Pattern Writing (pre-writing skills) book for 3-4 year old
This book is an excellent start to prepare for school. First step to start child’s kindergarten journey is pre-writing skills. Our objective here is to help develop child’s ability to hold & use pencil. The creative tracing exercises will improve fine motor skills which enable child’s ability to draw, colour, copy & write, which is very important for early learning.
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If you like the preview sheets you can buy our book in multiple ways.
- Downloadable pdf from our website (via Paypal) or TeachersPayTeachers
- Paperback book from amazon.com
- If above doesn’t work, just email us at raisoactive [at] gmail.com for alternate buying options, or comment below.
About the book
This year pandemic has taught me so many new ways to keep learning new things. The journey of home schooling with my kids has given me lot of new insights. I am happy to announce that worksheets for pre-writing skills, which I made for my daughter, has now converted to a full book.
It has helped me in holistic development of my child with respect to early writing skills. I thought why not publish these worksheets & make them available for parents who are home-schooling & even for parents who are curious to keep track of their child’s development.
I have tried to make this book a fun learning exercise, so added a lots of pictures & made it colourful to get easy attention of kids. This book includes all kind of pattern writing, including sleeping/standing/slanting lines, curves – half circle(left, right, upside, downward side) full circle & loops, in very interesting & creative way.
I am sure your child will love these worksheets & it will help you in developing your child’s early writing skills which is the first step to start kindergarten journey. I have also created a Parent’s guide which guides you with some of activities for fine motor skill development & eye hand coordination. Both of which helps in child’s early writing skills.
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Activities for 1 Year Olds
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These activities for 1 year olds include sensory play, arts and crafts, fine motor and gross motor practice and more. Hands-on learning for toddlers.
Activities for 1 year olds can be tricky. After all, this age group puts everything in their mouths, is very busy, and loves to explore. There are so many activities for preschoolers and older children that just aren’t safe for 1 year olds.
To keep play safe for 1 year olds, choose items that are large or edible, and avoid small loose parts that can be placed in the mouth. From sensory play, arts and crafts, fine motor and gross motor games and more, there are many options for learning through play with this age group!
*This post contains affiliate links.
1 year olds are exploring their environment constantly. They love to touch and taste as they check out their surroundings. While toddlers are very busy, this is also the perfect time to help them develop language and vocabulary, build motor skills, and increase neural connections.
Below is a list of various activities, as well as collections of activities for 1 year olds. This is a great resource for learning through play at home with your child, or as a teacher in a classroom.
Sensory Activities for 1 Year Olds
Art and Craft Activities for 1 Year Olds
Motor Skill Activities for 1 Year Olds
Why are Hands-On Activities so Beneficial to Kids?
Activities for 1 year olds are best when hands-on, experiential learning is encouraged! When children touch, smell, hear, and engage all the senses, they can remember information much better.
Tell me and I forget, teach me and I remember, involve me and I learn. -Benjamin Franklin
What can I expect developmentally from my kids
At this age, 1 year olds are:
- building communication skills
- learning to stand and walk
- beginning to stack objects on top of one another
- picking up objects with the pincer grasp
- feel pride upon accomplishments
- understanding object permanence
- following commands and imitating those around them
- and so much more!
All of these skills can be practiced simply through play and hands-on activities. How cool – and fun – is that!
Related Resources for 1 Year Olds
In addition to the individual activities above, here are compilations of activities for 1 year olds that have been featured on this site as well.
- 60+ Awesome Activities for 1 Year Olds! {Tested and Loved}
- Sensory Activities for 1 Year Olds (Over 65 Ideas!)
- Activities for 1 Year Olds You Can Do Every Day + Printable
- 10+ Art Activities for 1 Year Olds
- 45 Best Spring Activities for 1 Year Olds, Because Toddlers Can Play Too!
- 30+ Summer Activities for 1 Year Olds and Toddlers
- 15+ Fall Activities for 1 Year Olds and 2 Year Olds
- Winter Activities for 1 Year Olds: Crafts, Sensory & Fine Motor
- Perfect Valentine, St. Patrick’s Day and Easter Activities for 1 Year Olds
- 30+ Christmas Activities for 1 and 2 Year Olds
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Home » Learn and Discover » Activities » Top Educational Activities for 3 Year Olds
Top Educational Activities for 3 Year Olds
Activities Aug 26, 2021
Looking for things to do with your child? Check out these learning and educational activities for 3 year olds for at home or outdoors.
