3 year old homework activities

200+ Free Preschool Printables & Worksheets

FREE PRESCHOOL PRINTABLES

Letters & Letter Sounds

Name recognition puzzles, tracing, drawing & fine motor, other literacy printables, counting & numbers, other math printables, scissor skills, visual discrimination, science, geography, social studies, dot marker sheets, playdough mats, q-tip painting printables, seasonal & themed packs, 64 comments:.

These are great. Thank you for sharing. I work overseas and have basically a country school setting. This week I have an extra student who has no school experience. Your worksheets will be a big help.

You're Amazing!!! ♥

I just found your page. Thank you so much for providing quality, educational resources for free. Your work and dedication are truly appreciated. I've found some great resources for my LO to do while older sibling is homeschooling. Thank you again!

I want to agree with the above subscriber. I am truly grateful. Keep up the good work. May God continue to strengthen you to do so.

I have rediscovered your page. Thank you so much for all of the material! It has helped me so much with my kids. I am very grateful!!

what a blessingthank you! God bless u!

Wow! This is pretty Sweet. Just came upon this website looking for exactly this for my PLP students. Thanks you. Amazing.

Hi, I'm fond of your works! What program do you use to create these pictures?

thank you for sharing your amazing worksheets, I use them with my son..he loves them!

Thank you SO much for sharing!

Thank you for sharing this to use because it is amazing and I love it.

Thank you for sharing! My son loves them

This is simply fabulous!!!!!

Thank you so very much for sharing these lovely resources and for giving them to us at no cost. I am grateful for your hard work. They are used with students to extend their vocabulary.

THANK YOU. My son is 3 and currently at home full time. I was so worried he was watching too much TV and not stimulating his mind enough. I've created a book that we use every day, thanks to your help. You are appreciated

I cannot even begin telling you how excited I was to find your site. THANK YOU for all the hard work you've put into everything AND for making it freely available. My kiddies here in Thailand is going to love working with it. L

Between this and the subscriber page, I'm all set! Thank you so much for sharing all your hard work!!

This website is absolutely AMAZING! Thank you for sharing so freely. I have shared your site with all of my homeschool mama friends and teacher friends. What a gold mine!

Thanks for sharing your printouts... May I share your site and link on my channel

All of these are so great. Thanks

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!! You are a saint for providing all of these resources!!!

Thank you for all of these amazing resources. It is a blessing for teachers that wish to provide enrichment, but do not have the funds to supply them!

These are great for pre kinders to have at the tables before breakfast.

This is like an entire treasure chest of printables. Thanks a million!

Grateful parent here!

Thank you so much for your free printables. I can't Thank enough.

Do you recommend to print in color or would Black and White be ok?

Hello. Thanks for reaching out. Printing in black and white should be fine for most of our activities. Please feel free email us at [email protected] with any other questions.

Thank you so much so sharing this amazing work for free.These worksheets are just amazing.

Thank you Thank you, Thank you. No words to express my happiness. You are off a great help, will share as much as possible. Thank you again

Thank You so Much for Sharing your Learning Materials.

Hello!Thank you so much for your amasing and hard work! This is fantastic! You are a real professional!

thank you so much for sharing.

Merci beaucoup pour toutes ses belles idées

Thanks for sharing your work with us, I hope this all hard works will payoff to you one day.

I have only just come across this page and all of your wonderful work sheets. My son has learning difficulties and these templates will help us so much. Thank you for providing some beautiful and easy to understand work sheets for us to use. I am truly grateful for the free resources you have given.

Thank you for making these available for free such a huge help with our kids staying home from school.

thankyou so much for this free printables..may God Bless u always..its really helpful for nowaday because of covid19 pandemic :)

Thank you so much from Spain. Your work is amazing!

Thank you so much. I used to follow you when your daughter was little. I loved your wonderful wonderful things that you offered then and I love them now. Thank you so much again.

Hi mam I heard that you take online class to teach how to make printables? I am interested to learn..may i know more details about this... My mail id [email protected] Thank you

Hello, Thank you for your interest. Please send as an email at [email protected]

These are fantastic! Thank you so much for sharing :)

What and AMAZING site you've created. As I retired Pre-K4 teacher of 21 years, I gave away all my files and templates. Then this COVID-19 pandemic changed our lives. My 4 year old grandson will be distant learning for the first part of the school year, so your files have been a godsend. Thank you, Thank you, Myra

Thank you so much for this. these are great for my kid. load off from my head too. been searching for this. Thank you

Thank you for ALL of this free stuff. You don't know how much it is aprreciated.

These are such a great big help in this changing world! Thank you very much for your kindness and sharing. You are very helpful:) Very much appreciated. Jody

You are so inspired and I want to thank you for sharing your passion with us!!!I appreciate your work and your dedication for children's education!! Much love!!!

Free and very successful, thank you 😍

You are amazing to provide so many free worksheets. I can't thank you enough! You're so creative and save us so much time.

Absolutely amazing resource, thanks for your help making teaching easier in this hard time of online teaching:)

Thank You very much for sharing with us. These are absolutely amazing. Great job!

Thank You very much for sharing with us. These are absolutely amazing. Great job! Cristina-Marina

Thank you so much for sharing with us.Great job!

These are wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing with us, you've saved me! -Anne

I have just come across this site and want to say a bug THANK YOU for creating all these and for sharing them with us. My daughter has been doing little activities with a developmental service and she enjoys these type of things and responds well to them and shes learning while having fun. x

Thank you so much for providing these printables... thanks a lot.

I'm like a kid in a candy store! Where have you been in all of my short teaching career? Thank you for making all these resources. My students are going to LOVE them!

Thankyou so much. This is going to help my grandaughter that I'm teaching at home. learning and having fun is the best way to make a little one love school.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THESE WONDERFUL RESOURCES . Please continue to post!! awesome!!!

Thank you SO much for generously sharing these creations with us! They are WONDERFUL and such quality!!! :)

Thank you for sharing this informative article!

Your website is a lifesaver! Thank you for sharing and working hard on all these great ideas!!

ST PATRICK'S DAY FOR TODDLERS

• Number Chart
• Number Counting
• Skip Counting
• Tracing – Number Tracing
• Numbers – Missing
• Numbers – Least to Greatest
• Before & After Numbers
• Greater & Smaller Number
• Number – More or Less
• Numbers -Fact Family
• Numbers – Place Value
• Even & Odd
• Tally Marks
• Fraction Addition
• Fraction Circles
• Fraction Model
• Fraction Subtraction
• Fractions – Comparing
• Fractions – Equivalent
• Decimal Addition
• Decimal Model
• Decimal Subtraction
• Addition – Picture
• Addition – 1 Digit
• Addition – 2 Digit
• Addition – 3 Digit
• Addition – 4 Digit
• Addition – Missing Addend
• Addition Regrouping
• Addition Word Problems
• Subtraction – Picture
• Subtraction – 1 Digit
• Subtraction – 2 Digit
• Subtraction – 3 Digit
• Subtraction – 4 Digit
• Subtraction Regrouping
• Multiplication – Repeated Addition
• Times Tables
• Times Table – Times Table Chart
• Multiplication – Horizontal
• Multiplication – Vertical
• Multiplication-1 Digit
• Multiplication-2 Digit by 2 Digit
• Multiplication-3 Digit by 1 Digit
• Squares – Perfect Squares
• Multiplication Word Problems
• Square Root
• Division – Long Division
• Division-2Digit by1Digit-No Remainder
• Division-2Digit by1Digit-With Remainder
• Division-3Digit by1Digit-No Remainder
• Division – Sharing
• Time – Elapsed Time
• Time – Clock Face
• Pan Balance Problems
• Algebraic Reasoning
• Math Worksheets on Graph Paper
•   Preschool Worksheets
•   Kindergarten Worksheets
• Home    Preschool    Kindergarten    First Grade    Math    Pinterest          
• Book Report Critical Thinking Pattern Cut and Paste Patterns Pattern – Number Patterns Pattern – Shape Patterns Pattern – Line Patterns Easter Feelings & Emotions Grades Fifth Grade First Grade First Grade – Popular First Grade Fractions Fourth Grade Kindergarten Worksheets Kindergarten Addition Kindergarten Subtraction PreK Worksheets Preschool Worksheets Color, Trace & Draw Coloring Color by Number Spring Cut and Paste Activities Cut and Paste Letters Cut and Paste Numbers Cut and Paste Shapes Cut and Paste Worksheets Dot to Dot Dot to Dot – Numbers 1-10 Dot to Dot – Numbers 1-20 Dot to Dot – Tracing Dot to Dot – Letter – a-z Dot to Dot – Numbers 1-50 Fruits and Vegetables Modes of Transportation Opposites Preschool Matching Worksheets Scissor Cutting Skills Size – Same and Different Size Comparison Size – Big Bigger Biggest Size – Longest and Shortest Size – Shortest and Tallest Size – Smallest and Biggest Tracing Pre Writing Worksheets Tracing – Line Tracing – Preschool Tracing – Shape Tracing – Preschool Tracing – Picture Tracing Tracing – Picture Tracing – Popular Trace and Draw Tracing – Spiral Tracing Second Grade Second Grade – Popular Third Grade Graphing Graph – Trace and Draw Graphing – Count and Graph Halloween Worksheets Pumpkin Worksheets Letter Alphabet Coloring Letter – Coloring Letter – Mazes Letters – Alphabet Chart Letters – Before and After Letters – Capital Letters Letters -Uppercase Letters Letters – Uppercase and Lowercase Letters -Missing Letters Letters -Small Letters Letters -Lowercase Letters Tracing – Letter Tracing Uppercase and Lowercase Math Addition Addition – 1 Digit Addition – 1 More Addition – 10 more Addition – 2 Digit Addition – 3 Digit Addition – 4 Digit Addition – Add and Match Addition – Add and Multiply Addition – Add Tens Addition – Adding 3 Numbers Addition – Adding 4 Numbers Addition – Basic Addition Facts Addition – Dice Addition – Making 10 Addition – Making 5 Addition – Missing Addend Addition – No Regrouping Addition – Number Line Addition – Picture Addition – Popular Addition – Repeated Addition Addition – Sums up to 10 Addition – Sums up to 20 Addition – Sums up to 30 Addition – Ways to Make a Number Addition – Sums up to 5 Addition Doubles Addition Doubles Plus One Addition Regrouping Addition Sentences Addition/Subtraction Addition/Subtraction – 1 More 1 Less Addition/Subtraction – 10 More 10 Less Algebra Algebraic Reasoning Balancing Equations Equations Pan Balance Problems Brain Teasers Decimal Decimal Addition Decimal Model Decimal Subtraction Dice Worksheets Division Division – Long Division Division – Sharing Division-2Digit by1Digit-No Remainder Division-2Digit by1Digit-With Remainder Division-3Digit by1Digit-No Remainder Fraction Fraction Addition Fraction Circles Fraction Circles Template Fraction Model Fraction Subtraction Fractions – Coloring Fractions – Comparing Fractions – Equivalent Fractions – Halves Geometry Polygon Magic Squares Magic Triangles Math Worksheets on Graph Paper Multiplication Multiplication – Basic Facts Multiplication – Cubes Multiplication – Horizontal Multiplication – Popular Multiplication – Quiz Multiplication – Repeated Addition Multiplication – Test Multiplication – Vertical Multiplication Target Circles Multiplication-1 Digit Multiplication-2 Digit by 2 Digit Multiplication-3 Digit by 1 Digit Multiplication-3 Digit by 2 Digit Squares – Perfect Squares Times Tables Times Table – 10 Times Table Times Table – 11 Times Table Times Table – 12 Times Table Times Table – 2 Times Table Times Table – 3 Times Table Times Table – 4 Times Table Times Table – 5 Times Table Times Table – 6 Times Table Times Table – 7 Times Table Times Table – 8 Times Table Times Table – 9 Times Table Times Table – Popular Times Table – Times Table Chart Times Tables – Advanced Times Tables 2 -12 – 1 Worksheet Number Number – Comparing Number – More or Less Number – Greater & Smaller Number – Hundreds Number – Ordinal Numbers Number Bonds Number Chart Number Coloring Number Counting Number – Count How Many Number Counting – Dice Numbers – Count and Match Numbers – Before, After, and Between Numbers 1-20 – Before & After Numbers – Even & Odd Numbers – Missing Numbers – Missing Numbers 1-50 Numbers – Missing Numbers 1-10 Numbers – Missing Numbers 1-100 Numbers – Missing Numbers 1-15 Numbers – Missing Numbers 1-20 Numbers – Missing Numbers 1-30 Numbers – Ordering Numbers Numbers – Least to Greatest Numbers – Ordering Numbers 1-10 Numbers – Ordering Numbers 1-100 Numbers – Ordering Numbers 1-20 Numbers – Ordering Numbers 1-30 Numbers – Ordering Numbers 1-50 Numbers – Place Value Numbers – Ten Frames Numbers – Tens and Ones Numbers -Fact Family Numbers 1 – 10 Numbers 1 – 100 Numbers 1 – 20 Numbers 1 – 30 Numbers 1 – 50 Numbers 1 – 15 Numbers 1-120 Part Part Whole Skip Counting Skip Counting – Count by 1000s Skip Counting – Count by 100s Skip Counting – Count by 10s Skip Counting – Count by 2s Skip Counting – Count by 5s Skip Counting – Popular Skip Counting by 2s, 5s, and10s Tracing – Number Tracing Percent Puzzles Regrouping – Addition and Subtraction Shapes Shape – Match Shapes Shape – Mazes Shape Names Shapes – Popular Square Root Subtraction Subtraction – 1 Digit Subtraction – 1 Less Subtraction – 10 Less Subtraction – 2 Digit Subtraction – 3 Digit Subtraction – 4 Digit Subtraction – Missing Minuends Subtraction – Missing Subtrahends Subtraction – No Regrouping Subtraction – Number Line Subtraction – Picture Subtraction – Subtract and Match Subtraction – Subtract Tens Subtraction – Within 10 Subtraction – Within 20 Subtraction – Within 5 Subtraction Regrouping Subtraction Sentences Symmetry Tally Marks Time Time – Clock Face Time – Draw the hands Time – Elapsed Time Time – Elapsed Time Ruler Time – Telling Time Word Problems Addition Word Problems Multiplication Word Problems Subtraction Word Problems Missing Operator Most Popular Math Worksheets Most Popular Preschool and Kindergarten Worksheets Most Popular Worksheets New Worksheets Phonics Phonics – Beginning Sounds Phonics – Ending Sounds Phonics – Middle Sounds Preschool and Kindergarten – Mazes Printable Posters Charts Science Life Cycle Spelling Spelling – Days of the Week Spelling – Months of the Year Spelling – Numbers in Words Spot the difference Theme Worksheets Theme – Animal Theme – Dinosaur Theme – Cloud Theme – Flower Theme – Fruit Theme – Transport Theme – Aeroplane Theme – Car Theme – Rocket Theme – Train Theme – Truck Thinking Skills Analogies Worksheets Picture Analogies Preschool – Connect other half Top Worksheets Uncategorized Writing

