PreSchool GAmes You Can try at Home

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 Challenge participants to walk from one end of the room to the other by moving like an animal. Animals might include: Turtle, rabbit, snake, frog, cheetah, horse, jelly fish, bird, kangaroo, butterfly, etc.

This game builds listening skills and encourages kids to think about different ways they can move their body.

Equipment Needed: None

 Use masking tape to outline different shapes on the floor. Instruct children to find a certain shape (triangle, circle, square, rectangle, star, diamond, letter “A”, etc.) and skip the shape’s outline on the floor.

This game can also be played without tape, given that children are old enough to know their shapes.

This game helps children practice skipping while also reinforcing common shapes and letters.

Equipment Needed: Masking tape

Choose a method of moving (walking, sliding, skipping, running) and instruct the child, or group of children, to use that type of movement to go to the different hoops. When they reach a hoop, they must hop on one foot five times. Encourage them to alternate the foot that the hop on each time they reach a new hoop. 

This game enables children to practice jumping as well as different types of motion. If playing with others, this game also builds waiting skills. When you arrive at a hoop it may already be occupied, meaning you have to wait your turn.

Equipment Needed: Hoola Hoops

 Put two pieces of masking tape on the floor to make a lane. Challenge kids to go down the lane by running, hopping on one foot, hopping on two feet, hopping with both feet outside of the lane, etc.

This game explores different ways of moving our bodies, while still being mindful that our feet stay between the lines. 

Equipment Needed: Masking tape

*This game can also be played outside, and chalk can be used to make the lines instead of tape. 

Give the child a hockey stick and basketball (or other large ball). Encourage them to use their hockey stick to navigate their basketball through an obstacle course made of cones.

This game builds the stick skills a child needs to play hockey. A basketball is a much easier target to work with than a small hockey puck.

Equipment Needed: Hockey stick, basketball, cones

Split up into two teams. Give each team one half of the room. This will be their “house.” Put lots of balls in the room. Instruct each team to try to remove all the balls from their “house” by throwing them into the other team’s “house.”

This game builds our ability to throw balls and be aware of our surroundings.

Equipment Needed: Balls

Make your own feet silhouettes from a non-slip material (ex. Non-slip shower mat, yoga mat, anti-slip rug underlay, etc.). Once you have a collection of right and left feet, you can lay them out on the floor in a pattern you want the children to match. Challenge them to hop on one foot, change directions, do big two foot jumps, or anything else you can think of. 

This game requires planning skills. Children have to keep looking ahead to see where they will need to put their feet next.

Equipment Needed: Outlines of feet
*This can also be done outside with chalk, or if you have a carpet, felt can be an easy non-slip material to make feet out of.

 Adults launch badminton birdies into the air. Kids are challenged with the task of catching them in a cardboard box before they hit the ground. The higher the birdie is launched, the more time the child has to catch it. To increase difficulty, hit the birdie farther or throw it lower. 

Timing is key for this game. Children must accurately judge distance and timing in order to catch the birdie beo

Equipment Needed: Birdie and box
*Note: The larger the box, the easier this activity is.