Learning Activities for Preschool & Kindergarten

In my experience, preschool & kindergarten are very sweet, foundational years for kids. These are the years they learn how to play. Kids also learn their letters, colors, and shapes, and begin doing simple schoolwork. In addition to core subjects such as math, phonics, and handwriting, I love doing fun projects with my kids. Here are some of my favorite learning activities for preschool and kindergarten kids ages 3 to 6!

Scissor Skills Preschool Workbook for Kids

I found this Scissors Skills Preschool Workbook on Amazon, which was a win for both my 3-year-old and 4-year-old children. Each page has lines to cut along, which advance in difficulty as kids go through the book. My son had trouble cutting along a page with wavy lines at first, but after 3 rounds of practice, his scissor cutting skills improved. Of course, I remind my kids that scissors are for only cutting paper when they have permission. This hands-on preschool workbook is a fun way for kids to practice intentionally cutting with scissors.

Colorful Kids School Supplies by Ooly

Fun school supplies are next on my list of activities for preschool and kindergarten! My kids especially enjoyed learning how to write when they were using character pencils and erasers. These colorful monster-themed school supplies are perfect for showing kids how to hold their pencil correctly, practice their letters, and erase away mistakes. Speaking of erasing, kids in preschool and kindergarten will also love these doughnut erasers! Ooly makes all sorts of awesome school supplies to make learning fun!

Vanilla scented unicorn doughnut erasers by Ooly make learning to write magical!

Button Art Activity Set

Next, this Button Art Activity Set caught my eye because the directions are simple. Kids place the large colorful buttons into the corresponding holes on each art activity card to create designs. My son immediately took an interest in this button art activity set. He tried out several of the cards and quickly caught on to the color guides that each card provides to arrange the buttons. To my surprise, my 3-year-old strongly wanted to complete the activity the correct way. A few times he dropped a button underneath his desk and he was determined to search for the correct color rather than place any color into the hole. This activity encourages kids to develop motor skills, arrange colors according to the instructions, and complete the activity. I also appreciate that this kit comes in a storage box, which fits all the colorful buttons and activity cards inside.

Design & Drill Activity

Hands-on activities are always a hit with my kids, and the Design & Drill playsets by Educational Insights are no exception. These sets encourage creativity and help develop fine motor skills. Kids can drill colorful, child-sized bolts into the activity board, building their own designs or following the 12 pattern ideas included. My preschoolers especially loved the glow-in-the-dark bolts that screw into the light-up activity board. It’s such a fun way to practice hand-eye coordination, problem-solving, and creative thinking. With Design & Drill, learning really does feel like playtime!

Walkie Talkies for Kids

Furthermore, my kids love going on little adventures, even just around the house. They had so much fun using GeoSafari Jr. Walkie Talkies by Educational Insights. Kids press the leaf-shaped button to “make a call,” which triggers a sound on the other walkie talkie. Then, once the other child presses the leaf-shaped button to receive the call, they can chat back and forth using the speakerphone feature. These walkie talkies work within a range of 300+ feet (90+ meters), which is perfect for indoor and outdoor play. The simple design includes a no-slip rubber grip and fun sound effects, making it easy for young kids to use. Overall, these walkie talkies are a playful way to encourage communication, imaginative adventures, and cooperative play between siblings.

Preschool Taste Test

Not surprisingly, snack time is a favorite part of our homeschool day. I try to provide my kids with a selection of snacks to choose from. Occasionally, we have a snack time taste test, which can also double as lunch. A taste test introduces kids to the sense of taste and the different flavors our tongues can identify. This kids taste test is a fun way to sample foods that are sweet, salty, spicy, sour, and bitter. I talk with my kids about the different areas of the tongue that can taste each flavor. A taste test also encourages kids to try new foods, which they may not otherwise be willing to try.

To set up a taste test, all you need is a small divided container and an assortment of different foods and snacks. This square silicone baking tray is great for a kids taste test because it’s small, easily washable, and has 9 squares to hold different foods. Once my kids receive their trays, we talk about which foods are sweet, salty, spicy, sour, and bitter. A taste test is a fun way to turn snack time or lunch into an educational activity!

