Preschool Learning at Home: Simple Activities That Work

Young children learn best in short, playful bursts. You don't need a classroom or a curriculum, just a few minutes a day and some simple materials.

Keep it short

Ten to fifteen minutes is plenty for most three to five year olds. Stop while they're still having fun, so they want to come back tomorrow.

Start with pre-writing

Before letters, children practice lines: straight, wavy, zigzag and loops. These build the hand control they'll need for writing.

Letters through pictures

Pair each letter with a picture and its sound: A for apple, B for ball. Trace the letter, say the sound and find something in the room that starts with it.

Count real things

Count steps, snacks and toys. Numbers make sense when they're attached to things children can touch.

Cut, color and paste

Scissors and glue are great for fine motor skills. Use child-safe scissors and stay close by.

Celebrate progress

A sticker chart or a certificate at the end of a set of pages makes children proud of what they've done.

Ready-to-print pages

The Preschool Learning Worksheets pack has 80 pages: pre-writing lines, A to Z tracing with pictures, numbers 1 to 20, shapes, colors, cut-and-paste and a progress chart with a certificate.

Keep reading: Chores for kids by age · How to plan a homeschool year