Games for preschoolers - Activities for preschoolers

Create Your Family Tree

Help your children to learn about where they come from by creating a family tree. Not only is it an excellent opportunity for them to learn about the older generations of your family but, in discussing your ancestors, your children will inevitably become curious about what the world was like in the olden days.
Read Create Your Family Tree

Join In Your Children'S Activities

Your children aren't the only ones who will enjoy football, hide-and-seek, or creative activities. Joining in with their games will bring you all closer together... and it's enormous fun, too!
Read Join In Your Children'S Activities

What number?

Learning to recognise numbers takes practice. Luckily, this kind of practice is as much fun as a treasure hunt.
Read What number?

Matching game

Letters and numbers are the basic building blocks of writing and reading - but they can also be fun. Games based around letters and numbers are a great way to learn.
Read Matching game

Get Active And Keep Fit

Activity and exercise is vital for every family member, so get your children involved in dance, sports or other physical after-school activities. There's plenty to do indoors and out.
Read Get Active And Keep Fit

Making The Most Of The Third Trimester

Both mums and dads are entitled to statutory paid leave after the birth, but it's important to get the arrangements in place well before the baby arrives. During the last few months of your pregnancy, concentrate on spending quality one-to-one time with your toddler, who is soon to become a sibling.
Read Making The Most Of The Third Trimester

Turn Your Children Into Junior Chefs And Miniature Gourmets

Don't let eating become a chore or a battle. Encourage a genuine love of food by allowing your children to help out in the kitchen and by playing fun 'taster session' games.
Read Turn Your Children Into Junior Chefs And Miniature Gourmets

Picture book

Why not create a very special picture book with your child? Besides being fun, it fosters language skills as you pore over the pages and talk about what you see.
Read Picture book

Shape sorter

Sorting and matching basic geometric shapes and fitting them into corresponding holes is a precursor to more complex puzzles your child will enjoy later. Make your own shape sorter.
Read Shape sorter

Playing house

Many children at this age are actively enjoying the world of make-believe. Help set the stage for imaginative play by creating a small house for them to move into.
Read Playing house

Kitchen music

Inside your kitchen cupboard there's a band waiting to play! Disguised as pots and pans, these make a great noise when you and your child bang, clap, shake, strum and rattle them.
Read Kitchen music

Baby talk

Babies learn to talk by listening, exploring and responding to the sounds of the world around them. Here are some ways to get your child chatting.
Read Baby talk

Draw and paint

Most children love painting and drawing. Here are some ways to support your child's creativity and incorporate drawing and painting into everyday life.
Read Draw and paint

Tea party

It's time for tea! A pretend tea party gives children a chance to imitate the adult behaviour they observe at home and incorporate it into their play.
Read Tea party

Painting with water

There is some great fun to be had with a big brush and bucket of water. This task is fun and lets your child know that participating in real work is important.
Read Painting with water

Blowing bubbles

Bubbles are great for children of all ages. With minor modifications, you can play bubble games with your child from birth up to pre-school age - and probably beyond.
Read Blowing bubbles

Ball rolling

Once your baby can sit easily, roll a ball back and forth across the floor between you. Babies love this and it's a wonderful first step in taking turns!
Read Ball rolling

Finger painting

Most children love the feeling of finger painting and being allowed to be messy! Fortunately, it's easy to participate in this joy and take a few steps to keep the mess in check.
Read Finger painting

Plan Ahead For The Trip Of Your Lifetime

The day your children finally leave home may seem far away but indulge in a little wishful thinking. Start planning your dream holiday now and, in a decade or so, who knows where you might end up.
Read Plan Ahead For The Trip Of Your Lifetime

Out And About With Your New Family

It's definitely more challenging to get out and about now there's more than one child to think about but that's no reason to miss out on family fun. Forward planning can help things run more smoothly.
Read Out And About With Your New Family

Doing chores

Children enjoy opportunities to take on the real-life tasks they see being performed around them every day. Here's an activity that turns chores into fun.
Read Doing chores

Making a collage

Creating a collage involves arranging and sticking various materials and treasures you've found on a flat surface. It's easy to do this at home.
Read Making a collage

Water the garden

The garden is a wonderful place for your child to discover how to look after living things and learn the basics of life - such as what plants need in order to grow.
Read Water the garden

Photo fun

Activity cards made from family photos are a great entertainment. They not only engage your baby but also help them learn more about their world and the important people in it.
Read Photo fun

Puddle play

Only ducklings may enjoy a good shower of rain more than small children. When it pours, seize the day in all its wetness and take advantage of the opportunities for fun it presents.
Read Puddle play

Under the bridge

Your baby is on the move now, with places to go and new things to see. Create an obstacle course that's both physically challenging and teaches what under, over and around mean.
Read Under the bridge

Sticky fishy

Children need a variety of opportunities to learn about letters and numbers. With magnetic fishing your child learns by fishing for symbols they recognise.
Read Sticky fishy

The sensational bag

Pack a bag with a collection of sense-stimulating playthings to take on car trips, visits to the doctor, restaurant outings - anytime your baby might appreciate some diversion. Toddlers like this too.
Read The sensational bag

Making Memories To Last A Lifetime

Your children won't be small for long so make sure you capture this stage for posterity. Get the whole family involved in recording everyday activities in a scrapbook to treasure in years to come.
Read Making Memories To Last A Lifetime

Finger puppets

Finger puppets are perfect for entertaining a baby and can be made very quickly. They also travel well. Pop a few in your bag and you're ready to take the show on the road.
Read Finger puppets

Coin banking

A baby piggy bank is easy to make and just right for 6 to 12 month-olds. Your baby will love filling up their bank with large fake 'coins' and tipping them out again.
Read Coin banking

You'Re A Woman As Well As A Mum!

It's time to paint your nails... and paint the town red. Plan a fun evening of proper grown-up activity, and remember how much fun it is to only be responsible for your own self, for one evening at least.
Read You'Re A Woman As Well As A Mum!

Fun fingers & action rhythms

Rhymes can be comforting and also a chance for older children to practice their finger skills by acting out little scenes as you sing. Sing or chant anytime, anywhere.
Read Fun fingers & action rhythms

Printing press

Finding shapes to print and making patterns on paper are hugely satisfying and thrill most children. Best of all, it can all be done with materials you already have on hand.
Read Printing press

Puppet show

Inspire your child to use words by creating an entertaining situation to respond to. Try staging a small production using nothing more than a puppet and your imagination.
Read Puppet show

Pre-school | Games & activities

Find activities