  Preschool Worksheets

Follow Worksheetfun on Pinterest - 100K

New Worksheets

Most popular preschool and kindergarten worksheets.

Most Popular Math Worksheets

Popular worksheets, top worksheets, follow worksheetfun on facebook - 25k, new - follow worksheetfun on instagram.

Loading …

Scroll to Top

Preschool Worksheets PDF FREE Printable

Here is a list of free preschool worksheets pdf you can download and print from Planes & Balloons. You’ll find activities and worksheets that strengthen fine motor skills, early literacy and math skills, thinking and reasoning skills, focus and attention, and so much more.

Coloring pages

Language arts

Preschool math

Cut and paste

Same or different

free preschool worksheets age 3-4 pdf

Pre-K to Kindergarten Review

Grab this book full of engaging activities to prepare your little one for kindergarten!

Or use them in your nursery or preschool lesson plans throughout the year.

Preschool Number worksheets

You can easily turn a bunch of these worksheets into a cute preschool workbook for teaching numbers!

Tracing the numbers 1-20

Number flashcards 1-20

Halloween counting 1-20

Spring color by number

Christmas count and match

Preschool alphabet worksheets.

Check out these fun and educational alphabet activities for your preschoolers!

Spot and dot uppercase alphabet

Alphabet tracing worksheets printable

Tracing lowercase letters

Hot chocolate letter matching

Alphabet coloring book

Preschool shapes worksheets.

Free printable preschool learning materials free download pdf for your 3-4 year olds and 4-5 year old preschoolers!

Do a dot shapes worksheets

Frog shapes cut and paste

My shape book free printablE

Free Printable Shapes Worksheets

Tracing shapes worksheets

Nursery worksheets pdf.

Let your preschoolers practice visual discrimination with these fun same and different worksheets in your home or daycare!

Spring same and different

Same and different worksheets for preschool

Visual discrimination practice

Ocean same and different

CActus same and different

Preschool tracing worksheets pdf.

Tracing is a great preschool pre-writing activity , especially when you need one quickly and without much prep work. There are many tracing activities for preschoolers here, including tracing shapes, horizontal and vertical lines, and tracing pictures.

Tracing lines spring worksheets

Tracing fall pictures for preschool

Valentine’s Day number tracing

Alphabet tracing worksheets.

Transportation tracing pages

Preschool cut and paste worksheets.

Preschool cut and paste worksheets to practice scissor skills and fine motor skills.

Cut and paste Apple Worksheets

Cut and paste Easter eggs

Cut and paste For preschool

Cut and paste hearts

HALLOWEEN CUT AND PASTE

Preschool mazes printable.

These printable mazes will be a fun addition to your preschool playgroup activities.

Christmas mazes

Back to school mazes

Easter mazes

Mazes for preschoolers

Number mazes

Coloring is popular with little ones, especially if the coloring pages are in sync with their favorite topics such as bugs, cars, fall, Christmas, and more.

Preschool worksheet packet PDF

If you need a little bit of everything all in one printable, then these preschool packets pdf will help you out.

• Farm animals worksheets for preschoolers
• 4th of July worksheets for preschool
• Free printable days of the week bundle
• Halloween monster worksheets for preschoolers
• Circle time calendar template
• Berry picking learning pack
• Silly socks preschool learning pack
• Free printable Christmas worksheets for preschoolers
• Summer worksheets for pre-k and kindergarten
• Fall preschool worksheets packet
• Dental health preschool worksheets packet
• Preschool space activities learning binder
• Spring preschool worksheets printable pack
• Valentine’s Day preschool worksheets bundle
• Thanksgiving worksheets for preschoolers

Worksheets for 3-Year-Olds

• Printable worksheets
• Educational videos
• Learning games

716 filtered results

• Extra Challenge
• Kindergarten
• ABC Letters  
• Tracing Lines and Curves
• Tracing Letters
• Letter Recognition  
• Upper & Lowercase Letters  
• Alphabetizing
• Missing Letters
• Phonics  
• Numbers  
• Counting  
• Addition & Subtraction  
• Measurement
• Multiplication  
• Geometry  
• Money  
• Math Coloring Pages
• Word Problems  
• Tracing Words
• Punctuation
• Reading Comprehension  
• Rhyming Words
• Building Vocabulary  
• Itsy Bitsy Spider
• 5 Little Monkeys
• Twinkle Little Star
• Governance and Civics
• Good Citizenship
• Our Body and Health
• Plants and Animals  
• The 5 Senses
• Physical Science
• Our Planet and Environment
• Plants and Animals
• Color Words
• Tracing Numbers
• Tracing Shapes
• Cursive Writing  
• Color by Numbers
• Connect the Dots
• Fairy Tales
• Problem Solving
• Black history
• Dinosaurs Day
• International Chess Day
• 4th of July
• Thanksgiving
• Alphabet  
• Math  
• Writing  
• Science  
• Reading  
• Social Studies  
• Maze Puzzles
• Connecting the Dots
• English Language Arts  

Introducing our vibrant collection of worksheets designed specifically for 3-Year-Olds! Crafted with love and expertise, these sheets are the perfect blend of fun and education, tailored to captivate the curious minds of young learners. Our worksheets focus on fundamental concepts like shapes, colors, numbers, and letters, fostering early developmental skills in a playful environment. Each activity is meticulously planned to nurture creativity, improve fine motor skills, and encourage independent learning. With a variety of themes and engaging tasks, our worksheets are the ideal companion for your 3-year-old's learning journey. Dive into a world of discovery with our thoughtfully created worksheets for 3-Year-Olds!

Check out this FREE Trial Lesson for age 3!

Days of the Week. Day and Night

• Interactive

Find the Setting Worksheet

Where Does It Happen? Worksheet

When Does It Happen? Worksheet

Beginning Sounds Worksheet

Towns Worksheet

Nonfiction Features Worksheet

Nonfiction Captions Worksheet

Rhyming Words in Poems Worksheet

Identifying Poems Worksheet

Finish Rhyming Poem Worksheet

Picture in Books Worksheet

Picture Books Worksheet

Draw a Line to the Picture Books Worksheet

Letter Spacing Practice Worksheet

Find the Title Worksheet

Red and Green Worksheet

Find the Curved Lines! Worksheet

Eagle Subtraction Worksheet

T-shirt Subtraction Worksheet

Subtracting Socks Worksheet

Holiday Lights Subtraction Worksheet

Road Sign Subtraction Worksheet

What to Mail? Worksheet

Car Shop Subtraction Worksheet

Related Articles

Worksheets designed specifically for 3-year-olds are an invaluable tool for early childhood development. These carefully crafted educational resources are tailored to the unique learning abilities and interests of young children, making them an essential component of early education. Here's why worksheets for 3-year-olds are so useful:

Cognitive Development : Worksheets for 3-year-olds are structured to stimulate cognitive processes such as problem-solving, memory, and logical thinking. Engaging with these activities helps children understand the world around them in a structured manner.

Fine Motor Skills : Activities that require coloring, tracing, or cutting are excellent for developing fine motor skills. As 3-year-olds interact with these worksheets, they refine their hand-eye coordination and dexterity, which are crucial for writing and other daily tasks.

Learning Through Play : At this age, children learn best through play. Worksheets designed for 3-year-olds incorporate playful elements that keep children engaged and make learning enjoyable. This approach fosters a love for learning from an early age.

Preparation for School : By introducing basic concepts in math, language, and science in a fun and accessible way, worksheets for 3-year-olds lay a strong foundation for formal education. They help children acclimate to a structured learning environment, making the transition to school smoother and less intimidating.

In conclusion, worksheets for 3-year-olds are an effective and enjoyable way to support early childhood development. They cater to the developmental needs of young learners, making them an indispensable tool for parents and educators alike.

Related Worksheet

You'll be able to manage the favorite spreadsheets list.

You’ll be able to hide/mark the accomplished tasks.

• School / District Account
• Family Account
• 2 PDF worksheets per day
• Interactive worksheets
• Targeted ads
• KidsAcademy ads

$ 1.99 / month

• Printable and interactive worksheets
• Learning videos
• Ad-free browsing

• Engage students and save time with ready-to-use premium educational activities.
• Unlimited Learning Library access

$9.99 / month

Cancel anytime

LEVEL 1 ACTIVITIES: AGES 0-4 YRS

Math activities.

• More or Less L1
• Number Matching L1
• Same or Different L1
• Symmetry L1
• Number Trace and Count Activity L1

PRE-WRITING ACTIVITIES

• Line Tracing L1
• Picture Sorting L1
• Name Tracing L1
• Sequence L1
• Match, paste and trace

LANGUAGE ACTIVITIES

• Letter Coloring Sheets L1
• Lower Case Letter Tracing & Sounds L1
• Lower Case Letter ID Find and Dab L1
• Rhyming Words L1
• Fun with Letters L1

THEMED ACTIVITIES

• Bathroom L1
• Brown Bear L1
• Butterfly L1
• Caterpillar Theme L1
• Christmas Mixed Activities L1
• Community Helpers L1
• Count up to 5 L1
• Does it belong? L1
• Fire Safety L1
• Fall Leaves L1
• Farm Animals L1
• Gardening L1
• Halloween L1
• Healthy Foods L1
• JellyFish Fun L1
• Mother's Day L1
• Father's Day L1
• Ocean Animals L1
• Spring Numbers L1
• St. Patrick's Day L1
• Strawberry L1
• Tooth Care L1
• Valentine's Day L1
• Whales In The Ocean L1

ART AND CRAFT ACTIVITIES

How to make a simple paper bird craft at home, how to make a simple paper frog craft, how to make a simple paper snail craft, how to make a simple paper penguin craft​, how to make a fun crab craft.

