homework ideas for 3 year olds

Worksheets for 3-Year-Olds

• Printable worksheets
• Educational videos
• Learning games

1399 filtered results

• Extra Challenge
• Kindergarten
• ABC Letters  
• Tracing Lines and Curves
• Tracing Letters
• Letter Recognition  
• Upper & Lowercase Letters  
• Alphabetizing
• Missing Letters
• Alphabet Coloring Pages
• Phonics  
• Numbers  
• Counting  
• Addition & Subtraction  
• Measurement
• Multiplication  
• Geometry  
• Money  
• Math Coloring Pages
• Word Problems  
• Tracing Words
• Punctuation
• 3 Little Pigs
• Holiday Coloring Pages  
• Color by Numbers
• Flora and Fauna  
• Vocabulary Coloring Pages
• Phonics Coloring Pages
• Cultures and Holidays Coloring Pages
• Weather and Seasons Coloring Pages
• Feelings and Emotions
• Fairy Tale Coloring Pages
• Nursery Rhymes Coloring Pages
• Reading Comprehension  
• Rhyming Words
• Building Vocabulary  
• Building Vocabulary Coloring Pages
• Itsy Bitsy Spider
• 5 Little Monkeys
• Twinkle Little Star
• Governance and Civics
• Good Citizenship
• Our Body and Health
• Plants and Animals  
• The 5 Senses
• Physical Science
• Our Planet and Environment
• Plants and Animals
• Color Words
• Tracing Numbers
• Tracing Shapes
• Cursive Writing  
• Connect the Dots
• Fairy Tales
• Problem Solving
• Black history
• Dinosaurs Day
• International Chess Day
• 4th of July
• Thanksgiving
• Alphabet  
• Math  
• Writing  
• Science  
• Reading  
• Social Studies  
• Maze Puzzles
• Connecting the Dots
• English Language Arts  

Learning Adventure Worksheets for 3-Year-Olds

Embark on a delightful journey of discovery with our Learning Adventure Worksheets, expertly crafted for 3-Year-Olds. These engaging worksheets are designed to stimulate young minds, fostering early learning skills through fun and creativity. Dive into a variety of activities tailored for toddlers, including basic shapes, colors, numbers, and letters, all while developing fine motor skills. Our worksheets are the perfect blend of educational content and playful learning, making them an ideal choice for parents and educators looking to inspire a love of learning in their little ones. Let the adventure begin with our Learning Adventure Worksheets for 3-Year-Olds!

Check out this FREE Trial Lesson for age 3!

Letter A Tracing Page

Geometry Worksheet

Christmas Tree Tracing Winter Words Worksheet

A Fox and Bird Coloring Page

Counting Cupcakes Worksheet

Snowflake Tracing Winter Words Worksheet

Which One Is Different Worksheet

Who Is in a Family? Worksheet

Trace The Circles Worksheet

Red and Blue Coloring Fun Worksheet

Desert Maze Worksheet

Number Match Up Worksheet

The Bingo Song: Coloring The Girl Worksheet

The Lion and The Mouse Sequencing Worksheet

Number 10 Printable

Letter Z Tracing Page

Christmas: Night Before Christmas Printable

Solving Problems: Number Lines Worksheet

Cups, Pints and Quarts With Gallon Man Worksheet

Drawing the Bear's Route by Number Worksheet

Addition Worksheet for Kindergarten

Snowy Day Maze Printable

Letter Q Sounds Worksheet

Itsy Bitsy Spider Nursery Rhyme PDF Worksheet

Related Articles

Worksheets designed specifically for 3-year-olds serve as an invaluable resource in the early stages of childhood development. These educational tools are tailored to meet the unique learning needs and abilities of toddlers, providing a structured yet engaging way to introduce basic concepts such as colors, shapes, numbers, and letters. The interactive nature of worksheets encourages young children to explore and learn at their own pace, fostering a sense of achievement and independence.

For 3-year-olds, who are naturally curious and eager to discover the world around them, worksheets offer a fun and stimulating way to channel their energy into productive learning experiences. They help develop fine motor skills as children learn to hold pencils, trace lines, and color within boundaries, preparing them not just for academic success, but for everyday tasks. Moreover, these activities support cognitive development, enhancing attention, memory, and problem-solving skills.

Incorporating worksheets into the daily routine of 3-year-olds also promotes the development of concentration and patience, as they learn to focus on completing tasks. This early introduction to structured learning paves the way for a smoother transition to more formal education settings in the future.

Ultimately, worksheets for 3-year-olds are more than just simple paper activities; they are stepping stones that build a solid foundation for lifelong learning and development.

Related Worksheet

You'll be able to manage the favorite spreadsheets list.

You’ll be able to hide/mark the accomplished tasks.

• School / District Account
• Family Account
• 2 PDF worksheets per day
• Interactive worksheets
• Targeted ads
• KidsAcademy ads

$ 1.99 / month

• Printable and interactive worksheets
• Learning videos
• Ad-free browsing

• Engage students and save time with ready-to-use premium educational activities.
• Unlimited Learning Library access

$9.99 / month

Cancel anytime

Does My 3 Year Old Need Preschool?

I found preschool to be so beneficial for my daughter at this age. The socialization is one of the biggest benefits of a preschool program.

They’ll be exposed to so many new opportunities that may not be available at home like different toys and learning materials, daily structure and routines, learning to respect their teachers, various educational activities, much more.

I don’t believe that preschool at 3 years old is absolutely necessary and your child will be fine without it. However, I would enroll a 4 year old in some sort of program to get them prepared for Kindergarten.

Some schools or daycares offer full day or half day preschool and you can choose whether your child goes every day or a few times a week.

Get A Year of Activities for Your Child FREE!

Sign up here to get an email every month with new and exciting crafts, activities, and printables for your children. 

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

What You Can Teach Your Three Year Old

If you’re not in the education field, you may be unsure of simple ways to teach your three year old or ways to incorporate new learning into everyday activities.

Below are a bunch of things that you can help your 3-year-old learn and understand. Practice and exposure is the best way to develop new skills with your child so try and make every opportunity a learning opportunity you can.

This list is for children in the 3 year old range up to 4. Not exclusively once they turn three.

Also, always remember that every child develops at their own pace so don’t worry too much if your child doesn’t have all of these skills yet. This isn’t a list of what they should know at this point, but rather a guide to help you understand what they are capable of learning at this age.

1. New Vocabulary

Your 3-year-old will probably be speaking in full sentences or at least long 4-5 word phrases by now. Three year olds should have at least 250-500 words in their vocabulary as well.

Although there are way too many words to give you a full list, here are some of the common words, phrases, and concepts that your three year old should be able to say and understand:

• Body parts , Animal sounds and names , Friends/Family Names (and their own first, middle, last), Vehicles , Household objects (food, utensils, furniture, clothing, etc)
• Colors and Shapes
• Direction words (below, above, next to, on top, underneath, etc.)
• Days of the week, Months of the year, Seasons, Weather (sunny, rainy, cloudy, windy, snowy, hot, cold, etc.)

If your 3-year-old isn’t talking much at this point or is not trying to speak in full sentences, mention it to your pediatrician. Here are more  tips to get your child to talk  here.

2. Conversational Speech

Your 3 year old should be able to ask and answer simple questions and tell simple stories or anecdotes. They’ll probably be asking a lot of WHY questions as they are curious to learn all about the world around them.

Be sure to answer them with the correct responses and not just ignore their requests for information. Every question is an opportunity to teach your child and you don’t want them to miss out on those experiences.

It’s also important to make corrections in their grammar. When they were 2, some of the things that they said wrong sounded pretty cute. However, now that they’re 3, you don’t want them to get into bad habits of the way they speak.

Whether they’re pronouncing a world wrong, using the wrong tense, pronoun, or grammar, the only way they will learn the right way is if you correct them. So let them know the right way to say the word or sentence and have them repeat it back to make sure that they understand.

In order to get your child to initiate conversation or answer your questions , you can:

• Ask them about their favorite characters/shows/books/toys. What easier way to get a kid to talk than to get them talking about their favorite tv show or super hero?
• Ask them about their day , ie. what did you eat for lunch? What did you play with in the bath tub?
• Ask them for their opinions
• Tell them to ask you about the above mentioned things

If they still tend to give you one-word answers, ask them more questions to get them to elaborate. The more you ask. the more responses you will get. In turn this will help them to realize that they need to add more detail in their responses.

3. Reading books

At 3, your child should understand the concept of “reading” a book. They won’t actually be reading the words , but they should know how to grab a book, hold it the right way, and flip through the page independently.

They should be able to get a good understanding about what is happening in the book by looking at the pictures . They should even recognize that there are letters and words on the page that mean something, but won’t know exactly what they say or mean.

Read to your child everyday to instill their interest in reading. When you are reading to them:

• Use your finger to follow the words on the page so they start to associate the letters with what you’re saying
• Read word-for-word what the text says on the page instead of making up words or describing what the pictures look like
• Ask them questions about what they see on the pages

Your 3 year old may even be able to answer some inferential (why) questions (although this is a tougher skill), but it can’t hurt to try and ask them some of the questions. These are questions that the book doesn’t actually give the answer to, but the child has to think about their own answer or reason. For example, Why is the girl sad in this story? Why shouldn’t the boy have crossed the street? Why did the dog jump over the bone?

Reading doesn’t have to begin and end with books; labels on cereal boxes, words on toys, printed words on street signs, text on the television, or signs at stores are some examples where you can point out words and letters.

Related Post:  The Outstanding Benefits of Reading to Babies and Toddlers

4. Promote Independence

Your three-year-old should be doing many things on their own now so be sure to give them these opportunities to learn, understand, and make mistakes (within limits, of course).

Of course they may not have perfected every skill yet, but the only way a child will learn is by doing it themselves. You can give them a hand completing the task once they’ve finished.

They should be increasing their independence in areas like:

• Dressing : choosing their own clothes, dressing for the weather (warm items or cool items), taking on/off a shirt, pants, underpants/pull-up, shoes, and socks, and learning the right way to put on items (backwards, forwards), and that shoes are on the right feet.
• Self-feeding:  using utensils without spills, choosing their own meals and snacks (check out these  veggie puffs ), opening containers, drinking from an open cup with some supervision, and why it’s important to eat healthy. I love these utensils as my 3 year old graduated from her “baby utensils” to wanting to be just like mom and dad- these look like our silverware but are a perfect size for preschoolers.
• Brushing teeth and hair:  Teach them how to brush correctly on their own (back and forth, top and bottom), putting toothpaste on (with help), and why it’s important to keep our teeth clean. My 3 year old LOVES using an electric toothbrush like this one , especially the ones with their favorite characters.
• Cleaning up:  wiping up messes, putting toys away, bringing dishes, cups, & utensils to the sink when done, throwing away their garbage, using handheld vacuum to clean, and putting away toys when completing activity
• Hygeine : Blowing their nose, washing their hands, using a washcloth to wash themselves in the tub. Make washing hands and standing at the sink much easier by using stools and sink faucet extenders .
• Transitions:  Getting in and out of the car on their own, going up and down the stairs, ending one activity and moving to the next without complaining, turning on/off lights when entering/leaving the room

Be sure to model and show your childhood to do these skills the right way so that they don’t keep practicing something the wrong way.

5. Pretend Play

Using their imagination opens up a world of fun and play for your 3 year old. This skill typically comes naturally as they copy and imitate what they see in the real world, in books, or on tv.

They will use a combination of imagination and reality to copy the things they see daily , like these:

• Cooking in a play kitchen with pots and pans
• Hosting a tea party for their dolls and stuffed animals
• Feeding, burping, and changing a baby doll with play spoons, bottles, and diapers
• Talking on the phone with a play cell phone
• Playing doctor with a doctor or nurses kit
• Going shopping with a shopping cart and fake food
• Driving a car
• Sweeping, mopping , and vacuuming the floor
• Dressing up as their favorite princess , super hero, or character

At 3 years old, your child should have moved passed scribbling and be able to make intentional marks on the paper. They should be able to draw a:

• straight line down
• straight line across
• cross ( + )
• other shapes such as a square or triangle come later, but they can still attempt these, but may need help or the angles won’t be perfect

You can also guide them into making drawings using those elements (lines and circles), for example to draw a sun, a person (stick figure), or a flower . Of course, these drawings won’t be perfect, but they’re gaining insight as to how to make their marks on the paper look like something real.

Imitation is the best way to have your child learn to draw at this age, meaning that you draw one line and have them watch and repeat the same thing . This as opposed to copying (where you just show them the picture and expect them to figure out how to draw it).

7. Coloring and Painting

At age 3, your child can start learning how to color a picture correctly. You can guide them by showing them how to:

• Stay within the lines of a shape, border, or object
• Finish coloring each section without leaving a ton of white spots
• Use correct colors for certain objects, ie. coloring a strawberry red and a horse brown, instead of just picking any color that they choose
• Use different colors for different sections of a picture, ie. Coloring a beach scene with blue for the water, yellow for the sun, green for the palm tree, etc. instead of jut coloring the whole thing one color

Be sure that they are holding their crayon with the correct grasp at all times. I highly suggest  these finger crayons  for the young ones.  They are perfect for little hands and promote a good grasp when holding the crayons.

If your child likes markers, but you don’t trust them being alone in a room with them, these Crayola Mess-Free Coloring Sheets are my absolute favorites!

The markers come out clear if they are used on any other surface besides the paper. On these special sheets, they’ll turn a color so your toddler sees the masterpiece that they are creating. They have so many characters available so I’m sure you can find a pack that your child will love.

Tracing is a great visual motor skill (hand-eye coordination). You can teach your 3 year old to trace lines and letters by:

• Having them use their finger first to trace the line on the paper
• Tracing straight lines first and then working toward shapes, zig zags, and curved lines
• Making sure that they know to stay on the line the best that they can
• Tracing letters in preparation for writing

Cutting is a skill that 3 year olds can begin practicing. They may still have a difficult time, but here are some tips to get your preschooler cutting:

• Be sure to use child safety scissors so they can’t hurt themselves.
• Teach them how to hold the scissor correctly with their thumb toward the ceiling on both the cutting hand and helper hand
• Position the paper in front of them  while they are cutting instead of holding it off to the side or way up high.
• Make sure that their  arms, shoulders, and elbows are down and relaxed  as they cut right in front of them. As they’re concentrating, children tend to hike up their elbows and cut up high.
• Once they are able to make small snips on the paper by just opening and closing the scissors, teach them how to cut on a straight line
• Use sturdier paper like construction paper to make holding and stabilizing the paper easier on them.

10. Numbers and Counting

Your 3 year old may be able to count up to 20 (with some errors at times) from memory and maybe even up to 30 with more practice. They can also work on recognizing and identifying numbers and counting objects.

You can practice counting with so many different, everyday objects :

• count each step while you’re walking up the stairs
• count the number of blueberries on their dinner plate
• count the number of toys in their toy bin

Numbers are everywhere so be sure that they are counting whenever they can.

The concept of one-to-one correspondence (one object is one number) should be emerging now. Just show them how to point to each object as they count it and correct them if they start saying 2 numbers as they count one object or skip over objects when counting.

11. Letters and Sounds for Beginning to Read

Your child may already know many of the letters of the alphabet. At this age, they should probably be able to recite the ABC’s from memory (with some errors and help as needed).

Now you can work on recognizing letters, as well as the sounds they make. To make letter learning easier, try these tips to teach your 3 year old:

• Look at both uppercase and lowercase letters when learning . The lowers case letters are the ones that they will see more often when they read or see words.
• Point out letters to them everywhere : on cereal boxes, on street signs, on banners, and on snack bags
• When talking about a letter, always tell them the sound that it makes and a word that has this letter as its starter. For example M: say M says mmm for mom. Always have them repeat you to etch it into their memory.
• Use different sensory modalities to trace, write, or copy their letters . For example, writing them in sand, placing stickers inside the written letter, tracing the letter written in puffy paint with your finger, erasing the letters from a dry erase board , matching upper and lower case letters , etc. Here are some more fun sensory activities for letter learning .
• Sing songs that help them to remember the letters
• Use puzzles with letters for letter matching

These name puzzles from Bloom Owl are a great way to get your child learning the letters of their name. They’ll love playing with the puzzle as they start to recognize the letters they see all the time.

By far my favorite resource for having your child learning letters and letter sounds is the Leap Frog shows on Netflix . They include Letter Factory, Phonics Farm, and more. If you have Netflix you can access these shows! My 20 month old was reciting all of the letter sounds because he loves this show so much!

Once your child has a good memory of most letters and their sounds, you can teach them how to put them together to form short words. At 3 years old, a child may be able to start reading 2 or 3 letter words. Teach them how to use those sounds to read short words from the -at, -et, -it families, such as mat, rat, bat, get, set, let, sit, fit, kit, etc.

Related Post: Sticker Activity for Learning Letters

12. Building

Building helps to improve your child’s hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness. They’ll be able to use their imagination and creativity to create masterpieces and then knock them all down when they’re done.

This Melissa & Doug Alphabet block set  is great to stack and Bristle Blocks are also perfect for stacking, putting together, and taking apart at this age. My 3 year old is also obsessed with Magnetic Tiles – it’s the one toy that just never gets old!

Have them use blocks to encourage imaginative play and see what they can come up with. Building blocks let them problem solve and investigate the world around them. 

13. P uzzles

Puzzles are a great activity for fine and visual motor skills (hand-eye coordination). Having to fit a piece into it’s correct spot by turning and manipulating it is great for visual-spatial awareness.

Your 3 year old should have moved past inset puzzles and can do more complicated interlocking puzzles . Start them out with small interlocking puzzles like these or these , which only have 6-9 pieces per puzzle.

14. Physical Activity, Sports, and Getting Outside

Three-year-olds are known to be pretty wild so you probably won’t need much coaxing to get them active. However, make sure they’re getting plenty of physical activity to learn new gross motor skills . These include:

• Jumping and running
• Climb up and down playground equipment or a jungle gym
• Start learning how to ride a balance bike or a bike with training wheels
• Throwing/catching/kicking a ball
• Hop or stand on one foot for a short time
• Walk backwards

The best way to get them active is to give them lots of outdoor time . Take them to playgrounds to climb on the equipment as they offer so many opportunities for enriching gross motor skills. Take them for a walk and point out all the sights you see.

Your child can also start playing cooperative sports with peers and follow directions by watching someone do a movement. Activities like gymnastics, dance, soccer, swimming lessons, and tee ball are all great organized activities to practice all of the above skills.

15. Music, Dance, and Rhythm

Children love rhythm and music so get them singing, dancing, and exploring their bodies with music. Put on music for them to dance to, sing along to their favorite songs with a microphone , or make their own music with  toy instruments like maracas, xylophone, tamborine, etc .

You can also make musical ‘instruments’ with so many household objects , like shaking pill bottles, banging wooden spoons, or filling plastic Easter eggs or water bottles with uncooked beans or rice.

Do the Hokey Pokey to get them moving and learning body parts. Imitating movements that they see you doing is a great way to develop body and spatial awareness , as well.

Singing songs and doing dances are also a great way for your preschooler to learn and memorize new words and concepts like the days of the week song, months of the year song, head shoulders knees and toes, finger family song, etc. They’ll know their days of the week s quickly if you just put a tune to it!

16. Potty Training

Around 3, many children will be fully capable of using the toilet. If you haven’t started yet, give it a try! Your child may do better than you think.

If they’re already potty trained, make sure that they are fully independent with pulling their pants and underwear up and down, wiping themselves both back and front, and washing their hands afterward.

Be sure to wait until they’re ready and don’t force it on them. Here are some great tips on potty training your child here.

17. Sense of Time

Of course your three year old will not be able to tell time, however you can still teach them a basic sense of time, including:

• Understanding morning, afternoon, and night. They should understand the concept of when they wake up it’s morning, lunch time is the afternoon, and before bedtime is night. They can also understand this better by seeing outside when it’s light or dark.
• Recognizing the numbers on a digital clock . If they can identify numbers, they should be able to see the first number and say it’s 7 o clock. With my daughter, we tell her that 7 o clock is bedtime so when she sees 7 on the digital clock, she knows it’s time to go to bed.
• Knowing when they have 1, 5, or 10 more minutes left. They still won’t have a true sense of how long these increments of time are, but you can try to make them aware that 1 minute is quick, compared to 10 minutes or 20 minutes.
• Days of the week. They may be able to get a sense of what day it is today, what it will be tomorrow, and what it was yesterday

Before they fully have a sense of time, try setting an audio or visual timer when you need to show them when time is up. For example, when you say clean up in 5 more minutes, set a timer for 5 minutes to ring when it’s time.

We love the Time to Wake clocks for my little ones. They let them know when it’s time to call for mom or get out of bed by simply turning a different color when it’s almost time to get up or when they should leave their room.

This is a great visual way for them to “see” and understand time.

Of course, safety is a crucial lesson to teach your child. This is the age where they will probably have no fear or understanding of dangerous situations. The following practices need to be taught to your 3 year old as they may not just come naturally:

• not running away in public
• not running out into a parking lot
• stranger danger
• staying close to mom or dad
• being cautious when crossing streets
• holding hands when in public or outside
• sun safety: applying sunscreen, wearing hats
• being careful of hot items: kitchen appliances, flames, etc.

Speaking of safety for your little ones, the Whystle App is a great resource for all parents to have that tracks all safety information that’s important to your family. This includes product recalls for toys, food, and more that could promote dangers into your home. Download this app free on your phone and then there’s a free trial for the subscription so you never miss an important safety warning.

19. Manners and Respect for Others

Understanding how to properly treat others is a valuable trait to instill in your child. This goes for respecting both adults and other children. It’s important to teach your children how to use polite words and actions to show manners.

At this age, they are still testing their boundaries and exploring new ways of getting what they want. Instill rules for respecting others even through times of frustration.

