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Preschool Social Studies Activities

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Do you need some ideas for preschool social studies activities?  You have come to the right place! 

From recycling to road rules, fathers to firefighters, we’ve got you covered. 

Preschool Social Studies Activities

Activities for Preschool Social Studies

Social studies is a giant umbrella that covers history, geography, civics, anthropology, sociology, and economics. 

Those hardly sound like topics a preschooler can handle! 

But social studies is, in essence, the study of people and how they relate to their world.

Young children are people, they are surrounded by people, and they interact with their world. 

It sounds to me like preschoolers are ready to learn about social studies! 

They can do so effortlessly with these fun and engaging preschool social studies activities.  

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Preschool Social Studies Topics

The social studies topics that work best for preschoolers are ones that hinge on the people in their world, and the way their world works. 

Save the lessons on foreign governments and economic theory for a later time. 

Right now, you need topics that apply to your child’s life.

Understanding family relationships–mother, father, sister, brother, grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins.

Do: Family Tree Activity

Identifying different emotions and recognizing them in yourself and others.   

Do: Emotions Activity

Transportation

How do people get from place to place?  Buses, cars, trains, planes, and trucks.

Read: Books About Trains

What are the rules of the road?  What do basic road signs mean?

Make: Traffic Light Craft

Community Helpers

Who are the people who help your community, and what do they do?  Teachers, doctors, nurses, police, firefighters, lifeguards, crossing guards, librarians, etc.

Make: Community Helper Pretend Play Hats

Using Money

Recognizing money and understanding the basics of how you pay for goods. 

Read: Books About Money

Caring for Our World

From recycling and upcycling to planting gardens bees love, building bird feeders, and picking up litter, these topics focus on caring for nature and our environment.

Do: Earth Day Craft & Word Search

Where do you live?  Which street, city, and state?  Learning the basics of maps and globes.

Learn: State Facts

Using time words like before , now , and later .  Talking about the units of time.

Play: What Time Is It? Telling Time to the Hour, Half-Hour, and Quarter-Hour

Preschool Social Studies Activities

Social Studies Activities for Preschoolers

For each preschool social studies topic, you can teach the concept with preschool social studies activities.  Check out these ideas!

Who Is In My Family?

Collect pictures of each person in the family and make a family tree on poster board.

Recognizing Emotions

Make paper plate masks and draw faces with different emotions on them. 

For more ideas, check out this article on Teaching Kids About Emotions .

Things That Go

See if your community has a “touch a truck” day where you can see lots of different emergency vehicles, or visit a fire or police station to see their cars and trucks. 

Set up a mini city with boxes or blocks , and then use toy cars, trucks, trains, and planes to navigate the city. 

Visit ThatKidsCraftSite.com for lots more preschool transportation crafts and activities.  

Rules of the Road on a Bicycle

Teach the rules of the road for bicyclists.  Make your own course in an empty parking with a handmade stop sign and cones that mark off the road. 

Organize a Trike-A-Thon for kids to practice those skills together and earn money for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.   

Who Are My Community Helpers?

Dress up as your favorite community helper and act out his or her job. 

Visit a community helper and see what they do (and bring them a thank you card!).  

Show your child the different coins and teach their names. 

Use pennies as math counters. 

Give your child several dollars and have her pay the money to the cashier for something small.

Turn Trash Into Treasure

Turn an empty milk jug into a bird feeder, paint a soup can and turn them into plant pots, and use the cardboard you would recycle (toilet paper tubes, cereal boxes, etc.) into fun crafts before you recycle them for good.

Check out even more recycled and upcycled craft fun !  

Where Am I?

Let your child see the maps app on your phone as you navigate somewhere you know. 

Get a paper map of your town or city and highlight the places you visit: your house, friends’ homes, the library, the grocery store, etc. 

Teach your child to memorize her address and phone number.  Assemble map puzzles.

Time Word Storytelling

Tell fill-in-the-blank mini-stories that use time words; your child can supply the details. 

“For breakfast, Mortie the Seagull ate ____, and then for lunch, he found _____. For dinner, he was shocked to find ____!”

Preschool Social Studies Activities

Preschool Social Studies Curriculum

With all the above preschool social studies activities, you could assemble your own preschool social studies curriculum. 

But if you are not the planner type, you can purchase a premade curriculum that covers all the basics.  You can choose an all-in-one option or buy separate workbooks.

  • Geography Pre-K: Learn and Explore by Dorling Kindersley Press
  • 180 Days of Social Studies Grade K is a workbook-based approach to government and geography.

Downloadable Curricula Made By Teachers

  • Little Social Studies Thinkers is a downloadable curriculum from Teachers Pay Teachers with units on various topics.
  • KinderSocialStudies is also from Teachers Pay Teachers and includes worksheets and hands-on tasks. 

The Tried-and-True Classroom Teacher Resource

Social Studies for the Preschool/Primary Child is a thoroughly researched, developmentally appropriate social studies program for this age. 

Preschool Social Studies Activities

Social Studies Activities for the Preschooler

Preschool social studies activities are a fun, easy way to teach the basics of social studies to your little learner. 

Help your child to explore more about himself, his family, his community, and his world with these engaging activities.

You May Also Like:

  • Early Reader: My Book of Feelings
  • 15 Preschool Crafts
  • Creating a Homeschool Preschool Schedule

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OhMyClassroom.com

24 Fun Social Studies Activities for Preschoolers

Social studies cover a wide range of topics, including history, geography, culture, and society.

By teaching social studies to preschoolers, we can help them develop a sense of curiosity about the world and the people in it.

But how can we make social studies fun and engaging for preschool kids?

We will explore social studies activities for preschoolers.

Celebrating Different Cultures:

20 Best Social Studies Activities for Preschoolers

One of the best ways to teach preschoolers about social studies is by exposing them to different cultures. You can plan a multicultural day where each child brings in a dish, clothing, or item that represents their cultural background. Encourage the children to share stories, music, and dances from their culture. You can also use picture books and videos to teach them about different holidays, traditions, and celebrations from around the world.

Map Reading and Treasure Hunt:

social studies activities for 3 year olds

Another fun way to teach preschoolers about social studies is through a treasure hunt. Draw a map of your backyard, park, or neighborhood and hide treasure at different locations. Give the children the map and ask them to find the treasure. This will help them develop basic map reading skills, as well as an understanding of directions and spatial awareness.

Related: 25 Best Teamwork Activities for Preschoolers & Kindergarten Classroom

Learning About Landmarks:

social studies activities for 3 year olds

Take your preschoolers on a virtual or real field trip to famous landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, the Great Wall of China, or the Statue of Liberty. Teach them about the history and significance of these landmarks, and encourage them to create their own replicas using craft materials or blocks. This will help them understand the importance of landmarks and develop their imagination and creativity.

Community Helpers Role-play:

social studies activities for 3 year olds

Preschoolers are naturally curious about the world around them, and one way to channel that curiosity is by engaging them in role-play. Create a pretend play area where they can dress up as community helpers such as doctors, police officers, and firefighters. This will help them understand the role of these professionals in society and develop empathy and compassion for others.

Related: Community Helpers Preschool Activities

Building a Classroom Economy:

social studies activities for 3 year olds

Another great way to teach social studies to preschoolers is by creating a classroom economy. Assign jobs to the children, such as line leader, snack helper, or door holder, and pay them with pretend money. This will help them understand the concept of currency and the value of work, as well as develop social skills such as teamwork and responsibility. You can also use this activity to teach basic math skills such as counting and addition.

Global Food Tasting:

social studies activities for 3 year olds

Introduce preschoolers to different foods from around the world by setting up a tasting table with samples of various dishes. Encourage them to try new things and talk about the flavors and textures they experience. You can also incorporate a map and show the children where each food is traditionally eaten.

Neighborhood Walk:

social studies activities for 3 year olds

Take a walk around the neighborhood with the preschoolers and point out different buildings, landmarks, and community helpers. Talk about the purpose of each building and the role of community helpers in the neighborhood. You can also use this activity to teach basic safety rules such as looking both ways before crossing the street.

Flag Making:

social studies activities for 3 year olds

Help preschoolers learn about different countries and their flags by having them create their own flags using craft materials. Encourage them to research different countries and their symbols, colors, and meanings. This activity will help them develop an understanding of the importance of flags and symbols in different cultures.

Time Capsule:

social studies activities for 3 year olds

Create a time capsule with the preschoolers that includes items that represent their current interests, hobbies, and favorite things. Talk about the importance of preserving history and discuss what the world might look like in the future. You can bury the time capsule in the schoolyard or save it for a later date when the children are older.

Family Tree:

social studies activities for 3 year olds

Help preschoolers learn about their family history by creating a family tree. Encourage them to talk to their parents or grandparents and ask about their family’s heritage and traditions. This activity will help them develop a sense of pride and understanding of their family’s history and cultural background.

Related: 20 Preschool Activities About Family

Community Building Blocks:

social studies activities for 3 year olds

Provide the preschoolers with wooden blocks and ask them to build their own community. Encourage them to think about the different buildings and structures that make up a community, such as houses, schools, and parks. This activity will help them develop spatial awareness and an understanding of the basic components of a community.

Exploring Maps:

social studies activities for 3 year olds

Provide the preschoolers with maps of their state or country and ask them to identify different landmarks, bodies of water, and cities. You can also use this activity to teach basic geography concepts such as cardinal directions and map legends.

Storytelling:

social studies activities for 3 year olds

Use picture books and storybooks to teach preschoolers about different cultures, traditions, and social issues. You can also invite guest speakers to share their personal stories or experiences with the children. This activity will help the preschoolers develop empathy and an appreciation for diversity.

Science and Social Studies:

social studies activities for 3 year olds

Integrate science and social studies by teaching preschoolers about different ecosystems and biomes. You can set up a terrarium or aquarium in the classroom and teach the children about the plants and animals that live in different habitats. This activity will help them develop an understanding of the inter-connectivity of different environments and the importance of preserving natural resources.

Mock Election:

social studies activities for 3 year olds

Hold a mock election in the classroom and encourage the preschoolers to vote for their favorite snack or activity. This activity will help them understand the basic principles of democracy and civic responsibility. You can also use this activity to teach about the importance of voting and how it impacts their lives.

Career Day:

social studies activities for 3 year olds

Invite parents or community members to come and share about their careers with the preschoolers. This activity will help them understand the different types of jobs and the roles people play in society. It will also inspire them to think about what they want to be when they grow up.

Global Crafts:

social studies activities for 3 year olds

Introduce preschoolers to different crafts from around the world, such as origami from Japan or weaving from Mexico. Encourage them to try making their own versions of these crafts, and talk about the cultural significance of the materials and techniques used.

Dramatic Play:

social studies activities for 3 year olds

Create a dramatic play area that represents a different culture, such as a Chinese restaurant or a Native American teepee. Provide props and costumes that reflect the culture, and encourage the preschoolers to use their imaginations to act out different scenarios.

Related: Examples of Dramatic Play for Preschoolers

Community Service:

social studies activities for 3 year olds

Plan a community service project that the preschoolers can participate in, such as cleaning up a local park or making cards for elderly residents at a nursing home. This activity will help them understand the importance of giving back to their community and being kind to others.

Celebrating Holidays:

social studies activities for 3 year olds

Teach preschoolers about different holidays celebrated around the world, such as Diwali or Hanukkah. Have them create decorations or crafts that reflect the holiday, and talk about the cultural significance of the holiday’s traditions and symbols. This activity will help them develop an appreciation for diversity and an understanding of different cultural practices.

Recommended:

  • Essential Preschool Supply List for Parents
  • 25 Preschool Activities About Family
  • 25 Fun Hand-Tracing Activities for Preschoolers

social studies activities for 3 year olds

Sohaib Hasan Shah

Sohaib's journey includes 10+ years of teaching and counseling experience at BCSS School in elementary and middle schools, coupled with a BBA (Hons) with a minor in Educational Psychology from Curtin University (Australia) . In his free time, he cherishes quality moments with his family, reveling in the joys and challenges of parenthood. His three daughters have not only enriched his personal life but also deepened his understanding of the importance of effective education and communication, spurring him to make a meaningful impact in the world of education.

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Hitting the Road With Social Studies

social studies activities for 3 year olds

Ah, summer. It’s right around the corner. Warm, sunny days and, for many people, a chance to take a break and recharge. As classrooms close for the season, this is a good time to suggest ways families can continue supporting their children’s learning over the summer.

Many families plan trips to visit relatives and friends in other towns, states, and even countries—what a meaningful way to explore social studies! Families planning extended trips often ask for help keeping children engaged and learning while on vacation. Consider preparing learning packets that include tips on how to talk to children about social studies in a meaningful way. Families will appreciate having developmentally appropriate ways to talk to children about people and how they live.

Explain to families that, for young children, direct, personal experiences are the most developmentally appropriate way to learn about how people live and the environments in which they live. You might wish to offer some of the following discussion starters and activity ideas to help them introduce social studies skills during family trips.

People and How They Live

  • Who are the people in your family? What do they do? Collect family photos in a small photo album; discuss each person’s name, where they live, and what they do. Share personal memories. “This is your Tía Yolanda. She lives near your grandmother in Michigan. She’s a dentist. She also builds birdhouses and has pet rabbits!”
  • How do you make and keep a friend? Ask the child to write a letter or postcard to a friend; discuss what makes this friend special.
  • What are the jobs of people in our community? As you travel, point out community workers. Ask children to notice special clothes or equipment in addition to the tasks performed: “Look at that man in the basket way up high. That basket is called a ‘cherry picker.’ He’s working on the roof of the auditorium. Can you see his bright green vest? Those help us see him when he’s way up high. You’re right! His hardhat is also bright green. That helps us see him and keeps his head protected.”
  • How do people use money to get goods and services? Draw attention to how you use money to purchase gas, tickets, or food; ask children to help by holding money as you prepare for toll roads, etc. Discuss what they notice about the coins or bills: “Do you see the number 3 on the screen? We need to pay three dollars to leave the parking garage. I’ll give you three dollars to hand to the attendant: one, two, three.”
  • What are some of the rules in your home, school, and community? Discuss how you will be traveling and establish a clear set of expectations for traveling and visiting family and friends. Include children in developing rules to stay safe and be good guests and travelers. “Remember that Uncle Chris’s house has a lot of model airplanes. They are very delicate. That means that they can break very easily. They are just decoration and aren’t meant for playing. You may look at them and ask for permission to touch them, but only if Uncle Chris says it’s okay.”