Filter Results

• clear all filters

Resource Type

• Worksheets 
• Guided Lessons
• Lesson Plans
• Hands-on Activities
• Interactive Stories
• Online Exercises
• Printable Workbooks
• Science Projects
• Song Videos

middle-school

• Fine arts 
• Foreign language 
• Math 
• Reading & Writing 
• Science 
• Social emotional 
• Social studies 
• Arts & crafts 
• Coloring 
• Holidays 
• Offline games 
• Pop Culture & Events 
• Seasonal 
• Teacher Resources 
• Common Core 

Preschool Worksheets and Printables

Key preschool skills :.

Preschool Worksheets Unlock the Door to Learning Success

Printables for Busy Moms & Creative Kids

• Organization

Printable Activities for 3-year-olds

Looking for printable activities for 3-year-olds ? I’ve got lots of fun ideas for you here!

If you’re like me, you want to have some fun crafts and activities for your preschooler to do that don’t require a lot of prep… the great news is that there are plenty of free printable activities for 3-year-olds available online that are perfect for busy moms!

These printables for toddlers cover a variety of activity types. Don’t forget that everything you do alongside your 3-year-old can be a learning experience! Talk to them about what they are looking at, what they are sorting/cutting/etc., and anything about their activity that will stimulate their brain to think, learn, and understand even in the smallest of ways.

It’s so rewarding to spend time doing activities with your 3-year-old! Some of these activities they can also do on their own for quiet play time. Whether you are going to give them your full attention or whether you need them to learn to quietly entertain themselves for a short time, there are activity options here that you can use.

Free Printable Activities for 3-year-olds

Keeping a 3-year-old busy with fun activities can keep you busy, but you can get ahead of the game by taking the time *now* to print out a bunch of these activities to have on hand.

I like to keep a folder full of printables for my 3-year-old, and as many as I can, I laminate so she can use them again and again with dry-erase markers.

Ok, on to this amazing list of activities to keep those 3-year-olds busy! 😄

( Six Clever Sisters has 10 more great ideas HERE! )

Have you seen these toddler “scissors” that are self-opening and safe? Great for toddlers doing crafts!

Not ready to use these printables yet? PIN FOR LATER!

Check out THESE free printable letter recognition worksheets!

Printable Pencil Alphabet Puzzles

All About Me Name Worksheets – Letters in My Name

Cookie Jar Letter Sounds Matching

Butterfly Printables

Free Pizza Shapes Match

Printable Popsicle Stick Shape Mats

Learning Activities Binder with Free Printable

Word Search CVC Worksheets Free Printable

Shape I Spy Free Printable

Printable Number Matching Clip Cards

Free Printable Preschool Counting Game

Dinosaur Alphabet Clip Cards

Printable Alphabet Letter Formation Cards

Color Sorting Printable Activity

Comparing objects printable worksheets

Dinosaur Matching Game Printable

Free I Spy Printable

Spot and dot shapes

Sequencing worksheets

8 Adorable Flower Printable Puzzles for Kids

These printable activities for 2-year-olds or these ones for 4-year-olds may also have some activities that your 3-year-old would love!

Pingback: Printable Activities for 2-year-olds - Mom's Printables

Pingback: Printable Activities for 4-year-olds - Mom's Printables

Leave a Comment Cancel

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Email Address *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notify me of new posts by email.

I'm Rachel, and this is my daughter Chloe. We both love digital design, blogging, and crafting! We're glad you stopped by, and we hope you find plenty of helpful printables and craft ideas. Subscribe to our emails so you don't miss out on our newest freebies!

Recent Posts

• Free Printable Thanksgiving Turkey for Coloring
• Free Printable Thanksgiving Cards to Show Gratitude
• Free Printable Baby Shower Favor Tags, Thank You Gift
• Color by Number Subtraction Worksheet Free Printable
• All About My Dad Printable

Discover more from Mom's Printables

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

Continue reading

• Math for Kids
• Parenting Resources
• ELA for Kids
• Teaching Resources

Who Invented Math? History, Facts & More

How to Teach Number Recognition to Kids in 8 Easy Steps

How to Teach One to One Correspondence To Kids: 4 Easy Steps

How to Teach Odd and Even Numbers in 4 Easy Steps

How to Teach Long Division to Kids in 6 Easy Steps

8 Types of Preschool Programs for Kids in 2024

6-year-old Developmental Milestones Checklist

How to Prepare a Schedule for Kindergarten With Examples

How to Prepare a Schedule for Preschoolers With Sample

12 Best Funny Short Stories for Kids to Read in 2024

How to Make Reading Fun for Early Readers: 12 Best Ideas

13 Best Phoneme Segmentation Activities for Kids

How to Teach Decoding in 9 Simple Steps

300+ Halloween Words From A-Z for Kids [Free Downloadable]

17 Best Guided Reading Activities for Teachers

12 Best Strategies for Teaching English Grammar to Kids

11 Best Coloring Apps for Kids [Android & iOS]

12 Best Reading Bulletin Board Ideas for Your Classroom

15 Fun Summer Bulletin Board Ideas for 2024

14 Best Assessment Tools for Teachers in 2024

15+ Best Learning Activities for Your 3 Year Old Preschooler

2. Listen to Fun A-Z Alphabet Songs

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!

Math & ELA | PreK To Grade 5

Kids see fun ., you see real learning outcomes ..

Watch your kids fall in love with math & reading through our scientifically designed curriculum.

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

6 Fun Developmental Activities for 3-Year-Olds

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

Introduce your little one to the magical world of letters with A-Z alphabet songs! Sing along to catchy tunes that make learning the alphabet a fun and engaging experience. These songs help children recognize letter shapes and sounds while building their phonemic awareness. Perfect for car rides or playtime, alphabet songs turn learning into a joyful sing-along adventure!

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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 .

6. 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!

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!

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

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.

15 Fun Letter E Activities & Crafts for Kids

17 creative art activities for preschoolers in 2024.

17 Fun Letter H Activities & Crafts for Kids

• Pre-Kindergarten
• Kindergarten

Most Popular

76 Best Report Card Comments Samples for Teachers

117 Best Riddles for Kids (With Answers)

40 Best Good Vibes Quotes to Brighten Your Day

Recent posts.

Math & ELA | PreK To Grade 5

Kids see fun., you see real learning outcomes..

Watch your kids fall in love with math & reading through our scientifically designed curriculum.

Parents, try for free Teachers, use for free

• Games for Kids
• Worksheets for Kids
• Math Worksheets
• ELA Worksheets
• Math Vocabulary
• Number Games
• Addition Games
• Subtraction Games
• Multiplication Games
• Division Games
• Addition Worksheets
• Subtraction Worksheets
• Multiplication Worksheets
• Division Worksheets
• Times Tables Worksheets
• Reading Games
• Writing Games
• Phonics Games
• Sight Words Games
• Letter Tracing Games
• Reading Worksheets
• Writing Worksheets
• Phonics Worksheets
• Sight Words Worksheets
• Letter Tracing Worksheets
• Prime Number
• Order of Operations
• Long multiplication
• Place value
• Parallelogram
• SplashLearn Success Stories
• SplashLearn Apps

© Copyright - SplashLearn

Back-to-School Learning Boost!

Turn play into progress., jumpstart learning now.

Explore 4,000+ games and 450+ lesson plans designed to make this school year the best one yet!

Parents, Try for Free Teachers, Use for Free

3 Year Old Preschool

Overview of preschool learning stages.

Early childhood education is vital for a child's overall development. Teachers focus on broadening children's knowledge and skills in various subject areas, aiding their understanding of interconnected topics. This is achieved through discussions, practical activities, and research projects.

Breakdown of Learning Stages

Optimizing Preschool Learning

Using the curriculum as a guide, playful learning experiences can substantially enhance preschoolers' cognitive development . Using preschool worksheets can be a fun and educational activity.

Table of Images 👆

• 4 Year Old Worksheets
• Preschool Worksheets 3 Year Olds
• 2 Year Old Learning
• Preschool Worksheets Connect
• Animals and Preschool Worksheets
• Preschool Shapes Tracing Worksheet
• 3 Year Old First Day of Preschool Sign
• 3 Year Old Educational Activities
• 3 Year Old Preschool Worksheets
• Preschool Worksheets - Draw Shapes
• Animal Heads Tracing Lines Worksheets For 3 Year Olds
• Big And Small Worksheet
• Same Or Different Preschool Matching Activity Sheets
• All About Me Preschool Worksheets
• Back-to-School Preschool Worksheets For 3-5 Year Olds
• Letter A Worksheet Preschool
• Ladybug Counting Worksheet
• Dinosaur Preschool
• Identify And Color Shapes

Best Preschool Worksheets

Select worksheets that cater to a child's developmental level and necessities, focusing on early learning skills such as letter recognition, counting, shapes, and colors. Use worksheets that engage the child with hands-on activities and visual aids.

• Line and Shapes Worksheet: Helps children learn basic shapes.
• Big or Small Worksheet: A tool to teach children about the concept of size.
• Animals Worksheet: A way to learn about different animals and their characteristics.
• About Me Worksheet: Helps children understand their personal features. Visit here for a template.
• Tracing Worksheet: Useful for developing handwriting and reading skills .
• Numeracy Worksheet: Teaches children basic mathematics operations like counting.

Basic Lessons for Preschoolers Overview

Preschool education broadly encompasses reading, writing, math, and science. Each area is designed to stimulate the child's learning and interest.

1. Reading Lessons

• Alphabet Recognition : Introducing letters through songs, games and visual aids.
• Phonemic Awareness : Activities that focus on language sounds.
• Read-Alouds : Regular reading sessions to increase engagement and comprehension skills.

2. Writing Lessons

• Pre-Writing Activities : Activities for developing fine motor skills.
• Name Writing : Guiding children to write their names.
• Letter Formation : Various activities to introduce proper letter formation.
• Drawing and Storytelling : Activities to stimulate creativity, language development and early writing skills.

3. Math Lessons

• Counting : Teaching counting skills through various methods.
• Number Recognition : Various techniques to help children recognize and identify numerals.
• Sorting and Classifying : Activities to help understand patterns and relationships.
• Patterns and Sequencing : Introducing simple patterns and sequences to children.

4. Science Lessons

• Nature Exploration : Activities that engage children with nature and the environment.
• Sensory Experiences : Opportunities for children to experience and understand different senses.
• Basic Concepts : Introducing the basics of science through age-appropriate books , experiments or visual aids.
• Cause and Effect : Activities and experiments to develop early scientific thinking and pique curiosity.

More printable images tagged with:

Have something to tell us?

Recent Comments

Nov 21, 2022

I found these 3 Year Old Preschool Printables to be a helpful and engaging resource for my little one. They are simple yet effective in developing key skills. Thank you!

Aug 23, 2022

These 3 Year Old Preschool Printables are a great addition to our learning routine! They provide engaging and age-appropriate activities that keep my little one entertained while building essential skills. Thank you for making learning so much fun!

Jun 18, 2022

Great printable resource for 3-year-old preschoolers! It offers a variety of creative activities and educational worksheets for their age group. Thank you for providing such valuable resources!

My Family Preschool

Preschool Center Labels

Preschool Diploma Certificates

Traffic Sign For Preschoolers

Preschool Name Plates

Teaching The Days Of Week Preschool

Find free printable content.

GET OUR LATEST UPDATES!

100+ EASY Activities for 2-3 Year Olds

• Preschooler

Are you looking for fast and easy activities to keep your 2 year old or 3 year old busy? Are you also looking for activities that don’t require a lot of prep or any prep at all? And are you also looking activities that are easy to clean up, engaging, education and fun?

If you answered yes to all or any of these questions then you are indeed in the right place!

Here is our ultimate list of the best super easy no or low-prep activities you can do at home with your 2 and 3 year old toddler or preschooler .

