I need any and all ideas for a group of preschoolers....

[Prairie~Phlox]

I've been working at our church daycare in the evening and it's starting to get chilly out, so outside is not always an option (well mainly when it's rainy) I am starting a list of things that can be done inside, musical chairs, duck-duck-goose, puzzles, coloring, playdough are some of the things they already do. Any other ideas? It's anywhere from 10-15 kids at a time.

 

Thanks,

Phlox

[Murmer]

rice boxes, oobleck, my daughter could spend hours cutting

[Chris in VA]

Set up centers.

 

Dramatic Play--old clothes (sparkly is good), shoes, boots, hats, vests, uniforms, old costumes. Make a rocket ship, a train, a kitchen, a post office, a grocery store--use what you have and let them have at it.

 

Sensory Bin--Lentils are even better than rice, because they feel silky and interesting. Put in some cups, a pitcher, some spoons, a couple funnels. Or dump in some gold coins or some of those plastic counting bears and let them hunt for treasure.

 

Playdough--make baseball sized balls of playdough and hide things in them, like plastic animals or marbles or fake jewels, and let them dig them out.

 

Marble runs are fun--so are cars and a mat with roads drawn on it.

 

Do an art station--Keep it open-ended--things like collaging on a shape (leaf, church, person, pumpkin, or circle/square/rectangle/triangle), water colors, crayons and markers on interesting shaped paper.

 

Put out a big puzzle--floor puzzles are fun group activities if you sit with them (positioned so you can see everyone)

 

Set up a book center by putting out a couple of pillows propped against a corner wall and a basket of books--put a few cover-out so they look attractive.

 

Try to have at least 2 and a half times the number of children in activities for them to choose. 4 in dramatic play, 2 in sensory, 4 in art, etc.

 

I'd start with a gathering--everyone sitting down, sing a song, do a finger play, read a quick story, then do a center time. End with a clean up and call everyone back on the rug/into the circle for another song/story/"I'm so glad you came" to wait for their parents.