Here are some fun ideas for entertaining preschoolers at home. Yes, being the “zookeeper” for the 14th time in an hour can get tedious, but this phase doesn’t last long — before you know it, screens and gadgets will have taken over, so enjoy it while it lasts!
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The preschool years can be one of the toughest stages for parents — little ones need constant amusement and can’t yet do so much for themselves. So here are 10 ideas to help you keep your preschooler happily entertained at home.
A quick look at what’s coming up:
1. Have a Colour Day
2. Dressing Up
3. Make Gloop
4. Arts and Crafts
5. Cooking/Baking
6. Music and Dancing
7. Bedtime Races
8. Imaginary Games
9. Cardboard Box Fun
10. Watery Fun
Entertaining Preschoolers at Home
#1. Have a Colour Day
Choose a colour, then ask your preschooler to find and wear clothes in that colour, eat food that colour, and find a toy that colour.
It’s a lovely, low-effort way for younger kids to learn their colours — and a sneaky way to get them to try new foods too!
You might also enjoy 10 of the Best Learning Games for Preschoolers
#2. Dressing Up
An age-old favourite. The dress-up box is always a hit in our house — old costumes, clothes, scarves, hats, face paints, jewellery, wigs. Charity shops are a great place to pick up bits and pieces. Dressing up is too much fun to save for Halloween!
You might also enjoy 10 Easy Healthy Snacks for Preschoolers
#3. Make Gloop
Mix cornflour and water with a little food colouring (optional) until it forms a thick paste. It runs through your fingers when you lift it, but feels solid if you pat it — endless fun for parents and kids alike.
“The very weird texture will make even big kids laugh. It also washes out of clothes easily and it doesn’t matter if it gets eaten because it’s natural, so even small toddlers or babies in their high-chair can join in the fun!” — Sarah D
You might also enjoy 18 Easy Science Experiments Perfect For Preschoolers
#4. Arts and Crafts
An arts and crafts box is an essential for any preschooler. You don’t need to be artistic yourself — your preschooler won’t judge! Budget shops are a great place for picking up supplies. A tube of glitter, some pipe cleaners and child-friendly glue can easily fill a couple of hours.
We like to hold little “viewings” afterwards — hang up the art, pour some juice, put out a few snacks, and invite grandparents, aunts or uncles round to admire and pick their favourites.
You might also enjoy 8 Simple Craft Ideas for Preschoolers
#5. Cooking/Baking
We love making salads, Rice Krispie buns, pizza, sandwiches and desserts together.
There’s plenty preschoolers can safely help with in the kitchen — and if they’ve made it themselves, you can pretty much guarantee they’ll eat it.
You might also enjoy 10 Tips for Stress-Free Cooking with Kids
#6. Music and Dancing
Whether it’s nursery rhymes or heavy metal, dance a half hour away around the house.
A child is never too young to be introduced to different types of music, and a favourite family playlist is always great to have on hand for an instant dance party.
#7. Bedtime Races
This tradition started when our daughter was a baby, as a way to tire her out before bedtime! It’s evolved over the years, but most nights before pyjamas go on, the kids have races — running, crawling, hopping, even going backwards. It’s always good fun, and it burns off any excess energy before bed.
#8. Imaginary Games
We play shop, bank, post office, pilots, bus driver, hairdressers (a great one for distracting a curly-haired child while you gently work out tangles!). The kitchen chairs get lined up to become whatever scene we’re playing that day.
#9. Cardboard Box Fun
You know the saying — give a child a toy and they’ll have more fun playing with the box.
Turn a cardboard box into a playhouse, bus or car. Here are 17 Cute Cardboard Box Ideas for Kids to get you started.
#10. Watery Fun
A jug of water, a few plastic bowls, some spoons, and the freedom to pour, splash and mix — this kind of simple play can entertain a preschooler for ages. Set it up on the kitchen floor so you can just mop up afterwards.
Or head outdoors to “paint” a wall or fence with water. A paint brush, a bucket of water and an outdoor wall never fails to entertain in our house.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some cheap ways to entertain a preschooler at home?
Simple, low-cost activities work best — dress-up boxes, homemade gloop, arts and crafts from budget-shop supplies, cardboard box play, and water play are all inexpensive and keep preschoolers happily busy for long stretches.
How long can these activities realistically hold a preschooler’s attention?
It varies by child and activity, but hands-on, sensory activities like gloop, water play and cooking tend to hold attention longest, especially with a parent joining in for at least part of the time.
Are these activities suitable for more than one child at a time?
Yes — most of these ideas, such as dressing up, imaginary games, arts and crafts and cardboard box play, work well with siblings or friends together, and often keep them entertained even longer as a group.
What age range are these ideas suitable for?
These are aimed at preschool-age children (roughly 3–5 years), though several — dressing up, water play, music and dancing — can easily be adapted for younger toddlers or older children too.
Related Articles
- 10 of the Best Learning Games for Preschoolers
- 10 Easy Healthy Snacks for Preschoolers
- 18 Easy Science Experiments Perfect For Preschoolers
- 8 Simple Craft Ideas for Preschoolers
- 17 Cute Cardboard Box Craft Ideas for Kids
Save These Ideas for a Rainy Day
Bookmark this page or save it to your phone so you’ve always got a list of ready-to-go activities the next time you need to fill an hour (or three) with your preschooler.
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