Skills 2-3 Year Olds are Learning

Two and three-year-olds are at a crucial stage of development, and they tend to make significant progress across many areas. Here are five key skills that are usually developing during this period:

• Motor Skills :
• Fine Motor Skills : At this age, children start to develop better control over hand and finger movements, allowing them to perform tasks like turning pages in a book, using simple tools like crayons, stacking blocks, and beginning to use utensils more effectively.
• Gross Motor Skills : Two and three-year-olds improve their ability to run, jump, throw, and kick. They also become more adept at climbing and balancing, which helps them navigate their environment more confidently.
• Language and Communication Skills :

Children rapidly expand their vocabulary, often reaching up to several hundred words by the end of their second and third year. They begin to string words together into simple sentences, ask questions, and are better able to express their needs and desires through both verbal and non-verbal communication.

• Cognitive Skills :

Two-year-olds start to engage in more complex play, including pretend play, which helps develop their imagination and cognitive abilities. They also show rapid development in problem-solving skills, understanding cause and effect, and can follow simple instructions.

• Social and Emotional Development :

This is a critical period for emotional regulation and social skills. Two-year-olds begin to exhibit greater independence, start to play alongside other children (parallel play), and show a wider range of emotions. They may start to test boundaries, which is a normal part of learning about their environment and social norms.

• Sensory and Perceptual Development :

At this age, children become more aware of their surroundings and are keen to explore them. They develop deeper levels of concentration and are keen observers. Their ability to differentiate between sounds, sights, textures, and other sensory information sees marked improvement, aiding in their overall cognitive development and interaction with the world.

Overall, each of these developmental areas is important as they build on each other to support a child’s holistic growth. Activities that promote these skills are invaluable in fostering a well-rounded development for two-year-olds.

Supplies Needed For Activities

For a quick guide to activity supplies check out my Amazon shop .

For more help on how to start to do activities with your kids check out this post for things to buy and save for kids activities.

Activities for 2 and 3 Year Olds

Are you ready for the best list of activities?

Please note: that for most activities, additional details can be found by clicking on the title.

Enjoy and Happy playing!

1. Pillow Road

What You’ll Need:

• Several pillows
• Toy cars or trucks

How to Set Up:

• Lay Out Pillows: Arrange the pillows on the floor to form a road.
• Press Pillows: Gently flatten the pillows to make a smooth path.
• Add Cars: Place toy cars at the start of the road.
• Play: Let your toddler push the cars along the road and rearrange the pillows to change the route.

2. Snack Names

• Variety of snacks (small pieces like cereal, fruits, or crackers)
• Prepare the Paper: Write your toddler’s name on the paper, making large, clear letters. Draw a circle below each letter.
• Add Snacks: Show your toddler how to place one snack in each circle below the letters.
• Letter Identification: As your toddler places each snack, encourage them to say the letter and its sound.
• Eat and Repeat: As they eat each snack, repeat the letter and its sound. This reinforces learning through a fun and tasty activity.

3. Sock Puzzles

• A large sock
• Wooden puzzle pieces from a simple puzzle
• Prepare the Sock: Place all the wooden puzzle pieces inside the large sock.
• Find and Match: Have your child reach into the sock without looking to find a piece. They should feel the piece and try to guess which part of the puzzle it might be.
• Assemble the Puzzle: Once they pull out a piece, they can try to place it in the correct spot on the puzzle board. This activity is great for sensory development and fine motor skills.

4. Mess Free Rock Painting

• A clear plastic bag or sealable sandwich bag
• Place Rocks in Bag:  Put rocks inside the plastic bag.
• Add Paint:  Squirt different colors of paint into the bag.
• Seal and Paint:  Seal the bag and let your toddler move the paint around by pressing on the outside, painting the rocks without a mess.

5. Snack Math

• Snacks (small, countable items like cereal or fruit pieces)
• Add Numbers: Write numbers 1 to 5 and beside them draw the corresponding number of circles or squares large enough to fit a snack.
• Count and Place: Invite your toddler to place the correct number of snacks in each marked space.
• Discuss: As they place each snack, talk about the numbers and help them count aloud.

6. Free the Animals

• Toy animals
• Small ziplock bags
• Bag the Animals: Place each toy animal into its own ziplock bag and seal it.
• Rescue Mission: Give the bags to your toddler and encourage them to open the bags and “free” the animals.
• Enhance Play: Once all animals are freed, they can play with them, creating various rescue or adventure scenarios.

7. Dinosaur Bath

• Dinosaur toys
• A bathtub or large container with water
• Fill the Tub: Fill the bathtub or container with water.
• Add Dinosaurs: Place the dinosaur toys in the water.
• Play Time: Let your toddler enjoy giving the dinosaurs a bath, using cups or sponges to wash them.

8. Painting Bread

• White bread slices
• Food coloring
• Small bowls
• Clean paintbrushes
• Make Edible Paint: Mix a few drops of food coloring into small amounts of milk in different bowls to create various colors.
• Prepare the Bread: Lay out slices of white bread on a clean surface.
• Paint: Give your toddler a paintbrush, and let them paint designs on the bread using the edible paint.
• Toast and Enjoy: After painting, toast the bread lightly (optional) and enjoy eating their colorful creations.

9. Ice Sensory Bin

• A large container
• Ice cubes or frozen toy-filled ice blocks
• Fill the Bin: Freeze water in an ice cube tray or freeze toys over top an ice cube tray filled with water. Freeze over night.
• Add Tools: Place ice cubes or ice blocks in the container. Include spoons or scoops for exploration.
• Play Time: Let your toddler explore the ice as it melts, discovering toys or experimenting with the cold texture.

10. Snowman Towers

• Paper towel rolls
• Decorative items like buttons, fabric scraps, markers
• Prepare Rolls: Collect several paper towel rolls.
• Decorate: Let your toddler decorate the rolls with markers, buttons, and fabric to make them look like snowmen.
• Stack and Play: Build towers by stacking the decorated rolls.

11. Paint with Kitchen Tools

• Kitchen tools (potato masher, fork, etc.)
• Setup Paint Station: Pour paint into shallow containers.
• Choose Tools: Select a few kitchen tools to use as brushes.
• Create Art: Dip the tools in paint and press or roll them on paper to make interesting patterns.

12. Car Bowling

• Toilet paper rolls or makeshift bowling pins
• Set Up Pins: Line up the rolls or pins.
• Bowl with Car: Use the toy car to knock them down, setting them up again for repeated play.

13. Alphabet Match

• Alphabet fridge magnets
• Metal surface or fridge
• Construction paper
• Write letters on construction paper that correspond to the fridge magnets. Tape the construction paper on the fridge.
• Display Letters: Spread alphabet magnets on the floor or attach them low on the fridge.
• Match: Challenge your child to match letters.

14. Tea Bag Water Play

• Herbal tea bags
• Large bowl or container of water
• Cup, spoons
• Scissors (optional)
• Place tea bags, scissors, cups and spoons into a sensory bin. Fill a few container with water.
• Let your toddler dip and swirl the tea bags, observing color changes.

15. Pom Pom Number Sweep

• Number flashcards or puzzle pieces or tape
• Broom or brush
• Number Lanes: Tape sections on the floor and label them with numbers or place the number flashcards or puzzle pieces down.
• Scatter Pom Poms: Spread pom poms around.
• Sweep into Sections: Have your toddler sweep pom poms into the numbered sections.

16. MegaBlok Names

• Butcher paper
• Write on Blocks: Write letters of your child’s name on a large sheet of butcher paper.
• Build & Learn: Let them trace and build and arrange the blocks on their name.

17. Foil Puzzle Presents

• Puzzle pieces and board
• Aluminum foil
• Wrap Pieces: Wrap each puzzle piece in foil.
• Solve the Puzzle: Have your toddler unwrap and solve the puzzle, enjoying the surprise element of unwrapping each piece.

18. Build a Book Rainbow

• A collection of colorful children’s books
• Sort by Color: Arrange books in a spectrum to form a rainbow.
• Read and Discover: Choose books to read from the rainbow, revisiting favorites and uncovering forgotten ones.

19. Sponge Letter Match

• Foam Letters
• Sensory Bin or bathtub
• Prepare Letters: Use the sharpie to write letters on the sponges to correspond with your foam letter.
• Match with Sponges: Place letters into a sensory bin with water. Invite them to match the letters with the correct sponge. They can then wash the letters with corresponding sponge.

20. Salad Spinner Toddler Activities

• Salad spinner
• Various small items (like pom poms, paper pieces)
• Insert Items: Place different items in the salad spinner.
• Spin and Observe: Let your toddler spin and watch as items swirl around, exploring centrifugal force and motion.

21. Spaghetti Drop

• Dried spaghetti
• Cardboard tubes
• Sensory Bin (optional)
• Set Up Tubes: Stand the tubes vertically along a wall or sensory bin.
• Drop Spaghetti: Let toddlers drop spaghetti strands through the tubes, exploring gravity and coordination.

22. Cloud Dough Kitchen

• Oil (baby oil or vegetable oil)
• Make Cloud Dough : Mix 8 parts flour to 1 part oil to create moldable cloud dough.
• Play Cooking: Provide kitchen utensils for pretend play with the dough.

23. Nature Puzzle

• Various natural items (leaves, twigs, stones)
• Create Puzzle Base:  Arrange natural items on a piece of cardboard and trace their outlines using a marker.
• Match and Fit:  Remove the items and have your toddler match and fit them back into the traced outlines.

24. Rain Painting with Water

• Permanent marker
• Paint brush
• Prepare Paper:  Tape sheets of construction paper on the wall. Use a permanent maker to draw a picture to color on the paper.
• Hand your child a paint brush and fill a cup with water and inviter them to color in the picture with water.

25. Colour Mixing Tea Party

• Transparent cups or teapots
• Prepare Colored Water: Fill cups with water mixed with different food colors.
• Mix and Match: Invite toddlers to pour and mix colors to discover new ones.

26. Cardboard Box Wash & Paint

• Large cardboard box
• Brushes or sponges
• Prepare Box: Place the box in an area that can get messy.
• Paint and Wash: Let toddlers paint the box with the water, exploring textures and effects of water on the cardboard box.

27. Stone Washing

• Smooth stones
• Shaving cream
• A large container or bin
• Small brushes or old toothbrushes
• Prepare the Bin: Fill a large container with a small amount of water and place smooth stones inside it.
• Add Shaving Cream: Squirt a little shaving cream on the stones.
• Wash the Stones: Give your toddler brushes to scrub and wash the shaving cream off the stones. This activity is surprisingly clean, as the shaving cream and water mix to form an easy-to-clean foam.

28. Wine Cork Push

• A cardboard box or a yogurt tub
• Hammer or another tool to make holes (if needed)
• Prepare the Board: If using a cardboard box, punch holes just big enough for the corks to fit snugly. If using a yogurt tub, you might need to use a tool to carve the holes.
• Push the Corks: Show your preschooler how to push the corks through the hole. This activity helps develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

29. Paint Animals

• Animal figurines
• Non-toxic paint
• Paintbrushes
• Paper or a plastic sheet to protect the work surface
• Set Up Painting Area: Lay out paper or a plastic sheet to keep the area clean.
• Prepare Paints: Set out small containers of paint and brushes.
• Paint the Animals: Let your 2 or 3 year old paint the animal figurines. This activity encourages creativity and sensory exploration as children feel the textures and work with different colors.

30. Pom Pom Water Transfer

• Pom poms or sponges
• Two containers
• Fill One Container: Place water in one container.
• Transfer with Pom Poms: Use pom poms or sponges to soak up and transfer water from one container to another, developing fine motor skills and understanding of absorption.

31. Cutlery Sorting

• Various pieces of plastic cutlery
• Plastic plates
• Arrange Containers: Set up several plates on a table.
• Sort Cutlery: Have your toddler sort the cutlery by type (forks, spoons, knives) onto the plates.

32. Dinner Plate Counting

• Paper plates
• Set Plates: Place several plates on a table and use a marker to write a number 1-5 on each plate. Place all the toy food in a container nearby.
• Counting Game: Invite child to counting and place a specific number of food items on each plate.

33. Backyard Toy Painting

• Washable paint
• Toys suitable for outdoor painting
• Prepare Paint Station: Set up a paint station outside with various colors of washable paint.
• Paint Toys: Let your toddler paint the outdoor plastic toys toys, exploring creativity and color mixing.
• Once they are done painting, use soap, sponge and water ad invite them to wash it off before it dries.