People and the Environment

  • How can we respect and care for our world? Explain where to dispose of trash and point out recycling bins when they are available. Offer children the opportunity to reuse materials. As you travel, point out areas where the environment is respected and cared for. “When we finish drinking our water, we can reuse the bottle and fill it up at a water fountain. That way we don’t have to throw away the bottle. How can we reuse that plastic baggie from your lunch? Yes! If we wash it, we can put your cars in it to keep them safe.”
  • What do people do that is bad for the environment? How do those things affect all of us? Point out examples of littering or pollution; discuss how these practices affect everyone. Ask whether there are things you can do as a family to help. “Oh, no. Can you see all the trash on the side of the road? That’s why we use this bag to hold our trash and then throw it away when we see a trash can. If everybody threw their trash out the window, all the roads would be dirty.”

People and the Past

  • How do things and people change over time? Collect family photos in a small photo album; discuss how people have changed or point out landmarks, such as a tree in the front yard, that have grown or changed over the years . “Look at how tiny you were in this picture! You were too little to open the door, and your grandpa’s beard was so short. Now you can reach the light switch on your tiptoes, and Papa’s beard is so long!”
  • How do we measure time? On a smartphone or tablet device, explore clocks, calendars, or stopwatch features. Also, create a travel journal with children. At the end of each day, ask children to explain what they did and saw; record their answers on a calendar page or in a small notebook. “Let’s send a picture to your Nana every day of our trip so she knows what we did. Let’s see which picture we want to send her today. That’s a good one. What do you want to tell Nana about our trip to the caverns? I’ll write it in the message.”
  • How do we talk about time? How do we talk about the past, present, and future (e.g., use terms like “this morning,” “after lunch,” and “tomorrow”)? At the beginning of each day, explain what children can expect, and intentionally use terms to refer to the past, present, and future during discussions and stories: “This morning, we are driving to a lake. First, we will put on life vests and take a ride in a canoe. Then we’ll have hotdogs for lunch. After lunch, your cousin wants to teach you how to fish, so you will need to listen to her instructions carefully. When the sun starts to go down, we will go back to Aunt Lisa’s house to sleep.”

Spaces and Geography

  • Where do you live? What is your community like? As you begin your trip, ask children to describe their community. What colors do they see in the landscape? What features do you see? When you arrive at your destination, ask children to describe the new environment. What is the same? What is different? “I see so many green trees here! What else is different than where we live? You’re right, there are hills here. What looks the same as where we live? Yes, we have that same store at home. This bridge is much taller than the bridge in our town. You’re right, the river is much wider than our little creek.”
  • How do people move from one place to another? As you travel, point out the various ways that people move. Discuss how they are similar (cars, buses) and how they are different (trains, planes). “Oh, the buses here are painted blue and white. Ours are red and white. Have you ever seen a train in the middle of the city? Look at all the people inside!”
  • What is a map, and how can it help us? Use road maps or electronic map devices to track your trip; point out upcoming landmarks or towns. “Let’s see, we’re on this highway right here. We are going in this direction. What is coming up on the map? Yes, that blue line! That tells us there is a river coming up. Let’s look out the window to see if we can spot the river.”

These questions and activities can help families enjoy developmentally appropriate and relatable discussions that help children learn about the world around them as they travel around town, around their state, or beyond. In addition, these discussions show families how abstract concepts such as history, geography, anthropology, sociology, civics, and economics can be explored meaningfully and personally.

There are so many wonderful family memories to be made during the summer, especially when children are engaged in interesting discussions. Those long hours in cars, planes, and trains often lead to the most marvelous discoveries—about the world, the people they see, and the children themselves.

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6 amazing preschool social studies activities.

social studies activities for 3 year olds

Want to Improve Your Child's Social Studies Skills?

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If raising a preschooler hasn’t made you more forgetful than usual, you might recall a subject you took during grade school called “social studies.” Later, it became “history,” “sociology,” and “economics,” but those fancy names didn’t fool you.

It was still the dreaded “social studies” (also known as “cramming before a test”).

Webster’s Dictionary defines social studies as “the study of social relationships and the functioning of society.” Well, that sounds a lot like social media, without the annoying memes!

The fact is, studying social relationships and society can be fun, and it can start as early as preschool. Cramming won’t be necessary, except for the little bodies you’ll be cramming into your car when you take the whole neighborhood on field trips.

Preschool social studies activities can mean anything involving people, including history, culture, economics, civics, community, and geography. Of course, these heady topics will need to be tailored to fit your preschooler’s world. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Preschoolers live mostly in the present tense, so before you try explaining history, you’ll need to show them what you mean by “the past.” Hang a calendar on the wall and demonstrate how time flips by.

Mark important dates like birthdays, holidays, and family movie night on the calendar (but save a screening of “Back to the Future” until they’re a little older).

Make a timeline with your child historian. On a 6-foot long strip of butcher paper, draw a horizontal line from one end to the other. Glue a  photo of your child somewhere toward the middle to indicate his birth year.

Next, glue photos of yourself and other family members to the left of your child’s photo to mark their birth years.

Give your child some dinosaur stickers and suggest that they be glued far — very far — to the left of your own birthdate on the timeline. Discuss the meanings of words like “past,” “future,” “before,” and “after.”

Create a family scrapbook with your child, using old and new photos and other mementos. Talk about differences between the cars, clothing, hairstyles, and artifacts of yesteryear and those of today. Be prepared for questions like, “Who’s that lady?” when your child sees your prom picture.

Take your preschooler on visits to art museums, music halls, and other cultural institutions. Seek out multicultural events such as ethnic festivals to attend as a family.

Find books about other cultures at the library and read them to your child. Emphasize an appreciation of other countries’ traditions, dress, crafts, music, and beliefs.

Pro Tip: Help Your Child Become Better at Social Studies

Enroll your child for the Atlas Mission and let your child play with this award-winning educational program. Your child will become better at social studies without even realizing it!

3. Economics

Take your little explorer on a field trip to a farm or orchard, public market, and grocery store. Discuss how food gets from the farm to the table.

Discuss various jobs of the people in your community with your future breadwinner. Ask him which job is her favorite, and why.

Set up a play area in your home where your budding entrepreneur can play “store.” Use actual food items, grocery bags, and either play money or – if you’re willing to part with a few dollars – the real thing. (Be careful with small items like coins that could be ingested by younger children.)

Talk about why we have rules and responsibilities for everyday things like games, bedtime, and driving. For example, rules keep us safe and happy, and they help us show kindness and respect for others. Let her know that adults have rules, too, and some of those rules are called “laws.”

Help your child to make a set of road signs (stop, R/R, pedestrian crosswalk, speed limit, etc.) out of card stock, markers, craft sticks, and glue. You can make your signs stand up on their own by pushing them into small blocks of Styrofoam or through holes in inverted paper cups.

These can be used in creative play with toy vehicles. You might have to pay a toll to get into your child’s room, though.

5. Community

Watch the memorable “Look for the Helpers” episode of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood with your child.

Talk about the “helpers” in your community (firefighters, police, teachers, doctors, etc.). Organize a field trip to a helping organization.

Encourage future model citizens to express their feelings by being a positive model yourself. Use “I messages” (“I feel ___ when you ___”) instead of just blowing up. For example: “Honey, I felt sad when you put our new red towels in the washing machine with my white dress.”

(I’m speaking from experience here. My white dress with black polka dots is now a lovely shade of pink.)

6. Geography

Borrow and read books about far-away islands, continents, and oceans.

Buy an inflatable globe and explain the difference between land masses and oceans. Then play catch with it. When your kiddo catches it, have him notice where his fingers have landed – on land or on an ocean? Watch out for sharks!

Your child’s world is small now, but soon it will be expanding. So, whether she’s a social butterfly or still wrapped in her warm cocoon, it’s time to introduce her to some fun preschool social studies activities.

Simply by being born into a family, a community, and the world at large, preschoolers already live in a social world. By exposing them at a young age to how the world functions socially, we’re helping them learn important lessons that will enrich their lives.

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Lori Bonati creates educational content for the Atlas Mission . She is a mother, grandmother, and retired school psychologist who enjoys writing (books, poetry, articles, and songs), photography, and playing the guitar. She lives in Arizona.

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Six Amazing Social Studies Activities for Preschoolers

  • February 16, 2023

Preschool may represent many toddlers’ first experiences outside the family setting along with exposure to more structured environments. How do they fit into these new social settings full of different people and unfamiliar routines? How can they gain problem-solving, decision-making and collaboration skills? What about nurturing the child’s natural curiosity of the world around them? What lessons can be learned about becoming responsible and productive members of society in preschool?

That’s where social studies instruction comes into play in the classroom. In its most basic form, social studies is the examination of people and the way they relate to others. Teaching social studies lessons to preschoolers prepares them to become more engaged citizens in a rapidly changing, culturally diversifying and collaborative world.

According to the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS), “social studies is a vital part of the early childhood curriculum, since children’s formative experiences shape their attitudes as citizens of their classroom, their schools, and of the larger community.”

Maybe you’re new to the profession and teaching this multifaceted discipline for the first time. Or perhaps you’re looking for some ways to refresh your social studies activities for toddlers.

It’s an important responsibility for the preschool teacher, but it doesn’t have to be daunting. In fact, preschool social studies activities can be fun and informative at the same time through storytelling, games, inquiry-based exercises and engaging projects.

Here are six amazing and fun social studies activities for preschoolers that will help your budding scholars understand their surroundings and begin to put the pieces together of the interconnected social fabric that’s being woven around them.

PRESCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES ACTIVITIES THAT ROCK

Sorting Coins – Who doesn’t love money? The first suggestion on our list of social studies activities for preschoolers isn’t necessarily about inspiring kids to be the next venture capitalist. It involves money, but the lesson here is more about observation and comparison as children learn to start reasoning, using abstract thought and logic through coin sorting. First things first, you’ll need some materials to make this one of the most impactful preschool social studies activities. You’ll need a variety of U.S. coins, including pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters. Other items to make the coin sorting activity a success: a jar or large glass container, bowls and laminated cards that list each denomination of coin.

Ask your class to sort the coins by:

The pictures depicted on either side

Coin sorting teaches your students to observe the differences and similarities between the coins, how to categorize them and encourages early numeracy and literacy skills.

Tip: Increase engagement by having students bring in coins from home that can be put into the pot (promise they can take theirs home after these social studies activities for preschoolers are over).

Recycle, Reuse   – Learning ways to protect Mother Earth and the environment is one of the easiest but beneficial social studies activities for toddlers. An integral part of social studies involves learning about conserving our most important resources and taking care of the planet.

First off, teach your students about the recycling bins in your classroom and throughout your school, and get them in the habit of recycling materials instead of throwing them in the trash. Cap off your instruction with a fun project: Teach them about the universal recycling symbol and have them draw and paint it. This allows them to recognize the symbol through art, and they will begin to recognize it on bins and products.

Teaching young children to recycle – especially in our ever-increasing disposable society – starts them on the right path to creating a responsible civic mindset, and that’s the ultimate goal for all of our suggested preschool social studies activities.

Coloring Old Glory – Infusing art into your instruction is a proven method for getting maximum engagement when introducing social studies activities for toddlers. All you’ll need is black-and-white printouts of the United States flag and crayons, colored pencils or magic markers to get them started on making their own Stars and Stripes masterpiece. Display your cloth flag front and center so that everyone can see it, and have your students color in the red, white and blue on their print-outs. You can also share the evolution of the flag, from its 13-stars Betsy Ross-designed configuration to the current edition with 50 stars.

This exercise presents an opportunity to instill some patriotic pride, and teach the history of the U.S. flag in addition to the symbolism it contains.

Culture Up Close – Introducing your class to culture by visiting a museum or art gallery is next up in our suggested preschool social studies activities.

Ideal spaces for young learners, museums encourage them to investigate their interests through hands-on exhibits, authentic objects and activities. Art galleries boost creativity and challenge youngsters to think differently, even if they aren’t aware of it. Both types of attractions help children widen their horizons, learn how to be inquisitive and develop their storytelling skills.

Some towns and cities even have children’s museums geared toward young learners. If in-person visits to a gallery or museum aren’t possible, try reaching out to a local museum or art gallery to see if they will send a representative to your class to give a presentation on art, historical artifacts and exhibit items.

Map Quest – A child learning about exactly where they are and where they’re from can be one of the most profound – and fun – social studies activities for toddlers. Maps, landscapes and globes will be your visual aides, along with Google Maps and other navigation-based apps. Start small and ask your students if they know what town or city they live in. Once that has been established, show them on a map where you are, and then on a globe. Then pull up your school’s location on Google Maps and wow them. Give them facts about the size of your town, who the mayor is (show a picture), and display examples of the surrounding geographical features, such as mountains, hills, rivers, lakes and other distinctive landforms.

Instilling a sense of place is at the heart of many of these social studies activities for preschoolers, none more so than this one, which empowers children to begin understanding their environs and the bigger picture.

History and Herstory – Children love stories, and incorporating storytelling that focuses on historical events and leaders is the last of our suggested six amazing social studies activities for preschoolers. Try reading aloud from the Little Heroes series book “Courageous People Who Changed the World  (Volume 1)” which serves as an introduction to historical figures that changed our society for the better, from Rosa Parks and Susan B. Anthony to Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King, Jr. The inclusion of quotes from each of the individuals featured in the book, adorned with colorful illustrations, will capture the attention of your young minds. If you can’t find this book in your school or community library, inexpensive used copies are available at thriftbooks.com .