• Saying  excuse me  when needing someone to move or get their attention
• Patiently waiting  for a parent to finish talking to another parent before chiming in
• Saying  please and thank you  shows consideration and appreciation
• Making  eye contact  when speaking to others
• Apologizing  when you do something wrong
• Ask questions  to others about how their day is or how they are feeling
• Compliment  others on their clothes, hair, or something they did
• Share  their toys or items that belong to them
• No pushing, hitting, biting, or pulling hair to hurt others in any way

20. Staying Healthy: Good Hygiene and Eating Well

Teaching your 3 year old to practice good hygiene and healthy eating is great to start young . Build-in their hygiene routine throughout the day and they will become accustomed to this regimen. Eating healthy foods early on to set them off for a healthy diet for the rest of their life. These include:

• eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and proteins. Avoid: processed foods, unhealthy snacks, and sweets
• washing hands after meals and potty
• brushing teeth morning and night
• bathing daily or every other day
• keeping their clothes and body clean while they eat or play
• covering their mouth when they sneeze or cough
• blowing their nose into a tissue
• wiping their own privates after going potty

Complying with:

• brushing and combing hair
• cutting fingernails and toenails
• cleaning inside ears with a  child safety q-tip

Related Post:  How to Get Your Picky Toddler to Try New Foods

21. Acting Appropriately in Public and Understanding “No”

Preschoolers are very ego-centric (only care about themselves). It’s totally normal for them to only think about how things will affect them. This almost always leads to inappropriate behaviors as they learn what behaviors get them what they want.

Don’t always give in to every cry  and teach them that sometimes they can’t get everything that they want. Don’t always give them the cookie that they’re begging for or the new toy at the store. If they must get the object that they desire, make them earn it.

Teach your 3-year-old how to act appropriately to avoid tantrums in public. Try  putting rules in place  when you are out so they know what is expected of them. Always have a way to redirect or distract them when you see a tantrum starting (using something else they are interested in). Lastly, just avoid situations that could set them off.

This is a great article about  Tips for Cry-Free Shopping with Your Toddler

22. Empathy and Compassion

From a young age, you want to fill your child with compassion and empathy for others . Teach them about emotions and to be conscious of other people’s feelings.

• If they see someone crying, ask what’s wrong.
• If they see someone alone, go over and play with them.
• If they see someone that looks different than them, treat them equally.
• If they hurt someone, apologize and make it better

It’s never too early to talk to your children about race , ethnicity, disabilities, and recognizing differences between others.

23. Structure and a Routine

Your 3 year old probably already has some routine in place throughout their day . However, you want to ensure that they are consistently doing what is asked of them so that they could even do it on their own if needed.

The more structure that your child has in their day, the more they will start to understand time and a daily schedule.

I love using a  routine or responsibility chart (like the blue/green one on the right) so my toddler can have a visual cue of everything that is expected of her. Use  one with pictures  instead of just words, ( like this Mickey Mouse chart ), so your toddler actually understands what it’s for.

Here are some examples of day-to-day routines that you can create a specific pattern for:

• Bedtime: Brush teeth, go potty, wash hands, put pajamas on, read a story, go to sleep
• Morning: Go potty, wash hands, brush teeth, get dressed, eat breakfast
• Before naptime
• Pre-dinner wind-down time
• Cleaning time
• Getting ready for school/daycare : Packing their backpack, putting their jackets and shoes on, getting themselves into the car

Related Post:  Why Your Child Needs a Daily Routine and How to Make One

24. Staying on Task

A 3 year old’s attention span is still quite short, although it should have increased a lot since toddlerhood. It’s only reasonable to ask them to focus on a task for around 6-10 minutes at this age.

However, it is important for them to be aware that once they start a task they should finish it to completion. My daughter loves to grab a puzzle and put in 3 pieces and walk away or sit down and read 2 pages and then walk away.

The goal of teaching your child to stay on task is to complete what they start.  Here are some tips:

• While playing with your child, make sure that they complete the entire activity, ie. puzzle or read through the whole book, before they get up and run around.
• If they’re coloring or building a tower, keep them engaged in that one activity for as long as possible before you let them move on to the next.
• During mealtimes make sure they remain seated and finish their meal before getting up and playing.
• Make sure they clean up one activity before moving on to the next

25. Be a Helper and Doing “Chores”

Little kids LOVE to help grown-ups. They want to do everything that you’re doing because they’re starting to gain this growing confidence and independence. Invite them to perform tasks that they may not be able to do independently, but that they can help you with.

• Get the mail
• Take the trash out
• Refill the toilet paper roll dispenser
• Help with cooking: mixing, adding ingredients
• Carrying in bags or groceries
• Fill the dog bowl
• Entertain a younger sibling
• Cleaning up their toys
• Cleaning up after themselves: throwing their dishes in the sink garbage in the trash can
• Wiping down the table or floor when they make messes

26. Technology

Technology or screen time should be  limited  for preschoolers to no more than 2 hours a day, but it is still important for your child to learn how to use these devices. The fine motor skill of swiping, clicking, and sliding to nagivate through tablets and smart phones are something that your 3 year old can easily learn.

Ipad  educational games like  ABC Mouse are great to sharpen a lot of the educational skills listen above, as well as practice using a tablet or smart phone. There’s a great curriculum based on age and developmental level that teaches them so many new skills.

My 3 year old loves  ABC Mouse because of the wide variety of games and fun. She’s learning how to trace letters, numbers, make new sounds and words, etc.

Leapfrog Laptop  is also a fun interactive computer that little words can learn letters and typing on.

27. Sorting and Comparing

Sorting and comparing is a skill that you can teach your 3 year old. Make them aware of how objects are the same and different. Some of the criteria that they can use to sort is by:

• size (big, medium, small)
• categories (fruits vs. vegetables, farm animals vs. ocean animals)
• pattern (stripes, polka dots, solids)

This sorting pie from Learning Resources is a great way to practice sorting and categorizing objects by the features mentioned above.

28. Follow Multi-Step Directions

Your 3 year old should now have progressed from only understanding and following 1-step directions (i.e. put your shoes on) to following 2-3 step directions (i.e. get your shoes from the closet, put them on, and go wait by the car).

Practice with 2 steps at first to make sure they can focus on the direction given, process it, and carry it out. Then you can try adding in another step to see if they can still follow.

At times, your little one may be distracted to get all the distractions, and that’s ok since their attention span is still short, but as they approach 4, they should really be listening to you intently and follow your commands.

29. Rhyming Words and Opposites

You can teach your 3 year old some rhyming and opposite words at this age, as well. Short words that sound alike (ie. rat, bat and sky, tie) should be easy for them to catch on to.

Opposite words, for example in-out, up-down, should also be learned at this age as they use these words all the time. They should already know the words, but now understanding the meaning and how they are opposites of each other will really get their mind stimulated and understanding these concepts.

30. Sight Words

The first sight word that your preschooler may be able to spell and recognize is their name. Teach them how to spell their name and how to recognize it when it’s written. Those name puzzles shown above are great for practicing this!

Although your child isn’t expected to know sight words until later on, it can’t hurt to expose them to it now. Sight words are words that may not sound the wya they are spelled so they will have to just memorize the way the word looks.

These are typically commonly used words, for example, like, the, and my. As you read to your child, you will probably come across these words several times.

Point out the words to them and tell them what they say. If you tend to read the same books over and over, they should quickly pick up on what a word looks like and say it as you read. Not only soul you point these words out in their favorite book, but wherever you see it whether it’s a cereal box or sign.

Flash cards are also great for learning sight words, however they are a bit young for this.

31. Days of the week/Months of the Year/Seasons

By going over the calendar daily or singing songs, your 3 year old can learn the days of the week and months of the year pretty quickly. They still may not get a true sense of how these time periods work, but they can memorize a list of these items.

Most of these skills listed above can be accomplished at some point while a child is between three and four, but every child develops at their own pace.

This article is not intended to skew your mind into thinking that your child MUST know these concepts. However, if you are looking for activities to do with your child, ways to engage their mind, or knowledge to teach them, these are some great tips. Your child is NOT behind if they can’t adequately do all of these things, but if you are concerned, please speak to your pediatrician.

Have fun teaching your three-year-old and enjoy watching them blossom this year. They’ll be growing and developing before your eyes so don’t blink! Here are some more great activity ideas to do with your little one.

Related posts:

Printables for Busy Moms & Creative Kids

• Organization

Printable Activities for 3-year-olds

Looking for printable activities for 3-year-olds ? I’ve got lots of fun ideas for you here!

If you’re like me, you want to have some fun crafts and activities for your preschooler to do that don’t require a lot of prep… the great news is that there are plenty of free printable activities for 3-year-olds available online that are perfect for busy moms!

These printables for toddlers cover a variety of activity types. Don’t forget that everything you do alongside your 3-year-old can be a learning experience! Talk to them about what they are looking at, what they are sorting/cutting/etc., and anything about their activity that will stimulate their brain to think, learn, and understand even in the smallest of ways.

It’s so rewarding to spend time doing activities with your 3-year-old! Some of these activities they can also do on their own for quiet play time. Whether you are going to give them your full attention or whether you need them to learn to quietly entertain themselves for a short time, there are activity options here that you can use.

Free Printable Activities for 3-year-olds

Keeping a 3-year-old busy with fun activities can keep you busy, but you can get ahead of the game by taking the time *now* to print out a bunch of these activities to have on hand.

I like to keep a folder full of printables for my 3-year-old, and as many as I can, I laminate so she can use them again and again with dry-erase markers.

Ok, on to this amazing list of activities to keep those 3-year-olds busy! 😄

( Six Clever Sisters has 10 more great ideas HERE! )

Have you seen these toddler “scissors” that are self-opening and safe? Great for toddlers doing crafts!

Not ready to use these printables yet? PIN FOR LATER!

Check out THESE free printable letter recognition worksheets!

Printable Pencil Alphabet Puzzles

All About Me Name Worksheets – Letters in My Name

Cookie Jar Letter Sounds Matching

Butterfly Printables

Free Pizza Shapes Match

Printable Popsicle Stick Shape Mats

Learning Activities Binder with Free Printable

Word Search CVC Worksheets Free Printable

Shape I Spy Free Printable

Printable Number Matching Clip Cards

Free Printable Preschool Counting Game

Dinosaur Alphabet Clip Cards

Printable Alphabet Letter Formation Cards

Color Sorting Printable Activity

Comparing objects printable worksheets

Dinosaur Matching Game Printable

Free I Spy Printable

Spot and dot shapes

Sequencing worksheets

8 Adorable Flower Printable Puzzles for Kids

These printable activities for 2-year-olds or these ones for 4-year-olds may also have some activities that your 3-year-old would love!

Pingback: Printable Activities for 2-year-olds - Mom's Printables

Pingback: Printable Activities for 4-year-olds - Mom's Printables

Leave a Comment Cancel

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Email Address *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notify me of new posts by email.

I'm Rachel, and this is my daughter Chloe. We both love digital design, blogging, and crafting! We're glad you stopped by, and we hope you find plenty of helpful printables and craft ideas. Subscribe to our emails so you don't miss out on our newest freebies!

Recent Posts

• Free Printable Thanksgiving Cards to Show Gratitude
• Free Printable Baby Shower Favor Tags, Thank You Gift
• Color by Number Subtraction Worksheet Free Printable
• All About My Dad Printable
• Free Printable Build a Raccoon Craft for Kids

Discover more from Mom's Printables

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

Continue reading

Preschool Worksheets

Welcome to 123 Homeschool Me’s ever growing number of preschool worksheets! We provide teachers, parents, and homeschoolers with a huge variety of pre k worksheets that include no prep activities, hands-on practice, and varied activities to make learning FUN! All of our preschool printables are FREE and perfect for home preschool. Simply scroll below to find the pre-k worksheets you’d like to use and click on the text link to see the post page. On the post page, scroll to the bottom of the post, under the terms of use and click on the >> _ << to print the pdf file.

Plus don’t miss our small smaller smallest worksheets , free superhero worksheets , cute frozen worksheets , free preschool worksheets age 3-4 pdf download , how to make a lava lamp experiment explanation , printable preschool coloring pages , cute animal pattern worksheet , plus free pencil control worksheets

Free Preschool Worksheets age 3-4

Preschoolers learn best through play as they explore the world around them while having fun. So all our preschool activities are exciting, engaging, and playful. Make learning enjoyable to set-up pre-k students for lifetime of learning! Here are the skills preschoolers should master:

• Count out loud and write numbers from 1 to 10
• Say their ABCs and trace Letters of the alphabet from A to Z
• Work on letter recognition – recognizing upper and lowercase letters
• Learn new v ocabulary and literacy skills with books for preschoolers
• Develop fine motor skills – coloring pages help strengthen hand muscles that will need to write and cutting practice helps work on coordination
• Develop problem solving skills
• Encourage confidence, independence, and self-worth as they create crafts they do themselves
• Learn to follow directions
• Learn to recognize and spell their name with clever name activities.
• Identify and name shapes and colors
• Understand sequencing (first, middle, last)
• Demonstrate one to one correspondence.
• Understand opposites
• Retell a story

Free Preschool Printables

We have TONS of  prek worksheets ! If you keep scrolling through the bottom of the page, you will see all our  free preschool worksheets age 3-4  posts arranged by type for your convenience. But because I know it can be overwhelming, here are our most popular preschool activities to get you started!

FREE Printable Alphabet Hats Craft for Learning Letters

Uppercase and Lowercase Letter Crafts

FREE Printable Fingerprint Counting Worksheets Activity

FREE Goldfish Counting Bowls

FREE Color Puzzles Printable Activity

FREE Color Matching Printable Game for Preschoolers

French Fry Name Recognition Activities

Animal Beginning Sounds Clip it Picture Cards Activity

Crazy Roads Preschool Sight Words Game

FREE Printable Pre-Primer Sight Words Books

FREE Printable Disney Cars Sticker Reward Chart

Free Printable Community Signs Worksheets

Weather Unit – Worksheets, Experiments & Activities for Kids

20+ FREE Zoo Animal Scavenger Hunt Printables for Kids

Preschool activities, alphabet crafts, color by number, coloring sheets, letter of the week, letter recognition, name recognition, numbers & counting, playdough mats, pre-writing, printable packs, sight words, stories for kids, word family, writing letters, flashcard & wallcards, free booklogs, science printables, prek worksheets.

Alphabet Coloring Pages

FREE Alphabet Letter Coloring Pages

Shape Pattern Block Pictures Math Activity – FREE Printable Templates!

FREE Printable Minion Worksheet Printables for Kids

FREE Printable Shape Do-a-Dot Marker Worksheets

Printable ABC Alphabet Books with Pictures pdf FREE Booklet download

FREE Printable Solar System Worksheets for kids

FREE Printable Tracing Shapes Worksheets for Kindergarten

FREE Printable Alphabet Tracing Worksheets for Kindergarten

FREE Printable Alphabet Pirate Worksheets for Kids

Simple Scissor Practice Worksheets for Preschool

Reading the Easy Way! 12 Week Preschool Reading Program

Outrageously FUN, Easy Band Aid Art for Kids

Shape Buddies Craft for Preschoolers

Handprint Strawberry Craft for Kids

Tissue Paper Butterfly Crafts for Preschool

EASY Circle Snowman Crafts for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Pre-k worksheets.

Work on a variety of preschool skill swith these super cute themed packs! Each pack has 50-80 pages of educational learning activities for you to choose from because preschoolers love learning with fun themes! So spend a week diving into a dinosaur preschool theme or a farm theme – we have 100 different FREE preschool themed packs to choose from!

FREE Printable The Very Hungry Caterpillar Worksheets

Free printable princess worksheets.

Free Printable Firefighter Worksheets for Kids

FREE Printable Superhero Worksheets and Activity Sheets

FREE Printable Beach Worksheets for Preschool / K / 1st

FREE Printable Panda Life Cycle Worksheets

FREE Printable Ocean Worksheets for Kids

FREE Printable Star Wars Worksheets for Kids

Math activities for preschoolers.

One Fish, Two Fish Activities w/ FREE Dr Seuss Worksheets pdf

FREE Hungry Caterpillar Days of the Week Printables

FREE Animal I Spy Printables Worksheets for kids pdf

FREE Printable Gumball Number Playdough Mats

Farm Color by Number

Free Printable Traceable Calendars 2024 for Kids

FREE Printable Animal Pattern Worksheets for Kindergarten

FREE Printable 2D Sorting Shapes Activity

Preschool flashcards.

FREE Alphabet Flashcards and Printables for Wall

FREE Learning Color Words Printable Worksheets Book

FREE Number Wall Cards & Flashcards Printable 1-20 pdf

FREE Alphabet Desk Chart Line Printable

Preschool Crafts

FUN Bubble Wrap Rain Craft for Spring

Painted Flower Craft Idea for Preschool

NEW! Alphabet Handprint Art

Activities for Preschoolers

Play is learning time for preschoolers! They learn by trying, exploring, and experiencing. Try these ideas:

• building with blocks
• drawing with crayons, markers, colored pencils, paint
• role playing – pretend kitchen, with dolls, plastic tools, etc.
• sensory bings
• simple science experiments

Pre-K Activities

Painting with Edible Marshmallow Paint Recipe for Kids

How to Color Dye Pasta for Necklace Crafts with Preschoolers

Edible Ice Cream Play doh Recipe

DIY Bouncy Ball – Homemade Play Recipe for Kids

FLUFFY Laffy Taffy Apple Slime Recipe – Fall Activities for Kids

Easy White Dish Soap Spider Slime Activity

How to Color Rice the EASY Way

Easy, DIY Microwave Puffy Paint Recipe for Kids

Rain Clouds in a Jar Weather Activities with FREE Worksheet

Rainbow Painting with Cars Activities for Kids

Edible Homemade Sand for Sensory Play – Rainbow Kids Activities

Frozen Rainbow Eruptions – Science Experiment for Preschoolers

Amazing Dry Erase Marker Experiment for Kids

How to Make a Lava Lamp with FREE Experiment Worksheet

Skittles Apple Science Experiment for Kids

To see all of our free activities, scroll below and click on any image to see more about that resource and print the pdf.

Search by Keyword

Three-Year Old Homeschool Preschool

In past generations, small children learned (and learned a lot) through their play, daily interactions at home, etc. Schooling toddlers and preschoolers is a fairly new phenomenon, and I would go as far as to say that formal schooling for your toddlers and preschoolers is actually not a necessity. With that being said, please understand that when it comes to Three-Year Old Homeschool Preschool , you can not mess it up – I promise!

Homeschool Preschool is simply a way to describe you taking advantage of opportunities to guide your little learner as they discover the world around them. When I chat about homeschooling preschoolers, I’m talking about reading with them, playing with them, and involving them in those day-to-day life moments that have the power to teach.

Get our THIS LITTLE HOME OF MINE nEWSLETTER

Delivered directly to your inbox, thank you you have successfully joined the this little home of mine community.

Free Course delivered to your inbox!

How about a free e-course to help you get started with homeschooling your preschooler?

When my oldest turned two, I decided to begin venturing into the world of Homeschool Preschool. I felt that we would both benefit from the structure and routine it would provide during our days together, and as a former classroom teacher, I must admit I was especially excited to plan learning activities for him.

I simply couldn’t help myself!

While I am a firm believer that children learn best through play as well as through interactions with others, I thought it would be fun to have just a few minutes each day dedicated to these learning activities – definitely something that can be practiced while simply playing and reading books aloud with your little one, but I decided to take it a step further – just for fun.

Are you wanting to do the same? If so, simply choose the areas where you would like to focus with your little one, and then gather resources that will assist you in meeting those goals. Please don’t drive yourself crazy overthinking the details. I assure you that there is no wrong way to do this. The only danger is trying to take on too much at once – overwhelming yourself and your child. My first piece of advice for two-year old homeschool preschool?

Keep it simple – Keep it fun.

I assure you it will make all the difference!

This post will provide you with tips and ideas that will make it possible for you to navigate Three-Year Old Homeschool Preschool at home with your child, and my hope is that you and your little one will have a lot of fun learning together!

What Do I Want My Three-Year Old to Learn?

For the three-year old year, I like to focus on the following areas:

Your goals for your little one may differ, but this list will provide you with a good starting point!

• Letter Recognition
• Letter Tracing
• Letter Sounds
• Counting to 20
• Basic Shapes
• Sorting/Classifying
• Cutting/Pasting
• Gross Motor Skills/Fine Motor Skills
• Memorization

What Curriculum Resources Do I Use?

• Abeka’s Phonics Charts 1 & 2
• Abeka’s Letters & Sounds for 3’s
• Abeka’s Numbers & Skills with Button Bear

As part of our daily exercises, we use Abeka ‘s Phonics Charts 1 & 2 . These two charts lay the foundation for Abeka’s entire phonics program.

• letter recognition
• tracing skills
• letter/word association

The Numbers & Skills book offers great counting practice – but it also includes a variety of pages that will encourage:

• color recognition/application
• reasoning skills

ABC Jesus Loves Me  is just one of many websites that offer letter/number printables to use at home! I printed mine on cardstock and laminated them. They have been great for all kinds of different activities. For example, when we are learning about letter B , we might cover of B ‘s with plastic  b ugs or colorful  b uttons or craft  b locks (pictured below) or  b lue pom poms.

For letter C , we roll and c ut play dough to c reate C s on our mat.

For letter V , we might form V s using v egetables!

POST UPDATE: It has come to my attention that the ABC Jesus Loves Me website has changed in its set up – If you find it difficult to access these particular ones, there are lots of other great freebies out (Check Pinterest for sure!) or you might be interested in what Bitty Beginnings offers along these lines! I have really liked her resources!

Check out my favorite laminator! – Laminating sheets available here .

How Do I Stay Organized?

As with the approach we use for two-year old homeschool preschool , I like to focus on one letter of the alphabet each week – starting with A and working our way through Z over a period of 26 weeks. Out of order works great, too if you prefer to do it that way! This letter-a-week approach serves as the framework for my lesson planning (I use that term loosely.) , and books like this have been great resources.

I simply use my personal day planner to jot down three things:

• #1 – Each Monday is marked with a note of the letter of the alphabet we will be focusing on that week.
• #2 – On each day of the week, I make note of any workbook pages I want to complete.
• #3 – On each day of the week, I list the activities that I want to do.

Check out my favorite planner : Simple & Inexpensive!

I typically plan out 1-2 months at a time – leaving room for any holidays, out-of-town trips, etc. that would take us away from our usual routine. There is no need to be strict and rigid with your schedule. One of the most beautiful things about homeschooling is the flexibility it provides. Don’t be afraid to embrace that.

What Do My Lesson Plans Look Like?

Each day begins with our morning time  where we do the following:

• Read from our Children’s Bible
• Practice Memorizing Psalm 23
• Recite The Pledge of Allegiance
• Sing the Days of the Week Song

(Sung to the Tune of “Yankee Doodle”)

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday.

Don’t ask me to sing again, because I’ll do it anyway.

• Sing the Months of the Year Song

(Sung to the Tune “Michael Finnegan”)

January, February, March, and April

May and June

July and August

September, October, November, December

These are the months of the year.

