The preschool years are a time of great growth and discovery. During this period, tamariki (children) develop foundational skills that will shape their learning journey. The key to supporting their development is learning through play. Whether indoors or outdoors, each moment can be an opportunity for growth.
Here are 10 engaging activities that you can enjoy with your preschooler, each fostering different skills while having fun together.
1. Sensory Bins
What You’ll Need: A shallow bin, rice, pasta, sand, small toys, and scoops.
How it Works: Sensory bins provide a hands-on way for tamariki to explore various textures. They’re developing fine motor skills as they touch, scoop and pour, all while engaging their sense of sight and touch. This activity can also open up conversations about different textures, colours, and shapes.
2. Scavenger Hunts
What You’ll Need: A simple list of items to find in the house or garden.
How it Works: Scavenger hunts are great for building observation and problem-solving skills. Whether at home or outdoors, this activity helps your preschooler practise following directions and identifying objects. It’s a fun way to engage their curiosity and expand their vocabulary. For an extra challenge, you could even add some simple te reo Māori words to the list, like “rākau” (tree) or “pūkaha” (flower).
3. Simple Science Experiments
What You’ll Need: Baking soda, vinegar, food colouring, and a tray.
How it Works: A baking soda volcano is a crowd-pleasing activity that will spark your little one’s curiosity while encouraging collaboration. Simple science activities also build critical thinking skills and introduce tamariki to early STEM concepts. With each experiment, they’ll learn about cause and effect, observation, and discovery.
4. Storytime with Role Play
What You’ll Need: A favourite storybook and simple props or costumes.
How it Works: After reading a story, encourage your preschooler to act out the characters with you. This helps develop language skills and nurtures creativity and empathy. It’s a fun way to explore new vocabulary while also strengthening their imagination. You might even introduce a few Māori words during the story, like “kai” (food) or “whānau” (family).
5. Arts and Crafts
What You’ll Need: Paper, crayons, glue, scissors, and safe, recycled materials.
How it Works: Arts and crafts help preschoolers develop their fine motor skills and creativity. Whether they’re drawing, cutting or gluing, they’re learning to express themselves through art. Encourage your child to explore different textures and shapes, and talk about what they’ve created using te reo Māori like “whakairo” (art) or “tohu” (symbol).
6. Cooking Together
What You’ll Need: Simple ingredients for an easy recipe.
How it Works: Cooking with your preschooler is a great way to build early maths skills through counting, measuring, and sequencing. It’s also a chance to teach about different types of food. Try baking together, and as you do, you can introduce words like “rēti” (recipe) or “mīhini” (machine, like a mixer).
7. Building with Blocks or LEGO
What You’ll Need: Blocks, LEGO, or stacking toys.
How it Works: Building with blocks or LEGO helps children develop spatial awareness, engineering thinking, and problem-solving. Whether your tamaiti is creating towers or cities, they’re learning valuable lessons in perseverance and creativity.
8. Musical Games
What You’ll Need: Music and instruments or homemade shakers.
How it Works: Incorporating music into play helps tamariki develop rhythm, memory, and listening skills. Singing songs with actions or playing instruments together is a fun way to introduce your child to patterns, sounds, and sequences.
9. Outdoor Nature Walks
What You’ll Need: A nature trail or local park.
How it Works: Take a walk through the bush or along the beach to explore the outdoors. Nature walks provide a great opportunity to talk about different plants, animals, and the environment. It also helps build an appreciation for the natural world.
10. Letter and Number Games
What You’ll Need: Magnetic letters, flashcards, or foam numbers.
How it Works: Simple games like matching letters and numbers are a great way to introduce early literacy and numeracy. Through play, tamariki learn to recognise letters and numbers while strengthening their memory. Incorporating te reo Māori into these games is a great way to expand their world.
Conclusion
The preschool years are a time for wonder and learning. Every activity you enjoy with your child is an opportunity for growth, whether it’s learning new words, strengthening motor skills, or fostering creativity. Remember, the most important thing is to enjoy these moments and follow their natural curiosity.
Nā reira, let the fun begin – your tamaiti is ready to explore!
If you have questions about your pre-schooler’s learning journey or would like to find out more about the services we offer at Koru Care ECC, you can contact us here.