrations describing all the different things bugs do

I place these in a plate rack, so they stand up. It’s easy for the kids to see all the books, and to keep them together. You could also use a simple basket.

2. Bug Exploring Set

We have some bug figurines and some exploring materials, so I put those in a wooden tray (came from a puzzle) to make a bug exploring set.

I included pretend bugs, tweezers, magnifying glass, butterfly net, and some plastic jars to place to bugs in.

We played with these different ways like hiding them and finding them, using the tweezers to place them in the jars, and then the kids made up their own games with them, too.

Activities like this can be pretty open ended.

If you don’t have materials like this on hand, you can purchase a pretend play bug explorer kit like this.

3. Butterfly Matching Game

I found these butterfly pictures and laminated them to make a matching game. You could print out different bugs or even use bug stickers on index cards to make a matching game.

For a more advanced activity, you could turn the cards upside down and make a memory game.

4. Coloring Pages

For most of our themed lessons, I will find some coordinating coloring pages to keep at the kids art table, so they can color whenever they like to.

I love to look on Teachers Pay Teachers, and use the free price filter to find coloring pages. They have a lot on there.

Set up your own weekly book theme!

It doesn’t take a ton of time or effort to set up your own weekly book theme. Think about topics you kids would be interested in and start there. You can also see what games and activities you already have that you can get coordinating books for.

Check your library for related books, your own bookshelves, and search online (places like Teachers Pay Teachers) for additional ideas.

Change it up weekly, biweekly, or monthly after you see your kids losing interest.

The themes that my kids really enjoy, I try to add to a shelf in our playroom, so they can continue playing with it at their leisure.

Have fun with this! Your kids will love learning about new things!

You might also enjoy:

December 11, 2024 ·

15 Ideas to Encourage More Reading at Home with Little Kids

Learning Letters· Learning Tools· Mom Resources· No Screen Activities· Preschool Lessons· Preschool Planning

Do you want to encourage more reading in your home? Or feel like you should be reading with your young kids more often?

We all know reading with our children is one of the best things we can do to help develop their love of learning, even early on.

But it can be hard to actually make reading a priority in your home. Especially with young kids that are full of energy and never seem to want to sit still.

Today, I’m sharing some fun ideas to help develop your children’s interest in books and reading.

15 Ideas to Encourage More Reading at Home with Little Kids

Wondering how to encourage more reading at home with little kids? With all that energy, it can be hard to sit down for a quiet, reading time - try these easy tips!

How to start reading at home with little kids:

I’m Mama to a 2 and 4 year old and we love to read. We have different baskets of books and bookshelves around our home, we take books outside when we play, we go to the library and story time weekly, and read stories at naptime and bedtime every night. So, yes, we love to read in our home.

That might not be the case for your family – at least not yet.

It can be hard to find the time to devote to reading books, and your kids may seem more interested in other games, toys, and more active play. And that’s great – there is a place for both!

I’m of the opinion that early reading and lots of reading helps develop a child’s love of learning. And it’s just a really sweet time to spend together and cuddle up!

Ready to read more with your little kids? Try these tips!

Look through these ideas to find ways to add more reading into your day with your kids and see what works for you!

Reading at home with your little kids is such a sweet time that you will both enjoy!

1. Head to the library – on a regular basis

Make library trips a regular part of your week. You can find a special book bag to take, or even give each kid their own book bag to carry. Help them get excited about this!

My favorite library hack is to search on the library’s online website for books and place them on hold, so we have a stack ready for us when we get there. We still like to look for books, but at least I know we will have some solid books mixed in with the random ones plucked off the shelves.

Often, I will choose a weekly theme for our books and find books related to a certain theme (bugs, winter, farm, colors) and place them in a special basket together next to some related activities or toys.

The library can be such a fun place for kids. Some libraries seem to be more kid-friendly than others, so if you are able to go to different libraries in your area, check them all out to see which you like best.

2. Go to story time

Check if your library has a free weekly story time or similar event for kids.

Our library has a weekly story time hour where they read the kids books on a certain theme, play a couple games, and play with the other kids. It’s a great way to get out of the house and for kids to be immersed in books in a new way.

