Parents often think that once they’ve taught their children to walk, talk, and use the toilet, there’s nothing left for them to do. But it’s just not true.
Finding the right activities for them is a challenging task that requires creativity, patience, and time. And, it’s especially more challenging if you’re not sure of what to do. Suppose you follow the advice mentioned in this article. In that case, we guarantee that your child will be able to learn new things without even realizing it and will benefit from a much more positive experience.
In order to help you with this endeavor, we’ve assembled a list of the ten best learning activities for 3 year olds that every parent should know about.
Understanding the Importance of these Activities
First and foremost, let’s examine the importance of these activities for your child.
While some parents might assume that these activities are just a waste of time or unnecessary, nothing could be further from the truth.
As a parent, you must ensure that your children learn to interact with others and share. So, the best way for you to do this is by providing fun and exciting activities for them to do. And while learning to share is essential, it’s also a step in the right direction towards socialization.
The good thing about these activities is that they allow your child to approach and interact with people of all backgrounds without fear or anxiety. So, this will help them in developing their communication and social skills.
How to introduce these activities for three years old?
- Make it simple. This is the best way to introduce these activities to your child. All you need to do is reserve some time in your day and focus on doing just one activity. You can then explain it to your child and make it seem fun.
- It’s not a race. Make sure that you don’t rush things with your child. The most important thing is developing their skills and learning something new every day. So, don’t feel like you need to do something in a short amount of time. Take your time and allow them to start learning new things slowly.
- Avoid distractions. Often, whatever the activities are for your child, it doesn’t matter if you can’t concentrate on what you’re doing. So, make sure you don’t allow any distractions and focus on their goals.
- Introduce words slowly. Once your child is engaged in the activity, look for words related to what they’re doing. For example, if they’re learning to use the potty, have them find the word “potty.” This is what will make them understand what they’re doing.
- Make it fun! Try to make the activity fun and exciting for your child. Most importantly, never force them into things. That defeats the purpose of learning in general anyway.
10 Best Learning Activities For 3-Year-Olds
1. Play with puzzles
This is one of the best ways to improve your child’s memory and logic skills. And, most importantly, they’ll have fun while they’re doing it. Puzzles also help your child learn to simultaneously use different parts of their brain. This is an excellent activity for children who are still developing their motor skills or need some help with coordination skills. You can buy puzzles in a variety of shapes and sizes.
With their newly-formed motor skills, their imagination knows no bounds. This ability will aid in language development and boost creativity and problem-solving skills.
Let your child try a puzzle with several pieces – don’t give them all the pieces right away; you want to see what they do. Let them put the puzzle together in a new way, or make it more challenging by adding extra pieces or changing the difficulty level by making some of the harder to fit together.
Play with puzzles for 30 minutes each day.
2. Play with arts and crafts
It’s not just about coloring or painting. Try to find different ways to allow your child to do their unique projects. This will give them a chance to express themselves in a new and exciting way while also teaching them something at the same time.
Let your child open a new art or craft project. Then, sit down with them and have them teach you how they’re going to make their creation. This is perfect for your child’s imagination and will help them communicate better.
Play with arts and crafts for 30 minutes each day.
3. Play fill-your-own books
A great way to encourage reading is to create a fun book together. This will help your child gain a passion for reading and spark their imagination.
Play fill-your-own books are a fantastic way to encourage reading in your children and teach them how enjoyable it can be. There are many benefits to this, including providing enjoyment, introducing new vocabulary, and enhancing images.
Let your child choose a book and have them write or draw pictures on each page. They can even decorate the book with stickers or ribbons.
Play fill-your-own books for 30 minutes each day.
4. Play with Play-Doh
Most kids love Play-Doh, so give them a reason to play even more! If there’s nothing else, your child is sure to make up stories about the pieces of Play-doh are – this is excellent practice for their creative writing abilities.