You’ll swell with pride as your preschool class begins to understand the social structures within your school as well as your community when you complete each of these preschool social studies activities with them.

If you’re seeking a deeper dive into social studies in the classroom and want to support your social studies activities for toddlers by connecting curriculum goals with the development of social-emotional skills, CCEI has the perfect offering. 21st Century Social Studies in the Early Childhood Environment is a three-hour course that provides an overview of state standards for social studies and recommends best practices and wide-ranging classroom activities.

For more on this course, as well as CCEI’s entire catalog of online professional development courses, click here .

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20 Interactive Social Studies Activities for the Classroom

March 21, 2023 //  by  Sharayah Lynn Grattan

We can begin teaching kids about human society, how we establish rules for common understanding and order, how we share ideas and culture, and significant figures in our history, at an early age. There are so many components included in the domain of social studies that each year you can cover new material with your students.

From anthropology and economics to political science and geography, there are so many worlds to discover. We have 20 of the best activities for you to open your kid’s eyes to all of it!

1. Civil War Snacks

These biscuit cookies are called “hardtacks” and are said to have been the go-to snack for people who lived in the 19th century. As a part of teaching the Civil War in your historical social studies unit, incorporate some food culture to help your kids taste what it was like to live back then.

Learn More: Education

2. Learning Taxes With M&M’s

This fun activity is a great hands-on introduction to taxes for elementary grade students just beginning to handle their own money. Distribute snack packs of M&M’s to each student and give roles: the tax collector, the King, the Parliament representative, to 3 students. Take candies away for various things (blue socks, erasers, crossing your legs), explain the process of wages and taxes, and who it goes to.

Learn More: Upper Elementary Snapshots

3. Native American Dreamcatchers

Indigenous people are a huge part of America’s history, they have many traditions and customs that can teach your students to have respect for people of all heritages. These dreamcatcher crafts will make your fun history lessons utilize motor skills and are a great decoration for your classroom walls.

Learn More: Art Bar Blog

4. Reading the Stars

Time to bring history to life with this DIY constellation hands-on activity that teaches students how many African Americans were able to navigate and travel the underground railroad while en-route to freedom during the 18th and 19th centuries in America. You’ll need a hole punch, black card stock, and a flashlight.

Learn More: Everyday Reading

5. DIY George Washington Wig

We cover historical figures in our social studies lessons teaching about the life of colonists in the initial 13 colonies. Wigs were a sign of class and power during this time with white wigs reserved for only the most prominent figures. George Washington had the signature white wig we all imagine, so let’s recreate it using a paper bag, cotton balls, and ribbon.

Learn More: Deceptively Educational

6. Flower Press Like an Explorer

When explorers first came to the New World they had a lot to record and send back so people in Europe knew what kind of plants and animals were across the ocean. A fun class book to make with your students is a flower press album. Go outside with your kids and have them pick some flowers, then press and save them for future observations.

Learn More: Magical Movement Company

7. Dictator for a Day

This engaging lesson can be used in the social studies curriculum covering different forms of government. Pick one student to be a dictator and have he/she establish their own rules for the country. Explain how freedoms such as religion and speech are hindered and the lack of fairness this type of government provides for its citizens.

Learn More: Study

8. Mystery Skype

Geography is another domain of social studies and learning how to differentiate between attributes of states, countries, time zones, is a useful skill for student understanding. There are platforms set up that can connect your skype to another classroom somewhere else in the U.S. and even around the world! Brainstorm questions with your students ahead of time so they know what to ask to find out where they are.

Learn More: 29 Fun Geography Lessons Your Learners Will Love

9. Voting Knowledge via Online Game

iCivics is an online gaming platform designed to teach students useful knowledge about how the United States government functions and their roles in it. This online game is great for high school or middle school students to learn how to become informed voters and how they can participate in our democracy. Get more ideas for teaching the presidential election process here .

Learn More: iCivics.org

10. Analysing and Drawing Political Cartoons

There are so many great examples of political cartoons over U.S. history that teach students how certain events and beliefs are presented to persuade readers. Pick some influential political cartoons from the past and have an open discussion regarding what opinions they are expressing and the intentions of the people who created them.

Learn More: Thinkport

11. Historical Role Play

Let’s get into character with this simple improvisation activity of historical figures. Write down names of influential people of the past and put them in a hat for your students to pick from. Give them a few days to research their person and make a presentation in front of the class.

Learn More: Edutopia

12. Immigration Stories

There is a lot to cover in your immigration unit for the U.S. since it is a country of immigrants. Explain the histories and reasons why different groups of people immigrate, why they want to leave their home country, and the processes they go through to assimilate to their new country. There are many educational books out there written by immigrants to read for engaging class discussions.

Learn More: Population Education

13. Current Events for Kids

It can be challenging to explain a current event to a young learner in a way they can understand. Kidworldcitizen.org is a website with resources and articles written for kids with simple words and without biases found in other sources. Pick a few articles and read them in your next social studies class.

Learn More: Kid World Citizen

14. Economics Cheat Sheet

Economics begins to emerge in our elementary classrooms, and it’s best to start with the basics. Help your students understand how the economy works and affects their daily life with this visual explanation. Have your students create their own to put on the classroom walls.

Learn More: Pinterest

15. Religions Around the World

There are so many different religions and belief systems in our world, and it’s important we teach our young learners to respect their customs and traditions. Challenge students to pick a religion they don’t know about and do research as a group to learn more and share.

Learn More: Education World

16. Culture Boxes

Assign each student a culture and ask them to fill a cardboard box with items, images, foods, clothing, etc. that encapsulate the society to share with the class.

Learn More: Living Montessori Now

17. Traveler IQ Challenge

This online geography game tests your students’ social studies skills regarding map reading, locating states in the U.S., country capitals, and more! Play it with the whole class or assign kids to play at home.

Learn More: Crazy Games

18. Archaeology Puzzle

This reconstruction project can be a fun family activity to introduce archaeology to your kids in a hands-on and engaging way. Get a clay pot, break it into pieces, and hide the pieces in the sand or dirt for your kids to dig up. Then help them clean the parts and piece the pot together. You can add symbols or words on the pot to reveal a message once it’s reconstructed for an added bonus!

Learn More: Tikkido

19. Our Class Constitution

Have your students participate in a democracy by having them help you write your class’s constitution.

20. Then and Now Sorting Game

Print or make your own flashcards with images of old objects we used in the past and their updated/modern versions. Show students the progressions we’ve made as humans and what that means for our future.

Learn More: What I Have Learned Teaching

Empowered Parents

13 Social Skills Activities for Preschoolers + Milestones

By: Author Tanja McIlroy

Posted on Last updated: 29 January 2024

Categories Social and Emotional Development

social studies activities for 3 year olds

The foundation for a person’s social behaviour is laid during the early years, which makes preschool a crucial time to ensure your children are learning social skills.

In this article I’ll explain briefly:

  • why social skills are important
  • examples of social skills for preschoolers
  • the stages of social development
  • social milestones by age
  • 13 social skills activities for kids

The Importance of Social Skills

Developing social skills in preschoolers is vital in order for them to be able to interact with others successfully and form healthy relationships throughout life.

As children grow, they learn about social roles, values and behaviours from the world around them.

Parents, siblings, extended family, peers and teachers all have a role to play in moulding children’s social skills.

Healthy socializing involves three general things – generosity , helpfulness and taking turns .

Generosity is about sharing with family as well as friends. Children must also learn to respect others’ rights and possessions.

Helpfulness

Learning to be friendly, considerate and helpful must be balanced with not being overly submissive and stifling the development of their own personalities.

Taking Turns

This is one of the most important skills to learn. It is the basis of courtesy and thoughtfulness and is relevant at almost every level of life.

Children must allow others to have their turn but also have the self-confidence to insist on getting their own turn, without trying to dominate activities and conversations. The example parents set is important.

The social and emotional development of a child is an important aspect of their growth, just as much as intellectual or physical development , which we tend to pay more attention to.

Image of pin - social skills activities for preschoolers

Examples of Social Skills 

Children need to build a set of prosocial skills in order to navigate communicating with others and building relationships.

Here are some examples of social skills , as shared by Marike de Witt in her book “ The Young Child in Context: A psycho-social perspective “:

  • Cooperat ing
  • Being h elpful
  • Compromising
  • Taking turns
  • Negotiating
  • Showing sympathy
  • Having empathy
  • Assuming responsibility
  • Respecting others’ views
  • Showing a ttachment

Antisocial behaviours prevent children from communicating effectively. These are a few examples:

  • Selfishness
  • Telling lies
  • Egocentrism
  • Taking others’ possessions
  • Destructiveness

The Stages of Social Development in Early Childhood

young children arguing over toy

In order to help children build social skills, it is necessary to first understand the social stages and milestones they will progress through so you can support them at their stage of maturity.

For example, there is no need to worry that your 2-year-old won’t share his toys as this is normal at his age. He is not yet mature enough to understand the concept of sharing.

De Witt divides s ocial development into three main stages: the Infancy, Childhood and Youthful periods.

Infancy Period

This stage begins at birth and ends at the first signs of speech . During this stage, infants learn to tell the difference between their own bodies and the environment around them.

Social development is strongly influenced by the mother-child relationship because the way a mother cares for her child will either convey tenderness or anxiety .

Childhood Period

The childhood period begins when a child uses clear speech and lasts up until the need for playmates of the same age emerges.

By following the example set by the parents, a child begins to classify his own behaviour as good or bad. He also realizes the difference between enemies and friends.

During this stage, children acquire language as well as cultural customs , such as hygiene, toilet or eating practices.

Youthful Period

This period begins when children prefer to play with others of the same age . More complex skills of interpersonal behaviour are learnt, such as cooperation, competition and compromise.

Social Development Milestones by Age

Here is a table of common milestones that occur at various ages as a child matures. It is a summary of the milestones in the book “ The Young Child in Context: A psycho-social perspective “.

  • Shows affection for people she knows
  • Likes to be around loved ones – to always hear or see them
  • Passes an object or toy to an adult when asked, and sometimes even spontaneously
  • Waves goodbye
  • Begins to play games such as hide-and-seek
  • Plays alone happily but likes to be near a familiar adult or older sibling
  • Likes other children but does not play with them
  • Shows affection for family members, pets and dolls
  • Begins to imitate people
  • Repeats actions and expressions that receive a positive reaction
  • Likes people but is still egocentric
  • Follows caregivers around the house and demands constant attention
  • Imitates domestic activities
  • May take turns but has difficulty sharing toys or adult attention
  • Throws tantrums in order to be understood
  • Happily plays near other children, but not yet with them (parallel play)
  • Sometimes hits or bites children to get a reaction
  • Can role play e.g. put a doll to sleep or wash the dishes
  • Begins to behave unselfishly
  • Shows affection for younger siblings
  • Likes helping with domestic activities such as shopping or cleaning
  • Begins to share with others
  • Enjoys playing alone and with other children
  • Begins to show a preference for certain friends
  • Begins to show sympathy when someone is upset
  • Engages in make-believe play with dolls and toys and enjoys pretending to be someone else
  • Still sees most things from their own perspective
  • Talks about self, family and possessions
  • Shows empathy with characters in stories
  • Can wait for you to finish before talking
  • Sometimes has an imaginary friend
  • Really enjoys the company of friends and can play in a group
  • Often has a best friend
  • Is strong willed
  • Begins to form a sense of humour
  • Understands taking turns and sharing
  • Shows concern and sympathy towards younger siblings and friends
  • Engages in dramatic make-believe play
  • Becomes competitive
  • Social skills develop such as – saying please and thank you (if taught), greeting people, talking to them, and showing respect towards others in the home
  • Behaves in a more controlled and sensible way
  • Cooperates with companions and understands the need for rules and fair play
  • Has a definite sense of humour
  • Shows tenderness towards and is protective of younger children and pets
  • Enjoys competitive games
  • Enjoys fantasy games
  • Chooses own friends (usually of the same sex)
  • Begins to learn the value of compromise and negotiation

As you can see, sharing is a struggle for very young children. The advice is usually to divert and redirect attention when dealing with toddlers [ source ].

The Importance of Play in Social Development

The most important activity your children can engage in, in order to develop their social skills, is play.

When preschool children play together they learn together.

Here are some reasons play is important for your child’s social development.

  • It teaches cooperation and how to take turns
  • Children are able to try different roles and personalities
  • Play teaches children to verbalize their needs
  • Kids learn to lead and follow
  • It provides a broad base for the use of social language skills
  • Children learn to respect others’ rights and possessions
  • They develop an awareness of themselves as a member of a group
  • Through play, they understand their own culture and values
  • They gain knowledge about society’s rules and about group responsibility
  • Play develops a positive self-image and self-concept
  • It teaches how to participate in a group
  • It promotes gender-role identification
  • Children develop common goals and interests as they play together
  • They learn to see others’ perspectives
  • Children experience delight when playing

13 Social Skills Activities for Preschoolers

I f you are wondering what activities would be most effective to help a child develop positive social skills, the answer is that you don’t really need a list of specific activities to “teach” them about socializing.

Rather, it is about giving them enough opportunities to play and interact and encouraging certain types of games and activities that involve interaction and cooperation.

You can discuss or play social skills games around topics like feelings and how to cope with conflict , but it will only be through experiencing these feelings and conflicts that your children will really learn these lessons and understand these concepts in a meaningful way.

Here are some simple social development activities for 3-5-year-olds.

1. Playdates

Invite friends over for a playdate and take your children to play with friends as often as you can. Playing with siblings is also good interaction.

The more opportunities your child has to mix with others, the more they will practise socializing.

Don’t leave your young child alone with a friend if he is not yet comfortable. Give him time to build trust.

2. Group Games

Play group  games that involve taking turns and following rules.

Children will learn with time that social interaction is fun and that in order for the game to work, they need to consider each other and all be active participants.

Also, encourage musical games such as musical chairs where there are rules to follow and children have to compete while still considering each other and being comfortable with losing sometimes (e.g. if your friend gets to a chair before you).

This takes maturity to understand.