At the same time, I also understood that educational activities can get… over the top. We don’t need to stress out about “teaching,” so much as inspiring our kids’ curiosity and desire to learn.
You see, so many of us can feel like we’re not doing enough educational activities. That we’re somehow “behind” what other moms are doing with their kids. We assume that every moment spent should be a learning opportunity, or that we need to provide better toys or experiences.
Educational activities for 3 year olds
But thankfully, it doesn’t take much to teach and engage with your child. These educational activities for 3 year olds can keep her entertained while learning the fundamentals along the way. They’re geared for even the shortest attention span, or for kids who easily tire of doing the same thing for long stretches.
They’re also perfect to give your caregiver ideas to do with her during the day while you’re at work. You don’t need expensive toys or classes galore to make sure she’s off to a great start. These easy, doable, and even practical activities are more than enough to teach and engage:
1. Activities that promote fine motor skills
One of the best activities to practice with your 3 year old is his fine motor skills. Developing dexterity and muscles in his hands will set the foundation to hold a pencil, cut with scissors, and button his clothes.
Writing with pencils and crayons aren’t the only ways to develop fine motor skills, either. Take a look at these activities that will also do the trick:
- Threading string through items. Start with large pieces, like dry rigatoni pasta and shoelaces, before moving onto smaller items like beads and thread.
- Pipe cleaners and a colander. Sticking the ends of pipe cleaners into a colander was one of the activities that intrigued my 3 year old for a long stretch. Turn a metal colander (one with circle holes) upside down. Then, have your child stick one end of a pipe cleaner into one hole, and the other into another hole. See what creations and patterns he can make!
- Glue sticks. Make a collage of pieces of paper and glue sticks. First, tear paper into small pieces—start off with 2″ pieces and gradually cut them smaller. Then, show him how to glue one side and stick it onto a larger piece of paper.
Check out these Montessori fine motor activities for more ideas.
2. Writing letters and numbers
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links, which means I will earn a commission—at no extra cost to you—if you make a purchase.
Even if your 3 year old can’t read or write just yet, you can begin practicing writing letters and numbers.
Incorporate playful and unconventional ways to write, like tracing her finger on sand, or making letters with play dough. Teach her the alphabet by finding the letters in your environment. You can always make learning letters and numbers fun—no pressure needed!
Take a look at these ideas:
- Go down the alphabet. Pick one letter and talk about it throughout the day. You might color a page of the letter, describe the different sounds it makes, or find things in the room that start with that letter.
- Use a dry erase board. Peel-away “markers” leave less mess than traditional markers, and allow her to write and erase as often as she’d like.
- Write letters and numbers with chalk. Whether on the sidewalk or a chalkboard, writing with chalk is another fun way to practice holding writing tools.
- Combine magnetic letters and a cookie sheet. Have a set of magnetic letters and numbers? Combine them to make words on a cookie sheet! The cookie sheet makes for a fantastic portable “board” she can place on her lap or take with her.
Free printables: Help her trace and recognize the letters and numbers with sample worksheets from my digital workbook, Letters and Numbers ! Join my newsletter and grab them below—at no cost to you:
3. Daily tasks and lessons
A simple way to incorporate learning activities for 3 year olds is to use your daily tasks as “lessons.” So much of what your child sees is an opportunity to learn without needing to do things too differently in your day.
A few ideas you can do:
- Counting. Count how many times you push her on the swing, the steps you take up the staircase, or the peas on her plate.
- Measuring. Invite her into the kitchen as you cook. Say out loud how many cups, tablespoons, or pounds you need with each ingredient.
- Sorting. Doing laundry? Sort the piles into types of clothes (and encourage her to find pairs of socks). Playing with blocks? Sort them into piles of the same color.
4. Educational games
Games are a fantastic way to practice social skills, have fun, and learn new things. Board games, simple card games, puzzles, and “ conversation starters ” work well. Here are a few ideas:
- Puzzles. Don’t be afraid to challenge her with bigger puzzle pieces. Even if she doesn’t finish a puzzle in one sitting, encourage her to keep trying to finish it at another time.