You can also meet some mom friends and let the kids practice sitting quietly and talking with other kids their age.

3. Set up a themed book basket

As I mentioned above, I love to find books on a certain theme and place them in a basket on the shelf in our playroom. If I have a related toy or game, I will place it next to the basket. Or, I will look online for free worksheets, printable games, or coloring pages to go along with the theme.

This is another fun way to introduce books and new topics, and relate them to playful activities.

Think about what your kids are interested in, and find books related to those topics. Use the library to find books and switch them out every couple of weeks.

We had a whole week devoted to learning about bugs – you can read more about that here!

4. Keep books all over the house

Spreading book baskets and book shelves all around the house is a great way to set up your home for more reading opportunities.

I like to keep book baskets and shelves by the couch, in our playroom, in the kid’s rooms, and anywhere I can to encourage more reading.

I have a separate basket for library books to keep them together and so the kids can find the new books easily. In the playroom, I use cube shelves for toys and will add a couple related books next to toys (train books next to the train set, a donut book next to our pretend donut shop, a race car book with the race track set).

The kids have lots of books on the bookshelves in their rooms. We read together at naptime and bedtime, and they can look at books themselves if they are having quiet time instead of a nap.

5. Take books outside

When we go outside to play, I will usually grab a few books and put in our book bag with some snacks. I like to sit on a blanket or chair near where they are playing and read my own book. If they want to take a break, they will come over and have a snack and read some books.

It keeps us outside longer, helps them take a break from more active play, and gives us lots of sweet time together.

6. Read in different areas

Reading in different locations is a fun way to change things up too. You can lay down in the grass and read, read in the kid’s playhouse, or even take a flashlight at night outside to read.

Your kids might love to build a fort with sheets, and climb inside to read. Or set up a small tent inside and read stories (you could even make s’mores).

Make reading fun for your kids and you’ll enjoy it, too!

7. Read books at snack time

Snack time is a great time to read a story to your kids. They can sit still and enjoy their snack, and you can read them a fun story while you have their attention.

You could keep a small book basket near the kitchen so you can quickly grab a book for this time.

8. Add puppets, silly voices, or songs

Make stories come to life with puppets or songs. You could work on different voices for characters in the stories, and make them really fun or funny.

9. Find books on topics your kids are interested in

Forget what you think they should be reading, and find books on topics they love.

My son loves all things construction, tractors, and trucks. I search for books on those topics and have the library hold them for us. He gets so excited when he sees those books!

My daughter loves more girly things like Fancy Nancy books, tea parties, dress up, and such. So, I try to find books that have those type things.

10. Give books for gifts

For almost all the gift-giving holidays, we give our kids books as their gift (or part of their gift). I find books on topics they love, and they get to keep those books in their rooms.

Most of the time, I will try to check new books out from the library to make sure they will like that book before I buy it. And I love to buy used books to save money. I love and use abebooks.com.

11. Make bedtime stories special

Let your kid pick out a book for bedtime each night. Cuddle up together and read as the last thing before you tuck them in.

It’s a special time to spend together and a great way to end the day.

12. Ask questions when you read

As you read a story, you can get the child more interested in the book by asking them questions or to point to things they see and name them.

You can ask things like:

What do you think this book is going to be about?
What do you think is going to happen next?
Do they look happy, sad, mad?
Can you point to the _?
Let’s count the _ together.

This is a great way to get the kids to pay attention and really think about what you’re reading. Although, sometimes it’s fun to keep it simple and just read the story as it is!

13. Play library at home

We love pretend play in our house. I love when the kids are creative, use their imagination, and make up little shops and games on their own.

We usually play library at home after we get new books. The kids each take a pile of books and set them up like the library, then someone comes and gets books to check out. They will scan the books with the little cash register scanner and place them in a bag.

It’s fun to play with the books without even reading them, too!

14. Do a craft or coloring related to the book

When we do our preschool work, I will sometimes have the kids do a simple craft or a coloring page related to the book we read.