3. Board Games

Board games are an excellent activity for older preschool children. These should have multiple players (even if you start with 2), rules and an objective (e.g. in Snakes and Ladders the objective is to reach the end first).

Children playing with mother and socializing

It can be a complex task for a child to learn to follow rules and keep the game positive while competing with friends or family members.

Younger children can start with simple card games or very basic board games.

4. Fantasy Play

Fantasy, or dress-up play , is an important part of learning to socialize. During this kind of play, children make sense of their world and the people around them by role-playing.

This is how they “practise” being an adult, behaving and interacting as an adult would. They also act out their own social customs and norms.

Fantasy play is a great social learning activity for children playing with one or more friends, as well as for smaller children playing alone.

Even though the child is alone, the activity revolves around pretending to interact with others, which is a great way to safely act out an interaction.

Provide opportunities at home by having a dress-up section in your child’s room. Provide different themed clothes and props and change them frequently to encourage new ideas.

When children play with blocks together, they initially play alongside each other, building their own structures.

With time and maturity, they begin to share blocks, take an interest in each other’s structures and finally end up building something together.

This is one of those activities where you will see this progression clearly.

By the time children are building together, they are learning to share, listen to each other’s ideas, problem-solve , organize, share opinions, negotiate, compromise and work towards a common goal.

6. Sensory Play

Sensory play is a fun activity that children love to do together. Whether they are playing with water , mud or sand, there is much sharing, negotiating and cooperation. It also often leads to fantasy play.

7. Creative Play

When children are involved in creative activities such as drawing, painting, cutting, pasting or moulding playdough, they are often deep in conversation at the same time.

These activities usually happen around a table where the children are sitting calmly and are fully engaged with their playmates.

Some of the most intriguing and complex socializing I have witnessed has been around an art table.

Reading to a child is my absolute favourite activity and one with so many benefits. Stories are all about people and animals and their relationships and interactions.

Read to your child daily and she will constantly be listening to how characters socialize, deal with problems, show emotions and generally interact.

You may find it hard to explain to a young child what empathy is, for example, but you can certainly teach the message with a story and let your child experience this trait on her own through listening.

9. Discussions

Along with reading, discussions are another way to teach your children social skills.

Use every opportunity possible to discuss how your children feel, to talk about their friendships and even discuss the characters in the stories and how they handled certain situations.

When your children experience conflict with a friend, discussing possible solutions or how they can handle it is a far more educational experience than immediately intervening.

1 0. Manners

In my experience teaching in the classroom, the children who had lovely manners were taught at home as toddlers. Those who hadn’t been taught seldom spontaneously said please or thank you without being constantly prompted and reminded.

It is too late to teach a 3 or 4-year-old manners and courtesy. Start as early as possible.

11. Free Play

The best socializing and learning occurs naturally – when children are playing freely with each other.

You may choose to present and encourage certain activities, such as an art project, but know that any time spent playing with others is time they are learning valuable social skills.

Try not to let screen time or too many planned activities get in the way of real play and socializing.

…and don’t forget these two important points:

12. Build a Healthy Relationship With Your Child

A child’s primary relationship – with his parents – is the basis for all future socializing.

The relationship should be warm and close. Your child should feel love, security, acceptance, trust and self-esteem.

13. Model Positive Behaviour

Children learn about socially acceptable behaviour by watching their parents. They learn more from watching you than from listening to you. 

I hope you enjoyed these ideas and activities for developing social skills in preschoolers.

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17+ Easy Social Activities For Toddlers And Preschoolers

Table of Contents

Are you looking for social activities for toddlers and preschoolers to build vital communication skills?

You know, those skills that are vital to your child’s overall development, happiness, and well-being. These social skills are more important than just sharing toys and taking turns; they’re about how our little ones interact, communicate, and build relationships.

So here’s the scoop: as parents, block-building enthusiasts, and exploration junkies, we’ve got a fantastic lineup of over 17 social skill activities for toddlers and preschoolers.

Let’s dive into these social development activities for preschoolers and toddlers that will inspire and nurture their skills!

an Asian mom with her three young children building with tegu blocks together  on a picnic blanket in a park. social activities for toddlers

Play And Social Development

There is an incredible link between play and social development. As it turns out, all types of play are valuable to the social and emotional development in early childhood , including block play.

Through the stages of block play , children build skills in social-emotional, physical, language, and cognitive development domains. Read more about all the benefits of block play .

Kids love to play! Therefore, what better way to build their skills than to provide fun and interactive social skills activities for preschoolers and toddlers?

For a deep dive into social and emotional development in early childhood, read more on the importance of social skills.

Like little sponges, children learn best with hands-on activities . Additionally, through engagement and modeling, you demonstrate socially acceptable behavior .

At first, keep things simple. Then, when their skills develop, you can add more complex activities. Such as adding a twist to a classic game like Simon Says. The goal is to turn routine play into enhanced experiences. Always keep it fun and interactive!

Let’s look at some simple social-emotional activities for toddlers and preschoolers that you can incorporate into your child’s daily play.

Ideas For Social Skills Activities For Preschoolers And Toddlers

Use visuals.

Read one of these on good manners:

  • Thank You and Good Night by Jon Gordon
  • Richard Scarry’s Please and Thank You Book by Richard Scarry
  • Do Unto Otters: A Book About Manners by Laurie Keller
  • My Mouth Is a Volcano! by Julia Cook
  • Penguin Says “Please” by Michael Dahl

emotional and social development activities for toddlers-a mom reading a book to her young toddler on her lap

Songs work wonders for kids. They love to sing and remember things much better when listening to music. It also works as a fun and gentle reminder; you can start singing the song when your child uses bad manners.

Sample one of these Good Manners Songs from The Child Care Lounge .

  • Manners (Tune: I’m a Little Teapot) 
  • When You’re Talking to a Friend (Tune: If You’re Happy and You Know It)
  • Good Manners (Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star) 

Or this one from Let’s Play Music .

Finally, try a classic like “ Your Happy And You Know It.”

Playing games together, whether board, card, or outdoor, encourages following directions and taking turns. Children have to learn how to play fairly by the rules.

Additionally, it provides opportunities to handle winning and losing like a “good sport.” Practice taking turns with your child by saying “my turn” and “your turn.” Most importantly, focus on having fun while playing together.

Create a list of things to say and then “role play.” For example,

  • How to introduce themselves , i.e., “Hello, my name is…”
  • How to join in playing with others , i.e., “May I play too?”
  • How to nicely negotiate with others , i.e., No, thank you, I do not want the blue car. May I have the red truck, please?”

Social and Emotional Learning Skills

We will look at communication skills and social-emotional development activities for toddlers and preschoolers to build effective communication.

Communication

Effective communication is one of life’s most essential skills. Children need to be able to understand and express their emotions while also recognizing the feelings of others. The need for positive interactions and connections with others is vital to our well-being.

Below are just a few of the skills used in positive communication :

Active Listening

Following directions, making eye contact, using good manners.

  • Having A Sense of Humor
  • Not Speaking Too Loudly
  • Speaking Clearly
  • Telling The Truth
  • Using Kind Words

Good listening skills require children to be active listeners; they must hear and understand what someone else is saying. As the foundation for effective communication, being an active listener is a skill that is essential for healthy relationships throughout life. 

“Listening is where love begins.” Mr. Rogers

Practice is the name of the game! Try reading a book and stopping regularly to ask your child to recap the story. For instance, ask them, “What has been happening in the story?” Encourage them to continue listening as you read.

Epictetus, a Greek philosopher, said, “We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.”

Following directions and listening are two skills that work closely together. Kids frequently have difficulty following directions if they are not using their listening skills.

Younger children can get distracted or forget what you asked them to do . This is an opportunity to practice their skills. For example, practice regularly with simple requests like “Please pass the butter to me,” then praise immediately for following directions.

Also, you want to give just one direction at a time to young children. Instead of saying, “put on your shirt, wash your hands, and come to the table for dinner,” pause until they have put on their shirt before you give the next request.

Furthermore, how you frame the direction makes a difference . You want to avoid phrasing it like a question. Framing it as a question suggests your child has an option and can say “no.”

Instead, ask them to repeat what you said once you have given your direction. Having your child repeat the direction back to you also reinforces excellent listening skills.

It is important to praise your child when you see they are following directions. Say things like, “Thank you for putting your blocks away the first time.”

Some kids may be shy and struggle to look at someone when speaking with them. However, e ye contact is imperative to effective communication, and children need to practice it. Highlight the importance of making eye contact and model the behavior.

If your child finds it difficult not to look up , gently remind them by asking them, “Where do your eyes go when someone is talking to you? Always look for times to praise them when they remember to look at people when they are talking. You want to be kind and positive; shy children can often feel anxious.

Practice making eye contact with you first in a safe and loving environment. Have your child describe a story while you play with a toy, close your eyes, or look around, but NOT at them. Then, have them share another story; this time, make eye contact while they are speaking. Afterward, talk about how it made them feel in each instance .

Good manners are more than just minding your “Please” and Thank you.” It is about being polite and courteous , like not interrupting or talking with your mouth full.

Using good manners, whether at home or in public, is about respect .  Greeting people like family, friends, or visitors with a “Hi” or “Hello” makes them feel welcome and appreciated. Let’s not forget the importance of “I’m sorry” and Excuse me.”

We realize that teaching good manners can feel like an endless battle. However, when your child is polite and courteous, it makes others want to be around them. Furthermore, they are more likely to be invited to go places if they are respectful, gracious, and well-behaved.

So, how do we teach our children good manners? Model them! Always say “Please” and “Thank you” to your children and others. Give gentle reminders and praise them when they remember to be polite.

Better yet, practice with these fun social-emotional activities for preschoolers and toddlers below.

Social Skills For Toddlers Activities

Social skills activities for toddlers are usually quite simple . Typically, toddlers rarely play cooperatively before the age of three, but instead, they play alongside one another, enjoying each other’s company .

They are just beginning to engage in pretend play and like to imitate friends and adults. You see an increase in their independence , but they may still have some separation anxiety. Remember these general guidelines when planning your social-emotional learning activities for toddlers for successful interaction.

Hands Are Not For Hitting

Not hitting is a vital skill to learn, especially for toddlers. You can create a song about what hands are for, including hand motions. Add things like Hands are for waving, clapping, drawing, hugging, and more. Look for more ideas in the “ Hands Are Not For Hitting “  book by Martine Agassi, Ph.D.

Red Light, Green Light For Toddlers

a traffic signal with a red light, green light and a yellow light used in social activities for toddlers and preschoolers

To play, one toddler is the “stoplight,” and the others are bikes or cars. Let the kids decide. Next, the “stoplight” says “green light,” and all the bikes come running towards the light. When the light calls out “red light,” they all must stop. If they fail to stop, they return to the beginning and start over. The first one to the “light” wins and becomes the next “stoplight.”

Follow My Clap

This game can expand as your child grows. For a toddler, start with a simple clapping pattern , have them listen, and copy the rhythm . As your child becomes more proficient, you can add other hand motions like slapping their knees for more complex patterns.

Follow The Leader

Another classic perfect for all ages and learning to follow directions. Choose one person to be the leader. Due to language barriers, it might work best to be the leader initially or use physical cues with younger children. Have the leader “call out” or “act out” movements the kids must follow exactly.

Not only one of the best games for teaching listening and following directions skills but also fun for all ages. You know how it goes, right? Someone gets to be “Simon” and gives directions to the other players. Let your child use their imagination and creativity ; they could be “Spiderman” or “Batman.” How about “Anna” or “Elsa”? Maybe they want to dress up and get into character.

Next, they must listen to see if they are supposed to follow the instructions. For example, when “Simon says…” before the direction, the child follows the direction.

However, if they instruct without saying, “Simon says…” first, the child does not follow the directions. If you do, then you are out!

Remember to keep the directions age-appropriate. Start slowly and be sure they understand the instructions. For younger children, you may want to give visual cues. For instance, if you say “turn around,” then physically turn around.

Loud Or Soft?

Here is another easy game to fine-tune your child’s listening skills. It requires them to focus and understand loud versus quiet sounds. Which is helpful down the road when you are asking them to use “soft voices.”

Start by making loud or soft sounds with various items, like loudly banging two blocks together. Then, ask the child if the noise was loud or soft.

In another version, you can have all the kids make noise, such as stomping their feet. First, have them do it loudly, and then the leader says, “soft,” and they stomp quietly.

Social Activities For Preschoolers

As your preschoolers’ skills increase, their social and emotional learning skills will become more complex . At this stage, they enjoy playing with other children rather than alone.

They are more creative and like to pretend , so now is a great time to add dress-up clothes and props for more imaginative play . Also, they want to try new things, so be creative and use your imagination when planning your social-emotional learning activities for preschoolers.

two young boys boys dressed up as superheroes for pretend play in social-emotional activities for preschoolers

What Sound?

This one can be a lot of fun to watch children express different sounds . First, have children sit back to back. One at a time, have them make a sound (like an animal sound) and see if the other person can guess the sound. Then switch.

Follow The Rhythm

Create a pattern of sounds using musical instruments like drums or even pots and pans with wooden spoons. For instance, you bang on the drum three times. Then, have your child repeat what you did.

As the child’s proficiency increases, you can complicate rhythm patterns.

Listening Activity With Blocks

Here is an easy and fun activity for one or more preschoolers to reinforce active listening. Start with a large container of big building blocks in various colors. Ask the first child to add “a blue block to the tower.”

Next, ask the second child to “add two green blocks to the tower.” Continue until you run out of blocks.

If the children listen well, you can increase the difficulty by adding more complex instru ctions . For example, “add one red block, one blue block, and two green blocks.”

Obstacle Courses

Kids love them! Not only do kids reinforce their listening and following directions skills, but they build gross motor skills , too! It is important to start small. Depending on your child’s age and ability, begin with 3 to 5 obstacles or tasks.

Here are some ways to focus on listening and following directions skills.

  • Give them the exact directions on how to move through the obstacle course. For instance, if you use giant building blocks , tell them whether to go over, around, or knock them down.
  • Incorporate a station where they must stop and listen for directions like “Simon says…” Once the task is completed, they can continue.
  • Add a magnetic blocks station where they must build a pyramid.