34. Bubble Foam Sensory Bin

• A large plastic bin
• Hand mixer or whisk
• Food coloring (optional)
• Cups and spoons for playing
• Create Bubble Foam:  In the bin, mix water and a generous amount of dish soap. Use a hand mixer or whisk to whip the mixture until you get thick, fluffy foam. If desired, add a few drops of food coloring to make colored foam.
• Add Tools for Play:  Provide cups, spoons, or other utensils for your toddler to scoop and play with the foam.
• Play Area:  Set up the bin either outdoors or in an easily cleanable area, as this can get messy.

35. Window Washing

• Water with mild soap
• Sensory bin or bowl
• Prepare Solution: Mix water and a bit of soap in a bin or bowl.
• Wash Windows: Give your toddler a sponge to wash an outdoor windows.

36. Pom Poms Sorting

• Prepare Mega Bloks: Turn Mega Bloks upside down.
• Sorting Game: Use tongs to sort pom poms by color into the Mega Bloks.

37. Snack Necklaces

• Embroidery needle
• Snacks (e.g., cereal with holes, soft fruits)
• Thread Needle: Thread a string through an embroidery needle.
• Create Necklace: Have your toddler thread snacks onto the string, making a snack necklace.

38. Elastic Bands over Paper Towel

• Elastic bands
• Paper towel roll
• Elastic Band Challenge: Invite your toddler to see how many elastic bands they can wrap around a paper towel roll.

39. Ivory Soap Experiment

• Microwaveable plate
• Prepare Soap: Unwrap a bar of Ivory soap and place it on a microwaveable plate.
• Microwave: Heat the soap in the microwave for about 1 to 2 minutes and watch it expand.

40. Turtle Boxes

• Cardboard box
• Prepare Turtle Shell: Place a cardboard box on your toddler’s back to pretend it’s a turtle shell.
• Decorate: Let your toddler decorate the “shell” with markers, enhancing creative play.

41. Elastic Bands Around Feet

• Elastic bands or scrunchies
• Choose Bands:  Select a few soft elastic bands or scrunchies. Ensure they are gentle and not too tight.
• Demonstrate:  Show your toddler how to stretch the bands and place them over their feet.
• Encourage Participation:  Encourage your toddler to try it themselves, which helps develop their fine motor skills and dexterity.
• Discuss Similarities:  Explain how this activity is similar to putting on socks to help them understand the practical application of what they’re learning.
• Supervise:  Keep a close eye on your toddler while they play with the bands to ensure safety, and remove the bands immediately after the activity is over to prevent any circulation issues.

42. Bug Whisk Rescue

• Small toys (e.g., bugs, LEGO, pom poms, socks, cotton balls)
• Place Toys in Whisk: Insert the small toys into the whisk’s wires.
• Rescue Time: Encourage your toddler to pull the toys out, stimulating fine motor skills and problem-solving.

43. Dinosaur Bones Sticky Wall

• Contact paper
• Black construction paper
• Tape (painter’s tape or masking tape)
• Cut Dinosaur Shapes:  Use scissors to cut out dinosaur shapes from black construction paper.
• Prepare Sticky Wall:  Unroll a section of contact paper, with the sticky side facing out, and use tape to secure it to a wall or vertical surface.
• Create Bones:  Break Q-tips into smaller pieces to resemble dinosaur bones.
• Attach Dinosaur Shapes:  Stick the dinosaur shapes onto the contact paper.
• Add Bones:  Invite your toddler to use the Q-tip pieces to create skeletal structures on the dinosaur shapes, sticking them directly to the sticky contact paper. This activity encourages creativity and fine motor skills.

44. Laundry Basket Dump Truck

• A laundry basket
• Heavy items (e.g., bags of flour, bottles of vinegar or oil)
• Load the Basket: Place heavy items in the laundry basket.
• Push and Pull: Challenge your toddler to move the basket around, mimicking a dump truck.

45. Balloon Bug Tennis

• A cardboard tube, paper plate and tape
• Make a Racket: Use the tube and plate as a racket.
• Play Tennis: Use the balloon as the ball, encouraging active play and coordination.

46. Body Trace

• LEGO DUPLO or MEGA BLOKS
• Trace Body: Lay down butcher paper and trace your child’s body.
• Decorate with LEGO: Use the blocks to outline or fill in the body trace, enhancing creativity and spatial awareness.

47. Finish the Animals

• Draw Animal Outlines: Sketch incomplete animals on butcher paper.
• Use LEGO: Have your child complete the animals using LEGO pieces, fostering creativity and fine motor skills.

48. Step Stool Jumping

• A step stool
• Safe Jumping: Ensure the area is safe and supervise as your toddler climbs and jumps off the step stool, aiding in physical development.

49. DIY Cardboard Puzzles

• Large pieces of cardboard
• Markers or paint
• Create Puzzle Pieces:  Draw and cut shapes out of the cardboard to create puzzle pieces.
• Decorate:  Use markers or paint to add colors and designs to the puzzle pieces (optional).
• Puzzle Play:  Mix up the pieces and encourage your toddler to put the puzzle back together, enhancing their problem-solving skills and spatial awareness.

50. Fizzy Ice

• Ice cube tray
• Baking soda
• Dropper or small squirt bottles
• Place ice into sensory bin. Sprinkle baking soda on top. Prepare bowls of vinegar with food coloring added to them.
• Fizzy Reaction: Provide droppers or squirt bottles for your toddler to squirt onto the ice cubes, watching the colorful fizzing reactions.

51. Stick Ladder

• Sticks, broomsticks, or painter’s tape
• Create a Ladder: Arrange sticks or tape on the floor to form a ladder.
• Climb the Ladder: Encourage your child to step over or along the ladder, promoting balance and coordination.

52. Book Drop

• A cardboard box
• Make a Book Drop: Cut a slot in the box.
• Return Books: Let your toddler ‘return’ books through the slot, mimicking a library book drop.

53. Pom Pom Water

• Large plastic bin
• Colorful pom poms
• Optional: cups or scoops
• Fill the Bin:  Add water to the bin until it’s about halfway full.
• Add Pom Poms:  Drop pom poms into the water.
• Provide Tools:  Give your toddler cups or scoops to play with the pom poms in the water. This encourages sensory play and motor skills development.

54. Magna-Tile Colour Sorting Boxes

• Magna-Tiles or similar magnetic tiles
• Caps, Pom Poms or anything colorful for sorting
• Prepare Boxes:  make magnetic tiles boxes in different colors
• Sorting Activity:  Encourage your toddler to sort them into the boxes based on the color of the tiles boxes.

55. Fly Swatter Bubbles

• Fly swatters
• Make Bubble Solution: Mix water with dish soap in a bowl.
• Create Bubbles: Let your toddler make bubbles by dipping fly swatter in solution and waving it around, providing a fun way to develop gross motor skills.

56. Clouds in the Sky Picture: Cotton Ball Gluing

• Blue construction paper
• Cotton balls
• Glue Clouds: Apply glue to the blue paper.
• Attach Cotton Balls: Have your toddler stick cotton balls onto the glue to form cloud shapes.

57. Water Pouring Station

• Towel or sensory bin
• Arrange Station: Set bowls and cups with water on a towel or in a sensory bin.
• Pour Water: Let your toddler practice pouring water between containers.

58. Ice Cream Cone Balloon Toss

• Brown construction paper
• Create Cones: Twist the brown construction paper into cone shapes and secure with tape.
• Blow Up Balloon: Inflate a balloon.
• Play: Invite your toddler to toss the balloon using the cone and try to catch it again.

59. Taste Test

• 4-5 containers
• Various foods (sweet, sour, salty, bitter)
• Prepare Samples: Place different types of foods in containers—sweet (honey, chocolate), sour (lemon, lime), salty (chips), and bitter (kale).
• Taste and Discuss: Have your toddler taste each and discuss the flavors. Ask which one they like best and why.

60. Pull the Pipe Cleaners

• Pipe cleaners
• Insert Pipe Cleaners: Stick pipe cleaners through the colander holes.
• Pull and Play: Encourage your toddler to pull them out and reinsert them, enhancing fine motor skills.

61. Spice Container Measuring

• Various spice containers
• Explore Measuring: Use empty spice containers to measure different items around the house, like toys or parts of their body.

62. Pillow Walk

• Pillows and cushions
• Create a Path: Arrange the pillows and cushions on the floor to form a path.
• Walk the Path: Have your toddler walk along the path, improving balance and coordination.

63. Giant Nail Salon

• Fine paintbrushes or Q-tips
• Set Up Salon: Draw nail shapes on the cardboard box to mimic hands.
• Paint Nails: Pour paint into the ice cube tray and let your toddler paint the nails using Q-tips or brushes.

64. Wash the Toys

• Plastic toys
• Dish soap or bubble bath
• Sensory bin or outdoor setup
• Prepare Washing Station: Fill a bin with soapy water.
• Clean the Toys: Let your toddler scrub and clean their plastic toys outdoors.

65. Oat Sensory Bin

• Plastic animals
• Sensory bin or large container
• Fill the Bin: Pour oats into the bin.
• Add Animals: Place plastic animals in the oats for your toddler to find and play with.

66. Draw A Farm

• Markers or paint sticks
• Farm animal toys
• Prepare Paper: Lay out a large sheet of butcher paper.
• Draw Habitats: Draw different farm habitats or let your toddler draw and place farm animal toys accordingly.

67. Pom Pom Drop

• Cardboard tube
• Painter’s tape
• Secure Tube: Use painter’s tape to attach a cardboard tube to a wall or chair.
• Drop Pom Poms: Let your toddler drop pom poms through the tube, watching them fall and collect at the bottom.

68. Prepared Playdough Kits

• Prepared Playdough Kit
• Purchase one here .
• Open and play.

69. Tube Pattern Matching

• Cardboard tubes (toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls, etc.)
• Decorate Tubes:  Cover the cardboard tubes with washi tape.
• Create Pattern Cards:  Cut holes large enough to fit cardboard tubes down. Decorate opening with washi tape.
• Matching Game:  Spread out the patterned tubes. Have your toddler match each tube to the corresponding opening in the box and push it through. This activity enhances visual recognition skills and pattern matching.

70. Painting with Water and Chalk

• Colorful chalk
• A bowl of water
• A paintbrush
• Wet the sidewalk or payment with water.
• Water Painting: Have your toddler draw with the chalk on the wet surface.

71. Salad Spinner Art

• A salad spinner
• Coffee filters or cut circles of paper
• Prepare Paper: Place a coffee filter or paper circle inside the salad spinner.
• Add Paint: Drop a few drops of different colored paints onto the paper.
• Spin and Reveal: Close the lid and encourage your toddler to spin. Open to reveal the created art.

72. Pasta Threading

• Penne pasta
• Threading Materials: Provide penne pasta and a few pipe cleaners.
• Thread Pasta: Show your toddler how to thread the pasta onto the pipe cleaners.

73. Car Wash Sensory Bin

• Mild soap or baby shampoo
• Sponge or brush
• LEGO Toy cars and other small vehicles
• Towels for drying
• Fill Bin with Soapy Water:  Mix water and a small amount of mild soap or baby shampoo in the bin.
• Add Cars:  Place toy cars and other vehicles into the soapy water. Build a simple car wash using the LEGO. Optional: Add a car wash brushes out of a foam sheet.
• Provide Cleaning Tools:  Give your toddler a sponge or brush to wash the cars.
• Dry Station:  Set out towels where your toddler can dry the cars after washing them. This sensory bin helps develop sensory awareness and practical life skills.

74. Oobleck

• A container
• Make Oobleck: Mix cornstarch and water in the container until you achieve a non-Newtonian fluid that is hard under pressure and liquid when still.
• Explore Textures: Let your toddler play with the oobleck, exploring its unique properties.

75. Popsicle Bath

• A bathtub or large container
• Prepare Bath: Fill a bathtub with water.
• Enjoy Popsicles: Let your toddler enjoy a popsicle while taking a bath, adding a fun twist to bath time.

76. Clothespin Pattern Match

• Clothespins
• washi tape or colorful tape
• A piece of cardboard or sturdy paper
• Prepare Clothespins:  Put different patterned or colored tape on each clothespin.
• Create a Matching Board:  Place matching patterns on the cardboard.
• Match and Clip:  Your toddler will match each clothespin to the corresponding pattern on the board by clipping it in place.

