Parents of 0-5 year olds, I need your opinion :)

LauraBalyk

Hey everyone,
this is not fitness related so I posted it under the "chit chat fun" group, as I had no idea where to post.
I may be started a new position at my job called the early years program coordinator where I plan and implement progams for little ones from ages 0-5. For you moms/dads out there, what kind of playgroups do your wee ones enjoy the most !

alyssa92982

Arts and crafts, playtime or imagination time

jmadams111

Having raised 5 and have two grands, see no reason why tou can't combine both activities and fitness. Mine have always liked games of about anykind where they were doing something as simple as "kick the can" with what ever ball or other item was available to games of tag, etc.

Morninglory81

Sorting games for color, shape, size. Reading time my boys favorite is brown bear brown bear. We also put on music and dance around the room with colored scarves.

cem614

Try wall ball and some form of tag if you want to combine fitness and games. As for creative activities, mine always like coloring and creating pictures with felt balls and construction paper. We are also doing Halloween monsters made from toilet paper rolls, tissue paper, googly eyes, and construction paper.

My sister works for the YMCA and had another neat idea. She had people save their bones from their meals, then she would clean and dry them out. After, she would put them in sand and let the kids dig them up like they were digging up dinosaur bones.

JenS2586

Music, dancing and anything active seems to be the best for my kids. [I have 4, ages 0-6]. But then again my kids will be overly happy if I hand them a cloth and tell them to clean haha. They just like to be busy and feel 'grown up'. I would suggest whatever you decide, incorporate as much learning into the activities as possible. That's what I look for most, things that'll keep them busy, happy, but still help them advance mentally.

randomtai

My 4 year old loves computer time on abcmouse.com

WifeyGetsFit

This is wonderful! I have little ones in this age group, and I am also a teacher so I have a bit of experience with large motor activities for kiddos.

We like to go on hikes at our local nature area- sometimes doing scavenger hunts and things like that. We do dance parties at home a lot-- creating goofy dance moves and teaching them to each other. Another one is what we call the "animal game." My daughter is 3, so she can't read yet. I printed off pictures of animals and put them in a hat-- like charades. She will draw one, and act out the animal while we guess.

A couple I did with students: write letters or shapes outside with chalk and call out one at a time and have the kids run to that letter (can be modified for older kids with tougher questions), basic stretches/yoga poses, tag, dodge ball, etc.

As for other quiet activities, reading time, learning games, crafts, group activities, etc are always good!

TheFatFox

Anything with lots of colors

vnatural

Anything that allows her to put it in her mouth. She loves looking at her teeth marks lol.

devil_in_a_blue_dress

Mine is 4, she enjoys dress up, puppets, stories - she also like to play games on her Kindle and watch movies. She loves blocks and train sets. And also cooking -- we make a lot of cupcakes.

BostonStrong617

Most of this will focus on the Pren-Kindergarden aged kids

For the older ones, they LOVE stories. The toddlers do too but they can't attend to something as long as a child of 4-5 can. They love stories that involve things they know about in Pop culture or books that are about things going on around them, for example right now my kids are really into books about Fall--Apples, leaves changing, Halloween etc
Arts and Crafts are also great, kids love those dotters and they're great for teachers/parents as well because they don't make a mess. Simple crayons/paper, you can make home made finger pain that is safe to eat. There are also tons of fun projects you can do involving toilet paper rolls, google it!

If you have a budget for field trips going apple/pumpkin picking is a lot of fun if you can get the staff to handle it since taking kids out can be kinda crazy.

If you have the ability to get the kids on a computer or Ipad there are TONS of apps/games out there for ALL ages. It's a great asset. It's also something kids will be entertained by for a while.

Anything that involves movement, freeze tag, simon says, wiggles song etc. Sing alongs are fun too especially for kids who are at the age where they can memorize songs (this can be as young as two but more common in 3-4 y/o'

Board/Card games for the 3-5 year old kids. Puzzles work for almost all ages and kids love them.

A play kitchen, toy cars, blocks, legos are all fun toys too.

Pinterest is also your friend! I have gotten and/or adapted many great lessons from Pinterest!

I am a teacher, not a parent but I work in a Kindergarden with a background in PreK as well so I figured I'd share some stuf

Bernadette60614

Anything tactile and free forum: play doh, building sand castles, building forts out of blankets.

Singing and dancing...put on the Wiggles or Rafi and our son was a happy camper.

Water..for some reason, water tables, squirt guns.

Bubbles..making 'em and chasing them.

Bernadette60614

Anything tactile and free forum: play doh, building sand castles, building forts out of blankets.

Singing and dancing...put on the Wiggles or Rafi and our son was a happy camper.

Water..for some reason, water tables, squirt guns.

Bubbles..making 'em and chasing them.

They have endless energy, so nothing that forces them to keep that energy pent up.