Preschool Play: Top Toys and Play Ideas for Three to Six Year Olds
Jess @learnandbloom | September 19, 2022
Why is play important for preschool children? There is no denying that play is fun, but it is also so much more! Through the simple act of playing, your child is learning about themselves and the world around them, developing important skills and beginning to solve problems. By providing your preschooler with rich and varied opportunities to play, you are supporting their cognitive, emotional, physical and social development - preparing them for their transition to school and laying strong foundations for the road ahead.
Preschool children are discovering their independence and much of their play at this stage of development will be self-directed and constructed. That said, adults still play an important role in supporting their children by providing the appropriate toys, resources, environment and opportunities for play and socialization. At this age, it is important to encourage your child to explore their interests through play, whether through imaginative or pretend play, sensory play, active play or art and craft activities.
Are you searching for toys and play ideas to support your child through their preschool years? In this guide, we hear from teacher and mum of four, Jess, who shares some of the wonderful ways she encourages her preschoolers to play:
Block Play
Over the past couple of years, I’ve seen how my 4 year old's play has progressed; from stacking, to simple structures, to becoming more symbolic and complex. As I observe him building, I also use the opportunity to discuss the mathematical concepts evident in his play (eg. symmetry, arrays, square numbers, fractions, spatial visualisation and patterns). The open-ended nature of blocks mean that they are not designed to teach one skill. Instead, they encourage children to be creative in coming up with their own ideas and in the process, discover new things and learn through play.
Self-Directed Learning
Our Treasures From Jennifer Hundred Frame has been a wonderful resource for my 4 year old to use whenever he wants to work with numbers or letters, and demonstrate his understanding of a concept. He likes to do sums on it and lately has shown increasing interest in using different mathematical symbols. Having quality resources aligned to my children’s interests has helped to promote self-directed learning in our home.
Art Space
Providing a variety of art supplies such as liquid watercolours, paint palettes, crayons and colouring pencils has helped to create an inviting art space in our home. In fact, it is one of my sons' favourite places to sit and create! Having these art supplies readily accessible means that when inspiration strikes, they are free to independently write, draw and paint.
Setting up an Invitation to Play
Set the scene and invite your children to let their imagination take over. We like to include open-ended toys such as blocks, rainbow arches, play silks and loose parts, as well as a selection of their favourite figures and vehicles. There are no rules! Why not create a themed invitation that taps into your child's current interests? Some popular themes might include 'On the Farm', 'Dinosaurs', 'Fairytales' or 'Outer Space'.
Other quick-to-prepare favourite play activities for preschoolers
Looking for more simple activities to keep your pre-schoolers engaged? Look no further than these easy-set-up, less-mess play ideas:
Sensory Play
Creating an adventure for the senses to explore can be as simple as filling a tub with coloured rice, loose parts and other sensory-stimulating elements such as bells, water and dried oats. A sensory tray can help little ones tune into their five senses while encouraging mindfulness.
Sensory Play Tray IdeasFor the simplest form of sensory play, head out into nature and explore the different textures, smells, sounds and sights just waiting to be discovered.
Raid the Recycling
Give a child a cardboard box and they will turn it into a fort, car, spaceship, house and at least a hundred other things too. Recycled materials often make for the best resources for playtime and craft activities. Consider keeping boxes, cartons, toilet rolls and anything else you may normally throw away for your child to use for their next project.
Dress Up and Role Play
Encourage your child to exercise their imagination and explore magical worlds through dress ups and role play. It is wonderful for developing and boosting their social awareness, problem-solving abilities and communication skills, as it promotes creative thinking by providing new ideas for them to explore in a fun and playful way.
Doll Play
The timeless game of 'Mums and Dads' has been around for decades and is popular amongst many children who enjoy engaging in role play. Not only does this form of play teach children about turn-taking, but it also assists them in developing their communication skills.
Outdoor Play
There are so many benefits to getting children outdoors and running free! Whether in the garden or exploring different natural environments, outdoor play can do wonders for children's physical and mental health and development, while also helping to develop an appreciation for nature and an awareness of important topics such as environmental conservation.
Bring the outdoors in! Incorporating elements of nature into your child's playtime can add new and exciting resources for them to explore. From flowers, leaves and sticks, to rocks, pebbles and sand; consider adding these things into craft activities, small world scenes or even sensory trays.
Loose Parts Play
Loose parts evoke imagination, creativity and exploration which can assist in the development of important skills for our little ones while also providing an opportunity for mindfulness and relaxation. They can be used in mandala creations, sensory trays, learning activities, small world scenes and even pretend play.
Bookish Play
Taking inspiration from your child's favourite book or film can open up a new door of play ideas for them to explore. Bookish Play helps children to develop a deeper understanding of a particular story, can assist in expanding vocabulary and provides opportunities to practice sequencing and retelling.
Active Play
Encouraging your child to move their body is not only great exercise for them, but also helps develop their fine motor skills. Resources such as the Wobbel Board and MOOV Baby Pikler Triangle are especially wonderful products for this type of play and can also be used in conjunction with other toys in order to make an obstacle course for example.