Big Preschool Workbook

Additionally, my 3-year-old son can work on his own preschool workbook at his own pace, reinforcing his skills of tracing, drawing shapes and learning about colors. I’ve purchased this Big Preschool Workbook twice now for my kids. The pages are filled with colorful illustrations and easy-to-follow instructions. Similar activities are grouped together so kids can practice mastery of each skill. My son especially enjoys the tracing activities and coloring in shapes. I believe this workbook is also available for the kindergarten level too.

Homemade Sidewalk Chalk Paint

Homemade sidewalk chalk paint is simple to make using a few basic ingredients. You can even add glitter for sparkly, sensory fun! We made homemade chalk paint in several colors, which my kids loved using to paint the sidewalk in front of our house! To make sidewalk chalk paint, it’s important to use water-soluble ingredients that won’t damage your sidewalk or driveway.

DIY Chalk Paint Ingredients

1 cup water
1 1/2 cups cornstarch
2 tbsp. baking soda
3-4 drops food coloring

First, mix together the water, cornstarch and baking soda until fully combined. The baking soda helps keep the cornstarch from getting goopy. Next, divide the white paint into small containers. Finally, add several drops of food coloring to make each color of paint. Stir each container of paint until the color is fully mixed and even. You can find our full sidewalk chalk paint instructions here.

Backyard Scavenge Hunt

Furthermore, a backyard scavenger hunt is a fun way to turn backyard play into an adventure! Challenge your kids to a discovery game of finding things around the yard. Start by creating a list of treasures for your kids to find, and offer a prize for completing the outdoor scavenger hunt. Possible treasures could include an interesting rock, tiny shells, a bug, or colorful flowers.

Scavenger Hunt Treasure List

• big pinecone
• caterpillar
• quartz
• interesting rock
• feather
• berries
• old bird nest
• flowers
• bugs
• worm
• textured bark
• oversized leaf
• seed pods
• herbs
• shells

Stomp Rocket

When my kids were young, they loved playing with stomp rockets. They’d play for a hour, fitting the foam rockets onto the stomp launcher and jumping on it to make them launch into the sky. My kids took turns launching their rockets, which is good practice sharing with friends and waiting for a turn. Stomp rockets also encourage kids to get exercise while having fun!

Balance Bike

Next on my list is a balance bike, one of my favorite activities for preschool and kindergarten kids. Each of my children learned how to balance on a bike this way. Balance bikes let kids skip training wheels and start building real riding skills right from the beginning. Children as young as 18 months can ride one independently and often transition to a pedal bike by age three.

I truly believe balance bikes are an amazing learning tool for young kids. They teach balance, coordination, and steering in a very natural way. Kids can walk the bike forward, push with their feet, and slow themselves down whenever they need to. The bike only goes as fast as they feel comfortable. All of our kids skipped training wheels entirely and moved from a balance bike straight to a regular bike with confidence.

Kiddy Pool Trampoline

Finally, I’m often on the lookout for yard activities that help my kids burn off extra energy. This trampoline pool from The Shrunks has been such a fun find. It works as a bouncy play surface, and when you flip it over, it turns into a kids’ swimming pool. It’s not as springy as a traditional trampoline, but my kids love rolling around, sliding off the sides, and jumping all over it.

We even used this inflatable bouncer pool in our basement all winter, then moved it outside for summer. The quality has held up really well through lots of use. We keep an eye out for small leaks when inflating, but any tiny holes are easy to fix with the included patch kit or a bit of duct tape. Between the jumping and the splashing, it’s a great way for kids to play hard and have fun outdoors.

All of these activities for preschool and kindergarten make learning fun, keep kids busy, and support healthy development. They also allow me to spend meaningful time with my kids while teaching independence and creativity. Every day with my kids is an adventure! Overall, these simple hands-on activities make our homeschool days full of discovery, laughter, and growth.

Find more creative activities for kids on our Kids Activities page!