If your kids have a hard time sitting still for a book, you could give them the coloring page to do while you are reading.

This is a great way to bring what you are reading together with an activity that will deepen the story.

You can search online or use Teachers Pay Teachers to find crafts and coloring pages related to certain books or just the theme of the book.

15. Read while your kids do an activity

I’m a big fan of quiet hands on activities (mostly for the peace and quiet!), but your kids might like to be read to while they work with things like play doh, kinetic sand, etc.

You could give this a try or think about other times you could read to them while they are working on something.

Try a few ideas to encourage reading with your little kids!

You definitely don’t need to (or should) try to do all of these things – at least all at once!

Think about what you can do in your home to encourage more reading time with your little kids.

It might just be adding a few book baskets around your home, setting up a time to go to the library each week, finding a story time in your area, getting your kid’s their own book bag, or finding different times of the day to read to your kids.

I think you’ll find reading with your kids to fill your cup and theirs. It’s always such a sweet time to me!

You might also enjoy:

December 11, 2024 ·

22 Fun & Free Ways to Homeschool Preschoolers

Curriculum Suggestions· Learning Letters· Learning Numbers· Learning Tools· Mom Resources· No Screen Activities· Preschool Lessons· Preschool Planning

Are you ready to start preschool at home with your child? This is such an exciting time for your family! But, it can be quite overwhelming truthfully.

There are so, so many curriculum options out there, and everyone has their opinion of which is best and good reasons behind their arguments.

But when you are just starting out at the preschool level, you don’t need overwhelming. You need simple, and fun, and enjoyable for you and your kid.

Preschoolers are ready to learn so many different things, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend hours pouring over curriculum or tons of cash to get materials or programs.

There are so many fun and completely free ways to start homeschooling your preschooler. And it can be much simpler, too!

Check out these simple, fun, and free ways to homeschool preschoolers!

22 Fun & Free Ways to Homeschool Preschoolers

Ready to start teaching your child at home? Here are 22 fun and free ways to homeschool preschoolers to start developing a love of learning!

Ready to make preschool at home fun, simple, and frugal?

How do I homeschool my preschooler?

Before we get to the ideas, I just want to encourage you that you can totally do this. You can teach your preschooler at home. All they need is you, mama!

So breathe, be patient with yourself and your child, and keep trying until you find what works best for you and your child.

Look through these ideas and make a list of activities to try with your child. You can make a weekly schedule if that helps you, or just keep a list of activities on your fridge and do a few things each day. Preschool at home can be as fun and relaxed as you want it to be!

You’ll want to find a spot to work with your child in your home, this could be a small table, the kitchen table, or even outdoors.

Keep learning time short and fun. You don’t want to overwhelm your small child, or come on too strong. You may need to break up learning blocks throughout the day. And keep it fun and light hearted – especially at this age. You want to help your child develop a love of learning and be excited to learn together.

Reading together is one of the best ways to start homeschooling a preschooler, and you all you need is some great books, a comfy spot, and some dedicated time together.

You’ll find a routine that works for you over time!

You’ve got this, mama!

Free Ways to Start Preschool at Home:

Here are 22 awesome, free ways to homeschool preschoolers!

1. Use the library

Of course, this is number one on my list! We love, love, love our little town’s library and visit weekly.

Reading with your children is one of the very best things you can do with them, and the library offers endless books for free.

My favorite way to use our library is to search for books through the online library system and place holds, so I don’t have to spend tons of time scouring the shelves with my small children at my feet (or pulling all the books off the shelves).

Often, I will have a book theme for the week and choose a few books to place in a basket on our shelf with activities that relate to that theme. For instance, we just finished a week reading about bugs. So, we had several bug books and some pretend bugs to look at with a magnifying glass.

Libraries often have free weekly events for children, too. So make sure to check with the libraries in your area. Ours has a weekly story time that we love to attend.

2. Use the free resources on Teachers Pay Teachers

Teachers Pay Teachers is a wonderful resource to use as a homeschooling mom. There are tons of free resources on there for preschool age work.