- Card games. Memory games (finding and pairing similar cards) and matching games are simple to do just about anywhere. Find “kid-friendly” card games like these instead of a standard deck so she has an easier time identifying the cards.
- Board games. Many board games are now available for your 3 year old, but keep an eye out for the age recommendations. Some are still geared toward older kids, so stick to those suitable for the younger crowd.
Get more activities for 3 year olds.
5. Open-ended play
Don’t think that letting your child play is “wasted” time to learn—the opposite is true, in fact. Kids learn best through play, especially open-ended play where they’re not bound by preset limitations. This allows them to think creatively and come up with unique solutions.
Take a look at these ideas to nurture open-ended play:
- Blocks. The simpler the blocks, the better. Allow your child to create whatever he’d like from the blocks in front of him.
- Dress up and pretend. Set aside a box filled with costumes and dress-up clothes. These can be “career” outfits like a firefighter outfit, or even your knickknacks like old necklaces and hats. A pretend kitchen was also a big hit in our house, as my kids were able to come up with pretty amazing stories and games as they “cooked.”
- Art supplies. Don’t feel like you have to come up with cute crafts—a box of art supplies is all your 3 year old needs to get creative. Crayons, pencils, play dough, and finger paint can make for a fantastic experience crafting and creating. You can also introduce labels by pointing out the shapes she makes from play dough or the colors of the paint.
Get more tips on how to encourage open-ended play.
6. Field trips
Feeling cooped up at home with your 3 year old? Plan a few “field trips” to local spots! Not only will you fill your time together, you’ll also expose her to new activities and lessons while you’re out. Nearly any outing will be a learning experience, but look for places catered to kids. A few ideas include:
- Child-friendly museums. Some museums are geared to children (My favorite is Moxi in Santa Barbara ). Others are for general audiences with a children’s area. Hands-on exhibits will make the experience fun for both you and your child.
- Library story time and activities. Many libraries host these events for toddlers and preschoolers. From playing with building toys to making magnetic slime to creating your own jewelry, libraries are fantastic places to take her.
7. Activities that encourage curiosity
Take advantage of your 3 year old’s natural curiosity with just about everything. Encourage her questions, no matter how silly ( or “annoying” ). Expand her world through books and resources, and show her just how many amazing creatures she can discover.
Here are a few ideas to nurture her curiosity:
- Explore your local outdoors. Step outside to your backyard, garden, or local park and look for bugs and creatures she can observe. Use a kids’ magnifying glass like this one to talk about different leaves and flowers. Let her help you garden by filling pots with soil and pulling weeds from the ground.
- Show her a map or globe. My kids love looking at a map of the world, even from a young age. Your child can compare countries, point out where she lives, and learn about the different continents and oceans.
- Read nonfiction books. Don’t forget to include nonfiction books in your regular reading. Books about the weather , how plants grow, or outer space are fantastic ways to explore the world from the comfort of books.
Check out these preschool outdoor activities for summer.
Best practices for educational activities for 3 year olds
Now that you have a few ideas on what to do with your 3 year old, take a look at these best practices for helpful tips:
- Stick to a weekly schedule. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed with all the things you “have” to do. Keep it simple by focusing on a few topics a week. For instance, one week you can focus on circles, the color red, and the letter “A.” The next week, you can focus on squares, the color green, and the letter “B.” Get more tips on how to create a 3 year old daily schedule.
- Keep the activities short and frequent. It’s common for kids to lose interest quickly—don’t feel bad if yours can’t sit still for long periods. Instead, keep them short—no longer than 30 minutes at a time. Or intertwine these conversations and activities frequently throughout the day.
- Follow your child’s interests. Kids will learn and pursue their interests. Nurture what’s already there rather than forcing something you think your child should do. If she loves farms, find children’s books about farm animals , visit a local farm, and sing songs about the sounds animals make.
- Rotate toys and materials regularly to reignite her imagination. Old toys will feel new once again after they’ve been out of sight for a while.
Finding educational activities for 3 year olds has just gotten easier, especially with these ideas. Practice fine motor skills with threading and glue sticks. No need for a formal curriculum when you turn daily tasks into lessons. Play board games and solve puzzles, and practice writing letters and numbers.
Encourage open-ended play with toys and games, and go on “field trips” like child-friendly museums and library activities. And finally, be curious with your child, exploring your local environment like curious scientists.
