You just dropped a bundle on back-to-school supplies for your older kids and now you’re scrounging around for money to purchase another box of diapers for your infant. Where does that leave your preschooler?
You can show him how much you love him without spending a dime. Simply set up the following activities and have fun playing together:
Beads: String some plastic beads onto a straw in an easy pattern of alternating colors. Glue the first and last beads to the straw so they won’t slip off. Give your child another straw and have him string beads to match your sample. Once he gets the hang of it you can make the activity more challenging by stringing together tougher patterns and asking, “What comes next?”
Pasta/Beans/Rice: Fill a large plastic bin with dry pasta, dry beans or rice (whatever you can spare from your pantry). Then, give your preschooler measuring cups, bowls, spoons and ladles, and allow him to serve up a meal or use the ingredients as “sand.”
Indoor Camping: Drape a blanket over a table or set up a pup tent in the living room. Drag out some sleeping bags and make smores in the microwave. At night turn off all the lights and have a flashlight war or shadow puppet show.
Indoor Bowling: If you don’t have your own toy bowling set, then make your own using empty plastic soda bottles or cans. Then, use a small ball and see how many “pins” your preschooler can knock down.
Box of Fun: The next time you are at Home Depot, Sears or Lowe’s ask a manager if he would be willing to give you an empty refrigerator box. Your preschooler will love converting the boring box into a fort or mini playhouse. She can even decorate her new digs with markers, stickers or leftover contact paper.
Obstacle Course: You can set up an indoor or outdoor obstacle course using existing items, such as chairs, pillows, jump ropes, a mini trampoline and tables.
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Easy and Affordable End-of-Summer Activities for Preschoolers
Surviving the Summer with a Preschooler