In this way, they focus on their motor skills and put those skills to use. Also, they’re developing fine motor skills while learning to take turns and cooperate with other children.
Play with Play-Doh for 30 minutes each day.
5. Play Building Blocks
Building blocks are great for helping your child develop their creative abilities. This is especially true when you play building blocks with them.
Playing with building blocks is a bonding experience and helps your child build their first memories. They’ll share their creations with you as well. Helping your child develop their creativity is essential as they grow older.
Building Block Rules-
- Never use more than one color of a block at a time. You can use multiple colors, but only on one side of the structure.
- You must ask before taking a block from your child’s structure.
- Ask if they have a use in mind for the block before taking it away.
- Don’t put any holes in the structure, and it must be complete when you decide to take it down! If they ask to make a hole in their building, offer to carefully help make it for them.
- Don’t make negative comments about his building if he asks for your opinion! Try to be neutral and give him opportunities to think about what he’s done and how he can change it next time.
6. Play with Dress-Up
Although this one may require some preparation, Dress-Up is a fun way for your 3-year-old to play and use their imagination. Dress-Up is an excellent way to improve your child’s creativity, fine motor skills, and vocabulary.
Let your child choose their favorite dress and put it on. Talk about the clothing. Use new vocabulary words such as “ruler,” “hat,” and “clock.” Let your child dress you up!
You should teach them to identify clothing and color while encouraging them to use descriptive words.
As they get more comfortable putting things on you, they will learn to take them off.
You can also choose a theme such as wedding dresses or a sport’s uniform and let them try it on. Make sure you have enough clothing so that your child has several choices.
7. Sing together
It’s good for the brain and good for the heart, too! Babies and toddlers not only learn to talk by singing and moving their mouths, but they also ingrain rhythm into their brains. Plus, singing together is one of the best ways to improve your babies’ social skills.
Here are three ways you can do just that:
- Sing a familiar song, like “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.”
- Find an old lullaby or song you know with children in your life at church or daycare.
- Sing a song from your childhood.
8. Play Simon Says
One of the best games to teach your child about colors, shapes, numbers, and much more. In this game, they get to play the role of Simon by following simple commands such as “Do a circle” or “Do a line.” The best part? There is no right or wrong answer; follow the simple rules for success.
Now, this game is more than just a simple coloring game. It’s a way for your child to learn and practice memory skills, understanding directions, counting, following simple rules, and much more. They become more confident in their abilities as they play this game successfully.
9. Play Hide and Seek
As part of children’s development, this game encourages them to explore their world and learn important social skills to grow healthy. When parents engage their energetic kids in this game, their kids will have the opportunity to develop self-regulatory skills that help them deal with stress and frustration.
It also allows more room for creativity and imagination, especially when the parent gets involved in the game and allows their children to be the “Seeker.” When you play this game with your kids, they will have fun while learning valuable social skills like patience and communication. This teaches children how to ask how to use words instead of actions. It also teaches children how to share and take turns.
While playing this game will help bring you closer to your child while improving their listening skills and helping them learn how to do things on their own.
10. Help Clean – The Cleaning Game
Parents know how important it is to teach kids about responsibility. But chores often don’t work because kids see them as extra things that only need to be done when told to. Kids also can’t associate the rewards of completing tasks, like earning screen time with doing their chores.
That’s why Help Clean has been designed as a game that makes housework fun for both parents and kids by turning sanitation into fun and interactive. Not only does Help Clean provide parents with yet another way to encourage kids to help out around the house, but it also teaches kids that helping out at home is fun.
Final Thoughts
3-years-old is a stage where kids are exposed to and start thinking about their future. It’s the perfect time for you to explain to them about things you and other parents have done so that they can learn from your experiences.
At Montessori Academy, we believe that every child has a right to an environment that supports their needs, and we strive to provide them with the tools they need to achieve success. We are happy to help you and your child through this transition.
You may contact us at (310) 215 -3388 for Culver City and (323) 795-0200 for West Adams.