Outdoor Learning Activities To Do With Your Preschooler
As summer nears, having your preschooler home with you all day long can sometimes get stale. Doing the same activities each and every day can get boring, but maybe you can't always afford to go somewhere. Turn your backyard and neighborhood into a learning area and do fun activities that will help teach your child and keep your day from feeling too mundane. See below for outdoor learning activities you can do with your preschooler.
Scavenger Hunt
Do a scavenger hunt with your preschooler and have him find a number of items around your yard. Ask him to find things such as a green leaf, a purple flower, a brown nut (or pinecone). Have him find things, but attach a color to it to not only help him identify colors, but to look for a more specific item. You can also change the game to include finding something shape specific as well.
Color Hunt
Take a walk around your neighborhood with your preschooler and give him a color checklist. Have him mark off the colors after he finds them in his surroundings. This is a great way to teach colors, and gets your child interested in learning about things in nature as well.
Plant A Garden
Plant a garden with your preschooler to teach him about plant life, how seeds grow and about farming, and even how fruits and vegetables get to the grocery store. If you don't have room for a garden, start a small one indoors using just a few small pots and leaving them out on the patio. You can also place a few seeds onto a damp paper towel (it needs to stay moist), and in a small clear cub, then place it on a window sill. Have your child watch it grow larger each and ever day.
Balance Beam
Invest in a piece of timber to create a balance beam in your backyard that your preschooler is sure to enjoy. The balance beam helps teach your child balance, which is a motor skill your preschooler will also learn in school. Don't have a balance beam? Use chalk to make a line, then have your child walk the line. You can mix it up by making the line have all kinds of twists and turns, and have your child follow the line without falling off.
Sure summer can feel a little blah after the first few weeks, but mix it up a bit by adding new activities that will have your child learning and having fun at the same time. For more information, contact companies like Kid's Country Learning Center.