Social Games For Preschoolers And Toddlers

Playing games offers many benefits. They encourage early learning, paying attention, and increasing language development. They provide opportunities to connect, step away from our screens, and teach the value of teamwork. Most importantly, they focus on having fun.

Red Light, Green Light For Preschoolers

A classic childhood game for preschoolers, with a twist. Once your child understands red means stop and green means go, you can increase the complexity by adding additional “light” colors. For example, “yellow light” for clapping, “blue light” for turning around, and “orange light” for jumping in place.

Or reverse the colors with “red light,” meaning go, and “green light,” meaning stop. These simple variations force them to listen more carefully.

Mother, May I?  

Another childhood favorite that requires following directions .

  • One kid is the “mother” and stands far away, facing the line of children.
  • “ Mother” then chooses one child at a time and gives them a direction. Typically, these directions follow a standard, such as “Luke may take 3 giant steps forward” or “Hannah, you may take 4 baby steps forward”.
  • The child then asks, “Mother may I?” and “mother ” replies yes or no. If the child forgets to answer, “Mother, may I?” they must return to the beginning.
  • The first child to get to “mother” wins.

Simon Says (try a twist of “Listen To What I Say And Not What I Do”)

You know how it goes, right? Someone gets to be “Simon” and gives directions to the other players. For preschoolers, you can add complexity by providing more than one-step instructions. For example, try “jump two times, clap your hands, and turn around.”

Remember, if they instruct without saying, “Simon says…” first, the child does not follow the directions. If they do, then they are out!

Here is a fun twist on the game for older preschoolers. This version, “Listen To What I Say And Not What I Do, “ requires kids to really focus their listening and NOT use visual cues. For instance, “Simon says…,: “run in place,” but he is jumping in place. Then the correct action is to “run in place.”

Here are a few fun commands to get the game started. “Simon says…”

  • Play air guitar
  • Waddle like a penguin
  • Act like a monkey
  • Bark like a dog
  • Meow like a cat
  • Start singing
  • Start dancing
  • Cry like a baby
  • Pretend to climb a ladder
  • Walk backward

Build It! (A Variation On The “Teacher Says” Game )

guidecraft wooden unit blocks-2 large building samples

In this version, you play with blocks.

  • Gather a bunch of wooden building blocks as props and place them in the middle of the room.
  • Choose one child to be the “builder” and explain the game.
  • Next, you are the “contractor” to model how the game is played . Continue in this mode until the kids fully understand how to play the game. Then, one of the kids can be the “contractor.”
  • Finally, give the “builder” 2-4 directions , such as “line up two wooden square blocks , add one rectangle block on top, and one triangle block to the top.”
  • As you play, show useful listening methods , like making eye contact with the speaker, repeating the directions, waiting for all the instructions before starting, and creating a picture in your mind.

“Please” And “Thank You” Game

This game is a fun way to practice table manners before a special dinner like Christmas or Thanksgiving. Create make-believe food dishes to pass . Have your kids draw pictures of various dishes on the plates, such as mashed potatoes, broccoli, or pie. Then, glue the pictures to paper plates for passing. Also, you could cut them out of magazines or print them from the internet.

Here is how to play:

  • Start with the first “dish.”
  • Have the child name the food.
  • Ask if they like it.
  • If they do not like it, have them say, “No, thank you.”
  • If they do, “Yes, please!”
  • Afterward, they pass the plate to the next child, asking, “Would you like some________?
  • The child can then respond with a “No, thank you” or a “Yes, please.”
  • Continue until you have passed all the “dishes.”

Music and Dance Activities

Dance and music are not just fun for toddlers and preschoolers but also beneficial too! Music cultivates communication and allows kids to express themselves . Furthermore, it contributes to imagination and creativity .

kids engaged in a dance party for social activities for preschooler including music and dance

Let’s Have A Dance Party!

This one starts with some music. Next, either an adult or a child may be the “dance leader.” The “leader” starts dancing, and everyone must follow the moves exactly . Make it fun and silly!

After about 30 seconds, but no more than a minute, the “leader” calls out another child’s name , and they become the next “dance leader.” Continue changing places until everyone has had a chance to be the “dance leader.” Beware, if you are caught not making the moves exactly, you will have to take a seat.

Musical Chairs

Play a modified version of this classic game with age-appropriate music.

Freeze Dance

Kids love nothing more than music and dancing! This one is simple and fun. Play some music, and the kids start dancing; once the music stops, they “freeze.”

You can also add some variations, like having them dance to the beat of the music, for instance, dancing slow motion to slow music and dancing fast to fast beat music. Or reverse it, dancing slowly to fast music and fast to slow music.

The Most Basic Of All Human Needs Is The Need To Understand And Be Understood. The Best Way To Understand People Is To Listen To Them. Ralph G. Nichols

Easy social activities for toddlers and preschoolers are a fun way to  help children learn how to listen, follow directions, and use good manners. Check out these block activities for toddlers and preschoolers for more development activities. 

Are you still looking for more social activities? Try these easy social-emotional activities focused on exploring their feelings, cooperation, and friendship. Until then, we hope you enjoy your time together, playing and practicing.

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15 Best Learning Activities for Your 3 Year Old Preschooler

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5 Fun Developmental Activities for 3-Year-Olds

5 indoor activities for 3-year-olds, 5 engaging art activities for 3-year-olds, how educational activities transform kids’ lives.

Toddlers are very active and always on the go! As a parent, it can be tough to keep up with their energy levels. However, it’s important to find ways to keep your toddler occupied and engaged and learning!

Here are 15 activities for 3-year-olds that are both fun and educational:

A screenshot of the online phonics game

1. Recognizing Letters and Sounds

Learning activities for 3-year-olds are most fun when they are dressed up as family games, pretend plays, or become parts of our daily activities and observations. Recognizing letters and their sounds is one such activity that can be done in several ways.

Things you need:

A whiteboard or chalkboard, some colored markers or chalk. You can also use letter cards, board games, or online games for kids .

How to play:

You can play games where you write a letter on the board and teach your child to read it. Preschoolers can start learning both uppercase and lowercase letters . If they get it right, give them a point. If not, give them a clue and let them try again.

You can also play the “sound it out” game. Write a letter on the board and ask your child to make the sound it makes. Again, if they get it right, give them a point. If not, give them a clue and let them try again.

Pointing to letters written somewhere as you go about your day—a cereal box, a signboard, a magazine, etc.—is also an easy activity to help your child learn to read them. Children can also trace letters with their fingers on the sand, match uppercase and lowercase letters, erase letters on a chalkboard, etc. 

If you are busy, play some alphabet songs for your toddler to dance or let them play some online English games .

Skills your preschooler will learn:

Letter recognition, phonemic awareness, letter sounds

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2. Reading with Your Child

Reading books with your child is one of the best things you can do for their development. Not only does it improve language skills, but it also helps them learn sight words, develop their imagination, and understand the world around them.

Books that are appropriate for your child’s age and interests, such as picture books, easy readers, etc.

Sit down with your child and read a book together. You can take turns reading the pages or have your child read the whole book to you.

Books for toddlers should be short and have many pictures supporting the story. This will help keep their attention span, and they will be more likely to understand the concepts in the book.

Read word by word, pointing to each word with your finger, and ask inferential questions based on how, why, what, when, and where to encourage the thinking skills in kids .

Language skills, sight words , attention span, comprehension, memory, imagination

3. Making Up Stories

Children love to listen to and tell stories, and this is an activity that can be done anywhere, anytime. It’s the perfect thing to do in a car while traveling, at bedtime, or even while waiting in line at the grocery store.

None! Just your child’s imagination

Have your child make up a story, either on their own or with your help. Encourage them to use their imagination and be as creative as they want. If they get stuck, you can prompt them with questions or ideas. You may also correct their grammar along the way, but it’s important to let them be creative and have fun with this activity.

If your child is stumped, set an example by asking them for three or four words and make a story that uses all of them. For instance, if they give you the words “cat,” “green,” “ball,” and “tree,” you could make up a story about a green cat that climbs a tree to fetch a ball.

Eventually, you can give words to your child and have them make up a story using those words.

Creativity, imagination, storytelling, communication

4. Playing a Number Game

Offline and online, math can be fun for kids if it’s taught interactively and creatively. Playing the number sense games is one such activity that will help your child learn numbers, counting, and basic arithmetic operations in a fun and engaging way.

A whiteboard or a chalkboard, some colored markers or chalk. You can also use games focusing on numbers and counting, such as board games, card games, etc. Online math games are also available.

There are many games that you can play with your child to help him learn numbers and math concepts. One such game is the “guess the number” game. Write down a number between 1 and 10 on the board, and ask your child to guess it. If he gets it right, give him a point. If not, give him a clue and let him have another try.

You can also play the “greater than or less than” game. Write down two numbers on the board, such as 3 and 5, and ask your child which number is greater. If he gets it right, give him a point. If not, give him a clue and let him try again.

Numbers , counting , and basic arithmetic operations include addition , subtraction , multiplication , and division .

5. Sorting Activities

Sorting is a fun activity that helps children learn about different attributes such as size, shape, color, etc. It also helps them develop problem-solving skills.

Various objects can be sorted according to size, shape, color, etc. You can use blocks, balls, toy cars, berries, buttons, etc.

Let your child choose a few objects and ask him to sort them according to size, shape, color, etc. For example, they can sort blocks by size or toy cars by color. As they sort the objects, help them identify the attribute they use for sorting.

Sorting, categorizing, and problem-solving.

Check out the best sensory activities for 3-year-olds you can try!

A little girl drawing something

One of the favorite preschool activities for 3-year-olds is drawing. At this point, the artistic skills of a child are not really important. Drawing is a fun activity for toddlers to express themselves, work on their fine motor skills, and have fun!

Paper, crayons, markers, colored pencils

Sit with your child and encourage them to draw whatever comes to mind. You can also give some drawing ideas to kids , such as “Draw a picture of your family,” “Draw a picture of your favorite animal,” etc. You may make a drawing and ask your child to trace it or copy it.

Creativity, fine motor skills, imagination, attention span

7. Building with Blocks

One of the easy, no-mess activities for 3-year-olds at home is to let them build with blocks. It is amazing how much fun and creative they can be with this simple activity.

Blocks are also a great way for children to learn about shapes, sizes, colors, and patterns.

Blocks of various shapes and sizes

Let your child play with the blocks freely or give him or her some challenges, such as “build a tower as tall as you can,” “make a house for your favorite stuffed toy,” etc.

Creativity, imagination, problem-solving, eye-hand coordination, shapes, colors, patterns

8. Paper Cutting with Safety Scissors

Children feel empowered with a tool in their hands. And they are so proud of themselves when they can cut the paper!

Paper, safety scissors, craft supplies like pom poms, googly eyes (optional)

Give your child a piece of paper and let him or her cut it any way they want. If you like, you can also give some challenges, such as “cut out a circle,” “make a snowflake,” etc. You can help your child decorate the cutouts with craft supplies if desired.

Fine motor skills, creativity, imagination, attention span

*Please note that only safety scissors should be used for this activity. Regular scissors are too sharp for little ones.*

9. Doing Daily Chores

You’ll be surprised at all the things your toddlers can do if only you let them try. Giving them some simple chores to do not only helps them learn some valuable life skills but also makes kids feel proud and accomplished.

Chores that are appropriate for your child’s age and abilities, such as making their bed, dusting furniture, setting the table, etc.

Choose a chore that you would like your child to help with. Then, show them how to do it and let them try it themselves. Some of the chores that a 3-year-old can do may require some assistance or supervision, but it’s important to let them explore their capabilities and try new things.

A toddler can easily be overwhelmed with too many chores, so it’s important to start small. Choose one or two simple tasks that you know your child can handle. As they get older and more capable, you can give them more chores to do. Remember to praise them for a job well done!

Daily living skills, responsibility, independence, pride, satisfaction

10. Role-playing

What’s funnier than seeing a tiny toddler acting like a fat aunt or an old grandpa? Role-plays are one of the best activities for 3-year-olds as they help them learn about different emotions, people, and situations.

None! Just your child’s imagination. A few props like a walking stick, a hat, a lady’s purse, or a wig could come in handy to help set the scene.

Have your child choose a character that he or she would like to play. It could be anyone—a family member, a friend, a cartoon character, an animal, etc. Then, encourage them to act out the part. They can speak differently, use props, and do whatever they want to bring the character to life. Children learn to observe people around them and understand their emotions in this way.

Creativity, imagination, emotional intelligence, communication, problem-solving

Check out the best outdoor activities for 3-year-olds here!

A little girl wearing an astronaut costume

11. Playing Dress Up

Dress-up games are not gender-specific. Most children love them! This activity helps 3-year-olds use their imagination, learn about social norms and roles, and have lots of fun!

Old clothes, hats, scarves, jewelry, etc., can be used as dress-up items. You can also use old sheets or towels to make capes or skirts. You can also use actual costumes if you have them.

Let your child choose what they want to be, and then help them get dressed in the appropriate clothing. If you like, you can also act out a play or story together with your child in their new costume.

Creativity, imagination, role-playing, problem-solving

12. Making Music with Household Items

This is one of the fun activities for 3-year-olds that can be done with items that you already have around the house. It’s a great way to introduce your child to music and help them develop a sense of rhythm.

Household items that can be used as musical instruments, such as pots and pans, plastic containers, wooden spoons, etc. You can also use actual musical instruments if you have them.

Let your child choose what he or she wants to use as an instrument. Then, encourage them to make music with it however they want. You can also sing along or dance to the music!

Music skills, sense of rhythm, gross motor skills, creativity, imagination

13. Making Art with Thumb , Hand, or Foot Impressions

Most toddlers do not know how to go about making an art piece. But they love to play a role in helping make one! This activity allows them to do just that, resulting in a beautiful piece of art that you can hang on your fridge or wall.