• Practice Abeka Phonic’s Charts 1 & 2

These are all daily practice activities that we go through each morning and then we walk through the worksheets/activities planned for each day.

We typically do one  Letters & Sounds for 3’s worksheet and one  Numbers & Skills with Button Bear worksheet each Monday and Wednesday with a third Letters & Sounds for 3’s worksheet either on Tuesday or Thursday  – for a total of five worksheets per week.  Five worksheets?! Five worksheets a week?! For a three-year old?! Let me clarify! Each of these worksheets are very basic with a simple activity of either tracing [for example] one uppercase and one lowercase letter or tracing a single number and coloring a picture that goes with it. Simple. Simple. Simple. I am absolutely not in favor of overwhelming little ones with an over abundance of worksheets!

Here’s an example of what our first two weeks of three-year old homeschool preschool might look like:

Week #1: letter a.

Monday, September 1st: Letters & Sounds for 3’s Page 3 and  Numbers & Skills Page 3 ;  Color or Paint the Letter A page from the Melissa & Doug Easel Tablet ; Cut up an apple – Count the pieces – Eat the apple.

Tuesday, September 2nd:  Read a nimal books; Use the A  alphabet stamp to “stamp” A ‘s on a flat piece of play dough; Play with alphabet stickers; Serve a sparagus with dinner.

Wednesday, September 3rd: Letters & Sounds for 3’s Page 5 and  Numbers & Skills Page 5 ; Count to 10 with counting chips; Complete cutting/gluing Activity; Attend Storytime/Musictime at the local library.

Thursday, September 4th:  Sing the alphabet using letter flashcards;  Letters & Sounds for 3’s Page 11; Trace zigzags with highlighter; Play shape-matching game.

Friday, September 5th: Play with alphabet puzzles; Use popsicle sticks to create the Letter A ; Paint with q-tips; Interact with Starfall website; Attend drop-in art class at the local art center.

Now I Eat My ABCs Available Here

Week #2: Letter  B

Monday, September 8th: Letters & Sounds for 3’s Page 7 and Numbers & Skills Page 7;   Color or Paint the Letter B  page from the Melissa & Doug Easel Tablet; Trace student’s name with a highlighter; Blow b ubbles; Make b anana icecream.

Tuesday, September 9th: Read b ug book; Using an B -shaped cookie cutter, “cut” B ‘s   out of play dough; Play with alphabet magnets; Serve b eans with dinner.

Wednesday, September 10th:  Letters & Sounds for 3’s Page 9   and  Numbers & Skills Page 9 ; Count to 10 with counting  b ears; Complete cutting/gluing Activity; Attend Storytime/Musictime at the local library.

Thursday, September 11th: Sing the alphabet using letter flashcards;   Letters & Sounds for 3’s Page 13; Sing a song while passing a b all back and forth; Using a letter B  alphabet stamp [and washable ink pad], cover a piece of construction paper with letter B ‘s; Play shape-matching game

Friday, September 12th: Read b ear books;   Cut large, colorful letter B ‘s   out of a magazine, and allow your little one to glue them to a piece of construction paper; Interact with a favorite preschool math YouTube channel;Attend drop-in art class at the local art center.

*Some of our favorite YouTube Channels: Super Simple Learning , Maple Leaf Learning , Oh My Genius , Storybots , Edewcate , Jack Hartmann , Patty Shukla , and Mother Goose Club .

Complete A-Z Alphabet Letter Learning Packet Available from Bitty Beginnings

As you can see, I like to keep the activities as simple as possible – No complicated crafts and projects here! I only list ideas that I know can realistically be carried out in our day-to-day, and I keep my list short and sweet – unless I need to make additional notes to trigger my memory regarding the details of a specific activity.

For example, Monday’s notes for Week #2 might simply say: 

• Color Letter B
• Banana Icecream

Alphatales Big Book Available Here

Alphatales Book Bundle Available Here

This quick list is all I need to guide me in carrying out the activities I have brainstormed for each day. You may find that a different method works for you, but my goal is to keep things simple and fun !

Shapes Trace-n-Erase Chalkboard: by Chalk Full of Design

Please know that these specific activities have been tailored to fit the needs of my little ones and you may find yourself drawn to different ideas for your learner. Another beautiful thing about homeschooling is that you can plan your lessons specifically for your child , so don’t hesitate to do just that!

Overwhelmed by the way I just explained my lesson planning?

Maybe this view will help:

Our Weekly Schedule:

Bible Reading/Bible Memory/Memory Songs

Abeka Phonics Charts 1 & 2

Letters & Sounds Tracing Worksheet

Numbers & Skills Counting Worksheet

Hands-On Letter/Number Activities

Visit to the Library

A Beka Phonics Charts 1 & 2

Visit to the Art Center

Interested in having access to ALL of my lesson plans A through Z? I’ve released them HERE !

Yes, I’ve done all the work for you – providing you with a multi-sensory approach to teaching more than JUST the alphabet: Library Lists, Snack Ideas, STEM Activities, Sensory Explorations, Art Experiences, Outdoor Play, and more!

Now, for my #1 homeschool organization tip:  On Sunday night, I gather any workbooks/supplies I want to use in the coming week – usually placing everything down in a basket. Once a busy week begins, everything I need is right there at my fingertips…which ensures the activities will actually happen as I hope.

Where Do I Find My Supplemental Activity Ideas?

I like to brainstorm ahead of time about what kinds of activities my child will enjoy doing. Does your child love board books? Puzzles? Do you own any educational toys/games that they especially enjoy? Is your little one artistic? Musical? Consider these kinds of questions and then tailor your activities to their interests. This guarantees they will enjoy learning with you, and that is most definitely the number one goal !

Alphabet Animal Flashcards Available Here

If you find that an activity isn’t working well (and there can be a variety of different reasons why this might be the case), don’t stress. Simply stop what you’re doing and redirect. No worries!

If you’re having trouble coming up with ideas for your little one, I have one word for you:  Pinterest ! Hey, even if your creative juices ARE flowing, I would still suggest checking out Pinterest . Search “Letter of the Week Activities”, and you will be all set with fun ideas to last you from A to Z.. .and then some! Free letter/number printables, simple alphabet-related craft ideas (Have I mentioned that I’m all about simple?), tasty snack suggestions for each letter of the alphabet, and more – It’s all there for you! In fact, you will discover more ideas than you could ever possibly do, so just pick a few that sound especially fun [and do-able] , and you will be all set for a great year.

FREE A-Z Do-a-Dot Packet Available Here – Another great FREE Set Here

Do-A-Dot Markers* Available Here – *These have also been spotted at Marshalls/TJ Maxx!

In the early days, that is what I did- putting all of my favorite activities together in this resource that I make available here at This Little Home of Mine :

Where Do I Find My Supplemental Resources:

Most of my educational supplies/toys have come from yard sales, thrift stores, and consignment sales! You can even find great resources at the dollar store/in the dollar spot!  You do not have to spend a lot of money to provide great resources for your children.

A Few Final Thoughts:

Some educators feel that Abeka’s curriculum is too traditional, but I love the strong foundation it provides! This is not to say that the program is for everyone! Every child is different…every parent teaches in their own unique way…but this is simply why we have chosen to use it for our preschoolers.  Some parents may feel overwhelmed by the thought of learning Abeka’s phonics curriculum. I can completely understand this as it may seem like a foreign language to those who have never taught it; but I promise that after a little bit of time, it becomes second nature to you and your child! Abeka ‘s preschool curriculum allows you to start with basic concepts and then grow from there as your child moves along in the program.

Curious about how to extend Abeka’s Phonics program on in to the four-year old year? Click here!

In addition to the above lesson plans, we also like to incorporate Kumon workbooks in to our at-home learning routines. We have used Kumon workbooks  throughout the school year as well as during the summer months. They provide great reinforcement, but I would highly suggest testing the waters to see what your child is able to do as you definitely do not want them to feel overwhelmed.

My First Book of Uppercase Letter s Available Here

My First Book of Lowercase Letters Available Here

My Book of Numbers 1-30 Available Here

There are so many great [age-appropriate/developmentally-appropriate] workbooks and activity ideas out there – find what your little one loves and let that be your guide! Don’t over think it. Don’t compare to others. Allow their play to guide you, and you will be amazed what your preschooler will learn!

FREE Alphabet Printables Available Here

Whether we realize it or not, lots of learning is going on during typical childhood activities: rigorous outside play, building with blocks, assisting with household chores, coloring/painting at an easel, cutting/pasting with paper and glue, designing with play dough, creating with Legos. Especially at this age, it is important that we value these things!

My kids love when I read aloud to them! They are big fans of play dates at the park and trips to the library for music time/story time. They enjoy going to the art center and doing little projects in the garage with their dad. They love taking “nature walks” and playing outside with water, bubbles, sand, and chalk. These daily experiences are where so much learning is happening , and in my mind, Homeschool Preschool is simply for reinforcement and enrichment.

Want access to a printable that you can use to brainstorm fun activities for your little ones?

Interested in more information about homeschooling your preschooler? I offer the following posts:

• Two-Year-Old Homeschool Preschool
• Three-Year-Old Homeschool Pre-school
• Four-Year-Old Homeschool Pre-school

as well as a free Homeschool Preschool e-course designed to encourage you as you get started!

Want to read more about our family’s Lifestyle of Homeschooling ? Our daily schedule? A look at our week? I would be honored to share with you how we have adopted a lifestyle of living and learning together and how you can do the same with your own family:

Homeschooling Resources Just for You

Similar posts.

Pouring Station

Water play activities have always been big hits in our house! This simple idea – a Pouring Station – is so versatile and easy to set up. Where to Set Up a Pouring Station This…

Painting Seashells

Hunting for shells has always been a favorite beach activity for our family. Cue photo memories from past beach trips – here come the tears! Painting seashells when we get home – another favorite thing…

Sensory Learning: Whole Body Number Line

Sensory Learning is a goal I have for all the kids in my house! How can I bring what they’re learning up off the pages of a textbook or a workbook? This Whole Body Number…

Groundhog Day Books for Kids

Groundhog Day – sure, it may all feel a little silly, but around here, we kind of like having something smack-dab in the middle of winter to enjoy together. We like watching the whole scene…

Homeschooling Special Needs

There are many advantages of homeschooling a child with special needs. Not only does it gift you with the opportunity to strengthen the bond between you and your unique learner. It also provides your child…

Garden Books for Kids

This sweet stack of Garden Books for Kids has the power to teach! Through the pages of great interactive books, kids can learn all kinds of things about plants. There is nothing better than cuddling…

Does your child want to learn to play chess?

Is the phonics charts 1&2 a separate book or is it located within the basic phonics charts 1-3? That may sound silly, I just want to make sure I’m ordering the right thing. I love how organized your method is.

Thanks so much, Sabrina! I’m so glad we’ve connected! Yes, they are from the large packet of phonics charts, and I just introduce each one as they’re ready to move on. Keep me posted on how things go for you guys!

I am excited to start! Can you please provide a link for the charts to purchase? I am confused…I found the other two books under resources but can’t seem to find where to purchase the charts…

Yay! Keep me posted on how things go! 🙂 These are the charts we use: https://www.abeka.com/ABekaOnline/BookDescription.aspx?sbn=95354

Hi, I love your site, such a great resource! I was wondering, I went onto the ABC Jesus Loves me site, is there a link you can provide to the free stuff? It seems like everything costs money?

I recently hopped over there, too, and it looks like the setup has changed in recent months! I definitely need to look into this and update the post! I’m so excited to connect with you, Ashley!

When you say the “three-year old year” does that mean they have turned 3 or are turning 3?

Simply love your blogposts about homeschooling.

Comments are closed.

No Time For Flash Cards

preschool activities, preschool crafts, and preschool books.

August 6, 2013 | 76 Comments

75 Everyday Activities For 3 Year Olds

What are your favorite activities for 3 year olds? These simple activities aren’t just for 3 year olds, they are great activities and preschool learning games for older kids too! Don’t miss my new book Everyday Preschool , it’s the best book for parents who want to make sure their child is learning every day.

Finding the right activities for 3 year olds should be easy… but it isn’t. This summer my daughter and I have had a lot of time to play. Extra time in fact because she decided when she turned 3 to give up naps. With her brother home from school for the summer, my attempts at forcing the issue have been met with refusal. I am going to try again in a month when her brother returns to school but in the meantime, she has quiet time, earlier bedtimes and lots of simple activities like these peppered throughout the day. For more specific games for 3 year olds check out our post here with our favorites! If you have a younger child check out our similar list of 75 TV Free Activities For Toddlers . These 3 year old activities have been the bulk of what we’ve done this summer. Big projects are fun but day in and day out this is what we do.

This post contains affiliate links.

Fun Activities for 3 year olds

• Playdough sculptures with dry spaghetti.
• Fill a table with books and read, read, read.
• Play doctor with dolls.
• Take a walk and hunt for colors.
• Play with puzzles.
• Look at family photos together.
• Create with peel and stick jewels .
• Read through catalogs.

Need more preschool learning games and fun? Keep Reading!

• Eat lunch outside.
• Play in a box.
• Paint with watercolors.
• Play with stickers.
• Play sports in the yard.
• Play-Doh and sequins.
• Play Simon Says.
• Make a balance beam out of painter’s tape and walk it!
• Play in a kiddie pool.
• Water some plants

What are some easy things to do with a 3 year old? Keep reading!

• Play with a light table ( easy DIY here ).
• Play with cold cooked spaghetti.
• Cook together.
• Play with the hose.
• Dress up some dolls.
• Take silly pictures together.
• Play hide and seek.
• Play with stamps.
• Paint your toenails with kid-safe nail polish .
• Run Through the sprinkler.
• Write in a journal with markers, stamps, and crayons.
• Go to the beach.
• Learn about emotions with Mr. Potato Head.
• Go to the library.
• Read with a sibling.
• Call Grandma ( or Aunty, Uncle… you get the picture.)
• Help clean.
• Play dentist with dolls.
• Finger paint.
• Draw with chalk on black construction paper.

What are the best activities for 3 year old ?

• Play dress-up.
• Take markers and paint onto the porch for art outside.
• Play School
• Mix sidewalk chalk and other toys for pretend play outside.
• Scrap paper collages. All you need is some paper and glue!
• Jump in puddles. I don’t know of a better activity for a 3 year old than this one!
• Build a tower out of recycling.
• Wash the car.
• Backyard nature hunt. Tape painter’s tape sticky side out on a window or wall and have your child stick what they find on it.
• Take some pictures.
• Have a tea party.
• Practice cutting with playdough!
• Make a ramp with cardboard and drive matchbox cars down it.

• Play-Doh with pipe cleaners.
• Wash push cars, scooters, and bikes.
• Go for a hike.
• Play airplane or train with your kitchen chairs.
• Wash windows with water and vinegar.
• Turn snack bars into shapes and practice using a knife at the same time.
• Play alone. Yes, it’s more than OK, it’s incredible to let kids play alone . Let your 3 year old think up their own activities. We don’t need to entertain them 24/7 !

What is your family’s favorite everyday activity? Not listed? Add it in the comments and tell us why your kids love it!

Need more activities to do with  3 year olds?

Become an Email Subscriber

Sign up above and receive all new No Time for Flashcards posts directly in your email inbox.

You may also like these posts

76 Comments

August 6, 2013 at 9:08 am

Thank you for the fun reminders! Sometimes it’s easy to fall into similar patterns and it’s nice to mix it up with simple, but different fun activities.

July 9, 2020 at 7:26 am

This is so great I am going to be running a camp soon for 4 little girls that are toddlers and I am 13!

Pragmaticmom says

August 6, 2013 at 12:56 pm

What great ideas to keep toddlers busy!

June 26, 2020 at 12:13 am

72 is an everyday lately and I didnt even teach her to do that. Kids and their natural fascination with choo choo trains.

To add to the list, how about build a castle out of blocks

April 19, 2024 at 3:51 pm

We take a pail and go outside and have a scavenger hunt. Bring the items in the house and use them for a decoration or make a picture.

Kirstylee @ Moms Have Questions Too says

August 6, 2013 at 12:58 pm

These are so great. I often get caught up in the big projects and forget to do the simple things like these. Plus, this is a great list to turn to when netflix is getting tempting. 😉

Allison McDonald says

August 6, 2013 at 3:57 pm

Exactly! My 3 year old is watching Ni Hao Kailan right now , every day isn’t always perfect and that’s OK.

September 18, 2019 at 11:28 am

Great post. Thank you very much. I’m not a big fan of TV, so this compilation should definitely help us a lot as a family to have lots of fun away from TV

Liisa Direen says

August 6, 2013 at 3:22 pm

That’s a great list, thank you. I’d like to share of my favourite activities with my 3 yr old son. I have a container of junk I have collected, scraps, bottle tops broken toys etc. and we set it up as rubbish tip. He loves getting his toy Rubbish truck and moving the junk around and taking it to the pretend rubbish dump. Simple and entertains him for ages 🙂

June 12, 2016 at 11:29 am

I love this idea!

Peggy Carbajal says

December 9, 2020 at 7:44 am

I have empty boxes of various sizes that I have taped shut. We use to stack and topple over. Also can be used to sort from smallest to largest , shortest to tallest.

Lori Morales says

August 6, 2013 at 4:03 pm

Luv the of handy fun! We play with shaving cream quite often on paper, a tarp, cardboard or even the tub. Adding food coloring and sponge brushes if we feel like making it rainbow fun.

August 6, 2013 at 4:09 pm

Balloons and noodles

OneMommy says

August 10, 2013 at 7:22 pm

Terrific collection of ideas! Definitely sharing this!

Naveen Jain says

November 14, 2013 at 11:42 am

We do beans/rice/pasta in measuring cups to teach about volume

January 11, 2014 at 9:01 pm

This is a great list of activities for 3 year olds. I particularly like the one about playing dentist with dolls. Never thought of that one. I put something similar together on my website http://www.excitedkids.com

Feel free to use any of the ideas their for your website.

Danielle says

February 14, 2014 at 11:02 am

My 3yrs old likes to paint the exterior of the house with water and a paintbrush

October 19, 2014 at 6:49 am

I used to do this for hours when I was a kid! So much fun!!

EMMA ASTILL says

March 4, 2014 at 4:02 pm

Dishwashing liquid some food colouring and a straw. Blow Bubbles above the height of the container then place a piece of paper over the top to make a cool bubbly picture.

Suzanne says

March 28, 2014 at 2:50 pm

Allison, this is an amazing collection of activities. I have been doing a series of everyday activities and the different developmental domains. I just had to add a link to your activities to the end of my post on Cognitive Development. Of course, I have pinned & shared on fb, & twitter, too. Thanks for all the work that went into this post.

March 29, 2014 at 7:19 pm

What a great idea or series. So often we get wowed by the big shiny complicated things when really the basics are what kids need the most.

Caitlyn says

April 6, 2014 at 8:51 am

Thanks for the creative Ideas I have a 3 year old brother and it gets hard to think of different things to do with him when I watch him!!!!!

Kellie says

August 24, 2014 at 8:03 pm

I just stumbled across your blog via Pinterest, but I have to comment! This is a great list of everyday activities to do with a preschooler, but my favorite part about the list is that it isn’t activities for “girls” or “boys”. It is just a great list of kid friendly activities! Thanks so much for sharing!

August 25, 2014 at 9:28 pm

I have a hard time labeling children. I know and respect why some lists are like that but I prefer to just say kids.

June 12, 2016 at 11:32 am

That’s great! I got boys that love to play with dolls. No need to label kids. They all love to have fun!

Susan Morris says

August 9, 2016 at 1:52 pm

A hard time labeling kids? Since when did calling a girl – a girl – and a boy – a boy – become labeling? It’s what they are!?!?!?! What is wrong with you people???

August 11, 2016 at 8:28 am

I am referring to labeling an activity as something a boy would like vs what a girl would like. I don’t do lists like that – I have taught far too many kids who have busted all gender specific activities for me ever to write something like that and feel like there was any girth to it.

Richie says

January 27, 2017 at 7:18 am

Me and my daughter see how many clothes we can get on until we’re big and round.

January 27, 2017 at 7:46 am

This is my favorite comment ever 🙂

Gabriella Taylor says

April 22, 2016 at 11:37 am

Well, she did start this off saying these are activities with her 3 year old daughter. Yes, a lot of the activities don’t depend on the child’s gender, but there are girl specific ones in there. Unless, of course, you’re raising a boy on dress-up and dolls, although that would be unorthodox.

May 4, 2016 at 5:11 pm

So Barbie’s friend Ken and GI Joe aren’t dolls? When children play with dolls it’s an opportunity to discover how they interpret the world. Nothing unorthodox about that.

Melissa says

June 10, 2016 at 7:08 pm

My son has trucks, planes, duplo, Batman, an Elsa doll, multiple Disney figurines ranging from Buzz Lightyear to Cinderella…toys are just toys until we put a gender label on them.

RILEY! says

October 20, 2020 at 7:39 pm

i personally like the last one!

September 2, 2014 at 5:27 pm

Great ideas! My girls love when I hide a surprise (a toy, utensil, sock, etc) in a pillow case and they have to stick their hand in and guess what it is without being able to see it.

December 31, 2014 at 7:09 pm

When my son was little I would roll out butcher paper onto the kitchen floor and tape it in place. Then he would paint all over it and we’d use it through out the year for wrapping presents. You could use plain brown paper as well. Stores sell it in rolls. We also used to go for a hike in our local park and turn over rocks and look for lizards and snakes! we used to make Christmas ornaments together too. He’s 25 now and we made some together this year. Good memories:)

Natalie says

October 16, 2016 at 5:53 am

Love the idea of wrapping Christmas presents in the butcher paper! I have a little artist that’s just waiting to create some wrapping paper. Thanks!

Sharon Chastain says

February 9, 2020 at 7:03 pm

When my brother and I were little, we used to roll out a big sheet of butcher paper and then draw an aerial view of a city complete with roads. We used to use his little cars and we would drive all over our city. The maps got bigger as we got bigger. I did this again with his grandson and we spent hours deciding what to put in our city. We had a library, a Starbucks Drive through, a school, a fire station you name it! We had a park and we had our homes. We built our houses out of blocks right on top of the city. Perfect for a 5-8 year old. Entertains for hours!