77. Fizzy Experiment

• Eye droppers
• A sensory bin or Tupperware container
• Prepare Base: Spread baking soda in the bottom of the bin or container.
• Mix Vinegar: In separate bowls, mix vinegar with different colors of food coloring.
• Fizzy Fun: Use the droppers to squirt colored vinegar onto the baking soda, watching the fizzy reactions.

78. Toilet Paper Rolling

• Toilet paper roll
• Unroll the Toilet Paper: Carefully unroll the toilet paper along the floor.
• Place a Toy: Put a small toy at one end of the unrolled toilet paper.
• Invite to Roll: Ask your toddler to roll the toilet paper back onto the roll, trying to keep the toy balanced on top without falling off.
• S Play and Learn: This activity not only entertains but also helps develop fine motor skills and patience.

79. Feed the Baby Sensory Bin

• Rice or beans
• Baby dolls or animal figurines
• Fill Container:  Place rice or beans in a large container.
• Set Feeding Stations:  Place baby dolls around the bin with small bowls.
• Feed Babies:  Use a spoon to transfer rice or beans to ‘feed’ the babies.

80. Fill the Letters

• Sensory Bin
• Beads or rice
• Foam letter
• Fill sensory bin with beads or rice. Tape foam letters to 3-4 bottles.
• Fill Letters:  Call our a letter sounds and have your toddler fill the bottle with that letters with the beads or rice.

81. Cotton Ball Names

• Write Name:  Write your toddler’s name on paper with large letters.
• Apply Glue:  Cover the letters with glue.
• Stick Cotton Balls:  Have your toddler stick cotton balls onto the glue to form their name.

82. Alphabet Sensory Bag

• Ziplock bag
• Alphabet letters (plastic or foam)
• Prepare Bag:  Write bubble or block letters on bag. Fill each letter with washable paint.
• Seal and Play:  Seal the bag, removing as much air as possible. Let your toddler trace and paint each letter. Identifying the letters and sounds.

83. Watercolors and Rocks

• Smooth rocks
• Watercolor paints
• Clean Rocks:  Ensure the rocks are clean and dry.
• Set Up Painting Station:  Lay out watercolors and fill a cup with water for rinsing brushes.
• Paint Rocks:  Let your toddler paint the rocks with watercolors, exploring color mixing and texture.

84. Rainbow Milk Experiment

• A shallow dish
• Milk (whole or 2% works best)
• Cotton pads
• Washable Markers
• Prepare Milk Base:  Pour milk into the dish to just cover the bottom.
• Decorate the cotton pads using washable makers.
• Magic Reaction:  Place a drop of dish soap on the cotton pads and gently place on the milk’s surface to see the colors explode and swirl.

85. Nature Cutting Bin

• A bin filled with natural materials (leaves, soft twigs, flower petals)
• Child-safe scissors
• Fill Bin:  Collect and place natural materials in a bin.
• Cutting Practice:  Allow your toddler to practice cutting the materials with safe scissors, enhancing their fine motor skills.

86. Painting Ice Cubes

• Ice cubes or block of ice
• Sensory bin or tray
• Paint and Paint brushes
• Place ice in a sensory bin and paint.

87. Color Sorting Box

• A shoebox or similar container
• Popsicle sticks colored or painted in various colors
• Small slits or holes in the box lid, each labeled with a color
• Prepare Box:  Cut slits or holes in the lid of the box, each labeled with a different color.
• Sorting Activity:  Your toddler can sort the popsicle sticks by color, inserting them into the corresponding colored slit.

88. Salt Dough Dinosaur Fossils

• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup water
• Dinosaur toys or shapes
• Baking sheet
• Oven (optional, for permanent fossils)
• Make Salt Dough:  Mix the flour, salt, and water in a bowl until it forms a dough. Knead the dough until smooth.
• Shape and Press:  Roll the dough out on a flat surface and let your toddler press dinosaur toys into the dough to make fossil imprints.
• Cut Out Fossils:  Use a cookie cutter or a knife to cut around each imprint, creating individual fossil shapes.
• Dry or Bake:  Allow the fossils to air dry for a couple of days or bake them in the oven at 200°F (about 93°C) for 2-3 hours to harden. This step should be handled by adults if using the oven.
• Discovery Time:  Once the fossils are dry or cooled, your toddler can use them for imaginative play or as a learning tool about dinosaurs and fossils.

89. Foil Painting

• Q-tips or brushes
• Prepare Foil:  Spread aluminum foil sheets as a canvas.
• Apply Paint:  Squirt some paint on the foil and give your toddler Q-tips or brushes to spread the paint.

90. Fingerprint Patterns

• Ink pads or washable paint
• Dot stickers and paper
• Prepare patterns using dot stickers on a larker sheet of paper.
• Prepare Ink/Paint:  Set out ink pads or small plates of washable paint.
• Create Patterns:  Show your toddler how to dip their fingers into the ink or paint and make patterns on the paper.

91. Magnetic Treasure Hunt

• A variety of magnetic and non-magnetic items
• A magnetic wand or large magnet
• Colored rice
• Sensory bin
• Hide Items:  Scatter magnetic and non-magnetic items in a sensory bin filled with rice.
• Search with Magnet:  Give your toddler a magnetic wand to find out which items are magnetic.

92. Tubes & Rainbow Rice Sensory Bin

• Colored rice (dyed with food coloring and vinegar)
• A large bin
• Fill Bin with Rice:  Pour colored rice into a large bin.
• Add Tubes:  Place various lengths of cardboard tubes upright in the rice.
• Explore and Pour:  Let your toddler scoop and pour rice through the tubes, watching as it cascades down (find full instruction here ).

93. Cereal Box Magnetic Tile Puzzles

• Cereal boxes
• Magnetic tiles
• Make Shapes/Tiles:  Cut shapes from cereal boxes and attach magnetic tiles to the back.
• Match and Stick:  Have your toddler put the cereal; box back together on the fridge.

94. Button Counting

• Buttons of different sizes and colors
• Paper and marker
• Draw simple shirts on paper each with a different number of buttons from 1 to 5.
• Match and Count:  Have your toddler place the correct number of buttons on each shirt using glue.

95. Bathtub Paint

• Food coloring or washable paint
• Small containers or muffin tin
• Prepare Paint:  Fill each container or muffin tin section with shaving cream.
• Add Color:  Mix in a few drops of food coloring or washable paint into each section.
• Bathtub Fun:  Let your toddler use the bathtub walls as a canvas for their colorful creations.

96. Fridge Shape Match

• Dry erase marker
• Trace magnetic tiles using a dry erase marker on the fridge (test for staining first).
• Invite child to fit the correct magnetic tile on the fridge.

97. Shapes Parking Lot

• Large paper or cardboard
• Foam or paper shapes
• Draw Parking Lot:  Draw a large parking lot with different shapes in each parking spot on the paper.
• Park Cars:  Label each car with a foam shape sticker and ask your toddler to park the cars in the matching spots.

98. Make Silly Putty

• 2 parts cornstarch
• 1 part dish soap
• Mix Ingredients:  Mix cornstarch and dish soap in a bowl. Add food coloring if desired to create vibrant silly putty.
• Knead and Play:  Let your toddler knead the mixture until smooth, then play with the stretchy, moldable putty. (Full instruction here ).

99. Shape Match Sensory Bin

• A variety of shapes cut from different materials (felt, cardboard, wooden etc.)
• A bin filled with a sensory medium (shredded paper, rice, beans)
• Paper an marker
• Trace shapes on a piece of paper.
• Prepare Bin:  Fill a bin with sensory material.
• Hide Shapes:  Mix the shapes into the sensory material.
• Find and Match:  Have your toddler dig and find the shapes, matching them to corresponding outlines on a side sheet.

100. Sticky Tape Shapes Activity

• Create Shapes with Tape:  Use tape to make large shapes on the floor or paper. Place the tape facing upwards so the sticky surface it up.
• Trace and Fill:  Trace the larger shape by sticking the foam or paper shapes on the tape.

101. Homemade Playdough

• 2 tablespoons cream of tartar
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 cups boiling water
• Mix Dry Ingredients:  Combine flour, salt, and cream of tartar in a large bowl.
• Add Oil and Water:  Mix in the vegetable oil, then carefully add the boiling water and stir until the mixture comes together.
• Add Color:  If using food coloring, divide the dough and knead in different colors.
• Play Time:  Once cool, the playdough is ready for your toddler to mold and shape.

Play2Learn Toddler & Preschool Programs for Curious Toddlers

There is no limit to your toddler’s energy and curiosity. That energy and curiosity although a joy can be challenging at times. Their interest in just about everything around them is what makes them great learners. One and two year olds can soak up so much just from their senses!

But as a teacher or parent that thirst for learning can be exhausting. That is why I created this toddler and preschooler program. To help you get the most out of this time with your curious toddler without having to come up with creative ways to play and interact with them.

Play2Learn for Toddlers  includes 20 Units for toddlers. Each 2-week toddler unit has 20 super easy to set up and engaging activities for toddlers 18 months to 3 years.

Play2Learn Preschool  which includes 20 Units for preschoolers. Each 2-week preschoolers unit has 20 unique and easy to set up and engaging activities for preschoolers 3 years to 5 years.  That’s over 800 learning activities for your toddler and preschooler at your fingertips! So many ideas you and your child will never be bored again! 

These  toddler and preschool lesson plans and activities  will definitely keep you and your toddler and preschooler busy playing and learning!

Click here for more information: Play2Learn

Book:  Exciting Sensory Bins for Curious Kids

Did you know I wrote a book of sensory bins? Click here for more information  Exciting Sensory Bin for Curious Kids . Or grab your copy at  Amazon . 

Boring afternoons are made exciting with awesome animal-based bins, like Salty Shark Bay or Yarn Farm. Pretend play bins like Birthday Cake Sensory Play or Bubble Tea Party encourage creativity and imagination. And your kids will have so much fun they won’t even know they’re getting smarter with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) activities like Sink or Float Soup, Magnetic Letter Hunt or Ice Cream Scoop and Count.

Designed for toddlers 18 months and up.

Book:  Super STEAM Activity Book for Kids

Learning all about science, technology, engineering, art, and math sets kids up for scholastic success―and it can be so much fun! Watch kids enjoy building STEAM skills as they color friendly fish, help water find its way to tree roots, solve math problems with mazes, and more. 

Find out more and grab your copy  here .

Designed for preschoolers 3 years old and up.

Book:  Big Book of Riddles for Kids

Riddle me this: What’s an exciting way to practice critical thinking while having a blast?  The Big Riddle Book for Kids , of course! From hilarious puns to tough brain teasers, kids can build problem-solving skills with hundreds of riddles tha. t show them how to think outside the box.

• 350 riddles for kids —Have hours of fun with riddles, puns and jokes, and math and logic puzzles that’ll get their wheels turning!
• Level up their skills —Riddles get trickier as kids progress through the book, challenging them as they get better at solving puzzles!
• Double-check their work —Kids can check their answers in the back of the book with a handy answer key.

Help children expand their minds while having fun with this puzzle book for kids!

Designed for kids ages 6 years   old and up.

TV Show:  Curious Crafting

I’m so excited to share my crafting TV show  Curious Crafting  which launched in July 2022 on  TVOkids  and  TVOkids YouTube ! Season 2 aired in August 2023! My show was also nominated in 2023 for Best Live Action Preschool Series by the Youth Media Alliance Awards of Excellence.

Curious Crafting Season 1 is also now airing in Australia on ABC ! Watch it here !

Set in the ultimate crafting space, Curious Crafting is a short form pre-school age series about the joy of making crafts. I lead a rotating cast of adorable little preschoolers (including my own) making magic out of common household objects.

In each episode we transform recycled items into magical crafts like a milk carton school bus, paper bag puppet or cotton pad turtle. The crafters learn and laugh their way through each activity while demonstrating what their young imaginations can create. 

Curious Crafting shares the adventure and joy of making art with takeaway lessons for creating crafts at home.

This show designed for toddlers and preschoolers 2.5 years old and up. 

Filed Under:

• Three Year Olds
• Two Year Olds

Other Posts You May Like...

How to Set Up Fall Loose Parts Play for Kids

DIY Learning Activities for Toddlers

Quick Fall Crafts for Toddlers Using Leaves

21 Rainy Day Activities for Preschoolers

Review and rate this post cancel reply.

