Classes and Activities for Your Preschooler

  • Sumo

The task of selecting appropriate classes and activities for your child can be daunting. There are so many opportunities available, so you want to find a balance that works well for your family preferences, schedule and budget. Here, we’ve eliminated the mystery by giving you a several suggestions about activities that are developmentally appropriate for your child at different ages and stages of their life.

Use this information to help you navigate what things you’d like to try out. Remember that if you make an investment of time and money in an activity for your child that isn’t working well, you can always reevaluate your needs depending on your particular circumstance. Every child and family is different, so don’t feel pressure to keep up with every class or activity that is out there. Choose wisely some options that will support the goals you have and are affordable for you.

Birth-Age 1

This age can be exhausting for parents. Bringing home a new baby means you are actively working on all the basics: eating, sleeping and growing.  While there are classes available for infants, they aren’t really necessary.  Babies are learning skills through every interaction with their family members, sometimes without us even realizing it. Activities to try at home may include:

  • Reading board books or cloth picture books together
  • Pointing to pictures and objects and naming them
  • Using sign language to communicate with your child
  • Playing Peek-a-Boo or hiding toys under a blanket
  • Clapping your hands and counting together
  • Stacking blocks and knocking them down
  • Making sounds and music with instruments
  • Singing fun, repetitive songs to your child

Ages 1-2

During this stage of development, your child is learning to walk and talk. Their vocabulary is expanding rapidly and they are able to sustain attention for longer periods of time. Naptimes still have a great importance in their development, so that may limit the amount of daily time you have outside of the home to engage in activities. Ideas for children this age are often things you can do at home and include things like:

  • Play dough fun
  • Color and shape sorting
  • Finger painting
  • Building block creations
  • Mega blocks or Lego building
  • Putting beads on a string
  • Bean bag toss
  • Treasure hunts
  • Nursery rhyme songs
  • Library story time
  • Play date groups or co-ops
  • Toddler music classes
  • Creative movement groups

Ages 3-5

The preschool years are such a fun time. Children begin learning more and expressing interest in a variety of subjects, sports and activities. Generally, kids around this age are in settings with peers their own age more often and for longer periods of time. 

There are an incredible number of events and activities that you can sign your child up for, but be careful not to overdo it. While is can be tempting to try out lots of things, a schedule that is too full can exhaust and overwhelm both you and your child. Remember that at this age, naptime or quiet time is very important to growth and development and having time to play and explore at home are still quite valuable in helping preschoolers develop a love of learning. Here are some options for you to consider during this stage:

  • Play and learn class
  • Preschool story time
  • Music enrichment group
  • Tumbling class or gymnastics program
  • Parent/child preschool group
  • Preschool co-op
  • Dance/ballet
  • Creative movement class
  • Swimming lessons
  • Soccer league
  • Karate class
  • Tee ball league

No matter what stage of life your child is in, there are so many valuable activities, classes and resources that you can utilize to help your child learn and grow. Kids love the excitement of trying new things and giving them the opportunity to explore will expand their desire to learn.

About the Author

Super Mom
I am a mom who loves my kids!

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