Wash the Floor
Materials
• Apple
• Sponge
Directions
1. Give your child a wet sponge and let her help you when you're washing the floor.
2. Once you know she will not automatically dump it, give her an inch or two of water in a small bucket or bowl.
3. She will have fun being your helper, and cleanup is easy!


Balloon Magic
Time
• 5 to 10 minutes
Materials
• Balloons
Directions
1. Your young child is learning about gravity from trial and error. This activity challenges those emerging concepts with unexpected variations. Blow up a few balloons and tie them off.
2. Rub each one on a wool carpet, sweater, or fur until enough electricity is generated so that when they are placed on the wall, they stick like magic. Note: dispose of all broken balloons immediately, as they pose a serious choke hazard.
Extensions
• When the balloon is electrified, it can be used to attract and lift your hair.
• Blow up balloons of different colors and stick them to the wall in similar groupings.
• Inflate them so that some are larger and sort onto the wall by size.

Learning About the Mailbox
Materials
• Shoebox with lid
• Scissors
• Unopened junk mail
Directions
1. Cut a large slit in the lid of a shoebox.
2. If you like, cover the box and lid (separately) with colored paper, or decorate with paints, markers, and stickers.
3. Place the lid on the box and show your toddler how to "mail" letters.
4. If you don't mind her doing so, she may enjoy ripping open the letters as much as mailing them.
5. Store the mail inside the box when play is over.

*For some reason the boys really loved this one, they want to pull the books out all the time*
Carpet Raceway Activity
Materials
• Books or scraps of wood
• Matchbox cars or other toys with wheels
Directions
1. Make a raceway or train track on a carpet by laying down books of equal thickness side by side to make a smooth lane, or use pieces of plywood or two-by-fours. (Your raceway can be any length and can be straight or have turns.)
2. This will transform the carpet into a smooth surface for racing toys with wheels.

Fishing Activity
Materials
• Construction paper
• Scissors
• Pen, crayon, or marker
• Small box, pot, or other container
Directions
1. Cut fish shapes out of colored construction paper.
2. On each fish write a different instruction: "Find something red"; "Count to ten"; "Touch your toes"; and so on.
3. Place the fish in a small box or container and let your child pick one fish at a time.
4. Read the instruction and have her perform it.


Hotter/Colder
Materials
• Small toys or edible treats
Directions
1. Hide several household objects, small toys or edible treats around the house and encourage your child to find them.
2. Tell her she is "hotter" when she is closer to the hidden item, "colder" as she moves away from it.


Indoor Treasure Hunt Game
Materials
• Small toys or snacks
• Treasure map (optional)
Directions
1. This is a great way to liven up a rainy day.
2. Have an indoor treasure hunt by hiding several small toys, books, or special snacks around the house.
3. Give your child clues or draw a map that leads to the treasure.


Newspaper Golf
Make golf clubs out of newspaper and tape, and your preschooler can play golf indoors.
Materials
• Newspaper
• Tape
• Golf or tennis balls
• Masking tape or paper
Directions
1. Make golf clubs for each player by rolling up several sheets of newspaper and taping them securely.
2. Lay down a sheet of paper or use masking tape to mark several "holes" on the floor or carpet.
3. Use your golf club to try to hit (roll) the ball to the hole.
4. Reward the winner (the first to hit the ball to the hole) with a raisin, chocolate chip, or other small treat.


Red Light/Green Light
1. Stand twenty to twenty-five feet away from your child.
2. When you say "green light," have her walk, run, hop, skip, or crawl toward you. She must stop when you say "red light."


What's Missing? Memory Game
Test your preschool child's memory skills. Can she tell what's missing in this fun game?

Materials
• Various household objects or small toys
Directions
1. Test your preschooler's memory skills by placing a few toys or household objects in front her.
2. Allow her to study them, then have her close her eyes while you remove one object.
3. See if she can tell you which object is missing.


Little Carpenter
Materials
• Golf tees
• Styrofoam
• Toy hammer
Directions
1. Give your child some golf tees, a toy hammer, and a piece of Styrofoam.
2. She can hammer the golf tees into the foam in a design, or just hammer for the sake of hammering.