January 9, 2015 at 3:24 pm

Sometimes it’s a lot of fun with my niece to take different colored construction paper, kids scissors, and a glue stick and just let them cut out different shapes and glue it to another piece of paper, they can also color it. If you’re worried about a mess, you can use a plastic table cloth. Also fun to have a mini chalkboard and paint with water and a paintbrush 🙂 going to some place like a park with ducks and feeding then is always a lot of fun. I’ve also had a lot of fun making bread with them and letting them dump ingredients in and watching it rise. Always fun to put food coloring in too

January 20, 2015 at 10:34 pm

Its really great to see so many activities. all of the are fun learning activities.

July 30, 2015 at 11:46 pm

My stairs are carpeted. I put a single bed (foam) mattress on them. Kids have GREAT fun sliding down it! You could also use an open cardboard box.

March 20, 2020 at 8:02 am

Or a mummy sleeping bag I did this all the time as a kid in the house I grew up in!

August 2, 2015 at 5:10 am

This is brilliant! I have a three year old niece and all she ever wants to do is play doctors with me. As much as I love her, I absolutely hate playing doctors now. This list should keep us busy and hopefully distract her from the doctor game

When I was younger, we used to get a glass of washing up liquid and food colouring, blow bubbles through a straw and put a piece of paper underneath, keep blowing until the bubbles overflow and you get a lovely picture xx

November 23, 2015 at 9:39 am

My 3 year old has always loved tying knots in a 2 foot length of rope- tying chairs, trees, back of the seat in the car…keeps him busy and QUIET for hours! At some point I will get him a book of knots to see if he can follow the instructions.

April 8, 2016 at 7:24 am

Thanks for the tips!! Duly noted! A simple game my kids have enjoyed since they were babies is you screw up a piece of paper and put it in one hand. Then you pass it quickly from one hand to the next and then suddenly stop with the paper in one of your hands and turn both your fists down. The child then has to remember which hand the paper ended up in. It’s great when you’re out and about and need sudden entertainment.

August 20, 2016 at 11:15 am

If you have long-ish grass (clover works well), you can tie the end(s) of a blade of grass into loops and loop them together into a chain. With my three year old, I tie the knots and let her loop the next one in. After you get a long chain, you can decorate yourselves or a chair or a tree with the chains. When she gets older, she might be able to tie the knots herself.

Yogini says

December 8, 2016 at 9:48 pm

What about ball games. There is no mention of that.

December 9, 2016 at 12:31 pm

Theresa says

December 23, 2016 at 10:56 am

This is very cool but i wish it had more details and had more games rather than crafts. Thanks anyway.

February 9, 2020 at 7:54 pm

Pick up some used small tennis rackets at a second hand sports store. Get some big nerf balls or pressure-less balls and then go out to a local tennis court. Forget about the net. See who can hit the most balls. Teaches hand/eye coordination. Older kids can get a point every time the ball goes over the net. Let it bounce as many times as needed or even let it roll. Have fun and run and hit. See who can hit the farthest or play follow the leader.

Sandhu says

October 8, 2017 at 12:18 am

My 2.5 year old baby girl like cycling. She has a tri cycle. Water paints and colouring is also favoriout hobby.

Frankie says

March 18, 2018 at 11:46 pm

Love the ideas it should keep my bunch busy no matter what the weather is. Thank you

Deb Gillmore says

May 20, 2019 at 5:03 am

Walk around your local streets and look at all the different letterboxes

June 5, 2019 at 3:24 pm

We used to cut potatoes into shapes and use them to make paintings

Gina B says

June 17, 2019 at 5:34 am

Plant a garden with your kids. My kids absolutely love pulling carrots up, and will eat tomatoes and mint leaves right from the garden-only if they plant it though;). Also, worm digging and ant watching is hours of entertainment;)

Kim Bierma says

July 9, 2019 at 10:44 pm

My 3 year old grandson loves to: 1. Use a blunt Fiskars scissors to trim the bushes with me, or clean up weeds in the back patio. Cut cut cut. Also cuts pieces of construction paper and puts them in a cup.

2. He like to play his guitar (my ukelele) while I play my big guitar and Paw Paw joins us to sing familiar song, IE muffin man. He’s big into doing things “toGETHer” w Grammy and Paw Paw.

3 Each planted a lily. He had plenty of freedom during that tine to find worms, use his growl to dig, and water things to his heart’s content.

October 4, 2019 at 7:06 am

yo waddup this nice

March 22, 2020 at 6:08 pm

How about: In your house or apartment, find everything you can that is blue. Which is biggest? Which is smallest?

Make up a silly story about one of the things.

Shannon says

April 23, 2020 at 2:02 pm

My daughter loves to play kitchen! she watches me cook and she likes to do it, too… or at least she pretends too!!

July 22, 2020 at 6:33 pm

I think these are great Ideas for kiddos! Thank you for being so thoughtful and sharing. I have a small round table in my kitchen and I have a box of scratch paper in my home office that had a printing error or something on one side and blank on the other. I took them and taped them together overlaying them together, tucking them under the table and taping them under as well. I gave them markers and crayons and they just colored or drew all over it. I would leave it out for a week or so as a table cloth. One of my granddaughters drew all over one with me and it was a lot of fun. My grandson came over a couple of days later (after she had left) and we had to stay in because of sheltering in. It so happened it was his birthday a few days later and we added a few things to our colorful table cloth with extra drawings and said he had a very special birthday table cloth that was left by his cousin. It was a good time.

Nana Edwards says

August 19, 2020 at 10:06 am

Thanks for the nice list and the great ideas in comments also. This Nana has grandbabes who are 8 mo, 11 mo, 3 1/2, another 3 1/2 (one month apart), and 6 yrs old being home-schooled for kindergarten. Yep, we’re busy especially during the coronavirus isolation protocols. Two sons and their wives are ok with me just being around their two families. Anyway, here’s something that used to keep my 3 kids entertained for hours 30 yrs ago. They each got a ball of crochet yarn, tied one end to a doorknob at different places throughout the house, then walked around and wrapped there yarn ALL OVER the entire house looping around doorknobs in every room, table legs, bedposts, shower curtain bar, etc….not too tight as to pull things over and not too loose and drooping…so that for the day we all had to step over yarn or duck under yarn to get around. It was crazy fun! This didn’t happen too often, but on a weekend or icy snowy day it was perfect.

October 4, 2020 at 10:16 pm

I just came across your blog via Pinterest, but I’ve got to make a statement! Here is a wonderful list of day-to-day events for preschoolers, but my favourite part of the list is that it’s not “girls” or “people” events. It’s such a wonderful list of child fun events! Thank you so much for sharing it!

Andrea says

October 19, 2020 at 9:24 am

great help to get ideas for my college assignment. love the ideas all very fun.

Melissa Aldrich-Welch says

October 22, 2020 at 12:05 pm

use a cookie sheet with sides and allow child to play with Magic Sand using different objects like toy cars, plastic animals, etc. My grandson likes to bury the cars and use the animals to rescue them. Provide a small plastic spoon and fork to “dig” with. Take turns hiding the objects in the sand and have the other try to find it. Magic Sand is great because it never dries out. You can even mix the colors to make new colors.

December 4, 2020 at 12:12 am

It’s an amazing 75 lists of activities. Would love to bookmark for the future. Ting!!!

February 13, 2021 at 8:49 pm

My grandson loves to cut up sheets of craft foam because it’s so satisfying to cut through the spongy-ness! Great scissor practice! He just cuts and cuts at this point and really isn’t interested in doing anything with the bits.

February 13, 2021 at 8:54 pm

Forgot to say… my (Canadian) grandson also likes to pretend he’s a member of American “marching bands.” We use everyday objects to represent instruments and march around and around the house, in time to great American marches…. Stars and Stripes Forever on the computer is his favourite! A short curtain rod that he found in my sewing room has become a trombone, we use a chopstick for a piccolo, two pot lids for cymbols. You get the picture! Lots of fun for Nana and Papa too!

August 4, 2021 at 6:50 am

Excellent!!! Looks like I will try this activities with my niece.

Sam Hood says

August 20, 2021 at 5:16 am

Thanks for writing this will surely help us to get engaged in activities. Keep Sharing.

Amanda Torres says

September 23, 2021 at 1:16 am

My cousin is 4 years old and this will give her great company and time. Thank you for sharing.

Percetakan Murah Jakarta says

February 26, 2022 at 10:29 am

Great article. Keep up the good work!

Steve Smith says

July 1, 2022 at 8:18 am

I work with Head Start children 0-3 years old. One of the things I think is so important is the everyday aspect of learning. There are countless things in our world that fascinate children and they can use to learn and imagine. Thank you for all 75, PLUS! the comments. You miss out on some great ideas if you don’t read those, also. I still think its so funny and instructive to adults when children unwrap gifts and then end up playing with the boxes!

[…] Activities for 3 Year Olds! […]

[…] 75 tips> […]

[…] 2. Our co-founder Jen personally LOVES this list. […]

[…] 75 Everyday Activities For 3 Year Olds […]

[…] notimeforflashcards.com […]

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar

Teaching Expertise

• Classroom Ideas
• Teacher’s Life
• Deals & Shopping
• Privacy Policy

Preschool Activities For 3-Year-Olds: Writing Practice, DIYs, Sensory Play, Art Projects, Counting Tasks, And More

April 15, 2024 //  by  Eileen Zajac

Whether you’re planning for a full term or just a week of curriculum, we know the challenge of preparing activities for your 3-year-old preschoolers! We also realize that finding learning experiences that meet the different abilities of your kiddos takes a lot of time and energy. Implementing three to four 15-minute activities is the perfect way to hold your little learners’ attention. Use this list to find a few activities that can be easily integrated into your lessons, or used throughout the day during mini-breaks and transition periods. Let’s dive in!

1. Rainy Names

Did you know that learning and understanding names can boost confidence and build community in the classroom? This activity has your students paste raindrops with the letters of their names in the correct order. It’s perfect for a rainy day and for enhancing your students’ name recognition, pre-writing skills, and much more! 

Learn More: Instagram

2. Baby Tub Time

Your little ones will adore using dolls to improve social skills in this engaging educational activity! Hands-on activities like this one where they’ll wash and care for their doll will help your children gain a better understanding of how to treat others appropriately. 

Learn More: The Imagination Tree

3. Letter Fishing

Engaging and challenging activities for your preschool children that also enhance their letter recognition skills? Where do we sign up? Use a basket or fill a tub with water and let your little fishermen start casting for letters! This fun learning experience will engage even your most lively kiddos.

4. Counting Caterpillars

Your kiddos will love practicing their motor skills and number recognition by building little caterpillars! Draw some circles to create a caterpillar and then write a digit from 1 to 10 in each circle. Your preschoolers will match these to numbered dots on other circles that you have made from construction paper. 

5. Building With Magnetic Tiles 

Get your hard hat ready and start building with magnetic tiles! This activity helps develop your children’s motor skills and creativity, and is simply a lot of fun! Use MAGNA-TILES (or blocks) and have them either copy your creations or create their own designs! 

6. Kids Busy Boxes

‘Busy boxes’ will be a definite game changer for your preschool classroom! For this quick activity, fill individual compartments of plastic containers with items such as markers, dried cereal, or anything else that will keep busy little hands and minds occupied! You don’t need to get fancy – even a shoe box will work! 

7. Mini Pies

Preschoolers love being outside! Outdoor play gives your students the space to observe nature while they test out their skills! Imaginations will soar as they make mini pies by filling muffin tins with natural objects like black walnuts, dirt, and a sprinkle of grass to top it off! Just hope they don’t expect you to try their creations!

8. Color Sorting

By preschool, kids are usually pretty skilled at recognizing different colors, but that doesn’t mean this toddler activity shouldn’t be practiced. Have your children sort colored objects into matching colored dishes to learn critical thinking and organizational skills. This is a great activity to supplement lessons focused on categorization. 

9. Obstacle Courses

There’s no doubt that building motor skills is extremely important for childhood development.  This fun obstacle course activity will be a hit with your youngsters! It will also help them develop muscle strength, balance, problem-solving skills, sensory processing, and coordination – all essential components of motor skills! 

10. Name or Letter Recognition

You’ll love this activity that requires little prep and has multiple uses! Whether your kiddies are working on building names or identifying letters, these colorful sticker dots will spark their interest and enhance their recognition skills. Get them to match the letters with those on paper or use the stickers to practice building sight words.

11. Boo Boo Counting

Boo Boo Counting is great for developing math skills and for practicing empathy. Your young mathematicians will relate to matching numbered band-aids to the owie spots on a cardboard cutout of a child. Consider laminating the cardboard and using velcro to make this activity last longer – it’s a keeper!

Learn More: Toddler Rat Play

12. Logical Sorting

Add this one to your week of activities focused on logical sorting. Your little ones who are ready for a challenge will love using a grid to sort colorful little houses into categories to match both the house color and the roof color!  This activity will go a long way in helping them understand the relationship between different patterns. 

Learn More: Teachers Mag

13. Arrow Matching

This is an adorable hands-on learning activity that will develop motor skills and increase your children’s curiosity about nature. They’ll love matching arrows to create paths for a caterpillar on its journey to become a butterfly and for a spider to get to its web! 

14. Elephant Ring Toss

Any animal activity is sure to spark even your most difficult students’ interest. Use a recycled box to create a cardboard cut-out of an elephant’s face with a 3D trunk. Next, construct three cardboard rings. Have your children help paint the elephant before they start the ring toss game! 

Learn More: Pinterest

15. Swing Painting

This was one of those activities that couldn’t be left out of this list!! It combines two activities that are particularly calming for children – swinging and painting. Have them hang from a swing, paintbrush in hand, and let their creativity shine! This art project is a super way to vary things up if you’ve got kids who struggle to stay focused all day! 

Learn More: Homegrown Friends  

16. Splitting Hairs

Scissor skills are pretty vital as your preschoolers move on to kindergarten and elementary school! They’ll love using scissors to cut the hair of little paper people in this fun activity that builds their motor skills. They can build up to more wavy or zig-zag lines as their skills develop.

Learn More: Facebook

17. Dot Puzzles

This one will be a good challenge for your little ones! Create a paper puzzle and puzzle pieces with a colored dot pattern and let your preschoolers work independently or with a partner to place the pieces over the matching part of the puzzle. This can be tricky so encourage them to ask for help if they need it!

18. Bubble Wrap Popping

Number recognition and bubble wrap? Now this sounds like a good time! Write numbers on the bubble wrap; the bigger the bubbles, the better! Next, read out a number and your children will pop the bubbles with a toothpick or even just their finger! Remember to mix up the numbers and spread them out when creating this exciting resource to boost their recognition skills.

19. All About Me Process Art

@art.is.smart All About Me process art with 3 year olds! #preschoolteacher #artissmart #teachersoftiktok ♬ Colors of the Wind – Instrumental – Vesislava

Sometimes slowing things down is the way to go! Have your kids participate in an artistic mini-portrait experience that focuses on the process of art more than the finished product. This project is great for getting them to understand the steps in making art, while also discovering different techniques, materials, and tools. 

Learn More: Tiktok

20. Playdough Shapes

@planningplaytime 70+ pages of Preschool Fun #preschoolmom #preschoolteachers #toddlermoms #preschoolathome #preschoolactivities #learningthroughplay #playtolearn ♬ Cute – Bensound

Everybody loves playdough, but using it for educational activities is a surefire way to get your class excited about learning! There are benefits to playdough free-play, but this tactile activity will also reinforce your kids’ knowledge of shapes. Simply print this template and watch your students mold their dough to match the shapes. 

Learn More: TikTok

21. Artsy Preschoolers

@carreyme Preschool teacher thangs. 3 year olds are amazing! Artist study 👩‍🎨 #pietmondrieaanstyle #preschool #preschoolteacher #preschoolactivities #earlychildhoodeducation ♬ Kyoto Flow – Official Sound Studio

Do you have an old art history book lying around? If not, track one down to inspire an early love of art in your preschoolers. Show them one of the masterpieces, open the fingerpaint jars, and let them get to work on creating their own interpretation of the painting! 

22. Spaghetti Play

Who doesn’t love a little spaghetti play? Add some different colored slimy ‘spaghetti’ noodles to your activity table and watch your students as they use their tiny hands to play with different tools to cut their noodles! They’ll have the time of their life with this super sensory activity!

23. Dancing Corn

@byemilylawson This is the number one preschool science idea on my blog for 5 years now #stemforkids #preschoolstem #prekstem #prekactivitiesathome #toddleractivitiesathome #activitiesfortoddlers #keepingkidsbusy #scienceismagic #scienceforpreschool #fallactivitiesforkids ♬ original sound – Emily | relatable mom life

It’s never too early to start experimenting with different science projects. This dancing corn demonstration is sure to be a hit with your preschool students! Place corn in a clear cup and then add baking soda and some vinegar to have your kiddos jumping with joy when the corn starts to dance! 

24. Painting Ice

@littlebirchpreschool #ice #preschool #earlyyears #tufftray #tufftrayactivities #heatwave #playingandlearning ♬ Ice Ice Baby – Vanilla Ice

This activity is great for a hot summer day; the combination of ice cubes and paint is the perfect mix to cool little hands! Add plenty of ice and paint to your activity table, and have your students use paintbrushes to explore the melting ice and the changes in the water’s color! What a cool activity!

25. Race and Paint

@daynursery Racing the cars while making marks! #makingmarks #preschoolactivities #activityideas #fyp #viral #trending #earlyyears ♬ Roary The Racing Car Main Theme (From ""Roary The Racing Car"") – Geek Music

On your marks, get set, paint! Your kids will have a blast dipping plastic cars into paint and letting them race to the finish, creating beautiful streaks of color in the process! Whether you have them race each other or just drive the cars around,  this activity will surely result in smiling faces and some eye-catching artwork!  

26. Alphabet Practice

@bigcityreaders #abcs #alphabetactivities #readingteacher #teachersoftiktok #teachertok #momtoks #preschoolactivities #preschoolathome #preschoollunch #preschoolmom #StJudeDadPhotos #fypシ゚viral #learningtoread #3yearoldbrain #alphabethack #letters #letterssong ♬ Face Dance – Funny Tok

Make learning the alphabet more fun with missing letters! Write part of the alphabet on a strip of paper, but cover a few of the letters with sticky notes. Then start singing the alphabet song and either have your children write the missing letter or let them reveal it by uncovering the hidden letter! 

27. Patterning

@play.inspire.grow Hands on patterning #earlymaths #simplemaths #preschoolmath #preschoolactivities #prek #teachermom #homeschool #earlyyearsideas #kindergarten #learningisfun #canadianmom #montessoriathome #learningthroughplay ♬ FEEL THE GROOVE – Queens Road, Fabian Graetz

Get creative by starting a pattern for your kids to practice ‘what comes next’! This activity uses a range of objects like stickers, dot markers, and manipulatives to teach them more about this important skill. Your little ones will love the variety in this task as they work to identify patterns and create their own!

28. Dressing Dolls

@mrs_burland Dress the dolls activity, encouraging children to strengthen their hand muscles and develop their fine motor skills. Also, encouraging independence. #earlyyearsactivities #finemotoractivity #earlyyearspractitioner #preschoolactivities #eyfsactivities #handandeyecoordination #finemotorskills ♬ Low Down – venbee & Dan Fable

Playing with dolls is always a great opportunity to help your students better understand themselves and others. You can gather a variety of small dolls and let your kids get creative by dressing them up! The small size will be more challenging for their little hands, making this the perfect practice for developing fine motor skills.  

29. Listen & Do

How good are your kiddos at listening and copying? Have them point to the body part they hear you say to increase movement and develop active listening and cognitive skills. Playing this game daily or a few times a week will reinforce important vocabulary and is a perfect break to get your active kiddos moving! 

Learn More: YouTube

30. Shake Your Sillies Out

Preschoolers have A LOT of emotions and brain breaks are vital to creating a positive learning experience. Your little ones need the time and space to express their feelings and  ‘Shake Your Sillies Out’ is the perfect song to make that happen! Play this video and let them go for it!

31. A Hole In the Bottom of the Sea

Are you planning a lesson about the food chain? This song is absolutely adorable, and the animation of the video provides a great visual for your little learners! They’ll love the repetitive lyrics that will help them better understand and remember the concept of a food chain.

32. Sight Word Surprise

Providing consistent exposure to letters and sight words is essential throughout the preschool years. This online learning game offers your kiddos this practice, and gives you the flexibility to use it for either in-person or distance learning!

33. Beginning Sounds

Your learners’ oral language development starts with an understanding of different sounds. This online phonics video is a great way to introduce initial letter sounds to them! Make this even more fun by projecting the video onto your whiteboard and having your children use magnetic letters to identify the beginning sounds of words. 

34. Guess the Fruit

By preschool, your students are probably familiar with many different types of fruit. This video can be used to assess what they already know while also giving them a chance to learn about some new delicious examples! Even your shyest kids will love showing off their knowledge on this topic!

Learn More: Youtube

35. Where Will It Land?

Making predictions in the early years is a great way to prepare your little ones for studying STEM subjects in elementary school and beyond!! This exciting activity introduces them to the concept of friction and to skills like problem-solving. Fast-track their interest in STEM by incorporating this into your preschool curriculum today!

36. Finger Painting

Foster creativity and sensory development with this messy art project! Give your students non-toxic paint and large sheets of paper, and let them use their fingers to create anything their heart desires! You can always rely on finger painting for a wonderful and relaxing tactile activity that enhances fine motor skills.

Learn More: Raising Children Network

37. Animal Yoga

No, it’s not yoga for animals! Your children will adore transforming their bodies into the shapes of different animals in this fun movement activity. It’s a playful way to promote physical activity, and flexibility, and introduce mindfulness and relaxation techniques to your young learners.

Learn More: Mother Natured

38. Puzzle Time

Puzzles never get old and are a perfect down-time activity! They’re a fantastic way to help your preschoolers develop problem-solving skills, hand-eye coordination, and persistence! Offer a selection of simple puzzles with large pieces and let them explore this challenge individually or in small groups.

Learn More: Amazon

39. Nature Walks

Take learning outside by going on a nature walk with your kiddos! Encourage them to observe their surroundings and collect leaves, stones, or sticks to use for art projects in class. Not only are these walks fun, but they also promote physical activity, observation skills, and an appreciation for the environment.

Learn More: The Artful Parent

40. Story Cubes

These story cubes are made with pictures and are perfect for your younger learners! Have them take turns rolling the dice to create a story based on the image shown. It’s sure to spark imagination, enhance language skills, and if done in a small group or whole class setting, increase collaboration skills!  

