Games

Three Top Games for Preschoolers

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We love board games for preschoolers. Not only do they teach basic concepts, they teach social and game skills such as taking turns, rolling dice, drawing a card for play, and so much more. Game time is perfect for family fun, making memories, and bonding too.

If you are shopping for your preschoolers, here are some favorite games for kids under five years. The images below are clickable affiliate links to Amazon for easy shopping.

The Sneaky Snacky Squirrel
This highly rated games is not only cute, it is packed full of fun and skill.

Skills: Matching, fine motor, problem solving, and social skills

Hoot Owl Hoot
Hoot Owl Hoot is an award winning cooperative game. Everyone who plays has the common goal of getting the baby owls back to their nest

Skills: Matching, strategy, turn-taking, no reading is required

Count Your Chickens
Count Your Chickens is another award winning game that utilizes cooperative play. Players work together to help Mother Hen gather her chicks.

Skills: Counting, turn-taking, no reading is required

The Garden Game – a Math Game for Kids!

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The Garden Game is an easy, noncompetitive math game that is fun for spring. It teaches counting with one to one correspondence, numeral recognition, turn-taking, game and social skills. It is extremely easy and frugal to make.

Supplies needed for the Garden Game:

Foam garden pieces – I found these at Walmart

$The Garden Game - math for kids$

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Dice Cards for Preschool Games

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Dice Cards Creative Connections for Kids

Dice cards are great to use with preschool games.

I created some dice cards when I couldn’t find any large dice for a game and small ones wouldn’t work. My budget really doesn’t allow for me to buy large jumbo dice to give to the preschool kids in my program, but these work great!

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Body Count ~ An on-the-go math game

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$Body Count - an on-the-go math game for kids$

This little competitive counting game is amazingly simple and requires no objects. It teaches counting with one-to-one correspondence and cardinality. It is perfect for the kinesthetic learner who needs to move but can work in the car and on road trips too. It can be played practically anywhere and can be easily adapted to your child’s learning level. This math game is called “Body Count”.

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Balloon Hockey

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Balloon Hockey is a game that gets the kids moving and is perfect for a winter day. Just a few items are needed for fun and invigorating play!

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On-the-go Word Games

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Many of us are on the go and are commuting with kids in tow. Car time is a perfect time for simple language games. These little word games are fantastic for language development, perfect for conversation, and for connecting with kids too. As simple as they are, they will enhance your child’s language development.

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Name Games

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My parents are frequently looking for ways to help their children learn to spell and write their name. We find these simple activities to be helpful. They work easily in the home or the classroom.

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Play Velcro Ball!

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This is a fun action activity to get your kids moving!

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Road Trip!! Activities for Kids

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Summer is here and so is the time for the family road trip!!!

Traveling on the road with children, grandchildren, young friends, and favorite nieces and nephews can be fun and challenging. Having mini DVD players, games on the phone or iPad are awesome, but you if want to expand horizons a bit beyond screen time; here are some ideas and resources for your next road trip.

Fun, sanity saving road trip ideas:

Music

Take your’ child’s favorite music CDs or load up your phone or the the MP3 player with kid’s music. In the baby area of our Walmart there is a display of children’s CDs with a listening center so you can listen to them before you buy. Don’t forget lullabies for quiet times and classic nursery rhymes too.

Your local library may have children’s CDs that you can check out.
There are free kids music downloads at Free Kids Music.
Kidsongs.com is another place to search for, purchase and download children’s music.
Here is a summer song list for kids!

Books

Go to the library and check out books that are new and different. Also get books that describe your destination and activities.

Printable Games

Mom’s Minivan has printable games that are very fun! You can slip them into a sheet protector and play using dry erase markers so they can be used again. I was totally impressed with this website. Here are examples of Bingo, a scavenger hunt, and tic-tac-toe:

Here’s another great road trip bingo printable that is really cute too.

Create a binder for your child

Be organized. Games that have been printed can be put into a folder or 3 ring binder. Depending on your children you might want to have access to the binder and supplies to give to them as needed. However, another option is to give each child their own binder with the activities they enjoy. The binder gives them a place to write and a place for paper, a packet of crayons, pencils, stencils, and small activity books (all shown below are from Walmart). A pencil holder that you can snap into a 3 ring binder works very well to keep things together.

Teach your child to use a map or map app

Get a map, atlas, or a map app that your older kids can use. You can purchase maps that are laminated or you can print one from the internet. Highlight the route, mark stops and sights, then slide them into a sheet protector and put into their binder.They can follow the route of the trip which is a great way to teach map reading skills. Trust me…when they leave home for college you want them to be able to read a map even if they have a smart phone!

Eight Amazing Quick Tips

1) Know some classic road trip games like these.

2) Be prepared with a new book or small toy (or a toy or book they haven’t seen in a while) to whip out when boredom really arises.

3) Know where rest stops and parks are located. Pack a Frisbee or ball so that the kids can play when they have the opportunity.

4) Change seating arrangements. Sit in the back so you can read together, talk about the sights, snuggle and share some cheerios.

5) If you have babies and young toddlers consider traveling at night if possible. Just be sure that you are rested and can safely drive at night. Be safe!

6) Here are some preschool apps for your iPhone or iTouch. They are from 1+1+1=1 an awesome tot and preschool resource!

7) If you are grandparents or other loved ones traveling with your favorite little folks, make sure you know favorite foods and routines.

8) Keep track of your child’s blankie, binkie, or any other favorites!

I left my daughter’s ‘moe’ (beloved blanket) at Grandma’s and could find nothing that substituted for it. Everything was pushed away with a tearful “no Moe!” Feel free to learn from our mistake. 🙂

Most importantly ~ keep a sense of humor and have fun together!

What is your favorite traveling tip, resource, or activity?