Ideas for Entertaining Preschoolers

Preschoolers are able to do many things for themselves. However, they may require assistance with bedtime, eating, and toileting. Some ideas for entertaining preschoolers during quiet and active play are listed below.

Quiet Play:

• Easy board games such as Candyland, Chutes and Ladders
• Imaginative games such as playing school, store or spaceships
• Listen to stories that you make up or read. DO NOT TELL SCARY STORIES WHEN YOU ARE BABYSITTING. Young children may become extremely frightened and have nightmares or trouble going to bed.

Active Play

• Take a walk to find "treasures" such as pine cones, pretty rocks or other things
• Tag or Hide-and-Seek
• Riding toys - be careful to supervise 

Bookmark

Materials Needed:

• Old magazines, stickers, colored paper to make shapes
• Pencil, markers, colored pencils, or crayons
• Scissors
• Glue stick or paste
• Used file folders
• Ruler
• Clear tape - optional  
• Hole punch
• Ribbon - about 6 inches long 

Procedure:

1. Ask your parent or the parent of the children you are babysitting for used file folders.  Using a ruler and pencil, have a school age child measure 1 ½ to 2 inches wide on the file folder and about 6 inches long to mark the folder to make a rectangular-shaped bookmark.  You will need to help the child do this.
2. Cut along the measured lines to make the bookmark.  An older child can cut out the bookmark with your supervision.  You will need to do this for a younger child.
3. Have the child decorate the bookmark by drawing pictures with the markers, colored pencils, or crayons.  The child can also decorate her bookmark with stickers or by cutting out shapes from old magazines and gluing them on to the bookmark.  If you are using old magazines, be sure it's OK with either your parent or the parent of the children you are babysitting to cut them up. 
4. To protect the bookmark, you can cover it with clear tape.
5. Punch a hole at the top of the bookmark.  An older child can use the hole punch to make the hole but you will need to do this for a younger child.
6. Put the ribbon through the hole and double-tie a knot.  You will need to help a younger child tie the knot. 
7. Read a book to a younger child and use the bookmark to keep your place.  Let an older child use her bookmark to keep her place when she is reading by herself.  Or suggest the child give the bookmark as a gift to a parent, grandparent, or sibling. 
8. Have fun!

Name Mosaic

Materials Needed:

• Old magazines
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Glue stick or paste
• Piece of solid-colored paper
• Ruler - optional

Procedure:

1. Look through old magazines to find several pages with brightly-colored pictures.  You can bring the magazines from home (with your parent's permission) or ask the parent of the children you are babysitting.  Be sure it's OK with either your parent or the parent of the children you are babysitting to cut up the old magazines. 
2. Outline each letter of the child's name on the different brightly-colored magazine pages.  You could use a ruler to keep the letters the same height and width or just freehand draw the letters with a pencil 
3. Cut the letters out.  A school age child can cut the letters out with your supervision.  However, you will need to cut the letters out for a preschool child. 
4. Glue or paste the letters (in order to spell the child's name) on a solid-colored piece of paper.  You will need to help a preschool child do this.
5. Have fun!

Pretend

Materials Needed:

• Pieces of brightly-colored paper
• Scissors
• Markers or crayons
• Bowl to put papers in

Procedure:

1. Have an older child cut brightly-colored paper into small squares about 2 inches by 2 inches. Or trace the bottom of a 2 inch plastic cup and cut out circles. You will need to cut the paper for a preschooler.
2. Think of activities the child can pantomime or act out, such as play basketball, play the drums, play soccer, write a letter, play a guitar, play the piano, do a ballet dance, etc. Using a marker or crayon, write an activity on each piece of paper. 
3. Put the papers in a bowl. Have the child draw out a piece of paper and act out what it says to do on the paper. Have another child guess what the child is doing.  
4. You can play by also drawing a piece of paper from the bowl and acting it out.
5. Have fun!

