Free Activities for Pre-Schoolers at Home
Five Ideas to Entertain Young Children during Summer
May 12, 2009
The following ideas are a guide to how it is possible to plan a whole day of children's activities during the warm, summer months without spending any money. It is aimed primarily at parents or carers who have planned to spend a day at home without play dates or outings and are wondering how to plan the day effectively. The beauty of this plan is that it also allows the parent or carer to attend to necessary jobs around the house whilst involving the child.
Small Children Can Help in the Garden
After breakfast do a little gardening before the weather gets too warm. Involve the child by allowing him to help with simple activities such as deadheading old flowers, sweeping patios, watering tubs and baskets and any other routine jobs. Give the child responsibility for looking after a particular plant. Discuss the name of the plant and what has to be done to take care of it. Herbs are especially interesting to young children as they can be handled freely, smelt and tasted. This is the ideal opportunity to complete a few tasks around the garden alongside the child.
Picnics Create a Holiday Atmosphere
Turn an ordinary day into a holiday by suggesting a picnic lunch. Allow your child to help prepare the lunch. Sandwiches, fruit salad and crudites are ideal choices as children can assist with spreading butter on the bread, adding the filling and cutting (with careful supervision) soft fruit such as strawberries and salad items such as cucumber. Give the child a blanket to lay out and encourage them to help put out various plates and dishes.
Role Play Camping
If it is beginning to heat up outside or there are chores that need to be done inside the house, after lunch is the ideal time to promote an activity that requires independent, imaginative play. A classic favourite is building a tent. Spend a few minutes gathering cushions, blankets and sheets. Set up a clothes horse or arrange furniture in such a way that it is possible to drape a sheet over the top to look like a tent. Talk the child about camping, what fun it is and all the associated activities such as cooking on a campfire. This should encourage a good session of play allowing the parent or carer some time to attend to housework, phone calls or just relaxing!
Teddy Bear's Picnic
Extend the interest created by the camping activity by suggesting a teddy bear's picnic. Raid the kitchen for cakes and biscuits (this is a treat, after all!) – something all children will enjoy doing. Encourage attention to detail by laying them out carefully on a plate, a children's tea set, if there is one available, is ideal. Favourite soft toys should be invited to join the picnic and, needless to say, the parent or carer should participate also. Children love playing host so this activity should be a real hit.
Quiet Time for Tired Children
After such a full day, little ones will probably be starting to tire so now is the time to introduce a quiet activity just before dinner. Whilst the parent or carer is preparing the meal, talk to the child about the gardening, the picnic lunch, the tent and the teddy bear's' picnic. Encourage them to draw pictures of the most enjoyable activity to give to grandparents.
With a little thought and advanced planning it is possible to organise the day into segments as demonstrated above. This allows the parent or carer to remain in control and keep the day structured whilst still giving the child time to play independently. Children enjoy simple activities and love to feel involved in what is happening; entertaining a young children can really be that straightforward.
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