Non-toxic paint, paper, and something to use as a stamp (such as potato, carrot, or eraser)

Let your child choose what paint color he or she wants to use. Then, help them make a thumbprint, handprint, or footprint on the paper. You can also make patterns with stamps by carving a shape into a potato, carrot, or eraser. Once the paint is dry, you can hang up the artwork!

Creativity, imagination, fine motor skills, color recognition

14. Creating a Collage

A collage is a great way for toddlers to express their creativity. They can make amazing birthday cards with photo collages, make wall-hanging art, or have fun tearing up paper and gluing it back together!

Paper, safety scissors, glue, and any other materials you want to use for the collage (such as tissue paper, construction paper, feathers, buttons, ribbons, etc.)

Let your child choose what they want to use for their collage. Then, help them cut out the paper or other materials into small pieces. Once they have a good pile of pieces, they can glue them down onto another piece of paper. You can help them with this if needed.

Creativity, imagination, fine motor skills, color recognition, pattern-making

15. Drawing with Chalk on the Sidewalk

If you live in a safe neighborhood, your children can display their artistic skills outside the home by drawing with chalk on the sidewalk or driveway. This activity is great for gross motor skills and allows you to teach your child about shapes, colors, and patterns.

Chalk in various colors

Let your child choose what color of chalk he or she wants to use. Then, help them draw a picture or make patterns on the sidewalk. You can also join in and create your own chalk masterpiece!

Educate children about different cultures where making art to decorate entrance gates and doorways is a tradition. Indians make rangoli, Chinese make a dragon or zodiac animal drawings, while in the Philippines, it is common to see people painting on bamboo mats called banig . In this way, you can introduce your toddlers to other cultures.

Creativity, imagination, gross motor skills, shapes, colors, pattern-making

Happy girl on a trampoline in the park

A study on Chinese children found that organized extracurricular activities (EAs) are strongly associated with early reading, math, and social skills. Another study indicated that the involvement of parents in preschool children’s learning activities at home during the COVID-19 pandemic was beneficial to kids’ learning behavior and emotional health. 

These studies seem to suggest that any activity that encourages learning, socialization, and creativity would benefit our little ones and shape them into more confident, woke, and aware individuals. 

Some benefits of educational activities for 3-year-olds are:

  • They help develop cognitive skills, including problem-solving, memory, and attention span.
  • EAs also nurture social skills such as cooperation, empathy, and communication.
  • These activities can also boost self-esteem and confidence in children.
  • Fun and educational activities are also great for developing gross and fine motor skills.

So go ahead and try out some educational activities with your 3-year-old today! You might just be surprised at how much they enjoy it—and how much they learn from it too.

Explore more online educational resources for kids to aid their learning experience.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How to choose a good educational activity for my 3 year old.

When choosing an activity for your 3-year-old, it is important to consider their interests, abilities, and attention span. You also want to ensure the activity is developmentally appropriate and safe. If you are unsure whether an activity is appropriate for your child, you can always consult their pediatrician or a child development expert.

How can I get my toddler to sit still and focus on an activity?

This can be a challenge for many parents! One tip is to try to find activities that your child is interested in and that they enjoy doing. Also, make sure you provide plenty of breaks during the activity so that your child doesn’t become overwhelmed or frustrated. Finally, praise your child when they display good behavior so that they know that you are pleased with their efforts.

How to help my toddler express their creativity?

There are many ways in which you can help your toddler express their creativity. One way is to provide plenty of opportunities for them to explore different materials and mediums, such as crayons, paint, clay, etc. You can also encourage them to sing, dance, or act out stories. And finally, make sure to praise their efforts and creativity, no matter what the outcome may be.

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Introducing our Social Studies Games - designed for engaging learning experiences for Grade 3 students! Our educational and interactive games provide fun experiences in geography, history, and more. Through our variety of games, students will gain an understanding of the past, develop their spatial skills, and discover more about their environments. Our games will soon be available online to play anytime, so that students can hone their social studies skills wherever they are. With a wide and growing range of games, Social Studies Games is the perfect way to make learning fun.

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Social Studies Games are a fantastic way to engage and inform children of Grade 3. These games not only offer a fun and interactive experience but also provide kids with a thorough education in Social Studies topics.

By playing social studies games, kids have the chance to build their knowledge base as they work through levels and solve problems related to their studies. This can help young learners pick up on the basics and understand the ideas behind their learning. Social Studies Games can cover a variety of topics including history, geography, culture, and many more.

Interactive Social Studies Games are particularly effective in helping kids learn by actively engaging with what they learn. In the game, children can experience the thrilling adventure of navigating an ancient city and then be rewarded with points or rewards for learning a new fact. These interactive games also involve friendly competition and team dynamics that can help children build their social skills.

Furthermore, having access to Social Studies Games online allows for a flexible environment for learning. Kids can pick up the game on their laptop or phone and play for a few minutes whenever their schedule allows. With games that require no additional costs, the emphasis is placed on learning, which makes the process even more enjoyable.

The content within the games is always up-to-date and draws heavily on relevant topics. This keeps kids interested while they explore and learn topics that they enjoy. With support from parents, teachers, and other stakeholders, these games can be used to supplement the student’s experience at school and in the community.

To summarize, Social Studies Games are both educational and enjoyable. By engaging with the subject matter in an interactive manner, kids can retain more information and build their understanding, while also having fun. With all the advantages they offer, it’s no wonder why Social Studies Games are becoming an increasingly popular learning tool.

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50 Fun SEL Activities for Preschool and Kindergarten

Social-emotional activities have never been more important for our little ones.

social studies activities for 3 year olds

When our little ones head off for school, they take their first steps in a lifelong journey of learning. Not only will they begin to build foundational skills that will pave the way for academic success, but they’ll also learn social-emotional skills like kindness, sharing, empathy, and many more that will contribute to their overall success in life. Some research suggests that social-emotional activities might be the most important work children can do in their early years. In fact, one study found that social-emotional wellness in kindergarten correlated with success up until age 25 . Here are some of our favorite social-emotional activities to use with your preschool and kindergarten students.

Teach students to identify their emotions

Identifying and labeling feelings (your own and others’) is a valuable life skill that takes lots of practice. These social-emotional activities are not only fun and engaging for little ones, they spark essential conversations that lead to deeper understanding.

1. Read, read, read!

A collage of children's books about kindness as an example of social emotional activities

There are TONS of children’s books featuring interesting main characters and story lines that teach social-emotional skills. Reading about characters they can relate to, in situations they can relate to, helps young children learn valuable lessons. Here are two book lists to get you started: Picture Books To Teach Students About Kindness and Children’s Books for Teaching Social Skills.

A colorful poster with children's faces showing different emotions

Different emotions evoke different feelings in our bodies. Teach your students this song to help them learn to identify what is really going on. Also, find role-play scenarios and reflection questions.

3. Practice with emotions play-dough mats

A poster showing a tub of playdough and a free emotions play dough mat

Learning to read others’ emotions is a valuable SEL tool. Children can explore and identify nuances of facial features that are paired with emotions by using play dough to draw faces on these free emotions play-dough mats from The OT Toolbox.

4. Play a monster-emotions match game

Two preschoolers showing each other matching monster cards as an example of social emotional activities

Download the free game cards here . This fun and engaging game helps kids learn how to identify emotions in other people. The game begins as students walk around the room making the feeling face that matches their card. As they walk, they look for another student who seems to be demonstrating the same feeling. Once everyone thinks they have found their matching feeling friend, let them check their cards to see if they are right. Play a few rounds to give kids a chance to try out different feelings.

5. Make emotion masks

Masks made from paper plates and popsicle sticks with faces showing different emotions drawn on them

These masks are a great tool for talking about feelings. And all you need is paper plates (cut in half), craft sticks, tape, and markers. The activity will focus on four emotions: happy, mad, sad, and silly. For each emotion (and each mask), make a face and then ask the class to identify the emotion it represents. Once they correctly identify the emotion, have them use the marker to draw that face on one of the plates. You can use these masks during read-alouds (hold up the mask that shows how the main character is feeling) or during class conversations to reinforce their understanding of what different feelings look like.

6. Start each day with a check-in

A large poster showing different emojis with labels

This chart is a fun one to help students communicate how they’re feeling. Position it next to your classroom door, and have students point to the emoji that most closely matches how they’re feeling as they enter. Social-emotional activities like this one help students get in the habit of monitoring their emotions and give you valuable information about your students’ moods.

7. Draw helping hands

A child sits at a desk and draws on a sheet of paper with the outline of four hands as an example of social emotional activities

Encouraging students to think about others can make them realize how much control they have over the feelings of others. Have students trace or draw their own hands and reflect or write what their helpful hands can do for others.

8. Do an emotions sort

A set of cards with different emotion words sorted under pictures of emojis

Linking Zones of Regulation activities to fun experiences helps kids make connections. For example, this simple Emotions Sorting Game inspired by Disney-Pixar’s  Inside Out  helps kids learn and explore emotions. The game is a printable download available from  Mom Endeavors .

9. Play emotions Jenga

Attach a collection of emotion words onto Jenga blocks—for instance, happy, sad, angry, frustrated, etc. You can either write on the blocks with a Sharpie or try these pretty labels from Collective Feelings. One at a time, pull one of the emotion blocks out of the stack. Ask for a volunteer to either tell you the definition of that feeling or share a story about a time they felt that emotion. Talking about emotions in a group, and hearing others’ stories, helps kids make lasting connections.

10. Make an emotion spinner

Three images of a child making an emotions spinner out of a paper plate as an example of social emotional activities

If you’re looking for engaging social-emotional activities to teach kids more about identifying their emotions, try these emotion spinners. All you need to make them are paper plates, brads, markers (or paint or crayons or colored pencils), and a large circle punch if you have one. For full directions on how to make and use emotion spinners, check out this blog from Meaningful Mama .

11. Play a round of emotions charades

Prepare a set of cards with emotion words and pictures of what those emotion looks like. Then play a round of emotions charades, which helps preschoolers read nonverbal cues, identify and regulate emotions, and learn how to express emotions in a healthy way, all of which are essential elements of emotional intelligence.

12. Make affirmation bracelets

A tray holding cupcake papers filled with different color pony beads with affirmation cards and pipe cleaners around the edge

Set out cups of colored beads. In front of each cup of beads, add a sticky note with a positive affirmation. Teach your students what each affirmation says and means. Give each student a pipe cleaner and help them create a bracelet by threading the beads onto the pipe cleaner. Optional: Each time they pick up a bead, have them say the corresponding positive affirmation out loud.

Teach kids strategies to deal with hard feelings

Being able to identify and label feelings is a great start. Knowing what to do when unsettling feelings come up is the next step. Feelings like anger, sadness, and confusion will undoubtedly arise from time to time in the classroom. Here are a few social-emotional activities to help your students learn how to cope in a safe environment.

13. Teach students to use I-statements

Encourage students to be mindful about how they’re feeling by helping them practice how to articulate their thoughts without lashing out at others. Give them starters such as “I feel angry when …,” “I feel happy when …,” “I feel frustrated when …,” etc. Once they are able to articulate their feelings, help them strategize ways to handle their feelings.

14. Use strategy cards

Colorful cards with calming strategies on them

These free downloadable cards offer 23 different strategies (with pictures and words) that kids can use to manage their emotions. Print them out, punch a hole in the corner of each card, and attach them to a ring.

15. Download these free posters

A free poster for the classroom showing calm down strategies

Use these posters to teach kids what to do when they feel their emotions escalating. Once they are familiar with the strategies, post the posters in your calm-down corner for kids to reference as they regroup. Included with the downloads are 30 great calm-down ideas like “I can count to 10,” “I can blow a feather,” and more.

16. Stomp out dinosaur-size feelings

Read Tony Mitton’s charming story Dinosaurumpus aloud to your class. Then, play this easy-to-assemble dinosaur game that encourages kids to roar, dance, and stomp out their emotions.

17. Make calm-down jars

Two students stare at a calm down jar on their desks

Make these mesmerizing calm-down jars for your classroom using just water, oil, and food coloring. Add glitter for a little extra pizzazz. When students are feeling overwhelmed or upset, give them a few minutes to focus on the jar as they turn it upside down and back. Focusing on the movement and colors will help students calm down so they can get back to work.

18. Put together a calm-down kit

A basket filled with calm down toys and strategies

Stock a plastic bin with tools to help little ones manage their emotions. Include things such as strategy cards, squeeze balls, calm-down bottles, putty, and breathing exercises. For more ideas, check out this awesome list of 40+ Things To Put in Your Calm-Down Kit .

19. Set up a calm-down corner in your classroom

A classroom calm down corner with cozy seating, task cards and activities

Kids have a lot of feelings and emotions to process throughout the day. Sometimes it’s all too much, and the result can be bad behavior. A calm-down corner gives kids a place to recenter and refocus so they can join the learning again. Check out this article to learn everything you need to know about setting up a calm-down corner .

20. Teach yoga poses …

A deck of cards showing and explaining different yoga poses

Teach your students simple yoga poses to help them get control of their bodies when emotions are running high. For best results, pair poses with deep-breathing techniques. The printable set comes with 50 different yoga poses (including simple descriptions) and suggested sequences of poses to use.

21. … and breathing techniques

A young girl lies on the floor with a stuffed kitten on her chest

Deep breathing reduces stress and anxiety and helps kids learn to manage their emotions. Check out this source for lots of fun ideas for building breathing breaks into your day.

22. Teach coping strategies

A poster showing coping strategies for conflict

In any social situation, conflict is bound to occur. That’s why teaching kids how to peacefully solve problems is essential. Equip your students with the tools they need to manage uncomfortable situations with these coping strategies and free social problem-solving poster set .

23. Tell stories that help kids learn strategies

A collage of books about conflict resolution for kids

Conflicts happen, no matter how old we are. The key is learning strategies to help solve conflicts peacefully, and it’s never too early to start! These picture books encourage solving disagreements through communication, compromise, harmony, collaboration, and forgiveness.