Puppy Puppet

Materials Needed:

• Lunch sack or paper bag
• Scissors
• Nontoxic glue stick or paste
• Crayons
• A piece of colored paper

Procedure:

1. Using a lunch sack or paper bag, have the child draw a dog's face (eyes, nose, and whiskers) on the folded part of the lunch sack or paper bag. 
2. Using crayons, have the child color in a mouth for the puppy under the flap.
3. Have the child cut triangular-shaped ears out of a piece of colored paper.  You will need to cut the ears out if you are babysitting a younger child.
4. Have the child glue or paste the ears on the top of the paper bag.
5. Show the child how to put his/her hand in the bag and move their fingers to make the dog "talk". 
6. It's fun for you and the child to make 2 puppy puppets so they can talk to each other.
7. Have fun!

Summer Flower

Materials Needed:

• 6 inch paper plate or sheet of paper with 6 inch circle cut out    
• Permanent marker if making your circle on paper
• Glue, glue stick, or paste
• Small pieces of colored tissue papers cut into squares approximately 1½" by 1½"
• Scissors
• Green piece of paper to make stem and a leaf or white piece of paper and green-colored crayon

Procedure:

1. Use a 6-inch paper plate or 6-inch circle cut out from a piece of paper to make a round flower.  You will need to help draw and cut the circle for a preschooler.
2. Cut brightly-colored pieces of tissue paper into squares 1½" by 1½". (Be sure you cut the squares for a preschooler.) 
3. Show the child how to "wad" up the middle of the tissue paper squares.
4. Using glue, a glue stick, or paste, attach the wadded-up tissue paper squares to the paper plate or circle.
5. Using a piece of green paper or white paper colored with a green crayon, make a stem and leaf for your flower.  Glue the stem to the flower and the leaf to the stem.
6. An older child can create her own flower design, such as a tulip or daisy, rather than using a circle. 
7. Have fun!

Jigsaw Puzzle

Materials Needed:

• Photograph or picture cut from an old magazine
• Scissors
• Glue stick or paste
• Pencil
• Ruler - optional
• Piece of thin cardboard the same size as the photo or picture
• Re-sealable storage bag

Procedure:

1. Find a photograph or look through old magazines to find a picture the child you are babysitting wants to make into a puzzle. (Be sure it's OK with the parent to cut the photo or magazine picture up.) 
2. Glue or paste the photo or picture onto the thin piece of cardboard, such as a cereal box. (You will need to help a preschool child do this.)
3. Have a school age child cut around the edges so the photo or picture is the same size as the cardboard. You will need to cut the cardboard if you are babysitting a younger child.
4. Have the child turn the photo or picture over so the cardboard side is up.  Have the child draw puzzle piece shapes on the cardboard. An older child can use a ruler to make the puzzle pieces have straight lines. Any age child can just draw curvy lines. A younger child should make fewer pieces and make the puzzle pieces bigger.  An older child can make more pieces by making the puzzle pieces a little smaller. The more puzzle pieces you have, the more challenging the puzzle is.
5. Have a school age child cut along the lines drawn. You will need to cut along the lines to make the puzzle pieces for a younger child.
6. Have the child turn the puzzle pieces back over to the picture side.
7. An older child can reassemble the picture. You may need to help a younger child put the puzzle pieces back together. Separate the pieces and have the child reassemble the puzzle again.
8. You can use a storage bag to keep the puzzle pieces to show the parent or until the next time you babysit.
9. Have fun!

Coloring Book

Materials Needed:

• 2-4 sheets of blank white paper, size 8½" by 11"
• 1 piece of colored paper, size 8½" by 11"
• Crayons
• Stapler
• Black or dark-colored marker 

Procedure:

1. Fold your 2 to 4 sheets of blank white paper in half making a book. 
2. Put the piece of colored paper on the outside making a cover. 
3. Staple the papers together making the coloring book.
4. Using the black or dark-colored marker, draw pictures on the white pages of the coloring book.  Use simple drawings, such as a heart, star, moon, sun, flower, etc. for a toddler and more complicated drawings, such as a person, animal, etc. for a preschooler.
5. Have the child color the pictures.
6. Have fun!  