I love hearing from you! Submit your question or review here. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked*.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

1 comment on “100+ EASY Activities for 2-3 Year Olds”

Good rreading your post

• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar

This post might contain affiliate links. Click here for more information . Thanks for visiting!

The Ultimate List of 50+ At-Home Preschool Activities (Toddlers, Too!)

May 14, 2020 by Rachel Cooper

Last Updated on July 7, 2024 by Sheryl Cooper

Inside: Fill your time at home with these simple to set up at-home preschool activities, ranging from literacy games to yoga poses. Each idea builds important skills, too!

Finding ways to entertain your children at home often feels overwhelming. Finding ways to do this while focusing on their skill development can sound even harder. Don’t worry, putting together activities at home is simple and requires fairly basic supplies! The sorted list below will inspire you to fill your afternoons with fun fine motor games and art activities  .

For the most part, you probably have access to a good amount of the supplies used in these activities. If not, you can put together some great activities with similar structures with what you do have! Some of the common items used in these activities are tape, pipe cleaners, clothespins, and whatever toys you have on hand!

50+ At-Home Activities for Preschoolers (and Toddlers!)

Fine motor activities.

Squeezing Water with Basters – Add mini basters to a tub of water to work on squeezing the hand muscles.

Pipe Cleaner Beading – Preschoolers will use their pincer grasp to slide beads onto the pipe cleaners.

Q-Tip Foil Painting – Provide sheets of foil, paint, and q-tips to use as paint brushes.

Garlic Press Playdough – Show children how to squeeze playdough through a garlic press or citrus squeezer.

Cut Straw Threading – Cut straws into smaller pieces for preschoolers to thread onto yarn, creating a necklace.

Hole Punching Paper – Preschoolers will hole punch various colors of paper to strengthen hand muscles. (The Resourceful Mama)

Bead Drop – Cut out a lid with four small holes to drop beads through into a jar. (Modern Preschool)

Peeling Tape – Lay strips of painter’s tape down on a table for toddlers to peel off. (Hands On As We Grow)

Squeezing Sponges – Include some giant sponges into a bin of water for squeezing. (Things to Share and Remember)

Pipe Cleaner Weaving – Preschoolers will weave pipe cleaners back and forth through a cooling rack. (JDaniel4’s Mom)

Pom-Pom Tube Drop – Tape toilet paper tubes to the wall to create a course for the pom-poms to drop through. (Teaching Littles)

Clothespin Clipping – Provide a wire basket for children to clip clothespins onto. (School Time Snippets)

Cutting Strips – Print off these strips with lines for preschoolers to cut, working on their scissor skills. (Planes and Balloons)

Easy Paper Tunnels – Tape pieces of paper onto the ground in an arched formation for toddlers to push cars or a ball through. (Mama Papa Bubba)

Rubber Band Pinecones – Wrap rubber bands around pinecones to work on coordination. (The Imagination Tree)

Math and Cognitive Skill Activities

Playdough Counting Mats – Roll balls of playdough to match the number on the printable mats.

Number Matching with Paper Cups – Match the number on top of the paper cups with the amount of dots on the paper. (Fun Learning for Kids)

DIY Counting Cards – Make your own counting cards using stickers or dots. (Learn with Play at Home)

Car Park Numbers – Tape numbers on top of toy cars and create a cardboard parking lot with numbered spaces to match them together. (B-Inspired Mama)

Shape Hunt – Hide different shape cut-outs around your space for preschoolers to hunt for and find.

Simple Shape Puzzles – Draw shapes onto multiple popsicle sticks for homemade puzzle pieces. (Toddler At Play)

Tape Shape Outlines – Put down outlines of shapes using painter’s tape to trace around with different small objects. (Learning 4 Kids)

House Color Hunt – Have a scavenger hunt where preschoolers have to search for different objects around the house that match the colors on the sheet. (Toddler At Play)

Shape Sorting – Sort toys and various objects into piles on the floor by shape. (Busy Toddler)

Fill to the Line – Draw or tape a line over a clear container for preschoolers to fill to that line. (Days With Grey)

Art Activities

Circle Stampers – Simply dip empty paper rolls into various colors of paint to make a stamp for circle shapes.

Watercolor Garland – Paint with watercolors and q-tips to create a beautiful decoration. (Artbar)

Sponge Painting – Clip sponges with clothespins to make sponge brushes. (Busy Toddler)

Paper Plate Sculptures – Decorate paper plates and cut the sides to connect the plates together. (Kids Activities)

Fizzy Flour Paint – Create your own flour paint that fizzes using flour and baking soda. (Playdough to Plato)

Sponge Rainbow – Paint the different colors of the rainbow on a sponge to swipe a rainbow onto paper.

Blow Paint – Use a straw to blow the watercolors around the paper, creating a fun effect. (Simple Everyday Mom)

Yarn Process Art – Drag the pieces of yarn around the paper through the paint. (Buggy and Buddy)

DIY Paintbrushes – Experiment with clipping various objects to clothespins to make unique paintbrushes. (The Inspired Home)

Painting With Bubbles – Use a paint and soap mixture to blow bubbles onto the paper, leaving an outline of them behind. (Early Learning Ideas)

Citrus Printing – Cut citrus fruits in half to stamp with paint, leaving behind a fun print. (Rhythms of Play)

Literacy Activities

Introduce Journals – Show your preschooler how journals are books for writing and drawing their thoughts in.

Cupcake Tin Letter Sorting – Preschoolers will sort out the letters into the correct cupcake liner. (The Imagination Tree)

Post-It Alphabet – Write down letters onto post-it notes for kids to stick under the matching letter. (Busy Toddler)

Playdough Name Prints – Push foam or magnetic letters into the playdough to make a print of the child’s name letter by letter. (123 Homeschool 4 Me)

Name Stamp – Glue foam letters backwards to a popsicle stick to create a stamp. (My Bored Toddler)

Touch and Feel Letters – Glue pipe cleaners onto pieces of cardboard to create letters that toddlers can touch. (Teach Me Mommy)

Sensory Letter Hunt – Bury letters in a sensory bin for preschoolers to dig through and match onto the paper. (Busy Toddler)

Hidden Letters – Write down the child’s name with white crayon for them to reveal with watercolors. (Fantastic Fun and Learning)

Large Motor Activities

Bubble Wrap Runway – Tape leftover bubble wrap down onto the ground for toddlers to walk on and pop. (Hands On As We Grow)

Hallway Maze – Tape streamers to the walls of your hallway to make a laser maze to move through without touching the streamers. (It’s Always Autumn)

Indoor Obstacle Course – Set up a simple obstacle course within your own home to promote movement. (How to Run a Home Daycare)

Walk the Lines – Lay lines of painters tape on the ground in various paths for toddlers to follow. (Hands On As We Grow)

Texture Walk – Tape various materials onto the ground for toddlers to walk on, experiencing all of the different textures. (A Cotton Kandi Life)

Yoga for Kids – Get the body moving and stretching with these yoga poses for young kids. (Kids Yoga Stories)

Toddler and Preschool Activity Plans

Looking for an entire year’s worth of learning activities? We’ve done the work for you!

I have helped create each of these packets, along with a team of talented educators and homeschoolers.

Easy to follow activity plans include activity modifications and adaptations to meet the needs of all learners.

Every theme comes with recommended reading lists, songs, material lists, and more.

Click on the graphics below for more details.

Toddlers (18 – 36 months):

Preschool (3 – 5 Years):

FREE CIRCLE TIME PLANNER!

Get your FREE circle time planner as a gift when you subscribe to my free weekly newsletters.

Here is my Privacy Policy

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

Reader Interactions

May 27, 2020 at 5:48 am

Sorting colors is a quick and simple activity to do with your toddler- they will have so much fun, they will not even notice how much learning is going on.

Most parents have muffin tins, and they’re perfect to use for sorting colors. All you need is some construction paper and something to sort. We love the rainbow bears !

Read Books Together

One of the best things you can do with your 2-3 year old is to read books together. Reading books helps your child develop their early language skills and takes them away on fun adventures.

Reading to your kids is one of the best things you can do for their future education, so use up all opportunities you can!

Related : 20+ Best Books for 2 Year Olds

Apple Number Match: Free Apple Printables

Apples are a quintessential fall theme since all of the local orchards open for picking. Who doesn’t love some apple cider? So, grab some apple printables to go along with the theme.

These apple number match is great for toddlers and preschoolers who need practice counting from 1-20. They work on various skills, such as:

• Practice Counting 
• Number Recognition 
• One-to-One Correspondence

Play Board Games

Board games might not be your first thought when finding activities for 2-3 year olds, but kids love them. If you find board games that work for your child, you will enjoy them together. They’re perfect family activities!

Related : Perfect Board Games for 2 Year Olds

Clothespin Letter Match Preschool Activity

This clothespin letter match activity is perfect for a cold winter day when you are looking for an activity with very little supplies and easy set up.

The best thing about this activity is it is using supplies you probably already have laying around the house! All you need is clothespins, a paper plate, and a marker.

Q-Tip Painting

Grab some cotton swabs and paper. You can practice early pre-writing skills with your 2-3 year old. Start by writing out letters or shapes on the paper and give them cotton swabs to paint with.

It’s definitely one of my favorite activities for 2-3 year olds. We always have cotton swabs available, and a little bit of paint goes a long way with using these for painting. Plus, holding the cotton swabs help with fine motor skills!

Color in a Coloring Book

Sometimes, you don’t need fancy activities for 2-3 year olds. All you need is some nice coloring books and crayons.

My kids are LOVING these new Twistable Crayons since they never seemed to want to use crayons after they got to the paper. These always seem new.

I grab coloring books at the grocery store; they’re cheap at the Dollar Tree as well!

Make Glitter Sensory Bottles

Sensory bottles can be a calming experience for your little one. They’re great for babies, toddlers, preschoolers or any child who loves visually stimulating objects.

The great thing is you don’t have to buy them! Instead, you can save money and make them yourself at home with inexpensive materials from the store and what you already have in hand.

Splash in the Bathtub

Once again, skip those complicated activities for 2-3 year olds and put your kid in the bathtub. Toddlers and preschoolers love to splash, so toss in some bath toys.

I promise you; your child will be entertained!

Ocean Dot Activities

Our house loves all things ocean related like sharks and whales. So, I made this set of dot printables for my preschoolers to enjoy.

2-3 year olds love dot markers ! These are fun for coloring and activities; we use them all the time. Grab a set and my favorite ocean dot activities printables.

Easter Egg Letter Match

Use Easter eggs to play a letter match game to help your child learn their uppercase and lowercase letters while having fun with a favorite – and cheap – toy. All you have to do is use a permanent marker to write an uppercase case or lowercase letter on either side of the egg.

Then, your child has to find the matching one!

Washing Toys

Grab some play trucks and fill a small tub with water. Give your child a sponge and some dish soap. Then, let him wash them!

It’s such a simple idea, but it’s still fun for little kids regardless. 2-3 year olds love imaginative play like this that also focuses on real life skills.

Fishing For Letters Outdoor Activity

Fishing for Letters is a simple activity that your toddler will love! There is very little prep and it also creates a fun learning experience for them. You can use various tools besides bath letters for whatever your child is learning at the time, whether it be shapes, animals, numbers, etc. 

Grab a baby pool and some foam letters . It’s easy to throw this activity together on a warm summer day!

Shaving Cream Writing

It’s really easy to practice shaving cream writing, and if you’re worried that your toddler will put it in their mouth, whipped cream works well too. 

This is one of those activities I bet you did when you were in school; it’s an excellent pre-writing activity. Let your child draw out shapes, letters, and CVC words as they learn them!

Enjoy Some Stickers

Want to keep your 2-3 year old busy for awhile? Give him some paper and a book of stickers . Kids love to stick stickers somewhere, so give them an appropriate outlet to do so.

Related : 31 Fun and Simple Sticker Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Work on Puzzles

Puzzles are great for little kids. Make sure you get chunky puzzles with only a few pieces; I like the ones with the knobs for easy holding.

One of my kids’ favorite puzzles is the Melissa & Doug Farm Animal Puzzle . It’s easy for 2-3 year olds, and each piece has a peg for easy grabbing.

Sidewalk Chalk Shape Learning Game

This sidewalk chalk shape game is as simple as it gets and will keep your toddler or preschooler busy for a bit!