24. Make a rainbow road

A rainbow colored set of sticky notes laid out on the floor

Label six colored sheets of paper with statements like “I feel ___ (sad, happy, angry, frustrated, etc.) when ____.” Tape the sheets on the floor to create a rainbow road. To play, have a student roll a die, then count and walk to that number sheet. Help them read their statement and then have them fill in the last blank.

Build in lots of opportunities for kids to work on social skills

Like everyone, little ones learn best by doing. Give them lots of opportunities to interact with peers one-on-one, in small groups, and as part of a whole class, ideally with as little adult interference as possible. As they play during social-emotional activities, they’ll learn to navigate among other kids who may have different styles and opinions. Activities like creative play, building projects, board games, and partner reading are great tools to reveal kids’ strengths and challenges as they begin to figure out how to manage school in the best way for themselves.

25. Do your homework

As children start learning more about their feelings and emotions, their social skills start to blossom. This  social skills checklist is an amazing resource that describes in detail the social skills that children learn in their preschool years. Read the article for more SEL activities for preschoolers from The OT Toolbox.

26. Create a culture of kindness

A collage of bucket filler books

Create a culture of kindness in your classroom. Read your students the story Have You Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids by Carol McCloud. Then spread the love with a few of these activities .

27. Make kindness trees

Looking for social-emotional activities that provide an opportunity to talk about why being kind is important and how we can practice kindness every day? Draw a large tree trunk on a sheet of chart paper. Then pass out different-colored leaves made from construction paper and ask each student to write an act of kindness they can do on their leaf. After they’ve finished writing their kind acts, help them tape their leaf to the tree trunk as reminders of how they can show kindness and respect for others.

28. Engage in compliment circles

A circle of preschoolers's feet with a title care that says compliment circles

If you need social-emotional activities that don’t require any prep work, hold compliment circles in class. They take very little time but yield powerful results. Create an environment of respect and kindness with this simple activity that teaches kids how to give and receive compliments. Read more here.

29. Play games

Playing interactive games with your students is a great way to start conversations about their feelings. It can make the conversation more centered around fun and less stressful. Read this article from The Art of Education for more SEL tips and a list of 10 Engaging Games To Play That Explore SEL .

30. Read about and practice sharing

A four panel image showing a children's book and a sharing activity using paper cones and balls

In Mo Willems’ adorable book Should I Share My Ice Cream?, Gerald the elephant has to make a quick decision about whether to share his ice cream cone with his best friend, Piggy. Read the story to your class and have a conversation about sharing.

Then try this fun game. Make “waffle” cones out of rolled-up sheets of construction paper, then have students practice passing their “ice cream” to a friend. Not only will students learn cooperation, but this game is also a great opportunity to use polite language such as “please” and “thank you.”

31. Teach students how to partner share

A girl listens closely as a boy talks

There are many strategies that teach kids to work collaboratively with a partner. And it’s important with little ones to teach these skills explicitly. Read this step-by-step tutorial written by kindergarten teacher Sarah Casady, How To Get Your Students Talking . Also, check out 10 Alternatives to Think-Pair-Share .

32. Use conversation starters

Get the conversation started with questions like “What is your favorite thing to eat at lunch?,” “What was the funniest thing that happened to you today?,” and the like. Be sure the questions are open-ended to avoid getting short yes or no answers. Here are 20 conversation starters from The Early Childhood Academy to get you started.

33. Hone listening skills

Learning to listen, not only to themselves but to one another, is a critical skill for preschoolers. Set aside time each day to sit quietly with your students and listen for sounds in and around the classroom for increasing lengths of time. Or ring a chime and ask students to see how long they can hear the sound it makes. Being able to signal your students when it is time to listen, and having them respond appropriately, is critical for creating a classroom environment that supports learning.

34. Play listening games

Young students playing the telephone game

Gameplay is one of the best ways to engage young learners. Try some of these listening games , like Simon Says, Telephone, Freeze Dance and more.

35. Rehearse with role-play

Role-play is a wonderful way to teach your preschoolers and kindergartners social behaviors, rules, and expectations. Rehearsing these skills in a safe space, with a teacher’s guidance, helps them learn social norms.

36. Play with puppets

Two teddy bear hand puppets

According to Tanja Mcilroy, founder of Empowered Parents, playing with puppets is one of the most educational things you can do with your students. A puppet can be the voice used to correct classroom behavior and teach social skills. Many children will find this less intimidating and more playful than instruction coming from an adult. For more tips, check out The Amazing Benefits of Playing With Puppets in Early Childhood .

Learn about friendship

Learning to make friends is one of the most valuable skills we can teach our preschoolers and kindergartners. Friendships require a plethora of social skills such sharing, compassion, compromise, and honesty.

37. Watch friendship videos

Learning to get along with others takes a lot of practice. Here are our favorite friendship videos that use compassion, wisdom, and humor to tackle what it means to be a good friend. Use them to jump-start conversations with your students as you build your classroom community.

38. Read books about friendship

Friendships are one of the most important parts of childhood—and school. Classroom conversations about making new friends, supporting and appreciating friends, and navigating friendship challenges are always in season, and there’s no better way to launch them than with a good book. Looking for books you can use for social-emotional activities? Here’s a good place to start: Children’s Books About Friendship That Give Us All the Feels .

39. Sing songs about friendship

Music is an amazing way to help your students feel connected and understood. And songs about friendship can definitely foster a sense of community in the classroom. Here, we’ve compiled 50 Fantastic Songs About Friendship for your students to enjoy and bond over.

40. Read poems about friendship

Poetry often speaks to our hearts in a way unlike any other form. And making friends is one of the greatest gifts in life. So why not combine the two and teach your students in a way they can really connect with? Here, we share 30 Heartwarming Poems About Friendship To Share With Students .

41. Make lots of time for friendship-building activities

Here is a list of 25 ideas to get you started.

Practice mindfulness in the classroom

Mindfulness is defined as a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations. Mindfulness techniques help students handle big emotions (in themselves and others) and cultivate a sense of peace and calm.

42. Introduce mindfulness with children’s books

Three books about mindfulness displayed on a shelf

Source: 15 Books To Teach Kids About Mindfulness

If you’re looking for social-emotional activities that incorporate reading, there are dozens of brilliant books that teach the lesson of mindfulness for preschoolers. A couple of our favorites, just for little ones, are Peaceful Panda  and I Am the Jungle .

43. Make gratitude rocks

Taking time to go inside and think about things you are grateful for is a powerful life skill. For this activity, bring a collection of rocks to class for your students to choose from. Then, using paint, markers, or crayons, give them time to decorate their rocks. Ask your students to take a few minutes and think about something they are grateful for and narrow it down to just one word. Have them write their word with Sharpie on their rock—be sure to give them help if they need it. When everyone is done with their rock, make time for those who are comfortable doing so to share their rock and explain it to their classmates.

44. Go on a nature walk

Children taking a nature walk on a colorful fall day

Take your little ones outside to indulge their five senses. Explore the changing color of leaves, different leaf shapes, pine cones, and more. Listen for birds and other critters. Lie down on the grass and feel the earth beneath you as you look up at the blue sky.

45. Practice progressive muscle relaxation

Most of us, including kids, aren’t always aware of the muscles in our body and how they feel or move. But we can all carry a lot of emotions in our physical bodies. Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) is a coping skill and relaxation exercise that can help us calm our body and mind by slowly and progressively tensing and relaxing our muscles, one group at a time.

46. Listen to music

It’s not too hard to tell when young students need a break or need a few minutes to recharge. And you know the old saying “Music soothes the savage beast.” Why not pop on this soothing video with gentle guitar music playing in the background for a few minutes? Music makes for fantastic social-emotional activities during snack time, as a brain break, or during transition times.

47. Play in water

An overhead shot of young students gathered around a water table

Nothing is more calming to the nervous system than water. Set up a water table in your classroom and let students engage in free cooperative play. Include your water table as a station at center time.

48. Play in sand

Just like the water table, a sand table offers the basis for many social-emotional activities to rotate into your stations. Learn about the benefits and try some of these fun ideas from The Early Childhood Academy .

49. Make time for art

A little girl sits quietly at a table, finger painting

There are SO many reasons kids need to paint . Painting is one of the best social-emotional activities because most people find peace and relaxation in art. It focuses their minds and helps them look at the world around them in a much more engaged way.

50. Listen to a rain stick

There’s just something so soothing about the sound of a rain stick . Help your students turn their thought inward by taking a few moments to stop and listen. Turn down the lights and invite your preschoolers or kindergartners to lie down on the rug and close their eyes. Turn the rain stick upside down and back again for a few minutes, leaving a few seconds of silence between each rotation.

If you like these social-emotional activities and want more articles like this, be sure to subscribe to our newsletters.

Plus, check out 57 simple mindfulness activities for kids..

SEL skills are crucial to develop in the early years. Check out our favorite social-emotional activities for preschool and kindergarten.

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Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds

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25+ Dramatic Play Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers

June 9, 2018 by Sheryl Cooper

Inside: Providing dramatic play activities is a great way to engage toddlers and preschoolers in role playing. Social skills are strengthened as the children interact with one another, too!

Let’s hear it for play ! These dramatic play ideas for toddlers and preschoolers are open ended and fun!

Pretend play is an important part of children’s development. They learn by imagining and doing . If you stand back and observe children involved in pretend play, they are often mimicking what they’ve seen adults do. We take all of this into consideration when planning what to place in our dramatic play area.

  • How will it be meaningful?
  • What props will work best?
  • How should it be organized?

The dramatic play area is also a great place to build communication skills , also. Dialogue is created as children are part of the pretend play.

In this post I’ve selected over 25 different dramatic play activities that can be done anytime of the year.

25+ Dramatic Play Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Before I begin sharing this collection, it’s important for new teachers to know that they do not need to change out their dramatic play center with each theme. It takes time to build a collection of materials (see our favorites at the end of this post). You can easily keep your dramatic play area stocked with a few staples.

Dramatic Play Ideas for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Flower Market (with Printables)

The Garden Shop (Pre-Kinders)

Pumpkin Stand

Apple Stand

Honeybee Stand (Planning Playtime)

Dramatic Play Ideas for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Winter Bear Cave Dramatic Play

Post Office

Movie Theater (Research Parent)

Zoo Animals (Teaching Mama)

Dramatic Play Ideas for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Veterinarian Office (with Printables)

Bird’s Nest (Creekside Learning)

What’s the Weather? (Pre-K Pages)

Space (Catch a Star Ideas)

Dramatic Play Ideas for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Spaghetti Shop (Where Imagination Grows)

Ice Cream Shop (Learning 4 Kids)

Chinese Restaurant (Pre-K Pages)

Bakery (Pre Kinders)

The Taco Bar (The Mama Workshop)

Donut Shop (Sara J Creations)

Dramatic Play Ideas for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Doll Diaper Station (Happy Hooligans)

Our Babies (Teach Preschool)

Baby Nursery (Pre-K Pages)

Making Pancakes (The Imagination Tree)

Dramatic Play Ideas for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Hair Salon (Pre-K Pages)

Pet Grooming Salon (Sunny Day Family)

Grocery Store (Paper and Glue)

Clothing Store (Pre-K Tweets)

Dramatic Play Ideas for Toddlers and Preschoolers

More toddler and preschool centers resources:

  • Our Favorite Toddler Learning Centers and How to Set Them Up
  • How to Set Up Preschool Learning Centers

Most popular videos about toddler and preschool centers:

  • How to Set Up Learning Centers
  • How to Handle Preschoolers Not Using Certain Centers
  • Tips on Managing the Toddler and Preschool Block Center
  • Putting Together Table Activities During Centers Time

social studies activities for 3 year olds

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About Sheryl Cooper

Sheryl Cooper is the founder of Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds, a website full of activities for toddlers and preschoolers. She has been teaching this age group for over 20 years and loves to share her passion with teachers, parents, grandparents, and anyone with young children in their lives.

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March 18, 2015 at 4:24 pm

What a great collection of dramatic play links! Thanks also for including mine. 🙂

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Loved including yours, Karen!

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Social and Emotional Milestones for 3-Year-Olds

Social and emotional development are a high priority in the early years. Children need a strong foundation in social-emotional skills in order to successfully build meaningful and lasting relationships throughout their lives.

social studies activities for 3 year olds

DEFINITION OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Social development is the process of learning how to interact within a group. Three year olds are very social. They are less likely to experience separation anxiety when they are away from you, and they seek out the company of other children. These traits make it a lot easier for them to develop even stronger social skills.

3-YEAR-OLD SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT MILESTONES

  • Takes turns
  • Shows affection spontaneously
  • Displays some problem-solving skills
  • Likes to help around the house
  • Understands the concept of “mine”, “his”, and “hers”

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

At 3 years old, children are learning how to be more self-sufficient. One fun way to practice these skills is through dress-up! Preschoolers love to dress-up in fun costumes, which is a great way to practice skills such as dressing and undressing independently, zippers, and buttons.

Playing simple board games with your 3 year old is another great way to build on their growing social skills. Board games give them an opportunity to practice turn taking through play. It also gives them a chance to learn how to lose gracefully.

social studies activities for 3 year olds

DEFINITION OF EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Emotional development is the ability to have empathy for others and to identify, express, and manage the emotions of one’s self and others. Three year-olds are beginning to be able to label some of their emotions. This can still be difficult for them to do in the moment though, as they still lack impulse control. This lack of impulse control can lead to some very big emotions that are difficult for 3-year-olds to manage well.

3-YEAR-OLD EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT MILESTONES

  • Shows concern for others
  • Separates from parents easily in familiar settings
  • Gets upset with big changes in routines
  • Shows a wide range of emotions
  • Shows fear of imaginary things
  • Cares how others act

EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

It’s important to support your preschooler in their emotional development through play. It is quite difficult for children to use good emotional skills when they are upset if they have not yet practiced them before. Giving your child opportunities to practice different ways to manage their emotions when they are calm will make it a little easier for them when they really do get upset.

Use games to talk about emotions. You can play an emotions matching/memory game. This will help your child learn to identify and label their emotions, as well as others’. Reading and music are also great ways to help support your 3-year-old’s emotional development.