Shell

Materials Needed:

• Paper (white or colored) with simple outline, such as bird, shell, tree, flower, animal, etc.
• Permanent marker if making your own shape.
• Glue, glue stick, or paste
• Small pieces of colored tissue papers cut into squares approximately 1½" by 1½"

Procedure:

1. Using a white or colored piece of paper, draw a simple outline (using a permanent marker) such as a bird, shell, tree, flower, animal, etc. You can also print a shape from the computer using a free graphic design. 
2. Cut different colors of tissue paper into squares 1½" by 1½". (Be sure you cut the squares for a preschooler.) 
3. Show the child how to "wad" up the middle of the tissue paper squares.
4. Using glue, a glue stick, or paste, attach the wadded-up tissue paper squares to the shape. Let the child be creative with color and design.
5. You can help a younger child with this craft or create your own design along side an older child. Have fun!

Cereal Necklace

Materials Needed:

• Paper (white or colored) with simple outline, such as bird, shell, tree, flower, animal, etc.
• Permanent marker if making your own shape.
• Glue, glue stick, or paste
• Small pieces of colored tissue papers cut into squares approximately 1½" by 1½"

Procedure:

1. Using a white or colored piece of paper, draw a simple outline (using a permanent marker) such as a bird, shell, tree, flower, animal, etc. You can also print a shape from the computer using a free graphic design. 
2. Cut different colors of tissue paper into squares 1½" by 1½". (Be sure you cut the squares for a preschooler.) 
3. Show the child how to "wad" up the middle of the tissue paper squares.
4. Using glue, a glue stick, or paste, attach the wadded-up tissue paper squares to the shape. Let the child be creative with color and design.
5. You can help a younger child with this craft or create your own design along side an older child. Have fun!

What's Missing

Materials Needed:

• 6 to12 safe objects (large enough not to be a choking hazard), such as spoon, deck of cards, measuring cup, etc.
• Tray or table surface

Procedure:

1. Put the objects out on a tray or table.  Let the child study the items. 
2. Ask the child to cover her eyes. 
3. Remove the tray and take away one of the objects.
4. Return the tray.
5. When the child opens her eyes, ask "What's missing?"
6. Play the game again but you cover your eyes and let the child remove an object.
7. Then when you open your eyes, try to guess what she has removed.
8. You can also play this game by removing one object the first time, 2 objects the 2^nd time, etc., depending on the child's age and ability to understand the game.
9. Have fun!

Sorting

Materials Needed:

• Muffin pan
• Multi-colored, O-shaped cereal (approved by parent) OR
• Safe toys of different colors 

Procedure:

1. Using a muffin pan, have the toddler or preschooler sort cereal by color.  Most young children love to sort things and are able to sort by color with help from you. If approved by parent, let child eat the cereal.
2. If cereal is not available or not approved by parent, have the child sort toys (such as blocks) by color. Then play with the blocks or different colored toys.

Puppet Show

Materials Needed:

• Paper bag, crayons, etc. to make puppets
• Puppet-making craft with yarn, felt, etc.

Procedure:

1. Make puppets with the children using materials available or you can bring appropriate and safe materials. Be sure the ability level of the puppet you are making matches the ability level and age of the child.
2. Do a puppet show. Act out a story from a book or make up the story. 
3. If possible, perform the puppet show for the child's parent when the parent comes home. Have fun!

Mystery Walk

Materials Needed:

• Game, book, craft supplies, or homemade play dough
• Paper and crayon (or marker)

Procedure:

1. Hide a fun activity, such as a game, book, craft supplies or homemade play dough, in the house.
2. Tell the children you are going on a mystery walk - only you know the destination.
3. Write down clues, such as "Look under the kitchen table" on several pieces of paper. Hide the clues in order around the house.
4. Go with the children on the mystery walk and help them solve the clues. They'll find the something special waiting for them at the end of the walk.
5. Play the game, read the book, make the craft, or make things out of the play dough. Have fun!

Stencil Drawings

Materials Needed:

• Black (or dark-colored) construction paper
• Heavy paper to make stencil
• White chalk, white colored pencils, or white crayons

Procedure:

1. Have the child trace (or draw) a shape, such as a heart, tree, star, animal, etc. on a piece of heavy paper to make a stencil.
2. Then help the child cut the shape out leaving the heavy paper.  (You'll have to cut a line to the shape to cut it out.)  Be sure you cut the shape out yourself with younger kids.
3. Using white chalk, white colored pencils, or white crayons, color in the cut out shape on the black construction paper.
4. If the child is old enough, have the child write his name or message on the construction paper with the white chalk, white colored pencil, or white crayon.