41. Playdough Creations

Playdough is an excellent choice for fine motor development and creative expression. This fantastic resource includes 16 activities with playdough to engage your preschooler in some hands-on fun! Your kids will love squishing, rolling, and molding playdough into figures, animals, and abstract shapes! 

Learn More: My Bored Toddler

42. Water Play

This activity is guaranteed to make a splash with your little ones! Set up a water table or fill a basin with water and add cups, sponges, and toys. It’s sure to be an enjoyable and soothing activity to introduce them to concepts like volume, buoyancy, and cause and effect.

Learn More: Kildare County Childcare Committee

43. Sensory Bins

This activity is a great addition to your preschool toolbox! Grab a few bins and fill them with items like rice, beans, or water beads, add scoops, small toys, or natural elements like twigs and leaves, and you’re good to go! Have your kiddies feel the items to explore textures and calm their active minds. 

Learn More: Sheeking Out

44. Rhyming Games

Engaging your preschoolers in rhyming games is a fantastic way to boost their phonemic awareness! Choose songs or storybooks to recite and identify rhymes, or have them create their own for an added challenge! Not only are the rhymes delightful, but they also serve as an important step toward developing reading and writing skills. 

Learn More: 20 Great Rhyming Activities for Preschool

45. Collage Making

Collages are an excellent way for your preschoolers to express their ideas in a visual way! With safety scissors, glue, magazines, and construction paper, your little artists will explore textures, colors, and composition. Have them share their stories about their creations to gain insight into their thinking and to give their oral language skills a boost! 

46. Obstacle Course

Obstacle courses can be tailored to any skill level, ensuring an inclusive experience for all! Design a course using cushions, ropes, and hoops to encourage movement and problem-solving. Your kiddies will navigate by crawling, jumping, and balancing to improve their gross motor skills. Watch as they overcome obstacles – both literally and figuratively! 

47. Dress-Up Play

A box full of costumes, hats, and accessories is a treasure trove for imaginative play! When your little ones dress up and start role-playing, they’ll delve into the world of make-believe, fostering creativity, empathy, and social skills! This activity will lead to spontaneous storytelling performances that will certainly showcase and celebrate your kids’ unique ideas.

Learn More: Healthline

48. Letter Hunt

Transform letter recognition into an adventure by hiding foam or magnetic letters around the classroom! Your children will love practicing their gross motor skills by reaching and stretching on their hunt for the hidden letters. This is a dynamic way to reinforce alphabet knowledge in a context that feels more like play than instruction!

Learn More: Hands On As We Grow

49. Parachute Games

Bringing out the parachute always sends the excitement sky-high! Your kids will love working together to lift and lower the parachute to make waves, bounce balls, or billowing mushroom shapes.  Games like this are not only fun, but also enhance teamwork, coordination, and gross motor skills. This activity is bound to captivate their attention!  

50. Bubble Popping

There’s something irresistible about bubbles! Blowing and chasing bubbles engages your children in a playful pursuit that enhances their hand-eye coordination while getting them to burn off some energy! They’ll soon tire themselves out trying to pop the bubbles before they float away!

Learn More: Red Ted Art

51. Matching Games

Matching games that use cards or objects are excellent cognitive exercises for your littlest learners. As they match pairs based on color, shape, or theme, they’ll be enhancing their visual perception, memory, and concentration. This simple social game encourages cooperation while also laying the groundwork for them to develop some more complex problem-solving skills.

Learn More: PBS Learning Media

52. Salt Tray Writing

It’s not just a tray of salt, it’s a tactile and sensory-rich experience for your preschoolers! You can guide them to use their fingers or sticks to practice writing letters, numbers, or shapes in the salt. This is a super way to encourage experimentation and reduce the pressure of perfectionism by having them just shake the tray to “erase” any mistakes! 

Learn More: Happy Hooligans

53. Balancing Beam

A balance beam is a great tool for developing coordination. Have your little tight-ropers walk across a real beam or a line of tape on the floor to practice controlling their body movements and strengthening their muscles. You could also integrate it with other learning, such as counting or reciting the alphabet while taking steps.

54. Homemade Musical Instruments

Creating musical instruments out of household items is a dual-learning activity! Your students will use their fine motor skills and creativity to craft their instruments, and use them to explore sounds, beats, and rhythms!  Have your mini musicians fill bottles with rice, or string rubber bands across a cereal box and start jammin’! 

Learn More: Playgroup NSW

55. Shadow Play

Shadow play is a totally captivating activity that blends art, science, and storytelling! Using a flashlight and a blank wall, let your children explore the properties of light and shadows by creating shapes and figures with their hands or with cutouts on sticks. This magical form of play invites them to use their imagination like never before!

Learn More: Koko Tree

56. Bean Bag Toss

This simple game is a great way to get your kids playing all together! Set up the targets and give them some bean bags for throwing; it’s a simple way to develop their hand-eye coordination and gross motor skills. Focus the play on cooperation or switch things up by adding some healthy competition! 

57. Gardening

Grow your little ones’ wonder with this hands-on activity! Have them plant seeds in cups filled with dirt or in a garden plot and watch their enthusiasm grow as they tend to the new sprouts! Along with learning about the life cycle of plants, this activity is a simple way to let them experience a little bit of responsibility.

Learn More: Baby Sparks

58. Cooking Simple Recipes

Get cooking with hands-on learning in the kitchen! Introduce your children to essential skills like following instructions and measurement using simple recipes to make sandwiches or fruit salads. These easy kid-friendly recipes are perfect to get them excited about cooking and they’ll love tasting their creations!

Learn More: Good To

59. Alphabet Fishing

This is the perfect activity to get your kiddos excited about the alphabet! Write letters on small squares with a paperclip attached, then have your learners use a fishing rod with a magnetic cast to reel in a letter! Fishing for the alphabet is a fun way to reinforce their learning around letter recognition and helps develop focus!

Learn More: First Palette

60. Mask-Making

This fun activity might result in an imaginative play or an outrageous costume party! Let your children make masks using a variety of materials like paper plates, feathers, sequins, and glue. Their creativity will come to life as they explore the world of make-believe and develop fine motor skills.

Learn More: Artful Parent

61. Puppet Shows

Puppet play is a great way for your preschoolers to explore drama and storytelling! They can use soft toys or even make their own puppets from old socks or paper bags. They’ll delight in the magical play and storytelling of puppetry that encourages creativity, language development, and even sharing their feelings!

62. Lacing Cards

These adorable cards will help your littles learn how to lace! This tricky skill makes for a quiet and calming activity that is also excellent for developing fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and concentration. Get going by printing these cards, cutting the holes, and gathering some old shoelaces! 

63. Recycled Material Building

No need for fancy materials with this creative activity! Collect recycled materials like boxes, tubes, and cartons, and have your little ones start building their structures. They won’t even notice that they are learning about physics and developing their creativity and problem-solving skills in the process!

64. Sorting Games

Sorting activities will help your kids to develop their foundational math skills like categorization.  Gather common items like coins, playing cards, and different types of beans and pasta, then challenge your learners to sort them by their shape, size, quantity, or category.

Learn More: Keep Toddlers Busy

65. Ice Cube Melting

This sensory experience is perfect for a hot day! Give each of your students an ice cube to hold and have them watch it melt; it’s a great way to teach them about temperature, states of matter, weather, and seasons. You’ll be surprised at how this simple activity can lead to such engaging student discussions!

Learn More: Stir The Wonder

66. Sticker Stories

This activity incorporates a little learning into your kiddos’ love of stickers! Give them some sheets of stickers and paper and let them go crazy!  Foster their creativity and narrative skills by encouraging them to create scenes or stories with the stickers. They will also practice fine motor control as they master peeling and placing the stickers.

67. Hopscotch

Sometimes classic games are just what you need and hopscotch is certainly one that never gets old! Draw a hopscotch grid with chalk outside or use tape indoors for a rainy day brain break. It’s a timeless game perfect for your little ones that promotes number recognition, balance, and coordination!

Learn More: WikiHow

68. Bubble Wrap Stomp

Your kiddos will love this activity if they can contain their excitement! Lay out a large piece of paper on the floor and set up some trays of paints. Next, wrap your little learners’ feet in bubble wrap and let them stomp out a colorful masterpiece! 

Learn More: Mess For Less

69. Shadow Tag

This fun twist on the classic game of tag is the perfect way to engage your children in an outdoor movement activity! Instead of tagging each other with touch, they’ll have to step on each other’s shadows! What a fun introduction to the concept of light and shadow! 

Learn More: Joyful Parenting

70. Kinetic Sand Play

Your learners will love this amazing sensory experience! Kinetic sand is less messy than traditional sand, but is still moldable; so they’ll still be able to make creative shapes and structures! This is a great way to encourage creativity while also keeping your classroom a little cleaner!  

Learn More: Access and Inclusion Model

71. Story Stones

There are no fancy materials required for this activity; just some stones! Have your children paint pictures on stones or do this yourself, and then encourage them to use the stones to tell stories. This fun activity encourages their creativity and is a great way to explore sequencing events. 

Learn More: Early Impact Learning

72. Color Mixing

Experimenting with paints is a sure way to hold your preschoolers’ attention! Provide primary colored paints and let them mix their own colors on paper or in containers, and use this printable sheet to record their results! It’s a hands-on way to learn about colors that can also feel like a magical experiment.

Learn More: Little Bins For Little Hands

73. Marble Run

There’s a reason marble runs have been around for generations! They help develop problem-solving skills, creativity, hand-eye coordination, and spatial awareness. Have your littles build a marble run using tubes, boxes, or a pre-made set. They’ll love predicting the path of the marble as they learn a basic understanding of physics principles like gravity and momentum.

Learn More: HABA USA

74. Stomp and Catch

Test out your kiddos’ stomping ability with this fun game! Create a launching board out of a wooden plank and a strong cardboard tube, then load it up with a beanbag on the end. Next, let your preschoolers stomp down, and then try to catch the beanbag as it’s thrown up into the air before it hits the ground! Is their hand-eye coordination up to the task?

75. Memory Tray

This fun activity will test your students’ memorization skills! Place several objects on a tray, let your children observe them for one minute, and then cover them with a cloth or piece of paper. How many objects can they remember?  

Learn More: Play To Learn Preschool

76. Nature Collage

Complete this collage activity after you’ve taken your class for a walk outside! Have them collect leaves, sticks, and flowers that they’ll use to create a beautiful collage. This is an artistic activity that ends up being a wonderful tribute to our wonderful planet!

Learn More: Mama Teaches

77. Alphabet Bingo

Shake up the classic game of Bingo by playing it with letters instead of numbers! Your children will love practicing letter recognition by identifying the letters they hear them called out and the excitement of calling out Bingo when their card is full! It’s a fun group activity that encourages active listening. 

Learn More: New Horizon Academy

78. Dance Party

There’s nothing like watching your little ones get their wiggles out by dancing to a good tune! Play some upbeat music and let them dance freely; we’ve even found the perfect playlist to get you started!  Dance parties are a simple way to encourage physical activity and rhythm, and to foster a little bonding during a joyful group activity! 

Learn More: Miss Nina

Recent Posts

• Apple Toddler and Preschool Activities with Lesson Plans
• Fall Themed Toddler and Preschool Activities with Lesson Plans
• Homeschool Resources for 2nd Grade
• Our Favorite Basket Time Resources
• How to Create a Summer Learning Routine

Most Used Categories

• Homeschool Tips
• Kindergarten

The Stay-at-Home Teacher

Home is where the learning is.

Preschool Resources for 3-5 Year Olds

August 12, 2019 April 1, 2022

Hey friends! I’m so excited to share with y’all this collection of homeschool preschool resources for 3-5 year olds! In this post you’ll find lots of the resources we enjoy using as part of our school routine! There are so many fun, hands-on activities that are developmentally appropriate for introducing common Preschool schools with your littles ones!

Getting started with homeschool Preschool? CLICK HERE to receive my FREE Homeschool Preschool Organizer and begin my 4 part e-mail series with tons of tips and tricks to help you get going!

If you love being able to “do school” anywhere or anytime, this resource is for you! This binder is one of our absolute favorite (AND best-selling) Preschool resources!

This NO PREP resource includes TONS of common Preschool skills in one, easy-to-store format. Simply print the pages and toss them in a binder using sheet protectors, and you’re ready to go! Practice colors, numbers, shapes, counting, tracing, letters, and so much more! We love using this binder as a sensory bin companion, or with a dry erase marker when we’re on the go!

CLICK HERE to check out our Preschool Skills Binder!

Is your little one ready to start working on more academic skills? This bundle is exactly what you need! While practicing important fine motor skills, your Preschoolers will be introduced to academic skills like colors, numbers, shapes, counting, letters, beginning sounds, and so much more! We have loved this resource for years because it can easily grow with your Preschooler from ages 2 to 4+!

CLICK HERE to check out our Preschool Skills Sensory Bins!

Math & Literacy Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Looking for a resource that includes ALL you need for an entire YEAR (or MORE)?! Look no further than this YEAR LONG bundle of Math and Literacy centers for ages 2-4!

The great thing about introducing Preschool skills at an early age is that you literally have YEARS to practice. This allows you to follow your child and work at their pace. It also allows you to use a curriculum for multiple years, helping ease the burden on your budget!

This 12-month bundle includes TONS of common toddler and Preschool skills with a new theme each month. You can continue to practice important skills month after month without losing your little one’s interest!

CLICK HERE to check out our Math & Literacy Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers!

If your kiddos have mastered their basic Preschool schools and are moving towards Kindergarten skills, be sure to check out this Preschool & Kindergarten Math and Literacy bundle! My sweet friend Michelle Hudgeons from Smitten with First and I put together this year-long bundle loaded with TONS of hands-on activities for your little ones! LG and I will be using pieces from these sets this year, and then moving to using it more exclusively during her Kindergarten year!

CLICK HERE to check out our Math & Literacy Activities for Preschool and Kindergarten!

Having NO PREP activities on hand with little ones is a must! These monthly themed Preschool Math and Literacy Worksheets cover tons of basic Preschool schools and still include fine motor skills activities like coloring, cutting, tracing, gluing, and more!

CLICK HERE to check out our Preschool Math and Literacy Worksheets!

This year, LG and I will be working more on letter recognition and writing! So I’m SUPER excited about this (currently) growing bundle of alphabet worksheets! Each letter of the alphabet includes 20+ different ways to practice! Choose from cutting, coloring, tracing, dabbing – you name it!

CLICK HERE to check out our Alphabet Worksheets!

We love sensory bins so much, y’all. And as LG grows, our collection of them grows as well. Ha! I was SO excited to put together these sensory bins for kiddos who are ready to practice Preschool skills! This bundle includes 5 themed matching mats for each month of the year and practices common Preschool skills – colors, counting, shapes, letters, and beginning sounds!

CLICK HERE to check out our Preschool Skills Matching Mats!

Another fun way to practice fine motor skills with your Preschoolers? Clip cards! Holy moly – there’s something about clothespins that just make a little kiddo so excited! And if your little ones aren’t quite ready for squeezing a clothespin, you can use mini erasers or pompoms to cover their answers instead! Don’t you just love a resource that’s easy to adapt??

CLICK HERE to check out our Preschool Skills Clip Cards!

I don’t know about your little ones, but mine is SO curious about how things grow and change! These life cycle studies have been the perfect first Science study for her! She loves all of the hands-on activities, videos and book choices! And of course my seasonally theme lovin’ heart loves that there are units for every season or holiday!

CLICK HERE to check out our Life Cycle Studies!

Last, but certainly not least, is our Bible studies. Bible study time is such a special time with our little ones and it’s never too early (or too late) to get started! I’m constantly amazed at how much LG soaks up information that most people assume is so far above their comprehension. Starting Bible study with little ones is a wonderful way to foster that sweet “childlike faith”.

CLICK HERE to check out our Bible Studies!

Would you like to have a FULL YEAR of basics covered for your Homeschool Preschool plans? Be sure to grab our Preschool Math & Literacy MEGA BUNDLE and save over $100! This bundle covers TONS of common Preschool skills and can follow your little ones from ages 2yo-5yo and beyond!

CLICK HERE to check out our Preschool MEGA BUNDLE!

Well, friends – I hope this post has been super helpful for you! All of these resources have been tested and loved by my now 4.5 year daughter for years, and I truly hope your little ones enjoy them just as much! If you ever have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me or DM me on Instagram! Hope to chat with your soon!

CLICK HERE to receive helpful e-mails with tips and ideas for your Preschoolers!

CLICK HERE to follow on Instagram

CLICK HERE to follow on TeachersPayTeachers

thestayathometeacher

7 thoughts on “ preschool resources for 3-5 year olds ”.

I am looking for Days of the week and Months of the Year interactive binder activities

• Pingback: Why We Started Homeschool Preschool with our 2 Year Old | The Stay-at-Home Teacher
• Pingback: How to Plan for a Great Homeschool Preschool Year | The Stay-at-Home Teacher
• Pingback: Kindergarten Math and Literacy Resources for Our Homeschool Year | The Stay-at-Home Teacher
• Pingback: Helpful School Supplies for Little Homeschool Learners | The Stay-at-Home Teacher
• Pingback: All You Need to Prepare Homeschool Resources - The Stay-at-Home Teacher
• Pingback: How to Organize Your Homeschool Preschool Basket - The Stay-at-Home Teacher

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

100+ Free Toddler Printables

ST PATRICK'S DAY FOR TODDLERS

GET OUR LATEST UPDATES!

50+ Easy Things To Do At Home with Your 3 Year Old

What To Do at Home with Your 3 Year Old

Being at home with a 3 year old can be hard when you are not prepared.

Most pediatric guidelines recommend less than 1 hour of screen time a day. So what on earth do you do the 4-5 hours you may have at home with them?!?

To help you get through your day I have come up with a list of 50+ fun and easy things you can do throughout the day with them.

Most of these items do not require any preparation and use items you already most likely have in your home. The clean up for most of these activities is nothing or very minimal.

How To Use This List

Obviously you aren’t going to do everything on this list. So go through the list, choose about 10-15 things you think your preschooler would like to do.

Chances are there will be a few they will like more than others. So it’s a good idea to go armed with several activities in case one falls through.

Ready? Let’s get started!

50+ Things To Do at Home with your 3 year old

1. Finger painting with water on cardboard.

2. Cut junk mail with scissors.

3. Foil Puzzle Presents .

4. Melt ice with warm water and eye dropper or turkey baster.

5. See how much water a diaper or pull-up can hold.

6. Use eye dropper to decorate a diaper or pull up with coloured water.

7. Tear a sheet into small squares. Draw on them. And then glue them together onto another sheet.

8. Play restaurant.

9. Place plastic wrap around a bowl using an elastic band and let them poke holes in it with their fingers.

10. Place a cardboard tube on their arm and use it to hit a balloon like a bat.

11. Fill sink with water and give them some large beads to put in the water.

12. Fill sink with water and add pom poms.

13. Fill sink with water and bubbles and add a few non-bath toys.

14. Have a dance party to their favourite Disney soundtrack.

15. Have a dance party to your favourite dance songs.

16. Build a pillow and blanket fort.

17. Take a bath with plastic balls.

18. Build a Book Rainbow .

19. Play dress up with your shoes.

20. Read a book lying down on the floor.

21. Play dress up with daddy’s old ties.

22. Teach them how to play rock, paper, scissors.

23. Stick some paper to the stairs and have them draw on the stairs.

24. Stick paper under a chair and have them colour a picture there.

25. Play in bath tub in swimsuit with toys.

26. Look at your child’s baby book.

27. Paint a colouring book with watercolours.

28. Have a toga party with swaddling blankets or towels.

29. Bake muffins together.

30. Make fruit kebabs and eat them.

31. Snuggle on the floor looking up at the ceiling pretending you see clouds shaped like different animals.

32. Play hide and go seek.

33. Have tickle fight.

34. Have a pretend wedding.

35. Cover rocks with shaving cream and have them clean them off.

36. Paint with a potato masher or spatula or other kitchen utensils.

37. Paint Lego or Megabloks.

38. Wash paint off Lego or Megabloks with soap and water.

39. Take a magnifying glass (pretend, real or handmade) and go looking for bugs.

40. Play with balloons.

41. Make faces on plate with their snack. (For instance cut up some fruit and have them make faces on their plate with the pieces of fruit.)

42. Play pretend telephone with 2 cups over your ears.

43. Make car ramps using books or cardboard on a couch or stairs.

44. Eat lunch on the floor picnic style.

45. Make funny faces in the mirror or smartphone.

46. Put several puzzles in a bin and then have your 3 year old search for pieces and put them all together.

47. Play pretend firefighters.

48. Build a tower using toilet paper and tissue boxes.

49. Take mattress off their crib and use it as a tumbling mat. For added protection, arrange pillows all around and set safety ground rules.

50. Have them ‘read’ their favourite books to you.

51. Blow bubbles outside, no matter the weather.

52. Use a measuring tape to measure your body parts such as arms and legs.

53. Dress up for lunch.

WILL YOU TRY ANY OF THESE ACTIVITIES WITH YOUR 3 YEAR OLD? Pin it for later!

Filed Under:

• Three Year Olds

Other Posts You May Like...

Quick Fall Crafts for Toddlers Using Leaves

21 Rainy Day Activities for Preschoolers

Simple Halloween Crafts for Toddlers

Simple Winter Crafts for Toddlers

Review and rate this post cancel reply.

I love hearing from you! Submit your question or review here. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked*.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

8 comments on “50+ Easy Things To Do At Home with Your 3 Year Old”

More helpful than I could have imagined! Can’t wait to check out more from Mandisa!

Yah! Im so glad!!

Amazing! Thank you so much!

You’re are most welcome!!

I’ve never commented on a blog post before, but I felt compelled to after browsing this list. It’s FANTASTIC! So many ideas I see on these sites are so complicated and involved that they are impractical for me. But I managed to actually write down 10 different activities to do with my 3-year-old and his big sister! He loves ice! Why didn’t I think to set him up to melt them in different way?! Brilliant list, thank you!

Yah!! Im so glad you found this list useful!! This is my favourite list too. It helped me get through the days with my then busy 3 year old while pregnant with twins 😅!

How many times can I like this post! Wow! I need all these ideas.

🙂 Thanks so much! I hope your preschooler enjoy them all!!