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social studies activities for 3 year olds

If you’re the parent of a rowdy toddler, you’re not alone! Fortunately, you can positively channel all that energy and curiosity with our suggestions for 21 things to do with a 3-year-old below.

Things to do with a 3 year old

Three-year-olds are amazing, they have such a sense of wonder about the world and are so full of fun. But keeping them busy can feel like a full-time job.

We have put together some fun activities that you can do with your 3-year-old . Whether you’re stuck inside on a rainy day or embracing it boot-in-puddle style, these 21 great ideas help develop creativity, fine motor skills, imaginative play. (Not to mention, keeping them busy and entertained!)

In this article

Sensory Play Activities

Pretend play/imaginative play activities, five fun outdoor activities for 3-year-olds, six fine motor skills activities for 3-year-olds, what should a 3 year old know educationally, should a three-year-old know the alphabet, should a three-year-old be potty trained, can 3-year-olds draw people, fun with toddlers: summary, ten indoor activities for 3-year-olds.

There are a wealth of activities that you can do with a 3-year-old when the weather is less than favorable. As much as kids may enjoy the freedoms of the outdoors, this doesn’t mean you should underestimate the importance of some creative ideas and a few pieces of paper!

Sensory stimulation is a vital way to develop the sensory pathways and promote healthy development in your child. This stimulation can also promote wonderful opportunities for communication and strengthening bonds.

1. Playdough

A great fun way to get your children to use their imagination and make some amazing creations.

You can also have some fun making your own salt dough if you find you don’t have play dough to hand.

This is also a fun activity for them to practice their fine motor skills. Just provide them with some simple tools for cutting, chopping, and shaping the dough. Working the dough hones the strength and coordination of those tiny fingers and hands whilst they play.

2. Rice and Beans

This activity is so much fun and really helps your 3-year-olds to use their imagination.

All you need is some dry rice or beans and then lots of different-sized containers for them to pour them back and forth. Give them spoons, scoops, cups, and even a mesh strainer, and see the fun they have.

You can even encourage your kid to have some fun by mark-making, or showing them how to draw in the different textures.

For some added fun you could always dye the rice a range of colors using food coloring. This gives an extra layer of creativity to this activity for all kids and can help your three-year-olds to recognize colors and their names.

3. Water Beads

Water beads are a fantastic way to make learning fun and improve children’s hand-eye coordination through sensory play, and they can also double up as a fun outdoor activity.

You can use a variety of play ideas to improve kids’ pouring and counting skills and even include other toys and puzzles to create your own racecourse to blow the water beads through!

4. Arts and Crafts

Arts and crafts

Arts and crafts cover a broad range of activities from finger painting , using pipe cleaners, working with a glue stick, cutting out, and using chalk or markers.

You really can let their imaginations run wild. Depending on the time of year you could make cards using colored paper, do some potato printing or use some toy cars and run them through the paint to see the patterns that their wheels make.

These activities provide a fun sensory experience for your little one.

Making fun craft activities doesn’t need to be expensive either, often activities for 3-year-olds can involve several steps such as outdoor exploring to collect materials that can be attached to colored paper using a glue stick or printing using leaves and other items that you may have collected.

You could even just print off some coloring sheets and let your child have some fun exploring their own ideas.

5. Making Lunch

Another great way to involve your preschoolers in daily activities is to let them help you prepare lunch. It’s the ultimate hands-on task that can help to improve their relationship with food in the future too!

Having more control over what your little ones choose and prepare for food can increase the likelihood of them clearing their plate. It also taps into different developmental domains, eliminating the need for lots of toys overwhelming them.

You can help them get creative with different shapes and patterns when chopping up fruit and veggies and make games out of everyday activities to promote wonderful fun for your little ones.

Not only can cooking together improve your kids reading skills, but it can also teach your child valuable life skills that will stay with them throughout the course of their life.

If your young kids struggle to maintain focus on a task then you can draw or write the recipe onto some paper and watch them stay focused to ensure a great outcome.

One of the most widely recognized methods of improving kids’ speech and imagination is through play.

Many a qualified professional says this quality time together can make learning great fun. It helps teach kids exciting new ways to play in the world around them as well as improve fine motor skills, without the need for expensive toys.

Imaginative play activities for 3-year-olds work best when your child can re-enact experiences you have noticed them taking an interest in. L their ideas and imagination take the lead to enable open-ended fun with no structure.

6. Reading Books

Reading books

Although you may already read with your three-year-old every day, you can make your child’s face light up by adding funny faces and voices. Not only will it delight your little one, but it will help them to identify characterizations and follow narratives.

Kids love this type of quality time together when you read books; eye contact can help to immerse your three-year-old in the story further.

It will promote a great bonding experience and help your kids associate reading as a positive experience (a net benefit well into adulthood).

There is plenty of information online showing the best books to read to your kids , and sometimes this website provides printouts for activities related to these books.

Before reading a book you could mentally take some ideas for a nice list of questions you can ask throughout the story to encourage your kid’s imagination. This will help make the most of that childlike creativity and vivid imagination when reading books with them.

7. Put On a Puppet Show

One of the most overlooked and hilarious activities for 3-year-olds is to put on a puppet show using anything you can find around the house.

You can set up a stage, make up stories together and see what great ideas your little one can come up with in their very own first performance.

Your child will love something as simple as a sock puppet, or you can even encourage them to draw a paper puppet for you to play with together.

You could use this as a chance to re-enact a difficult scenario your child may have encountered. Address their emotions at the time to enable a healthy outcome to any tantrums in the future.

8. Run a Store

Running a store is a fantastic role play experience that kids love, you can take on any role and even spend time doing fun crafts to create a store sign beforehand.

Kids love to mimic the activities they see in everyday life, and you can often find many children’s toy websites that will feature their own pretend play and toy sections to help your kids take part in their favorite roleplay scenarios.

Toddler Teatime: The Best Tea Sets for Imaginative Play

You could sell board games, pretend to play in a bowling alley or even include their own favorite activities into the play on the days when you don’t want to leave the house!

Engaging in these forms of communication gives your kids the chance to improve their language and writing skills by using phrases they wouldn’t otherwise have a chance to use.

9. Safari Adventure

This is a great activity for your 3-year-old or any other kids for that matter! Your child will love this play set up and can be fully customizable using the toys your child has available.

You can get creative in the house, by drawing on paper to make little hiding spots for your safari animals, or take your child outdoors and hide their safari toys around for them to spot!

You could put together a list on a piece of paper and develop their knowledge of animals by printing fun fact sheets from any website your child enjoys and turn this pretend play into a great learning experience.

10. Doctors and Nurses

Setting up your child their very own hospital playset is a great way to eliminate any fears your toddlers may have of a medical setting and familiarize them with some of the familiar medical terms and equipment.

With some paper signs, or even some website print outs you can decorate the walls to replicate a doctor’s office and treat your patients (dolls, toys, anything your child wants!) and let their creative sides go wild.

Outdoor activities for 3 years olds

One of the best ways to cheer up a grumpy preschooler is by adventuring on outdoor activities and letting their imagination take over, from a scavenger hunt to pretend play, you can find so many great ideas for activities that your three-year-olds are going to find fun.

11. Mud Kitchen

Mud kitchens are a staple preschooler activity that helps to make learning fun by improving knowledge of the outdoors.

The best part about a mud kitchen is that it is fully adaptable and can be used for older kids too.

From a muddy tea party to mixing bowls full of grass and seeds, the number of ideas for your 3-year-olds mud kitchen can lead to hours of great activities and endless fun craft, without having to worry about any mess on your kitchen floor.

12. Toy Car Race Tracks

Toy car races

It often feels like you can miss out on all the fun if your garden space is less than desirable. Even if you only have a small space, this doesn’t mean imaginative play needs to be limited to inside the house.

You can create an obstacle course for your child and their toy cars to race through by drawing chalk on the floor to create a fun race track kids will love. It’s simple fun stuff like this that makes the best activities for 3-year-olds.

13. Blow Bubbles

Blowing bubbles

Bubbles are a great way to play with any kid of all ages. Taking some out and about with you and your preschoolers is a great game to involve others and even watch your kid make friends with others effortlessly!

You can make some great games with bubbles which require lots of imagination that your kid will love. Some firm favorites include-

  • Making bubble wands
  • Hula hoop bubbles
  • Clap the bubbles
  • Add paint to your bubbles

You can make your own bubbles by mixing 1 cup of dish soap with warm water and bending an old coat hanger to make a DIY bubble blower and letting your kids enjoy this fun activity.

14. Board Games

Board games are not only a great idea for activities for 3-year-olds, they can be a fun way to include kids and toddlers of all ages and teach them wonderful new ways to solve puzzles and play a game in a social setting with the whole family.

You could even include it as a once-a-week treat to spend some quality family time together doing something you all enjoy.

Even simple board games can help to improve hand-eye coordination and dexterity in any child, as well as teaching the valuable lesson of learning to follow rules and wait your turn.

Your 3-year-old may be struggling with the idea of sharing their toys and involving others in their game, but a board game can help to encourage your 3-year-old or any other child to play as a team and work together.

15. Car Wash

Water play is always a winner with kids–and you can also get a free car wash out of this activity!

Fill a bucket with water and some toddler-safe shampoo/soap and give them a variety of brushes, sponges, and cloths to clean with. You can get them to clean the family car, a favorite  toy fire truck , their bike or scooter, or even an older sibling’s bicycle.

On a hot day, you can finish up the activity by letting them rinse off their car wash with the hose before drying up and showing off their clean new ride around the block.

Fine motor skills activities

16. Threading Objects

Threading beads is a fantastic and highly versatile activity that focuses on supporting your child as they work on those fine motor skills.

It will involve their perceptual, visual, and pincer grip as they focus on correctly threading the objects onto their string.

This can be a great calming activity to relieve stress and unwind after a hard day and allow your child to get creative and explore the different patterns they can make within their beads of choice

You can use anything to make this activity come to life which is a fantastic way to reduce spending on new toys you don’t have room for. You can thread any beads of choice from wooden beads, metal, buttons, leaves, felt, or even shapes.

You don’t have to use string either! It could be spaghetti, pipe cleaners, macaroni, a colander, holes in a lid, or anything you can find that would fit the activity!

Threading is a highly versatile activity that your child will enjoy at any age and can be highly adaptable to your three-year-old preferences.

17. Building Blocks

One of the most highly recognizable toddler toys is the wide variety of stacking and building blocks that are all designed to have a versatile approach to aid their learning.

These blocks can be solid and easy to stack or interlink to focus on their engineering skills.

Structured block play is highly adaptable and can help improve color work and mathematic skills as a visual representation can help your little ones to understand basic mathematic concepts easier.

18. Webbed Baskets

Grab a small basket and some string and watch your kids love trying to solve this puzzle!

You can alter the amount of yarn you use in order to suit their abilities with this task and give them some tweezers, tongs or even a clothes peg to fish out small toys you place under the layers of string.

You can use any toys you have to hand such as plastic spiders, wooden pegs, or figurines your child loves! This activity is suitable for older children too if you want to improve their fine motor skills.

19. Gem Patterns

If you want to start focusing on patterns and shapes within letters then this is a great idea that kids love!

Using any buttons, beads, or shiny gems you have, trace a pattern onto some paper and get your child to follow the pattern with their chosen material.

You can even get them to focus more on creating a repetitive pattern with the colors of their buttons and beads to work on their concentration skills.

You could also alter this activity to include pipe cleaners and get your kids to bend and wiggle them into the right shapes and focus their hand strength.

20. Fidget Objects

Fidget Toys

Making your own fidget pillow isn’t as difficult as you may think, although there are several available online to purchase.

You can introduce a variety of different developmental activities to help improve your child’s skills. You can include zippers, buttons, switches, locks, or even doorknobs and attach them to a board or block for your toddler to focus on the individual skills that they’re most interested in.

21. Scissor Skills

Introducing the use of scissors can be a highly scary topic for a 3-year-old, but around this age, it is perfectly normal for them to develop an interest in this exciting-looking object.

Showing your child the safest ways to use scissors is the best way to introduce the use of scissors and also improve their visual-motor skills as well as an appreciation and understanding for appropriate tool usage.

There are a few fun activities you can introduce the use of scissors to your toddler:

  • Cutting Playdough
  • Cutting foam sheets
  • Cutting string/ yarn
  • Cutting paper

All of these methods are a great way to get creative with your little one, but of course, make sure you watch over them as they work on this new skill so you can appropriately help them learn how much fun this can be.

If your child is already familiar with the use of scissors you can draw some interesting patterns on paper for them to follow along with their scissors to work on their steady hand and gripping skill ready for all the crafts to come!

Frequently Asked Questions

As parents, we can spend a lot of time worrying about our children’s development and if they are meeting the correct milestones. Here are some frequently asked questions about your three-year-old to help.

At three years of age, most kids should be able to correctly name common colors, memorize parts of stories, understand a better concept of time, have a wider creative thought, understand differences in sizing and notice the difference in similar and different features.

By this age, your child will usually not remember the whole alphabet, but often will be able to remember around half the letters and their sounds in order to connect a letter to their sound.

Most children will not fully master potty training until their fourth year, although if you start around 18 months of age then they may begin being fully potty trained during their third year.

Usually, around this age, a drawing of a person will emerge with a “tadpole” style, and a head attached directly to the legs with some arms sticking from the sides.

Related Reading: 12 Kid-Friendly Card Games

At three-year-olds your child will be showing so much more emotion and awareness of the world around them.

During this important stage of understanding their own mind and body, you can really ease this developmental stage through creative play and educational learning to make the job of learning these new skills easy and stress-free for the caregivers.

Filling each day with exciting and entertaining age-appropriate activities can seem like an overwhelming task, but having access to open-ended toys and multi-purpose materials can do the world of good for your little one and help them play and learn together.

This article has covered some of the firm favorites that toddlers know and love, and given you some ideas for ways to improve your three-year-olds developing skills in a fun and appropriate way that can get the whole family involved.

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