If you’re looking for ways to engage your preschooler at home, and keep those “school muscles” strong, here’s a list of some of our favorite preschool supplies. Keep in mind that you don’t have to spend lots of money to create a rich, learning environment for your child. Feel free to use these items as inspiration, and see what you can recreate using what you already have at home!
I suggest setting up a few stations each day and letting your little one spend time in each area to get a feel for what is interesting to them, and to get inspired on ways to combine the activities. You can also try setting a timer, giving them a one minute warning each time, and facilitate some station switching. Be sure to give your child a one or two minute warning before it is time to clean up and move on to whatever is next on your schedule for the day. Remember to follow your child’s lead; there is no right or wrong way to interact with these materials.
Scroll through the list below, or check out our Amazon lists!
Note: This post contains affiliate links.
Fine Motor
Fine MotorBeads (also great for counting, sorting and pattern making!)
Practice Scissors (great for using on playdough, but won’t cut paper… or hair)
Sensory Integration
Check out Miss Zoe’s blog on how to use some of these items to create sensory bins!
Water beads and scoopers
Messy Mat
Math and Critical Thinking
Dominoes (great not only for matching and counting, but also for exploring chain reactions!)
Uno – You can start by removing all of the “special cards” (draw two, skip, reverse etc.) and focus on matching and turn taking first!
Early Literacy
Charades for Kids
Building and Spatial Awareness
Gross Motor Skills
Samantha Perry
Samantha Perry is the Director of Bubbles Academy’s Arts-Integrated Preschool Program. She is also the recipient of the Harris Foundation’s Scholarship for Excellence in Leadership and received her Master of Science in Child Development with a specialization in Administration at Erikson Institute. The Harris Excellence Scholarships are awarded annually to a select number of students with excellent academic credentials and a demonstrated commitment to the field of early childhood.
Sam is grateful for the opportunity to use both her theatrical expertise, and broad knowledge of needs of young children at Bubbles Academy’s arts-integrated preschool program. As an educator, Sam strives to inspire confidence, independence, curiosity and creativity in each of her students every day.