I will search for different things and use the filters to narrow the searches down to preschool age and the free priced items.

You will just need a printer and ink, but you’ll find some great material to use!

3. Take books outside

We love to be outdoors and I think there is so much to learn from playing and being in nature.

We keep a bag near the door and will fill it up with books when we head outside to play. I will sit on a blanket and read my book, and the kids will often take breaks to sit down and read a story with me.

This is another great way to include more reading time into your day!

4. Find a free story time

As I mentioned above, our library has a free weekly story time that we love to attend. They read seasonal or themed books, and do fun activities with it. Then there is time for playing with the other kids.

It’s a great way to get out of the house and spend time with other kids, too.

Libraries aren’t the only places to offer story time, though. We have a local park that offers a kid-friendly hike and story time (a great way to get outside and burn energy) and a local dance studio that offers a free story time and craft hour each week.

Check if any local places have a free story time near you!

5. Check out local park programs

If you have a state park or nature center near you, ask if they have any programs for kids.

Many will have kid-friendly hikes or kid classes to learn about nature and animals.

If you can’t find this in your area, consider taking books and heading to the park for an hour to make your own story time. Look for wildlife, do a craft or coloring, count nature objects, and get some exercise.

6. Count household objects

Math workbooks can be great, but truly you can teach math without any special materials. Find objects in your home to work on counting skills.

Here’s some easy ideas:

Count a group of plastic Easter eggs (advanced – count how many of each color)
Make a snack and ask the child to put # of crackers, raisins, orange slices on the plate
Match socks and count how many single socks and how many pairs of socks
Collect nature objects in a basket (leaves, acorns, pine cones, sticks, rocks) and count each type
Count on a tape measure

There are so many ways to start teaching math, and hands on activities are perfect for the preschool age.

7. Make your own flashcards

Flash cards can be a great tool to teach preschoolers – and you can make your own for free at home!

Find some index cards, construction paper, or cardstock paper and a thick marker.

You can make number flashcards, letters (uppercase set and lowercase set), or use stickers or cut out pictures from magazines or junk mail for vocabulary.

8. Read books and ask questions

I have purchased some preschool curriculum, and many include books to read and a list of questions to ask the child about the story.

You can find books you love and ask your child questions about the book, such as:

How many _ do you see?
Can you point to the _?
Do they look happy or sad?
What do you think is going to happen next?
Name something you see on this page (work on vocabulary).

Kids can learn so much from reading books and talking about what you read.

9. Set up a color hunt

For preschoolers working on learning colors, you can set up a simple color hunt around the house.

If you have colored construction paper, you can cut out pieces or find lots of things in that color to hide around the house.

Go around with your child with a basket and say we are looking for the color _.

Look through all the things you found and name them to work on vocabulary.

Another activity to work on colors is to draw a bunch of shapes on a paper and ask your child to color each one a different color. Let them pick the color from the basket of crayons/markers.

10. Set up a shape hunt

Similar to the color hunt, you can hunt for shapes.

You can do this by looking for things around the house in a certain shape or cut out shapes from paper to hide around the house.

Another activity to learn shapes is to draw them on paper and have your child trace and color them.

11. Help around the house

A great way for kids to learn is just by helping you around the house.

Sometimes it takes longer to get the job done, but your kids will never learn if you don’t let them help. And they will keep learning and keep improving, and one day they will be a big help to you at home.

Let them help in appropriate ways:

Add clothes and soap to the washing machine.
Press the right button on the dryer.
Add the dishwashing soap and start the dishwasher.
Put the clean utensils in the right places (sort forks, spoons, etc.)
Help mix cookie dough and add ingredients.
Fold small towels and match socks.
Put shirts on hangers.
Make their bed.
Sweep a small mess.
Set the table for dinner.

There are so many ways even little kids can help around the house. This helps them feel a sense of responsibility and pride, and that they are part of the family team.

Working together and learning new skills is a great way to start learning at home.

12. Learn letter sounds.

Use your homemade flash cards to teach letter sounds. For each letter, make the short letter sound and talk about what starts with that letter.