• Math for Kids
• Parenting Resources
• ELA for Kids
• Teaching Resources

Who Invented Math? History, Facts & More

How to Teach Number Recognition to Kids in 8 Easy Steps

How to Teach One to One Correspondence To Kids: 4 Easy Steps

How to Teach Odd and Even Numbers in 4 Easy Steps

How to Teach Long Division to Kids in 6 Easy Steps

8 Types of Preschool Programs for Kids in 2024

6-year-old Developmental Milestones Checklist

How to Prepare a Schedule for Kindergarten With Examples

How to Prepare a Schedule for Preschoolers With Sample

12 Best Funny Short Stories for Kids to Read in 2024

How to Make Reading Fun for Early Readers: 12 Best Ideas

13 Best Phoneme Segmentation Activities for Kids

How to Teach Decoding in 9 Simple Steps

300+ Halloween Words From A-Z for Kids [Free Downloadable]

17 Best Guided Reading Activities for Teachers

12 Best Strategies for Teaching English Grammar to Kids

11 Best Coloring Apps for Kids [Android & iOS]

12 Best Reading Bulletin Board Ideas for Your Classroom

15 Fun Summer Bulletin Board Ideas for 2024

14 Best Assessment Tools for Teachers in 2024

15+ Best Learning Activities for Your 3 Year Old Preschooler

2. Listen to Fun A-Z Alphabet Songs

5 indoor activities for 3-year-olds, 5 engaging art activities for 3-year-olds, how educational activities transform kids’ lives.

Toddlers are very active and always on the go! As a parent, it can be tough to keep up with their energy levels. However, it’s important to find ways to keep your toddler occupied and engaged and learning!

Math & ELA | PreK To Grade 5

Kids see fun ., you see real learning outcomes ..

Watch your kids fall in love with math & reading through our scientifically designed curriculum.

Here are 15 activities for 3-year-olds that are both fun and educational:

6 Fun Developmental Activities for 3-Year-Olds

1. Recognizing Letters and Sounds

Learning activities for 3-year-olds are most fun when they are dressed up as family games, pretend plays, or become parts of our daily activities and observations. Recognizing letters and their sounds is one such activity that can be done in several ways.

Things you need:

A whiteboard or chalkboard, some colored markers or chalk. You can also use letter cards, board games, or online games for kids .

How to play:

You can play games where you write a letter on the board and teach your child to read it. Preschoolers can start learning both uppercase and lowercase letters . If they get it right, give them a point. If not, give them a clue and let them try again.

You can also play the “sound it out” game. Write a letter on the board and ask your child to make the sound it makes. Again, if they get it right, give them a point. If not, give them a clue and let them try again.

Pointing to letters written somewhere as you go about your day—a cereal box, a signboard, a magazine, etc.—is also an easy activity to help your child learn to read them. Children can also trace letters with their fingers on the sand, match uppercase and lowercase letters, erase letters on a chalkboard, etc. 

If you are busy, play some alphabet songs for your toddler to dance or let them play some online English games .

Skills your preschooler will learn:

Letter recognition, phonemic awareness, letter sounds

Introduce your little one to the magical world of letters with A-Z alphabet songs! Sing along to catchy tunes that make learning the alphabet a fun and engaging experience. These songs help children recognize letter shapes and sounds while building their phonemic awareness. Perfect for car rides or playtime, alphabet songs turn learning into a joyful sing-along adventure!

3. Reading with Your Child

Reading books with your child is one of the best things you can do for their development. Not only does it improve language skills, but it also helps them learn sight words, develop their imagination, and understand the world around them.

Books that are appropriate for your child’s age and interests, such as picture books, easy readers, etc.

Sit down with your child and read a book together. You can take turns reading the pages or have your child read the whole book to you.

Books for toddlers should be short and have many pictures supporting the story. This will help keep their attention span, and they will be more likely to understand the concepts in the book.

Read word by word, pointing to each word with your finger, and ask inferential questions based on how, why, what, when, and where to encourage the thinking skills in kids .

Language skills, sight words , attention span, comprehension, memory, imagination

4. Making Up Stories

Children love to listen to and tell stories, and this is an activity that can be done anywhere, anytime. It’s the perfect thing to do in a car while traveling, at bedtime, or even while waiting in line at the grocery store.

None! Just your child’s imagination

Have your child make up a story, either on their own or with your help. Encourage them to use their imagination and be as creative as they want. If they get stuck, you can prompt them with questions or ideas. You may also correct their grammar along the way, but it’s important to let them be creative and have fun with this activity.

If your child is stumped, set an example by asking them for three or four words and make a story that uses all of them. For instance, if they give you the words “cat,” “green,” “ball,” and “tree,” you could make up a story about a green cat that climbs a tree to fetch a ball.

Eventually, you can give words to your child and have them make up a story using those words.

Creativity, imagination, storytelling, communication

5. Playing a Number Game

Offline and online, math can be fun for kids if it’s taught interactively and creatively. Playing the number sense games is one such activity that will help your child learn numbers, counting, and basic arithmetic operations in a fun and engaging way.

A whiteboard or a chalkboard, some colored markers or chalk. You can also use games focusing on numbers and counting, such as board games, card games, etc. Online math games are also available.

There are many games that you can play with your child to help him learn numbers and math concepts. One such game is the “guess the number” game. Write down a number between 1 and 10 on the board, and ask your child to guess it. If he gets it right, give him a point. If not, give him a clue and let him have another try.

You can also play the “greater than or less than” game. Write down two numbers on the board, such as 3 and 5, and ask your child which number is greater. If he gets it right, give him a point. If not, give him a clue and let him try again.

Numbers , counting , and basic arithmetic operations include addition , subtraction , multiplication , and division .

6. Sorting Activities

Sorting is a fun activity that helps children learn about different attributes such as size, shape, color, etc. It also helps them develop problem-solving skills.

Various objects can be sorted according to size, shape, color, etc. You can use blocks, balls, toy cars, berries, buttons, etc.

Let your child choose a few objects and ask him to sort them according to size, shape, color, etc. For example, they can sort blocks by size or toy cars by color. As they sort the objects, help them identify the attribute they use for sorting.

Sorting, categorizing, and problem-solving.

Check out the best sensory activities for 3-year-olds you can try!

One of the favorite preschool activities for 3-year-olds is drawing. At this point, the artistic skills of a child are not really important. Drawing is a fun activity for toddlers to express themselves, work on their fine motor skills, and have fun!

Paper, crayons, markers, colored pencils

Sit with your child and encourage them to draw whatever comes to mind. You can also give some drawing ideas to kids , such as “Draw a picture of your family,” “Draw a picture of your favorite animal,” etc. You may make a drawing and ask your child to trace it or copy it.

Creativity, fine motor skills, imagination, attention span

7. Building with Blocks

One of the easy, no-mess activities for 3-year-olds at home is to let them build with blocks. It is amazing how much fun and creative they can be with this simple activity.

Blocks are also a great way for children to learn about shapes, sizes, colors, and patterns.

Blocks of various shapes and sizes

Let your child play with the blocks freely or give him or her some challenges, such as “build a tower as tall as you can,” “make a house for your favorite stuffed toy,” etc.

Creativity, imagination, problem-solving, eye-hand coordination, shapes, colors, patterns

8. Paper Cutting with Safety Scissors

Children feel empowered with a tool in their hands. And they are so proud of themselves when they can cut the paper!

Paper, safety scissors, craft supplies like pom poms, googly eyes (optional)

Give your child a piece of paper and let him or her cut it any way they want. If you like, you can also give some challenges, such as “cut out a circle,” “make a snowflake,” etc. You can help your child decorate the cutouts with craft supplies if desired.

Fine motor skills, creativity, imagination, attention span

*Please note that only safety scissors should be used for this activity. Regular scissors are too sharp for little ones.*

9. Doing Daily Chores

You’ll be surprised at all the things your toddlers can do if only you let them try. Giving them some simple chores to do not only helps them learn some valuable life skills but also makes kids feel proud and accomplished.

Chores that are appropriate for your child’s age and abilities, such as making their bed, dusting furniture, setting the table, etc.

Choose a chore that you would like your child to help with. Then, show them how to do it and let them try it themselves. Some of the chores that a 3-year-old can do may require some assistance or supervision, but it’s important to let them explore their capabilities and try new things.

A toddler can easily be overwhelmed with too many chores, so it’s important to start small. Choose one or two simple tasks that you know your child can handle. As they get older and more capable, you can give them more chores to do. Remember to praise them for a job well done!

Daily living skills, responsibility, independence, pride, satisfaction

10. Role-playing

What’s funnier than seeing a tiny toddler acting like a fat aunt or an old grandpa? Role-plays are one of the best activities for 3-year-olds as they help them learn about different emotions, people, and situations.

None! Just your child’s imagination. A few props like a walking stick, a hat, a lady’s purse, or a wig could come in handy to help set the scene.

Have your child choose a character that he or she would like to play. It could be anyone—a family member, a friend, a cartoon character, an animal, etc. Then, encourage them to act out the part. They can speak differently, use props, and do whatever they want to bring the character to life. Children learn to observe people around them and understand their emotions in this way.

Creativity, imagination, emotional intelligence, communication, problem-solving

Check out the best outdoor activities for 3-year-olds here!

11. Playing Dress Up

Dress-up games are not gender-specific. Most children love them! This activity helps 3-year-olds use their imagination, learn about social norms and roles, and have lots of fun!

Old clothes, hats, scarves, jewelry, etc., can be used as dress-up items. You can also use old sheets or towels to make capes or skirts. You can also use actual costumes if you have them.

Let your child choose what they want to be, and then help them get dressed in the appropriate clothing. If you like, you can also act out a play or story together with your child in their new costume.

Creativity, imagination, role-playing, problem-solving

12. Making Music with Household Items

This is one of the fun activities for 3-year-olds that can be done with items that you already have around the house. It’s a great way to introduce your child to music and help them develop a sense of rhythm.

Household items that can be used as musical instruments, such as pots and pans, plastic containers, wooden spoons, etc. You can also use actual musical instruments if you have them.

Let your child choose what he or she wants to use as an instrument. Then, encourage them to make music with it however they want. You can also sing along or dance to the music!

Music skills, sense of rhythm, gross motor skills, creativity, imagination

13. Making Art with Thumb , Hand, or Foot Impressions

Most toddlers do not know how to go about making an art piece. But they love to play a role in helping make one! This activity allows them to do just that, resulting in a beautiful piece of art that you can hang on your fridge or wall.

Non-toxic paint, paper, and something to use as a stamp (such as potato, carrot, or eraser)

Let your child choose what paint color he or she wants to use. Then, help them make a thumbprint, handprint, or footprint on the paper. You can also make patterns with stamps by carving a shape into a potato, carrot, or eraser. Once the paint is dry, you can hang up the artwork!

Creativity, imagination, fine motor skills, color recognition

14. Creating a Collage

A collage is a great way for toddlers to express their creativity. They can make amazing birthday cards with photo collages, make wall-hanging art, or have fun tearing up paper and gluing it back together!

Paper, safety scissors, glue, and any other materials you want to use for the collage (such as tissue paper, construction paper, feathers, buttons, ribbons, etc.)

Let your child choose what they want to use for their collage. Then, help them cut out the paper or other materials into small pieces. Once they have a good pile of pieces, they can glue them down onto another piece of paper. You can help them with this if needed.

Creativity, imagination, fine motor skills, color recognition, pattern-making

15. Drawing with Chalk on the Sidewalk

If you live in a safe neighborhood, your children can display their artistic skills outside the home by drawing with chalk on the sidewalk or driveway. This activity is great for gross motor skills and allows you to teach your child about shapes, colors, and patterns.

Chalk in various colors

Let your child choose what color of chalk he or she wants to use. Then, help them draw a picture or make patterns on the sidewalk. You can also join in and create your own chalk masterpiece!

Educate children about different cultures where making art to decorate entrance gates and doorways is a tradition. Indians make rangoli, Chinese make a dragon or zodiac animal drawings, while in the Philippines, it is common to see people painting on bamboo mats called banig . In this way, you can introduce your toddlers to other cultures.

Creativity, imagination, gross motor skills, shapes, colors, pattern-making

A study on Chinese children found that organized extracurricular activities (EAs) are strongly associated with early reading, math, and social skills. Another study indicated that the involvement of parents in preschool children’s learning activities at home during the COVID-19 pandemic was beneficial to kids’ learning behavior and emotional health. 

These studies seem to suggest that any activity that encourages learning, socialization, and creativity would benefit our little ones and shape them into more confident, woke, and aware individuals. 

Some benefits of educational activities for 3-year-olds are:

• They help develop cognitive skills, including problem-solving, memory, and attention span.
• EAs also nurture social skills such as cooperation, empathy, and communication.
• These activities can also boost self-esteem and confidence in children.
• Fun and educational activities are also great for developing gross and fine motor skills.

So go ahead and try out some educational activities with your 3-year-old today! You might just be surprised at how much they enjoy it—and how much they learn from it too.

Explore more online educational resources for kids to aid their learning experience.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How to choose a good educational activity for my 3 year old.

When choosing an activity for your 3-year-old, it is important to consider their interests, abilities, and attention span. You also want to ensure the activity is developmentally appropriate and safe. If you are unsure whether an activity is appropriate for your child, you can always consult their pediatrician or a child development expert.

How can I get my toddler to sit still and focus on an activity?

This can be a challenge for many parents! One tip is to try to find activities that your child is interested in and that they enjoy doing. Also, make sure you provide plenty of breaks during the activity so that your child doesn’t become overwhelmed or frustrated. Finally, praise your child when they display good behavior so that they know that you are pleased with their efforts.

How to help my toddler express their creativity?

There are many ways in which you can help your toddler express their creativity. One way is to provide plenty of opportunities for them to explore different materials and mediums, such as crayons, paint, clay, etc. You can also encourage them to sing, dance, or act out stories. And finally, make sure to praise their efforts and creativity, no matter what the outcome may be.

15 Fun Letter E Activities & Crafts for Kids

17 creative art activities for preschoolers in 2024.

17 Fun Letter H Activities & Crafts for Kids

• Pre-Kindergarten
• Kindergarten

Most Popular

76 Best Report Card Comments Samples for Teachers

117 Best Riddles for Kids (With Answers)

40 Best Good Vibes Quotes to Brighten Your Day

Recent posts.

Math & ELA | PreK To Grade 5

Kids see fun., you see real learning outcomes..

Watch your kids fall in love with math & reading through our scientifically designed curriculum.

Parents, try for free Teachers, use for free

• Games for Kids
• Worksheets for Kids
• Math Worksheets
• ELA Worksheets
• Math Vocabulary
• Number Games
• Addition Games
• Subtraction Games
• Multiplication Games
• Division Games
• Addition Worksheets
• Subtraction Worksheets
• Multiplication Worksheets
• Division Worksheets
• Times Tables Worksheets
• Reading Games
• Writing Games
• Phonics Games
• Sight Words Games
• Letter Tracing Games
• Reading Worksheets
• Writing Worksheets
• Phonics Worksheets
• Sight Words Worksheets
• Letter Tracing Worksheets
• Prime Number
• Order of Operations
• Long multiplication
• Place value
• Parallelogram
• SplashLearn Success Stories
• SplashLearn Apps

© Copyright - SplashLearn

Back-to-School Learning Boost!

Turn play into progress., jumpstart learning now.

Explore 4,000+ games and 450+ lesson plans designed to make this school year the best one yet!

Parents, Try for Free Teachers, Use for Free

DIY Learning Hands-On Activities for 3-Year-Olds

If you’re looking for fun, hands-on activities for your 3-year-old, there are plenty of options to choose from! Here are a few ideas:

Sensory bins: Fill a plastic bin with items that will engage your child’s senses, such as rice, beans, or sand. Add in small toys or objects for them to explore and manipulate.

Playdough: Making and playing with playdough is a classic activity for young children. You can easily make your own playdough at home using flour, salt, and water.

Painting: Finger painting or using a brush to create artwork is a great way to let your child express their creativity. You can use washable paints or even make your own using food coloring and water.

Nature walks: Take your child on a walk around your neighborhood or a local park and encourage them to observe and collect items from nature, such as leaves, rocks, or flowers.

Free Printable – Hibernation and Torpor Activities

Sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest updates and offers, and gain access to our printable fine motor activities featuring animals that hibernate and enter torpor! 

The information you provide will only be used to email you printables, updates and personalized marketing. By clicking below to submit this form, you acknowledge that the information you provide will be processed per our Privacy Policy.  

The freebie is on its way!

Please check your email. If it does not appear in your Inbox in the next 10 minutes, check the Promotions & Spam folders. I also included some helpful  Tips to Help You Access Freebies  in the Free Resource Library 🍃

Building with blocks: Blocks are a fantastic toy for developing fine motor skills and spatial awareness. You can use wooden blocks, foam blocks, or even recycled materials like cardboard boxes.

Montessori has the ultimate scientifically-based way to address children’s development. At the young age of three, we often can observe common threads and windows of opportunity that a child’s behavior displays – sensitive periods.

Sensitive periods in Montessori education refer to periods of time when children are particularly receptive to certain types of learning. During these periods, children are naturally drawn to certain activities and materials, and they have a heightened ability to absorb and retain information.

The sensitive periods typically occur during the first six years of life and cover a range of developmental areas, including language, motor skills, and social development. Montessori teachers are trained to recognize and respond to these sensitive periods by providing a prepared environment that offers the appropriate materials and activities to support each child’s individual needs and interests.

By understanding and supporting these sensitive periods, Montessori educators can help children reach their full potential and develop a lifelong love of learning.

Sensitive Periods

It is always wise to refer to those sensitive periods when we plan to organize a learning environment for a 3-year-old child especially if we like to follow the Montessori approach. Before I share with you my suggestions and examples of learning activities for three-year-olds, I would like to revisit those sensitive periods. From the age of 0 to 6 years old, a child’s development can be characterized by the five types of sensitive periods:

• sensory skills
• fine and gross motor movement
• social skills.

For each individual child the time it takes to fulfill and pass each of those developmental stones varies. Only the child can tell us through many cues and personal tendencies what his or her sensitivity is most prevalent at any point in time. Hence we strive to show respect and follow the child.

Bouncing off that we can see how important it is for us to practice observational skills from the child’s birth and be attentive to what the child’s behavior is telling us. This lays a great foundation for creating an environment and activities that will drive and support the sensitive periods, enable the child to be in harmony with his or her intrinsic stimulus.

Sometimes, adults can get fixated on a particular aspect of development – like learning to read and write or social skills. If the child does not show much interest in either of them or tends to like his or her own company, we begin to panic and push the child to reach the milestones without providing adequate support and are inclined to start attaching labels.

I believe we always have to take the child’s character and individuality into perspective. Our eagerness to “fix” the child should never be imposed or make the child feel inadequate. We should most certainly seek support or reassurance if that’s the case.

In the post, I would like to share some ways I incorporate learning activities with a 3-year-old during our morning learning time. I plan and prepare 3-4 activities for the child 3-4 times a week. I trust you find these helpful and inspiring.

We have limited space with children in different age categories, hence I aim to make the most out of it to allow freedom of choice. Here is an example of a shelf arrangement with a silence game and a sand timer in the basket, cutting strips , counting the quantity and matching to the numbers activity, the knobless cylinders, learning to identify the initial sound “I spy” game, painting, matching cards, and a puzzle type activity.

Practical Life Activities

We use cloth nappies at night until we feel the child is ready to go without them. Hanging and fastening washed nappies with a peg brought a sense of accomplishment, encouraged self-care, and was a great exercise for little fingers.

I like to encourage care of the environment. For example, clearing the table after an art activity is a wonderful way to support a child’s desire for order and boost confidence and independence. It takes a lot of patience to prepare, assist, and support the child from the educator’s perspective, however, it is definitely worth it.

Even when we don’t have store-bought flowers, the children often start picking flowers from the loan. I quickly organize a tray and tools to do flower arrangements . This exercise boosts a child’s fine motor skills, and concentration, and fosters a sense of beauty.

Fine motor exercises with lacing cards I find to be effective at capturing a child’s attention for an extended period of time. It is important to offer the child a demonstration first otherwise, they can become frustrated quickly as they run out of string shortly if they don’t practice lacing in the correct order.

Along with helping in the kitchen, children enjoy practical life trays with pouring and transferring activities to perfect those fine motor movements. It also allows the child to indirectly prepare for writing and extend their concentration time when they are allowed to work on it without interruptions.

Children don’t seem to get tired of pouring activities at this age.

It is always a good idea to extend the difficulty of the task and offer more challenging work if you feel the child is ready to move on.

Fine Motor Activities

Without a doubt, the shelf work, Montessori trays, and hands-on learning activities tend to and satisfy sensitive periods. With one activity the child learns the order of the presentation, the order in which all materials are organized on the tray, and the way they should be placed back on the shelf.

They learn language by naming the tools, colors, and objects on the cards. They learn to communicate when they need help with an activity. They learn to differentiate colors, sizes, and textures. Hence I find this time the child spends working on the activities invaluable for their development.

Generally a trip to a discount, thrift, or office supply store is sufficient to gather the necessary tools to prepare and set up learning activities for preschool children.

I love getting creative with manipulatives I can use for transferring, math, or loose part play. Here you can spot everlasting flowers I kept from one of the flower-arranging activities.

Playdough play with loose parts is a regular activity on our shelves for preschool children. We prefer to use natural loose parts we have collected in the woods or purchased from craft shops.

Fine motor work as such is always only done under direct supervision for safety reasons. As a rule, I do not leave it on the shelf for the child to access at any time without an adult being present. At the age of three many children still like to take small objects into their mouths.

Sensory Activities

Once in a while, the children enjoy sensory play. For example, we mix up cornflour with beetroot juice, some eco-friendly glitter, and a hair conditioner. This fun and engaging activity can get messy but it is very much child-led and can entertain them for a while. I like to use this opportunity to work with the sibling without destruction.

It is safe to say that at this age majority of activities I present to the children require a minimum involvement, presentation time, or guidance from the adult. I simply set up an activity on a tray, if the child takes it to work, I ask if I may have a turn. I demonstrate how to do it once and leave the rest to the child. Most of those activities are open-ended.

Playdough and plasticine are often favored by young children. Activities that require them to pinch, squeeze and mold prepare little fingers and hand muscles for writing and drawing.

Often all three children of different ages engage in an activity they can accomplish at a different level based on their skills.

I aim to always have a high supply of paints because a three-year-old can not have too many opportunities to do a painting. Self-expression is very satisfying. We make sure to place the painting on a wall to admire after it dries.

I encourage the child to do simple crafts to practice cutting and other important skills and often it is done to honor an important occasion or to make a card for someone. Meaningful exercise triggers intrinsic motivation that inspires children to complete them.

