Parents of three year olds will surely agree with me if I say that it is the age when it is difficult to make them sit at one place. Three year old kids are active and love to run around the house which can be a little problematic for the parents. Also, as they are curious and inquisitive at this age, three year olds tend to try out different things which can sometimes be dangerous too.
However, as this is a stage where they are learning new things everyday, it is important that parents do not stop them. Rather they should look out for activities where toddlers can have fun and learn new things at the same time. These activities will help in teaching them various skills like reading, painting, counting, etc. and also to develop their motor skills. So, here are some learning activities that you can introduce to your toddler.
Interesting Activities for Three years Old Kids
Painting and Coloring
Coloring and painting are some interesting activities that kids can never get tired off. Provide your child with a paper and a set of colors and you can see the amazing types of shapes and pictures that they come up with. Some parents have the habit of asking the kids to draw a particular thing. However, this should be avoided and the child should be allowed to explore his creativity. You can also indulge your child in hand or finger painting. Take large sheets of paper and lots of water colors. Ask your child to dip his finger or hand in the paint and make whatever shapes he wants to make. You can also do the same thing on t-shirts or cloth, rather than on the paper. This is a good way of teaching him to identify colors. One point of caution is that this activity can make the place messy, but mess is something that is inevitable when you have children at home.
Learning Alphabets and Numbers
Three years of age is a good time to introduce alphabets and numbers and can be one of the fun things to do with toddlers. However, do not force him to learn the alphabets and numbers rather do it in a playful way. There are several colorful books that have alphabets with pictures of things that start with a particular alphabet. There are also number books with which you can teach your child to count. To see whether your child is able to recognize the alphabets or numbers, take sheets of paper and write the alphabets or numbers with a marker. Lay them on the floor and ask you child to jump on a particular letter or number when you call it out. You can also buy some blocks which have alphabets and numbers on them. With the help of blocks, ask them to spell simple words like cat, ball, etc. and also their names. It is also a good way to teach them to recognize different colors and shapes. This is said to be one of the best preschool activities.
Reading and Telling Stories
Most three year olds love to listen to stories and also being read too. So, why not encourage them to read also. If your child can recognize alphabets, then after reading a story, ask him to point out various alphabets. Reading a book regularly by pointing out at the words may also help in understanding and recognizing certain words. Kids aged three years love to come up with stories which are often far fetched. Encouraging this kind of story telling will help in developing their creative thinking. You can begin a story and ask your child to continue with it. This will be an enjoyable activity not only for your little one, but also for you.
Helping in Household Chores
Involving kids in household work is great way to introduce them to daily chores. This is a good way of teaching the importance of helping others and also to do their own work. Simple activities like arranging their toys after playing, keeping their books in order will help them understand the importance of cleanliness. Kids love to roam around their parents when they cook in the kitchen. Though parents may consider this to be a dangerous activity, introducing cooking at an early age is a really good idea. You can begin with simple activities like playing with the dough (kids love this) and gradually move into simple recipes for kids like baking cookies, making mini pizzas, etc.
These were some activity ideas for your toddler. Even you can come up with more innovative ideas with your own creativity. Introduce your kid to the world of activities which will help him to learn skills that he will find useful in the future.