Activities for 5 year olds
Object Play:
Building Blocks: Building blocks are a great way for a five year old to develop their fine motor skills, problem solving, and creativity. They can build towers, castles, and other structures with the blocks, and use their imagination to create whatever they can think of. Create a race track and have a Lego car race.
Legos: Legos are a great way for a five year old to develop their problem solving and creativity. They can build cars, houses, and other structures with the Legos, and use their imagination to create whatever they can think of. Time yourself to see how quickly you can complete the puzzle.
Puzzles: Puzzles are a great way for a five year old to develop their problem solving and cognitive skills. They can work on puzzles with different levels of difficulty, and use their problem solving skills to figure out how to put the pieces together.
Play-Doh: Play-doh is a great way for a five year old to develop their creativity and fine motor skills. They can create different shapes and figures with the play-doh, and use their imagination to create whatever they can think of. Create a Play-Doh sculpture and have a contest to see who can make the most creative one.
Imaginative Play:
Dress-up: A five year old can have fun dressing up in different costumes and pretending to be different characters. They can use props, such as hats, wigs, and accessories, to help them create their own unique look. They can also use face paint and makeup to create their own unique look.
Puppet Show: A five year old can use puppets to create their own stories and act them out. They can use their imagination to create characters and settings, and use their puppets to act out the story. They can also use props, such as furniture and toys, to help create the setting for their puppet show.
Make-Believe: A five year old can use their imagination to create their own pretend worlds, where they can be anyone or anything they want. They can use props and toys to help them create their own stories and adventures. They can also use costumes and props to help them create their own unique characters.
Story-Telling: A five year old can use their imagination to create stories, and then tell them to others. They can use props, such as puppets, to help them tell their stories. They can also use music, sound effects, and props to help create a more engaging story.
Social Play:
Board Games: A five year old can play board games with their friends and family. They can learn about strategy and problem-solving, as well as how to work together as a team. They can also use props, such as dice and game pieces, to help create a more engaging game.
Card Games: A five year old can play card games with their friends and family. They can learn about counting, matching, and strategy, as well as how to take turns. They can also use props, such as coins and tokens, to help create a more engaging game.
Tag: A five year old can play tag with their friends. They can learn about running, jumping, and dodging, as well as how to take turns. They can also use props, such as balls and cones, to help create a more engaging game.
Gross Motor Play:
Hopscotch: Hopscotch is a classic game that involves hopping on one foot from square to square. To play, draw a hopscotch board on the ground with chalk. Number each square from 1-1
0. The player will then toss a small object into the first square and hop on one foot into the square and back out. They will then hop into each square in order, skipping the square with the object in it. The player can add a twist to the game by hopping on one foot and clapping their hands at the same time.
Jump Rope: Jump rope is a fun game that helps with coordination and agility. To play, the player will hold the ends of a rope in each hand and swing the rope around in a circle. The player will then jump over the rope as it comes around. The player can add a twist to the game by jumping with two feet at the same time or trying to jump over the rope multiple times in a row.
Running: Running is a great way to get exercise and have fun. To play, the player will run in a straight line as fast as they can. They can also run in circles or zig-zags. The player can add a twist to the game by running in a zig-zag pattern or running while balancing an object on their head.
Swimming: Swimming is a great way to cool off and get some exercise. To play, the player will jump into a pool of water and use their arms and legs to move around. They can also practice floating and diving. The player can add a twist to the game by trying to swim underwater or playing a game of Marco Polo.
Fine Motor Play:
Coloring: Coloring is a great way to express creativity and have fun. To play, the player will use crayons, markers, or colored pencils to color in a coloring book or draw their own pictures. The player can add a twist to the game by coloring with their eyes closed or trying to draw a picture without lifting their crayon off the paper.
Drawing: Drawing is a great way to express creativity and have fun. To play, the player will use crayons, markers, or colored pencils to draw their own pictures. The player can add a twist to the game by drawing with their eyes closed or trying to draw a picture without lifting their marker off the paper.
Cutting: Cutting is a great way to practice fine motor skills. To play, the player will use scissors to cut out shapes or pictures from paper or other materials. The player can add a twist to the game by cutting out shapes from different materials such as felt or foam.
Threading Beads: Threading beads is a great way to practice fine motor skills. To play, the player will use a piece of string and colorful beads to create a necklace or bracelet. The player can add a twist to the game by creating a pattern with the beads or trying to thread the beads without using their hands.
Sensory Play:
Sand Play: Have a sandcastle building contest with friends or family. Create shapes and patterns in the sand. Make a game out of burying and finding objects in the sand.
Water Play: Have a water balloon fight. Create a boat race using toy boats. Make a game out of catching and releasing fish or other aquatic animals.
Sensory Bins: Have a treasure hunt in the sensory bin. Make a game out of sorting items by color or shape. Create a story using the items in the bin.
Making Slime: Make different colors of slime and have a slime color contest. Make a game out of guessing the slime ingredients. Create a slime sculpture.
Music and Movement:
Dancing: Have the five year old move to the beat of their favorite songs. Encourage them to express themselves through movement and explore different styles of dance. Have the five year old play freeze dance and have them freeze when the music stops.
Singing: Have the five year old sing along to their favorite songs. Encourage them to explore different genres of music and to use their imagination to create their own songs.
Playing Instruments: Have the five year old explore different instruments such as drums, xylophones, and maracas. Encourage them to experiment with different sounds and rhythms. Have the five year old make their own instruments out of recycled materials.
Musical Chairs: Have the five year old play a game of musical chairs. Have them move around the chairs while music is playing and when the music stops they must find a chair to sit on. Have the five year old play a game of musical statues and have them freeze when the music stops.
Language Play:
Tongue Twisters: Have the five year old recite tongue twisters. Encourage them to try to say the tongue twisters faster and faster each time. Have the five year old play a game of tongue twister charades and have them act out the tongue twisters.
Rhymes: Have the five year old recite nursery rhymes. Encourage them to create their own rhymes and to explore different types of rhymes. Have the five year old create their own rhymes and perform them in a rap battle.
Charades: Have the five year old act out different words or phrases. Encourage them to use their imagination and to act out different scenarios. Have the five year old play a game of charades and have them act out different animals.
Storytelling: Have the five year old tell stories. Encourage them to use their imagination and to create stories with interesting characters and plotlines. Have the five year old create their own stories and illustrate them with drawings.
Outdoor Play:
Bike Riding: Have the five year old ride their bike around the neighborhood. Encourage them to explore different routes and to practice their bike safety skills. Have the five year old play a game of bike tag and have them tag each other while riding their bikes.
Gardening: Have the five year old help with gardening tasks such as planting, weeding, and harvesting. Encourage them to explore different plants and to learn about the different parts of a plant. Have the five year old create their own mini garden with different plants and decorations.
Playing Catch: Have the five year old play a game of catch. Encourage them to practice their throwing and catching skills and to explore different ways of throwing and catching the ball. Have the five year old play a game of catch and have them practice their throwing and catching skills with a beach ball.
Outdoor Scavenger Hunt: Have the five year old go on an outdoor scavenger hunt. Encourage them to explore their environment and to find different objects. Have the five year old go on a nature scavenger hunt and have them find different objects in nature.