For example, here is an activity for making a card with a love heart shape the child punches with a shape puncher.

Children learn about creating patterns and simple designs when they have an opportunity to make papercraft.

In the preschool packs that I prepare, I include cutting and push pinning activities. Children enjoy those as they challenge them and help develop fine motor skills that are essential for their growth.

In my Spring pack , I included matryoshka cards for lacing. However, my daughter was more inclined to me to cut it up and glue the puzzle pieces as she was learning to apply pressure on the glue and put pieces together to complete the picture.

Pre-writing and pre-reading activities

Pre-writing activities for preschool children are an important stepping stone towards mastering cursive handwriting. I use colored sand to prepare a pre-writing tray. I may also have loose parts for the child to arrange first and then make continuous strokes with a paintbrush around those objects on the sand.

“I spy” activity for learning to identify the initial sound is very engaging for children at this age as they are curious to learn new vocabulary.

Once the child has competence in identifying beginning sounds , I start introducing tracing sandpaper letters and sorting pictures based on their initial sound.

Here is another example of a shelf arrangement with a dusting activity and mystery bag for feeling and guessing objects to support the child’s sensitive period for touching.

Sometimes the child will initiate activities by watching other children work with materials. They come up with a way to use them that makes sense to them. I generally do not interfere and allow the use of those materials as soon as the child is doing it respectfully.

Sensorial Activities

For example, here the child is organizing math beads by color and length.

This is the age when children start learning discriminating objects – grading and sorting by size. I adapt to our children’s needs and purchase materials I feel will benefit them the most for an extended period of time. The cylinder blocks are a perfect example.

As children encounter shapes and learn many other concepts from interactions in real life, we can start introducing hands-on activities with cards that reinforce that knowledge and draw attention to it like a magnifying class.

I created a series of cards that help children to learn through manipulating picture cards and learning small snippets of information – Nature Curriculum in Cards. I regularly use materials from the bundle with all my children to teach them about the natural world.

This is a pre-updated version of living and non-living things printable for sorting. This kind of activity fosters logical thinking and understanding of the concepts of life.

My daughter enjoys working with cards . Hence I use this opportunity to offer as many activities as I can to support her interest.

Language Activities

Our children eat their veggies without us nagging and they are not shy when it comes to spices. But that definitely didn’t happen overnight. We talk about food and nutrition all the time and in a fun way. We discuss cuisines and ingredients in our meals, the way food makes us feel, and how it affects our mood. I am very open with them about mistakes I made in the past when it comes to healthy eating habits. We talk about self-control and discuss what it looks like in practice. We are still learning every single day how to nurture our bodies but we try not to make it a chore. Having cards with whole foods available on the shelf to work with helped me with my littlest to normalize eating fresh and unprocessed foods that at times don’t seem to be overly attractive to children.

This is a shape-matching activity with animals that is very beneficial for even younger children. Cards like these indirectly reinforce the idea that we express affection when we feel safe to do so (we are a part of the animal kingdom after all) while learning the names of different shapes, and animals and applying logical thinking and observational skills.

Tracing Activities

Tracing worksheets are usually not my first choice when I prepare activities for my preschool children. However, they are like a magnet to them. If given a choice, they work with them practically daily. They serve the purpose of preparing children for handwriting, developing extended concentration skills, and learning pencil grip.

In my tracing no prep books I also include activities on logical thinking. If children are engaged, they can spend a significant amount of time working on an activity that boosts their ability to concentrate for longer.

Hands-on Activities

There is so much to be admired about Montessori materials . They are made mostly out of wood and they are made to last. They are at the very foundation of the Montessori method. In our home, we own a few sets but I also find a way to substitute those materials with something that comes at a lesser cost and can be stored efficiently. Here is an example of our DIY color tablets II. These are easy to make with construction paper or cardboard.

Here is an example of an open-ended type of activity that allows free exploration. It is not material that requires a presentation. If the child asks questions, I am always there to give a short introduction and point to land and water, name continents . But the main purpose behind material as such is to allow the child an opportunity to manipulate its parts, to spark his or her curiosity, and to help gain information through play and observation.

When I think of puzzles for preschool children , I like to choose wooden ones with knobs. Indirectly it allows the child to practice pencil grip. Children can also trace shapes by holding them by the knobs and then use the outline to do push pinning , coloring, or cutting.

Pattern work with shapes fits in perfectly with the sensitive period for developing sensory skills and satisfies the curiosity and desire to sort, match and make patterns.

Here is another way I allow to repurpose Montessori metal insets and be used like puzzles. Generally, these are used by older children to practice tracing, coloring, and making continuous strokes. In saying that, at the age of three, my children were ready to use them as intended as well.

Free printables for young learners

FIND MATCHING TOYS HERE

DOWNLOAD HERE

learning resources you might find helpful in your classroom

About Anastasia - Anastasia is an early childhood teacher and the founder of Montessori Nature - a blog about Montessori living and learning and nature-based explorations . With many years of experience working in a Montessori environment and homeschooling her children , she directed her passion for all things Montessori and nature into creating educational resources. You can learn more here and browse her printables on Teachers Pay Teachers .

⏰ September Sale 🍏 Save 15% using promo code SEP24 Dismiss

• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar

This post might contain affiliate links. Click here for more information . Thanks for visiting!

20+ Preschool Friendship Activities

August 7, 2019 by Sheryl Cooper

Last Updated on October 10, 2021 by Sheryl Cooper

Inside: Preschool friendship activities are important for strong social growth. Here are over 20 fun activities that encourage friendship building!

Starting from the first day of school , we include friendship activities in our day.

At the age of 3, children are starting to play more with each other , forming new friendships. We talk about what makes a good friend. We do friendship activities, we read friendship stories, and we sing friendship songs. All year long.

I like to have a go-to list of ideas for moments when I especially feel we need to focus on being good friends. What is a good friend? How do we treat our friends? What do we like to do with our friends? How do our friends make us feel?

I put together this list of picture books, activities and songs that I hope teachers and parents will find helpful.

Preschool Friendship Books

Roll a jar back and forth that is part of a friendship art activity .

Put together a friendship banner to hang on your classroom wall (free printable).

Teach kindness while building friendships in the classroom.

Make a friendship necklace . (Inner Child Fun)

Learn how to play with friends with this free printable game. (Powerful Mothering)

Work on feelings with a monster “what is a friend” game. (The OT Toolbox)

Have fun with DIY friendship blocks . (Teach Preschool)

Encourage your preschoolers to work together to make a colorful mural . (Munchkins and Moms)

Enjoy a tea party with a friend.

Practice sharing while making friendship ice cream . (Mama Smiles)

Learn how to use kind words with this easy sensory-filled lesson. (Preschool Powol Packets)

Add some finger-painting process art to encourage working together. (Stay At Home Educator)

Mix red, yellow and blue using hands with a friend. (The Simplicity  of Learning)

Make bread to give to a friend.

Gather the children together and make friendship soup . (Little Sprouts Learning)

Work on sharing with a friend while pretending to share ice cream. (Sunny Day Family)

Get all of the children’s hands involved while making a friendship tree . (The Happy Teapot)

Cut out paper doll chain and write down ways to be good friends. (Gift of Curiosity)

Make frosty pinecones after reading Penguin and Pinecone.

Build friendships by playing one of these teamwork games . (A Mom with a Lesson Plan)

Use photos of your child to make a personalized friendship social story . (Inner Child Fun)

Play a friendship game . (Meaningful Mama)

Preschool Friendship Songs

The More We Get Together 

Will You Be a Friend of Mine?

Friends, Friends 123

Make New Friends

A Song of Friendship

A Welcome Song

Friends Song

My Friends Go Marching

 What are your favorite friendship activities? Let me know in the comments section!

More fun activities:.

15 Picture Book Activities that Preschoolers Love

25+ Dramatic Play Ideas for Toddlers and Preschoolers

All About Me Activity Plans

I’ve teamed up with other early childhood teachers and homeschoolers to put together these hands-on all about me activity plans for toddlers and preschoolers!

Easy to follow activities that include modifications and adaptations to meet the needs of all learners.

Note: This is a digital product. That means when you make a purchase, you will be emailed a link to the activities.

For more information, click on the graphics below:

FREE CIRCLE TIME PLANNER!

Get your FREE circle time planner as a gift when you subscribe to my free weekly newsletters.

Here is my Privacy Policy

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

About Sheryl Cooper

Sheryl Cooper is the founder of Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds, a website full of activities for toddlers and preschoolers. She has been teaching this age group for over 25 years and loves to share her passion with teachers, parents, grandparents, and anyone with young children in their lives.

Reader Interactions

September 9, 2014 at 2:46 am

Thank you for sharing our friendship paper doll activity!

September 10, 2014 at 5:05 am

Happy to, Katie!

September 10, 2014 at 1:59 am

I love this article! I will try to find ways to use some of these with my children to build friendships with their classmates as they start school

• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar
• Skip to footer

Raising-independent-kids

Evidence-based parenting tips and resources

40 activities to do with your 3-year-old

December 27, 2023 by Sanya Pelini, Ph.D. Leave a Comment

The products recommended here are affiliate links. This means that pruchasing these products helps support this blog at no extra cost to you. Please read the  disclosure  for more details.

Who would have thought that finding the right activities for 3-year-olds would be complicated? With so much time for play, it’s easy to get bored playing doctor with your child 10 times a day, every day.

The truth is, most of us end up repeating the same activities over and over again, sometimes because we don’t know there are other simple and easy-to-set-up activities out there, and sometimes because it’s easy to fall into similar patterns.

The good news is that there are many simple activities for 3-year-olds that can be spread throughout the day.

Remember that 3-year-old activities are essential to your child’s development because they help him develop or strengthen important skills such as fine and gross motor skills, hand-eye coordination, color and number recognition, and so on.

So let’s take a look at what your 3-year-old can do (or is just starting to do), and then I’ll give you a list of 40 simple activities, many of which you can do with objects you already have around the house.

What can a 3-year-old do?

When choosing activities for your 3-year-old, it is important to remember that this age group is naturally active, mobile, and learning in new ways every day. It is also an age of curiosity, the “why” age, when your child wants to know everything about everything.

A three-year-old can:

– Communicate effectively. They are saying more words, using simple sentences, and are more easily understood by others.

– Name colors.

– Sing along with simple rhymes.

– Dress and undress themselves (but they can still do buttons and zippers).

– Draw lines and copy a circle.

– Understand differences in size.

– Understand simple directions.

– Understand prepositions (on, under, in) and pronouns (you, me, they).

– Understand simple rules of play such as waiting your turn and sharing toys.

– Run and jump.

– Ride a tricycle.

– Feed themselves.

– Build simple objects by stacking.

– Wash and dry hands.

– Concentrate on tasks for a little longer than five minutes.

At three years of age, your child is also learning new things very quickly, and the activities they engage in are great for their development. It is generally recommended that toddlers not be inactive for more than an hour at a time during their waking hours.

Here is a great list of kid-friendly activities for your 3-year-old!

40 Activities Your 3-Year-Old Will Love

It’s always nice to have ideas for simple but different fun activities to do with your 3-year-old. The list below has many activities, all of which are designed to develop specific skills.

Go through the list and choose about 10 activities that you can propose throughout the day to make sure your child is practicing different skills each day.

1. Give your child a piece of cardboard and ask him or her to finger paint with water. They’ll love it, and the best part? No mess guarantee!

2. Turn on the music and have a dance party to your favorite dance songs.

3. Let your child help you cut soft fruits and vegetables in the kitchen. These Montessori designed knives are great for encouraging your child to participate in everyday household tasks.

4. Go on a nature walk, give your child a bag and ask him to collect at least five different objects.

5. Give them lots of age-appropriate puzzles .

6.  Ask your child to build a tower out of toilet paper and tissue boxes.

7.  Give your child a box or coloring book and ask him or her to color with child-friendly colors.

8.  Give your child magnetic blocks and let him or her express creativity.

9.  Take a walk and ask your child to name all the colors he or she sees.

10. Give them a giant search and find toy whose collection is adapted to 3-year-olds.

11. Play the memory game. Turn over memory cards and take turns trying to find two similar cards. Start with a few cards and gradually increase the number of cards as your child gets better at the game. Here are printable memory cards your child will love.

12. Let your child play doctor or dentist with their dolls or stuffed animals.

13. Look at family photos together.

14. Ask your child to water plants. They’ll love feeling all grown up. Encouraging your child to participate in age-appropriate chores is an easy way to keep them busy and help them develop important skills. This article has everything you need to know about choosing the right chores.

15. Get them a balance bike to help them practice their coordination.

16. Open a page in their favorite book and ask them to find certain objects.

17. Give your child stickers to play with.

18. Do a giant floor puzzle together .

19. Play dough activities are great for 3 year olds.

20. Let your child help you in the garden. They will love planting their own seeds and pulling out weeds.

21. Look at pictures in books and talk about the different feelings.

22. Read books together. Listening to audio books is also a great activity for a 3-year-old.

23. Go to the library.

24. Take your child to age-appropriate events in your neighborhood.

25. Take your child swimming.

26. Play hide-and-seek.

27. Listen to music.

28. Grab a giant box, turn it into a tunnel, and let your child decorate and play with it. Endless fun guaranteed!

29. Ask your three year old to paint on the outside of the house with water and a paintbrush.

30. Play Simon says. Laughs guaranteed!

31. Put duct tape on the floor and ask your child to walk or drive a car on it.

32. Give your child different empty containers and grains and have him or her move the grains from one container to another.

33. Give your child large beads to thread.

34. Put various objects that your child is familiar with into a bag and ask them to take out a particular object without looking in the bag.

35. Ask your child to dress up dolls.

36. Take your child to the park.

37. Get empty boxes of different sizes and tape them together. Ask your child to stack them and knock them over. You can also ask them to sort the boxes from smallest to largest, shortest to tallest, etc.

38. Mix plastic spoons, knives and forks and ask your child to separate them.

39. Mix objects of different colors (or shapes), then ask your child to sort them by color (or shape).

40. Put some heavy objects in your laundry basket and have your 3-year-old push them around.

What are some of your favorite activities for 3-year-olds? These simple activities aren’t just for 3 year olds, they’re great activities that can teach important skills to older and younger kids alike!

Let us know in the comments what activities your 3-year-old absolutely loves!

About Sanya Pelini, Ph.D.

Sanya Pelini holds a Ph.D. in Education. Her work has been published on Motherly, ParentMap, The Goffman Institute and Psych Central, among others. She lives in the south of France with her husband and three children.

Reader Interactions

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Affiliate disclosure

Legal mention

Privacy policy

Recent Posts

• The Surprising Effects of Negative Discipline on Kids (and a Better Approach to Try)
• 20 Activities to Do With a 9-Month-Old Baby
• Science says this one thing alone can improve your teen’s emotional well-being
• 10 signs of anxiety that are often mistaken for something else
• Why every child needs to connect with nature every day, regardless of their environment

As an  Amazon Associate , I earn from qualifying purchases.

This blog doesn’t offer professional advice. It is written and edited by me. It may contain affiliate links. Click  here  to read the full disclosure.

Privacy Overview

Resources for parents to get through the challenges.

21 Fun Things to Do with a 3-Year-Old: Put that Toddler Energy to Good Use

If you’re the parent of a rowdy toddler, you’re not alone! Fortunately, you can positively channel all that energy and curiosity with our suggestions for 21 things to do with a 3-year-old below.

Three-year-olds are amazing, they have such a sense of wonder about the world and are so full of fun. But keeping them busy can feel like a full-time job.

We have put together some fun activities that you can do with your 3-year-old . Whether you’re stuck inside on a rainy day or embracing it boot-in-puddle style, these 21 great ideas help develop creativity, fine motor skills, imaginative play. (Not to mention, keeping them busy and entertained!)

In this article

Sensory Play Activities

Pretend play/imaginative play activities, five fun outdoor activities for 3-year-olds, six fine motor skills activities for 3-year-olds, what should a 3 year old know educationally, should a three-year-old know the alphabet, should a three-year-old be potty trained, can 3-year-olds draw people, fun with toddlers: summary, ten indoor activities for 3-year-olds.

There are a wealth of activities that you can do with a 3-year-old when the weather is less than favorable. As much as kids may enjoy the freedoms of the outdoors, this doesn’t mean you should underestimate the importance of some creative ideas and a few pieces of paper!

Sensory stimulation is a vital way to develop the sensory pathways and promote healthy development in your child. This stimulation can also promote wonderful opportunities for communication and strengthening bonds.

1. Playdough

A great fun way to get your children to use their imagination and make some amazing creations.

You can also have some fun making your own salt dough if you find you don’t have play dough to hand.

This is also a fun activity for them to practice their fine motor skills. Just provide them with some simple tools for cutting, chopping, and shaping the dough. Working the dough hones the strength and coordination of those tiny fingers and hands whilst they play.

2. Rice and Beans

This activity is so much fun and really helps your 3-year-olds to use their imagination.

All you need is some dry rice or beans and then lots of different-sized containers for them to pour them back and forth. Give them spoons, scoops, cups, and even a mesh strainer, and see the fun they have.

You can even encourage your kid to have some fun by mark-making, or showing them how to draw in the different textures.

For some added fun you could always dye the rice a range of colors using food coloring. This gives an extra layer of creativity to this activity for all kids and can help your three-year-olds to recognize colors and their names.

3. Water Beads

Water beads are a fantastic way to make learning fun and improve children’s hand-eye coordination through sensory play, and they can also double up as a fun outdoor activity.

You can use a variety of play ideas to improve kids’ pouring and counting skills and even include other toys and puzzles to create your own racecourse to blow the water beads through!

4. Arts and Crafts

Arts and crafts cover a broad range of activities from finger painting , using pipe cleaners, working with a glue stick, cutting out, and using chalk or markers.

You really can let their imaginations run wild. Depending on the time of year you could make cards using colored paper, do some potato printing or use some toy cars and run them through the paint to see the patterns that their wheels make.

These activities provide a fun sensory experience for your little one.

Making fun craft activities doesn’t need to be expensive either, often activities for 3-year-olds can involve several steps such as outdoor exploring to collect materials that can be attached to colored paper using a glue stick or printing using leaves and other items that you may have collected.

You could even just print off some coloring sheets and let your child have some fun exploring their own ideas.

5. Making Lunch

Another great way to involve your preschoolers in daily activities is to let them help you prepare lunch. It’s the ultimate hands-on task that can help to improve their relationship with food in the future too!

Having more control over what your little ones choose and prepare for food can increase the likelihood of them clearing their plate. It also taps into different developmental domains, eliminating the need for lots of toys overwhelming them.

You can help them get creative with different shapes and patterns when chopping up fruit and veggies and make games out of everyday activities to promote wonderful fun for your little ones.

Not only can cooking together improve your kids reading skills, but it can also teach your child valuable life skills that will stay with them throughout the course of their life.

If your young kids struggle to maintain focus on a task then you can draw or write the recipe onto some paper and watch them stay focused to ensure a great outcome.

One of the most widely recognized methods of improving kids’ speech and imagination is through play.

Many a qualified professional says this quality time together can make learning great fun. It helps teach kids exciting new ways to play in the world around them as well as improve fine motor skills, without the need for expensive toys.

Imaginative play activities for 3-year-olds work best when your child can re-enact experiences you have noticed them taking an interest in. L their ideas and imagination take the lead to enable open-ended fun with no structure.

6. Reading Books

Although you may already read with your three-year-old every day, you can make your child’s face light up by adding funny faces and voices. Not only will it delight your little one, but it will help them to identify characterizations and follow narratives.

Kids love this type of quality time together when you read books; eye contact can help to immerse your three-year-old in the story further.

It will promote a great bonding experience and help your kids associate reading as a positive experience (a net benefit well into adulthood).

There is plenty of information online showing the best books to read to your kids , and sometimes this website provides printouts for activities related to these books.

Before reading a book you could mentally take some ideas for a nice list of questions you can ask throughout the story to encourage your kid’s imagination. This will help make the most of that childlike creativity and vivid imagination when reading books with them.

7. Put On a Puppet Show

One of the most overlooked and hilarious activities for 3-year-olds is to put on a puppet show using anything you can find around the house.

You can set up a stage, make up stories together and see what great ideas your little one can come up with in their very own first performance.

Your child will love something as simple as a sock puppet, or you can even encourage them to draw a paper puppet for you to play with together.

You could use this as a chance to re-enact a difficult scenario your child may have encountered. Address their emotions at the time to enable a healthy outcome to any tantrums in the future.

8. Run a Store

Running a store is a fantastic role play experience that kids love, you can take on any role and even spend time doing fun crafts to create a store sign beforehand.

Kids love to mimic the activities they see in everyday life, and you can often find many children’s toy websites that will feature their own pretend play and toy sections to help your kids take part in their favorite roleplay scenarios.

Toddler Teatime: The Best Tea Sets for Imaginative Play

You could sell board games, pretend to play in a bowling alley or even include their own favorite activities into the play on the days when you don’t want to leave the house!

Engaging in these forms of communication gives your kids the chance to improve their language and writing skills by using phrases they wouldn’t otherwise have a chance to use.

9. Safari Adventure

This is a great activity for your 3-year-old or any other kids for that matter! Your child will love this play set up and can be fully customizable using the toys your child has available.

You can get creative in the house, by drawing on paper to make little hiding spots for your safari animals, or take your child outdoors and hide their safari toys around for them to spot!

You could put together a list on a piece of paper and develop their knowledge of animals by printing fun fact sheets from any website your child enjoys and turn this pretend play into a great learning experience.

10. Doctors and Nurses

Setting up your child their very own hospital playset is a great way to eliminate any fears your toddlers may have of a medical setting and familiarize them with some of the familiar medical terms and equipment.

With some paper signs, or even some website print outs you can decorate the walls to replicate a doctor’s office and treat your patients (dolls, toys, anything your child wants!) and let their creative sides go wild.

One of the best ways to cheer up a grumpy preschooler is by adventuring on outdoor activities and letting their imagination take over, from a scavenger hunt to pretend play, you can find so many great ideas for activities that your three-year-olds are going to find fun.

11. Mud Kitchen

Mud kitchens are a staple preschooler activity that helps to make learning fun by improving knowledge of the outdoors.

The best part about a mud kitchen is that it is fully adaptable and can be used for older kids too.

From a muddy tea party to mixing bowls full of grass and seeds, the number of ideas for your 3-year-olds mud kitchen can lead to hours of great activities and endless fun craft, without having to worry about any mess on your kitchen floor.