Search for youtube videos if you are unsure of the letter sounds to teach.

13. Label things around the home.

If you child is ready to start reading, you can label things around the home that they will see. Talk about what letters make up the work and how to make those letter sounds.

You don’t have to push this too soon, but if your child is ready to learn to read, you can start with simple things like this.

14. Make a letter notebook.

For my 4 year old, I have made a letter notebook from a composition notebook.

We add one letter at a time. I would put the uppercase letter first (starting with A) and print pictures of things that start with the letter A. She could trace the letter and name all the pictures make the letter sound.

Then, we move on to uppercase B and so on.

After we finished the uppercase letters, I added the lowercase letters and additional lowercase letters written with a highlighter for her to trace.

15. Practice writing their name.

Write your child’s name with a highlighter or pencil and have them trace it. If you have a laminator, you can laminate the page and use a dry erase marker to use over and over again.

I start with writing their name larger and then work towards writing it smaller when they are able.

16. Make art.

There are so many fun art projects you can do at home for free. We love to draw, color, do cut and glue projects, and simple crafts.

You can search Pinterest or find free crafts or coloring pages on Teachers Pay Teachers.

I like to find crafts and coloring pages that go along with the book themes we have. Some popular books will even have corresponding craft ideas, too.

You can also check book websites for coloring pages and crafts, for example Little Blue Truck has some great resources.

17. Have pretend play time.

There are so many ways to learn from playing, and pretend play is a great way to learn. I love to make little shops and games for my kids.

We have made a donut shop, hot cocoa bar, grocery store, restaurant, flower shop, Chick Fil A, farmer’s market, and more.

This has been a great way to work on counting (taking orders and selling things), language development, and really just having a lot of fun.

Here are our 15 favorite pretend play games at our house.

18. Read a kid’s bible.

Find a kid’s bible you love (I love the Hands-On bible for my 2 and 4 year old right now) or The Beginner’s Bible. Read stories from the bible and ask questions, do a craft or coloring page, or an activity that relates to what you read.

Kids can really learn the bible early on and I have learned so much from teaching them the stories, too.

Learn how I teach my toddler and preschooler bible lessons here.

19. Work on bible verses.

You might think your child is too young to learn bible verses, but they might surprise you.

I have made a list of bible verses to learn together and we work on one at a time, until we learn it. I don’t make it just for a week or a certain amount of time.

You could write these on flash cards and read it together each morning when you have bible time. I have heard some parents like to sing it as a song or make motions to go along with the verse if that is helpful for your child.

You can even make a little book (cheap photo album or binder) to store all the bible verses you know to go back through to reiterate.

20. Sing songs.

Songs can be such a fun way to learn and work on repetition and memorizing things.

You can sing songs at certain times of the day, or work on a song each week – or just sing whenever you feel like. We love to sing songs when I push the kids on the swings.

21. Teach the days of the week.

Keep a calendar in sight, and talk about what month it is, what season it is, and what day of the week it is.

You can teach the days of the week with a song or just by pointing at the different days on the calendar.

22. Talk about the weather and seasons.

You can make your own weather chart with pictures printed from the internet, or just talk about the weather each morning.

Ask your child what the weather is (sunny, cloudy, raining, snowing) and if it is warm, hot, or cold.

You can teach the seasons and what order they come in.

Teaching Preschool at Home Should Be Simple and Fun!

You really don’t need to overcomplicate or get overwhelmed about teaching preschool at home. There are so many things you can do with your kids that feel like play, when they are really learning. These free ways to homeschool preschoolers can help you get started simply and easily.

Reading books, being together, and just talking about things you see as you go about your day will set you up for great success.

I can’t emphasize enough how much reading books and making a regular trip to the library has helped us keep reading and learning a priority in our home.

We learn everyday together, even if we don’t do a “real lesson”.

Make a list of ideas you want to try with your preschooler, and make a simple schedule. Start with short, simple things and slowly add more as you see your child is ready for more.

The best way to get burnt out and stressed is by trying to do everything all at once.

Keep it simple for you and keep it fun for your kid.

You’ve got this, mama!