All you need is some sidewalk chalk and pavement and you have a fun game for your little one. It’s like a life-size game board where your child can learn, explore, or practice their shapes and colors. 

Play Simon Says

Start with simple directions like “Simon says touch your toes.” Over time, move into silly things like “Simon says hop on your foot or tug your ear.”

This is a great game to develop gross motor skills and work on following directions. Plus, you can play this game with your older kids as well as little kids. Everyone thinks Simon says is fun!

No-Mess Finger Paint Activity

Kids love finger painting, but not everyone wants to deal with the mess. Some days, I just want my kids to have fun without having to scrub up paint that ends up everywhere.

Instead, use this no-mess finger paint activity. Finger paint works great in plastic bags, and kids still get to squish and have fun.

Cutting Play-Doh

Cutting is an important skill for 2-3 year olds to begin practicing. It takes years to master, but they need the practice. One of the best ways to practice cutting is to use Play-Doh.

All you have to do is give your toddler or preschooler a set of kid-safe scissors and some play dough. Tell them to roll it out like a snake and cut it into pieces. It’s fun and easy to put together!

Winter Cutting Strips

Another way to practice cutting is with cutting strips. I set out a basket for my preschooler, and he can practice cutting whenever he wants.

Cutting strips have different lines and shapes for your child to cut. It gives them direction rather than just cutting small pieces of paper all over your floor.

Grab my free printable winter cutting strips !

Winter Sensory Bin with Fake Snow

If you need activities for 2-3 year olds to stay busy in the winter, make a winter sensory bin with fake snow. Grab some items you have around the house and make a winter wonderland for your child to enjoy.

Related : DIY Fake Snow For Sensory Play

Easter Egg Water Scoop

Kids love sensory activities, and they also love playing in water. An Easter egg water scoop activity will keep your 2-3 year old busy for awhile.

It’s definitely a crowd pleaser, and I suggest putting down a towel to reduce your clean up. All you have to do is put Easter eggs into a container of water, and give your child a spoon or cup for scooping them.

He will have tons of fun!

Ocean Scene Jello Toy Dig Sensory Bin

Young children LOVE to get messy! Their little hands and minds are so eager to dig into whatever materials they can find.

One fun and messy sensory experience for babies, toddlers, or preschoolers is playing with  Jell-O . In fact, any gelatin material will provide endless fun and sensory play for your child. Simply mix in some toys or fun new objects and you’ve got an exciting new activity for your little one.

Fall Farm Festival Scavenger Hunt

Fall is the perfect time to head to local pumpkin patches or apple orchards. You can add to the fun by bringing along a fall farm scavenger hunt. It keeps your child entertained and watching for everything on the list!

Pom Pom Tube Drop

This PomPom Tube Drop activity is very simple and only requires 3 items. Most of them you probably already have at home, making it one of our favorite activities for 2-3 year olds. I love when I have what is needed on hand!

Fine Motor Activities for 2 – 3 Year Olds

Playdough creations.

Roll, squish, and shape playdough into various forms, allowing your little ones to exercise their fine motor skills and unleash their creativity.

Threading Beads

Provide large, colorful beads and a shoelace or string. Encourage your child to thread the beads, enhancing their hand-eye coordination.

Finger Painting

Finger painting is a fantastic fine motor activity. Give your child non-toxic finger paints and let them explore their artistic talents on paper.

Related Post: Why are Fine Motor Skills Important?

Learning With Letters and Numbers

Alphabet hunt.

Hide foam letters around the room or outside and have your child find them. Or as an alternative write letters and have your child find items that begin with that letter.

As they find each letter, you can say its name together, helping them become familiar with the alphabet.

Number Matching

Create number cards and corresponding cards with the same number of dots or objects. Let your child match the numbers, introducing them to early math concepts.

Counting Games

Use everyday objects like buttons or candies to practice counting. Count them together, and make it a game to see who can count the most.

Sensory Play

Sensory bins.

Fill a container with rice, beans, or sand and hide small toys or objects within. Your child will enjoy digging and discovering hidden treasures, stimulating their sense of touch.

On a warm day, set up a water table or simply provide bowls of water and various containers. Let them pour, splash, and experiment with water.

Nature Exploration

Take nature walks and encourage your child to touch leaves, flowers, and rocks. Describe the different textures and colors they encounter.

You don’t need a planned activity for your toddler or preschooler each day. Free play is always a favorite, but try adding a few planned activities to your week. It will help your child develop new skills and have fun, especially when it’s too cold to go outside!

Related posts:

Resources for parents to get through the challenges.

21 Fun Things to Do with a 3-Year-Old: Put that Toddler Energy to Good Use

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.

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 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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

MomInformed is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

• Privacy Policy

© 2024 mominformed.com - All Rights Reserved

MomInformed.com is operated by Bon Ventures SRL, a registered company in Romania (Company No. 37394109), Str. Barbu Vacarescu 164A, Cladirea C1, 020285, Bucharest. Telephone +40 745 310 155

20 Engaging Homeschool Toddler Activities That Aren’t Hard to Do

Posted on Published: September 7, 2020  - Last updated: August 1, 2023

While there is no NEED to introduce homeschool toddler activities to your child as far as educational purposes go, you may still want to which is why I’ve made this list of easy homeschool toddler activities.

I am a firm believer in play-based learning for as long as possible and therefore, you won’t find any bookwork listed here.

The very best thing you can do for your toddler is to allow them to use their imagination to explore and learn from the world around them.

Easy Homeschool Toddler Activities

The activities listed below can be done with your toddler, but many of them can also be done independently and are therefore a great option for keeping little ones busy while you homeschool older children.

#1 Think Fun Roll & Play

We’ve owned this game for a couple of years now and my kids love it!

Find it here .

I would say that it is ideal to start using around age two, but as far as when they will outgrow it, I’ve yet to see.

My 5.5 year old still really enjoys playing this with his sisters.

It is a super fun way for them to learn and recognize colors, shapes, animals, and emotions.

You can simplify it or make it a little more complex without much effort at all.

I also love that it is easy to pack and take along with you if you wanted to.

It is well worth adding to your game collection. Find it here .

#2 Alphabet Sand

Teaching children their letters can be done in so many different ways, but one of my favorites is to put sand (or rice) in a baking tray and then let them use their fingers to draw letters.

It is a wonderful sensory play activity that will increase motor skill development and help them learn their letters.

If you have a really little one or just aren’t yet interested in teaching the alphabet, you can still set it up and just let them draw whatever they’d like.

This would also be a great activity for working on shape recognition.

#3 Letter Hunt

Doing a letter hunt is one of my kids favorite activities.

Hide the alphabet around your home or in your yard and have them go looking.

They can then tell you the sound and name of the letter before going to look for the next one.

You can use flashcards or foam letters like these ones .

#4 Let’s Play School

Let’s Play School is a play-based curriculum where you’ll find a ton of games that are perfect for preschool-early elementary.

I use their monthly subscription and it has just been wonderful.

Both my 3-year old and 5-year old love the games and always ask to do them over and over again.

If you’re looking specifically for play-based, educational activities then Let’s Play School is exactly what you need.

#5 Sensory Bins

I have a whole list of sensory bin suggestions here in this post but really you don’t need to have anything perfectly themed for it to work.

Honestly, playing in a muddy puddle outside is a perfect sensory activity, but if you need something more contained then sensory bins are a great way to provide the experience.

If there is only one thing you do with your toddler in a day then I highly suggest it be reading.

Reading to your children has a multitude of benefits and it is a wonderful time to be intentional and close with them.

If your toddler is one that doesn’t want to sit still, give them something to do while you’re reading to them.

A sensory bin, coloring pages, or other hands-on activity will do perfectly.

Here are some of our favorite books for toddlers:

#7 Coloring

Some kids love coloring in (like my 3-year old) while others just could not care less (like my 5-year old).

I wouldn’t push this if your kid just isn’t into it, but if you want some fun coloring sheets then check out these free ones available on my blog.

#8 Color Sorting

There are so many different ways you can set up color sorting activities, but one of my favorites is to assign the job of matching socks to your toddler.

It will allow them to help with the household chores while also learning patterns and colors.

So often we put education into a box when in reality, our children can learn through the most basic of daily activities.

#9 Playdough

Playdough is the perfect sensory play activity that is super affordable, creative, and great for rainy days.

You can use it to teach concepts if that’s what you want, or just leave your toddler to have fun and use their imagination.

You can buy it or make your own. We’ve had fun getting creative with glitter and colors in the past.

#10 Painting

I’ll be honest…you won’t find painting happening that often in our home unless it is happening outside.

However, it is a legitimate toddler activity that is super fun (for the kid) if you can manage to cope with the liquid color potentially being strewn around your home.

Personally, I like to give my kids watercolor paints and these water pens to keep the mess to a minimum while still allowing them to have fun with it.

#11 Nature Walk

Children can learn so much by simply observing the world around them.

Take your toddler on a nature walk. Go to a park and just let them run around.

If there’s an animal you spy, strike up a conversation about it and then look up some Youtube videos or read some books about it when you get home.

This is the perfect activity for releasing some of that toddler energy as well.

#12 Scavenger Hunt

You can do this activity at home, in your yard, or on a walk.

Create a list of things for your toddler to look for and then let them at it.

Perhaps think of a fun prize for them to get once they’ve found all of the items.

#13 Kinetic Sand

Here’s another fun sensory activity that is easy to put together.

You can buy kinetic sand or even make your own! Here’s a DIY recipe for you .

#14 Cutting Practice

Some toddlers love to cut things once they discover scissors (ahem – hair) so why not allow them to cut things that they’re allowed to?

I have a pile of scrap paper that is always available to my kids for crafts and cutting.

I like safety scissors for my younger toddlers but by around age four, we move to this kind .

If your little one is really struggling with paper, then cutting playdough is a really great alternative.

#15 Crafting Fun

Sometimes the simplest of things brings the most pleasure.

I would encourage you to have a supply of craft items (nothing fancy) available to your toddler to just craft their heart away.

As I mentioned above, we have a pile of scrap paper as well as glue sticks , tape, scissors, and coloring supplies.

This is more than enough for my kids to have a blast dreaming up and creating their own craft ideas.

#16 Dress Ups

I know that you may not equate dress ups with learning but the reality is that toddlers learn SO MUCH through role play.

Get some basic dress up items and have them in a designated area for you toddler to use.

A great idea is to rotate the items so that the novelty doesn’t wear off too quickly.

#17 Wipe-Clean Books

If you do have a child that loves to draw then a good thing to have on hand are wipe-clean books .

They can have all the fun in the world tracing and drawing and then doing it all over again.

#18 Magnatiles

We invested in some Magnatiles a couple of years ago and I love them so much for all of my kids.

Even toddlers under age two will enjoy playing with them.

They’re so good for hand-eye coordination, spatial reasoning, color and shape recognition, as well as fine motor development.

There are several brands now available which you can take a look at here .

#19 Alphabet Manipulatives

Having a set (or two) of alphabet manipulatives has proven so valuable to our homeschool for many ages, but especially for my toddlers.

They can have fun exploring the alphabet without any pressure and they are just great for kinesthetic learners.

There is also a multitude of games that you can come up with using them.

#20 Sidewalk Chalk

My children love it when we bring out the sidewalk chalk . It is the perfect activity to help increase fine motor skills and color recognition.

Plus, it is just a really fun activity to do with your toddler or all together as a family.

I hope that this list of homeschool toddler activities has given you some great jumping-off points but ultimately, I hope that they bring joy and fun to your home.

Homeschooling with a toddler in tow can be challenging (to say the least) but it is a short-lived time that is also full of so many precious things if you’ll stop to look for them.

You May Also Like…

Hi! I’m Christine – a homeschooling mom of three. I see homeschooling simply as another facet of parenting. Just as you teach your child to tie their shoes, you can also teach them how to read and do arithmetic. As a second-generation homeschooler, I know the endless benefits that homeschooling offers. I went on to complete a Bachelor of Nursing and have now chosen to stay at home with my children (while also running an online business).

I have a heart for mothers that feel as though they are just existing from day to day and are longing for more. You can find out more about me and my family over on my ‘ About Me ‘ page.

As well as the abundance of posts you’ll find on my blog, you can also find me over at iHomeschool Network and Today Parenting .