12. Toy Car Race Tracks

It often feels like you can miss out on all the fun if your garden space is less than desirable. Even if you only have a small space, this doesn’t mean imaginative play needs to be limited to inside the house.

You can create an obstacle course for your child and their toy cars to race through by drawing chalk on the floor to create a fun race track kids will love. It’s simple fun stuff like this that makes the best activities for 3-year-olds.

13. Blow Bubbles

Bubbles are a great way to play with any kid of all ages. Taking some out and about with you and your preschoolers is a great game to involve others and even watch your kid make friends with others effortlessly!

You can make some great games with bubbles which require lots of imagination that your kid will love. Some firm favorites include-

• Making bubble wands
• Hula hoop bubbles
• Clap the bubbles
• Add paint to your bubbles

You can make your own bubbles by mixing 1 cup of dish soap with warm water and bending an old coat hanger to make a DIY bubble blower and letting your kids enjoy this fun activity.

14. Board Games

Board games are not only a great idea for activities for 3-year-olds, they can be a fun way to include kids and toddlers of all ages and teach them wonderful new ways to solve puzzles and play a game in a social setting with the whole family.

You could even include it as a once-a-week treat to spend some quality family time together doing something you all enjoy.

Even simple board games can help to improve hand-eye coordination and dexterity in any child, as well as teaching the valuable lesson of learning to follow rules and wait your turn.

Your 3-year-old may be struggling with the idea of sharing their toys and involving others in their game, but a board game can help to encourage your 3-year-old or any other child to play as a team and work together.

15. Car Wash

Water play is always a winner with kids–and you can also get a free car wash out of this activity!

Fill a bucket with water and some toddler-safe shampoo/soap and give them a variety of brushes, sponges, and cloths to clean with. You can get them to clean the family car, a favorite  toy fire truck , their bike or scooter, or even an older sibling’s bicycle.

On a hot day, you can finish up the activity by letting them rinse off their car wash with the hose before drying up and showing off their clean new ride around the block.

16. Threading Objects

Threading beads is a fantastic and highly versatile activity that focuses on supporting your child as they work on those fine motor skills.

It will involve their perceptual, visual, and pincer grip as they focus on correctly threading the objects onto their string.

This can be a great calming activity to relieve stress and unwind after a hard day and allow your child to get creative and explore the different patterns they can make within their beads of choice

You can use anything to make this activity come to life which is a fantastic way to reduce spending on new toys you don’t have room for. You can thread any beads of choice from wooden beads, metal, buttons, leaves, felt, or even shapes.

You don’t have to use string either! It could be spaghetti, pipe cleaners, macaroni, a colander, holes in a lid, or anything you can find that would fit the activity!

Threading is a highly versatile activity that your child will enjoy at any age and can be highly adaptable to your three-year-old preferences.

17. Building Blocks

One of the most highly recognizable toddler toys is the wide variety of stacking and building blocks that are all designed to have a versatile approach to aid their learning.

These blocks can be solid and easy to stack or interlink to focus on their engineering skills.

Structured block play is highly adaptable and can help improve color work and mathematic skills as a visual representation can help your little ones to understand basic mathematic concepts easier.

18. Webbed Baskets

Grab a small basket and some string and watch your kids love trying to solve this puzzle!

You can alter the amount of yarn you use in order to suit their abilities with this task and give them some tweezers, tongs or even a clothes peg to fish out small toys you place under the layers of string.

You can use any toys you have to hand such as plastic spiders, wooden pegs, or figurines your child loves! This activity is suitable for older children too if you want to improve their fine motor skills.

19. Gem Patterns

If you want to start focusing on patterns and shapes within letters then this is a great idea that kids love!

Using any buttons, beads, or shiny gems you have, trace a pattern onto some paper and get your child to follow the pattern with their chosen material.

You can even get them to focus more on creating a repetitive pattern with the colors of their buttons and beads to work on their concentration skills.

You could also alter this activity to include pipe cleaners and get your kids to bend and wiggle them into the right shapes and focus their hand strength.

20. Fidget Objects

Making your own fidget pillow isn’t as difficult as you may think, although there are several available online to purchase.

You can introduce a variety of different developmental activities to help improve your child’s skills. You can include zippers, buttons, switches, locks, or even doorknobs and attach them to a board or block for your toddler to focus on the individual skills that they’re most interested in.

21. Scissor Skills

Introducing the use of scissors can be a highly scary topic for a 3-year-old, but around this age, it is perfectly normal for them to develop an interest in this exciting-looking object.

Showing your child the safest ways to use scissors is the best way to introduce the use of scissors and also improve their visual-motor skills as well as an appreciation and understanding for appropriate tool usage.

There are a few fun activities you can introduce the use of scissors to your toddler:

• Cutting Playdough
• Cutting foam sheets
• Cutting string/ yarn
• Cutting paper

All of these methods are a great way to get creative with your little one, but of course, make sure you watch over them as they work on this new skill so you can appropriately help them learn how much fun this can be.

If your child is already familiar with the use of scissors you can draw some interesting patterns on paper for them to follow along with their scissors to work on their steady hand and gripping skill ready for all the crafts to come!

Frequently Asked Questions

As parents, we can spend a lot of time worrying about our children’s development and if they are meeting the correct milestones. Here are some frequently asked questions about your three-year-old to help.

At three years of age, most kids should be able to correctly name common colors, memorize parts of stories, understand a better concept of time, have a wider creative thought, understand differences in sizing and notice the difference in similar and different features.

By this age, your child will usually not remember the whole alphabet, but often will be able to remember around half the letters and their sounds in order to connect a letter to their sound.

Most children will not fully master potty training until their fourth year, although if you start around 18 months of age then they may begin being fully potty trained during their third year.

Usually, around this age, a drawing of a person will emerge with a “tadpole” style, and a head attached directly to the legs with some arms sticking from the sides.

Related Reading: 12 Kid-Friendly Card Games

At three-year-olds your child will be showing so much more emotion and awareness of the world around them.

During this important stage of understanding their own mind and body, you can really ease this developmental stage through creative play and educational learning to make the job of learning these new skills easy and stress-free for the caregivers.

Filling each day with exciting and entertaining age-appropriate activities can seem like an overwhelming task, but having access to open-ended toys and multi-purpose materials can do the world of good for your little one and help them play and learn together.

This article has covered some of the firm favorites that toddlers know and love, and given you some ideas for ways to improve your three-year-olds developing skills in a fun and appropriate way that can get the whole family involved.

MomInformed is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

• Privacy Policy

© 2024 mominformed.com - All Rights Reserved

MomInformed.com is operated by Bon Ventures SRL, a registered company in Romania (Company No. 37394109), Str. Barbu Vacarescu 164A, Cladirea C1, 020285, Bucharest. Telephone +40 745 310 155

• Ground Reports
• 50-Word Edit
• National Interest
• Campus Voice
• Security Code
• Off The Cuff
• Democracy Wall
• Around Town
• PastForward
• In Pictures
• Last Laughs
• ThePrint Essential

New Delhi: Nobody wanted to sit next to Abhinav Arora in school. That was three years ago, before the self-proclaimed 10-year-old Krishna bhakt amassed over 13 lakh followers across social media platforms . Now, parents request teachers to seat their children beside him. He was invited to the inauguration ceremony of the Ram M andir in Ayodhya , and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has dubbed him India’s “Youngest Spiritual Orator”. His reels are making headlines in both local and national newspapers .

Arora is India’s newly minted viral religious celebrity , spouting words of wisdom at public events and on social media. At last count, he had 9.5 lakh followers on Instagram , 2.2 lakh followers on Facebook, and 1. 3 lakh subscribers on his YouTube channel. Yet, he seems as immune to the adulation as he was to the slights he faced before his rise to fame .

Hindu god Krishna has his heart and soul, he said earnestly.

“Radha-Krishna reside where there is love in the heart. I can sacrifice all worldly comforts to live in a small hut in Vrindavan,” Arora told ThePrint from his West Delhi flat , while his sister and mother closely watch ed him , speaking on his behalf when they deem ed it necessary.

Arora doesn’t have friends — he doesn’t want any. He doesn’t care for toys or smartphones. Television is a detraction. His only desire is to commune with Krishna and Radha. He narrates and quotes from religious texts. He wears dhotis and kurtas. He likes to visit Krishna’s birthplace Vrindavan, read the Bhagavad Gita , and tend to the idols in the family’s massive puja room.

“I consider myself very fortunate that Shri Radha Rani made me her bhakt. She found me worthy of spreading the message of religion. She held my hand from the beginning,” said Arora, whose video of a tearful farewell to a Ganesha idol went viral.  

He isn’t even a teenager yet , but Arora has already become a polarising figure. His legion of followers call him ‘ bal sant ’ or child saint.

His detractors mock him as a carefully crafted construct designed to appeal to the religious. “Bro cracked the algorithm of India,” wrote one user on X . Comments like “ Beta (child) , have you done your homework?” and “He didn’t go to school today either” frequent ly appear under his social media posts . While clips of his pilgrimages to Vrindavan have as many as 30,000 likes, the priests at Krishna’s birthplace claim they’ve never heard him preach .

“What does this child know? How can this 10-year-old understand the Bhagavad Gita , its grammar, and its principles ? Where has he studied from? Who is his g uru?” said a priest at the Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan.

Always a Krishna bhakt

Arora’s parents did not want this life for their son. But now, they have embraced it wholeheartedly. 

“We were never very religious,” said his mother Jyoti Arora. Before Arora was born, the family was “normally religious ” , performing a small morning and evening aarti (worship ceremony) . But from the moment he could start walking and talking, he would hold his grandfather’s finger and ask him to take him to the mandir, s aid his mother.

Parents are supposed to teach their children, but we learn more from our son. While we were trying to change him, he changed us. —Jyoti Arora, Abhinav Arora’s mother

At the mandir, he would stare at the priests , transfixed by the pujas and rituals . According to Jyoti, he learnt much of what he knows about Krishna and the Bhagavad Gita from listening to the priests at the mandir near their Delhi home. 

“ From the time he learnt to read, he began reading religious texts, ” she claimed .

Sitting next to him in the drawing room, Jyoti recalled her attempts to encourage him to be a “normal child”. She would play the popular cartoon Motu Patlu and pretend to laugh just to get Arora interested . She bought him jeans and T-shirts, urging him to wear them at home, but he never did .

“If foreigners can come to Vrindavan in saris and kurtas , why should we as Hindus and Indians wear anything else ? ” Arora countered .

His father, Tarun Raj Arora—a business consultant, motivational T EDx speaker , and author—recalled scolding him for not behaving like other children and refusing to play with his cousins. In school, Arora was out of sync with other children.

“When everyone greeted each other with ‘hey dude’ and ‘hey bro’, Abhinav would say ‘Radhe Radhe’. So no one ever wanted to sit with him,” Jyoti said. When she brought it up , he told her it didn’t matter because Krishna sat with him.

Finally , his parents gave in to his devotion.

“Parents are supposed to teach their children, but we learn more from our son. While we were trying to change him, he changed us ,” said Jyoti.

The Aroras are fully invested in their son’s spiritual journey. They have stopped watching TV altogether . His sister Mannat, 16, recalled a time when they wanted to watch an interview of his but couldn’t find the remote. The family now only eats sattvik food— a “pure” diet focused on fresh, lightly cooked meals that are easy to digest .

“I love all kinds of sweets, sevaiyaan (vermicelli) , and the dal my ma i ya ( mother ) makes,” said Arora . For a moment, he drops his serious expression and becomes a child talking about the food cooked by his mother .

Three years ago, everything changed with the arrival of Arora’s cousin from Switzerland. Following his suggestions, Arora’s parents started posting clips of their son reciting kathas and performing darshans on social media.

Today, Arora is everywhere . His Instagram handle has a phone number through which people can get in touch with his father for talks, collaborations, and events. The accounts are professional, the content on point, and current. For Eid, Arora posted a reel with a Muslim boy that was captioned: “Sanatan is the culture that makes Abhinav and Abdul stand together.”

At first, Arora said his social media accounts are handled by his parents. Later in the conversation, he mentioned “his team” ; his sister Mannat quickly interjected to say they are “people who join him for his kathas. ”

There are reels of Arora reciting shlokas ( verses ) and bhajans (devotional songs), visiting temples, and performing religious ceremonies, as well as clips from TV interviews and podcasts. His most popular videos, boasting as many as 3 crore views, feature him speaking to his idols, singing, and dancing in the middle of crowded processions and temples.

His fans can’t get enough. “If every child had the knowledge you did, the world would be so beautiful,” one fan comment ed .

All the adoration I’m receiving is only for Krishna, and so all the positivity and blessings I get, I surrender to him. —Abhinav Arora

Last year, the government acknowledged and celebrated his religiosity. On 11 December, Gadkari presented Arora with India’s Youngest Spiritual Orator award at the Global Indians Conclave and Awards (GICA) . In July 2024, he was presented with the Vatsalya Gram Spiritual Creators Award by Sadhvi Ritamb h ara, a key figure in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.

One of the family’s proudest moments was when Arora was invited for the inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya in January . He met Anupam Kher, who gave him a copy of the Bhagavad Gita and invited him to Mumbai, said Tarun. “He was the youngest guest invited,” the father said .

And now, Arora is finally popular in school. 

“ His teachers ask him to sing bhajans for them during free periods. They often joke in the PTAs that there’s only one Abhinav but 28 other kids who want to sit with him, so the y have to use a roster ,” said Jyoti.

Arora listens to his mother and sister talk about him quietly. He occasionally interjects, but seems content to let them do the talking—unless it’s about Krishna and Radha.

He’s happy with the love he has been receiving, but it’s not for him to keep, he said.

“It is love for Lord Krishna. All the adoration I’m receiving is only for Krishna, and so all the positivity and blessings I get, I surrender to him.”

Also read: Is Hindi literature adapting to survive? It has more Chetan Bhagats than Omprakash Valmikis

Detractors on social media

Earlier this week, Arora shared a reel where he and other devotees are dressing an idol for a puja. In less than 48 hours, it hit over 10k likes. It got its fair share of “Radhe Radhe” comments, heart emojis, and praises. But the reel also received a fair bit of brickbats.

O ne commentator criticis ed the performative nature of the reels. “ You ran away from school again?” asked another. A number of detractors make fun of the boy and his demeanour.

“If you or I received the kind of trolling he receives on a regular basis, we would have given up social media by now. He is unaffected,” said Tarun. But Arora’s growing fame has raised concerns for the family regarding his security and safety. His parents claim to have received death threats and are cagey about revealing personal information — such as where Arora studies, their home address , and their travel plans.

On Instagram, his detractors mock him for not going to school, but his parents insist that they take his education seriously . The only thing Arora contributes to the conversation is his love for Hindi as a subject.

Arora wants to study in a gurukul (a residential school that follows the Vedic tradition) when he is older and become a brajvasi (resident of Krishna’s birthplace, Braj). His only demand from his parents is to let him visit Vrindavan and its temples every week. The sacred city in Uttar Pradesh where Krishna grew up and met Radha is barely four hours from Delhi.

But a weekend trip to Vrindavan is only on the cards if he completes his homework, said Jyoti .

“Abhinav loves going to the Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan. When we’re there, sometimes a 15-minute journey takes an hour because of all the people that stop to meet him,” said Mannat.

Also read: Akshara Theatre is a Delhi gem, and a lifeline for small artists

Pushback from Vrindavan

Arora’s eyes light up when he talks about Vrindavan. The Banke Bihari and Nidhivan t emple s are his favourites. His Vrindavan reels show him attending religious processions and performing ceremonies. He is swarmed by crowds, with people requesting selfies.

However, a priest at the Banke Bihari temple is not impressed by “social media devotion”.

“Let him come and speak to any priest or devotee here in Vrindavan, and we’ll see how much knowledge he has,” s aid Gopi Goswami. S ocial media devotion is a growing business i n Vrindavan. Every day, t here’s a new poster of a new kathavachak (narrator of religious tales) .

“Everyone outside just wants to use Vrindavan, especially for social media. It is a place for devotion, not exhibition,” Goswami added . The priest insisted that many children like Abhinav come to Vrindavan to shoot content for social media and gain virality.

Like Goswami, many of the residents and traditional devotees that ThePrint spoke to want to protect the religious sanctity of Vrindavan. They frown upon the display of religious fervour on social media .

“ T he true essence of Vrindavan lies with the local residents who prefer to keep their distance from the internet,” Goswami said . 

Such children [child influencers] can get accustomed to the role they are playing, and it is not fair to them. —Ashis Nandy, social theorist and psychologist

Abhinav is not the first child to gain social media popularity for his religious and devotional content. He has competition in a five-year-old ‘ Bhakt Bhagwat ’ from Jaipur, who has over 2 2 lakh followers on Instagram. He claims to study at a gurukul and posts videos of his learnings there, as well as motivational, spiritual quotes and kathas (religious tales) . Like Arora, he is a devotee of Krishna and Radha and h is parents manage his accounts. Instagram bans children under 13 from hosting accounts—but parents are allowed to run them.

The rise of child influencers is unfolding across the world , in niches ranging from fashion to spirituality .

“These cases can sometimes lead to tragic things,” sa id social theorist and psychologist Ashis Nandy. There is always the danger of childhood becoming “a kind of premature adulthood”.

Nandy cited the 1960 film Devi (Goddess) , directed by Satyajit Ray: “ A young girl’s father-in-law finds her Devi -like. So, she becomes more and more like what he sees, and ultimately she dies, telling her husband, ‘I’m not a goddess.’ ”

“ Such children can get accustomed to the role they are playing, and it is not fair to them ” Nandy added.

Also read: Bengaluru language war isn’t north v south. It’s about those who disrespect local culture

Up at 3:30 am

Back at his home in Delhi, Abhinav Arora hops and skips excitedly toward the puja room —another glimpse of the child in him . It is the biggest and most elaborately decorated room in the flat, home to about 30 idols. While the other two bedrooms only have beds, small tables, and fairly empty walls, the puja room is extensively decorated with figures and images of gods.

Guests are given a detailed tour of the room , where he introduces them to Krishna and other idols. This interaction with his gods is an important part of Arora’s routine—and it begins at 3:30 am.

After his morning ablutions, he begins his prayers with the mala-jaap (chanting with prayer beads) followed by tulsi seva parikrama —circumambulating the holy basil plant . He then “wakes up” other idols, bathes them, ornaments them, and offers them bhog (offerings) . T he entire ritual takes around three hours and emulates the daily processions at the temples in Vrindavan. 

After completing these rituals, Arora leaves for school. Upon returning, he sleeps for a few hours, completes his homework, reads holy texts , performs a daily Krishna aarti , and spends time with his idols until he goes to bed around 11 pm.

Jyoti is still amazed by his discipline. The routine never wavers. Even in the cold winter months, Arora is up at 3:30 am.

“I can’t wake up early, so I find it very strange that I’m sleeping under my blankets and my 10 -year-old son is doing puja in the cold.”

(Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)

Subscribe to our channels on YouTube , Telegram & WhatsApp

Support Our Journalism

India needs fair, non-hyphenated and questioning journalism, packed with on-ground reporting. ThePrint – with exceptional reporters, columnists and editors – is doing just that.

Sustaining this needs support from wonderful readers like you.

Whether you live in India or overseas, you can take a paid subscription by clicking here .

• Abhinav Arora
• Child Influencers
• Religious Celebrities

LEAVE A REPLY Cancel

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Most Popular

Training temple managers, b-school style. mumbai institutes’ new courses cover finance to soft skills, before kejriwal, rajiv gandhi had entered politics as ‘mr clean’. we all know what happened, buddhism was used to promote nationalism. it was declared democratic, aryan and sanatan.

Required fields are marked *

Copyright © 2024 Printline Media Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved.

• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy

• Vienna Tourism
• Vienna Hotels
• Bed and Breakfast Vienna
• Vienna Holiday Rentals
• Flights to Vienna
• Vienna Restaurants
• Vienna Attractions
• Vienna Travel Forum
• Vienna Photos
• All Vienna Hotels
• Vienna Hotel Deals
• Last Minute Hotels in Vienna

Advent time with a 5 year old - ideas of things to do - Vienna Forum

• Europe    
• Austria    
• Vienna Region    
• Vienna    

Advent time with a 5 year old - ideas of things to do

• United Kingdom Forums
• United States Forums
• Europe Forums
• Canada Forums
• Asia Forums
• Central America Forums
• Africa Forums
• Caribbean Forums
• Mexico Forums
• South Pacific Forums
• South America Forums
• Middle East Forums
• Honeymoons and Romance
• Business Travel
• Train Travel
• Traveling With Disabilities
• Tripadvisor Support
• Solo Travel
• Bargain Travel
• Timeshares / Holiday Rentals
• Vienna Region forums
• Vienna forum

3 replies to this topic

I noticed you posted about this on March 7th this year and had some excellent replies from three really good experts on this forum.

oh gosh, I am so sorry, I forgot I posted that - I thought it was on another forum

my sincere apologies !

No worries Scott,

I had a gut feeling you'd forgotten :))

• 48 hours in Vienna - Christmas Markets 07:59
• Luggage storage 07:45
• Small local bus in the Innere Stadt 02:21
• late opening grocery stores near Rennweg station 00:50
• Hotels in Innere Platz with one night deposit vs total stay 00:45
• July 2024 Vienna Trip Report yesterday
• A question about Raimund Theater yesterday
• One date in Vienna on Viking cruise yesterday
• Gerstner K.u.K. Hofzuckerbäcker questions yesterday
• Advent time with a 5 year old - ideas of things to do 20 September 2024
• Hampton By Hilton Vienna City West Diefenbachgasse 1-3 20 September 2024
• Vienna state opera 20 September 2024
• Vienna to Styria 20 September 2024
• Currency Exchange 20 September 2024
• Best area to stay in while in Vienna 7 replies
• Rail tickets for Vienna > Brno > Prague 8 replies
• Compare Hotels 12 replies
• Train from Vienna to Prague 150 replies
• Where to Stay in Vienna 8 replies
• Vienna-Budapest Bus or Train? 4 replies
• Vienna-New Year's Eve celebration 8 replies
• saloon or compartment coach seats on train? & second-class? 3 replies
• Hotel recommendation near Christmas markets 5 replies
• Between Vienna and Budapest by boat? 73 replies

Vienna Hotels and Places to Stay

• Belvedere Palaces
• Kunsthaus Wien
• What are the best cafes?
• What are the best wurstel stands?

• Holiday Rentals
• GreenLeaders