Windowpane Picture 

Materials Needed:

• Black construction paper
• White paper
• Crayons
• Glue

Procedure:

1. Have the child trace his or her hand on a piece of black construction paper.
2. Then help the child cut his or her hand out of the black paper.  (Cut the hand out yourself with younger kids.)  Turn the hand with the four fingers down to make the 4 legs of the sheep.
3. Cover the body of the sheep with the white hole-punch protectors.
4. Glue one google eye on the sheep's head (the thumb of the hand).
5. Glue 3 red sequences or one half-inch piece red ribbon on the sheep's neck.

Nature Walk

Materials Needed:

• Basket, bucket, or plate to collect "treasures"
• Imagination

Procedure:

1. Be sure to ask the child's parent if you can take her outside.
2. Get a basket, bucket, or plate to collect "treasures".
3. Take a walk outside and collect "treasures along the way, such as a pretty leaf, a pretty rock, an acorn, pinecones, etc.  (Be sure to collect treasure already on the ground.  Please do not pick flowers or leaves off trees unless you ask the parent.) 

Handprint Turkey

Materials Needed:

• Drawing paper - 8 x 11 standard size works well
• Crayons, washable paint, or washable markers
• Paint brush if using washable paint
• Wet washcloth to clean mess
• Newspaper - to cover work surface

Procedure:

1. This project can be messy. Protect the child's clothing and cover your work area with newspaper or work outside.
2. If using crayons or washable markers, trace the child's hand (make sure the child's fingers are spread apart). Using the crayons or markers, decorate the turkey. Make sure to give the turkey a beak, wattle, eyes, and legs.
3. If using washable paint, use paint brush to paint the child's palm. Then paint each finger a different color. With the child's fingers spread apart make a handprint on the paper. Use paint or makers to give the turkey a beak, wattle, eyes and legs.

 

Crayon Rubbings

Materials Needed:

• White paper
• Peeled crayons
• Various objects - leaves, pine needles, shapes, sandpaper, coin, etc.

Procedure:

1. Peel the paper wrapper off several crayons.
2. Give each child a sheet of white paper.
3. Have various objects for the child to choose as a print. (Leaves, shapes, sandpaper, feathers, etc.)
4. Let the child select some of these objects and put them under the paper.
5. The child then rubs with the side of the crayon onto the paper and the object shows through as a print.

Chalk and Wet Paper

Materials Needed:

• Paper
• Wet sponge
• Chalk

Procedure:

1. Each child should wet paper slightly with wrung out sponge.
2. Draw freely with colored chalk. Show the children how to use side and ends of chalk.
3. Allow paper to dry.

 

Colored Play Dough

Ingredients:

• 4 cups flour
• 1 cup salt
• 2 tablespoons cooking oil
• 1 to 1 1/2 cups cold water
• food coloring

Mix flour, salt, oil. Add food coloring to water. Gradually add water to flour mixture. Knead. Store in a plastic bag in the refrigerator.

Playing with Play Dough

Keeping children busy indoors on rainy days can be a challenge for babysitters. Playing with play dough is always a favorite activity and it's even educational! Children enjoy pushing, rolling, squeezing, molding, and pounding gooey play dough. Here are some play dough tips:

• Allow the child to just play with it without necessarily making something.
• Children enjoy make "play food" out of play dough, but be sure they really don't eat it!
• Hard plastic toys, such as action figures and dinosaurs, are fun to hide in the play dough or to press to make an imprint. Be sure the toys are at least as big as the child's fist.
• Be creative, have fun, and those showers will be over before you know it.

Make a Tent

Materials Needed:

• Table or 2 pieces of furniture, such as chairs
• Blanket or sheet  

Procedure:

1. Use a table or put 2 pieces of furniture next to each other, such as kitchen chairs.
2. Drape a blanket or sheet over the table or 2 pieces of furniture to make a tent.
3. Get under the tent with the child and pretend you are camping!