As you can see, you’re nowhere near “behind” when it comes to helping your 3 year old learn—even collecting leaves and counting steps can do the trick.
Get more tips:
- Best Building Toys to Nurture Creative Play
- Physical Activities for 3 Year Olds
- How to Encourage Your Child to Keep Learning in the Summer
- 25 Awesome Outdoor Activities for 3 Year Olds
- 20 Easy Activities for 3 Year Olds You Can Do Any Day
Don’t forget: Join my newsletter and grab these sample worksheets below—at no cost to you:
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July 21, 2016 | 3 Comments
Alphabet Activities For 3 year olds
Painting with letter cookie cutters is probably one of my favorite simple letter activities for 3 year olds. It’s age-appropriate and fun!
Alphabet Mail – this is one of the biggest hits in my preschool class. Children love this simple alphabet activity.
Button Letters – hopefully by now your 3 year old has stopped putting buttons in their mouth but if not try this with Cherrios or Fruit Loops. This craft is not only a fun way to work on a letter it works on your child’s fine motor skills as well.
Play dough is perfect for 3 year olds. It not only offers kids a wonderful opportunity to build hand strength, by adding in a few cookie cutters you have turned it into a literacy activity. This Alphabet Play Dough is a staple in my preschool classroom.
Alphabet Flower Garden – Letters pop up and as your child adds the petals to these flowers they can ask about the letter, recognize it and say something or do nothing at all, heck they can even flip it over so no letter shows.
Alphabet Discovery Bottle – my 3 year old students loved this bottle. They searched for their first letters, and then helped friends look for theirs. You can create a matching game for children ready for that or just keep it as a letter finding game for those who are not. Remember all children develop interest in letters at their own pace, our job is to be a buffet full of enticing options.
Letter cookie cutters and slime . This post focuses on letter sounds for older kids, ignore that and just focus on playing with the cookie cutters and squishy slime!
Outdoor Alphabet Hunt – do you have a sharpie and some Duplo? Oh, wait you’ll need a dry erase marker too if you want to get that sharpie off. My point is, you don’t need much to create a fun, active activity that your three year old will love.
Make swirls, circles, or letters with this Salt Tray. It is a wonderfully forgiving way to learn to make shapes and letters. Some three year olds are eager to write ( in my experience once with older siblings especially), and this is a great developmentally appropriate way to encourage that.
Find the letter and then make it disappear with this fun alphabet activity. These Disappearing Letters can have a bunch of different letters on the filter or just one or two. Meet your child ( or students) where they are and only present challenges that won’t overwhelm.
FREE Printables to use with Letter Cookies – while two of these printables are definitely for more advanced kiddos ( read older, though I am sure some 3 year old out there is ready for them, though not the average one) the lowercase – uppercase match game would work for many older 3 year olds. Heck just getting snacks and treats with letters on them is rad. They help make kids familiar and ready to play with letters, and they are cookies so who doesn’t want them?
Move & Groove Alphabet – get moving and grooving with letters on a rainy day with this great activity!
Peel & Pick Alphabet Tree – Forget apples, this fall we are picking letters. You can write out the whole alphabet or just use your child’s initials. Whatever works for them!
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folasade says
May 11, 2017 at 2:59 am
I like the ‘let’s pick letter activity a lot. It really works for my kids .
melissa brock says
April 10, 2018 at 6:00 am
i used to make beaded stuff foe myself and other people till i had my twins which made babies 5 and 6 so i don’t really have much time anymore right now but i also have a 4 and 3 year old and i took an old bottle and did the pick your letter and let them help me make it it was fun they put a few charms and a few other little things they had around i used to noise so for them to shake it don’t bother me and it will be perfect for them to learn how to share a little more and on the go thanks again
[…] For younger learners, choose a smaller set of random letters to choose from, rather than the entire alphabet. For a greater challenge, have your child find the next two or three letters that come before and after the set. […]
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This post shares close to 40 easy, hands-on, learning activities for keeping 2-3 year olds busy learning & playing! These activities include sensory play, fine motor & gross motor skill building
Looking for things to do with your child? Check out these learning and educational activities for 3 year olds for at home or outdoors
Fantastic alphabet activities for 3 year olds to learn and have fun with letters. Play with letters and learn to recognize letters through play