Educational Activities and Play Ideas
Welcome to the exciting world of educational play! As we celebrate National Play Day, we can’t help but share our enthusiasm for the power of play in children’s development. Engaging in playful activities not only brings joy and laughter but also fosters essential skills and knowledge that will benefit your little ones in countless ways.
We firmly believe that learning through play is the most effective and enjoyable way for children to absorb information and develop vital skills.
In this guide, we present 10 fantastic educational activities that are perfect for National Play Day. Each activity is carefully selected to provide valuable learning experiences for your child. So, let’s dive in and discover the joy of learning through play!
Remember, adult supervision and guidance may be required for some of these activities, especially those involving potentially hazardous materials or tools. Have fun and enjoy learning through play!
1. Addition Pancakes
What you’ll need:
- Toy kitchen set or play food
- Number cards (optional)
How to play:
Prepare a fun cooking setup with the toy kitchen and play food. Use number cards to represent different quantities. Encourage your child to create “addition pancakes” by adding specific numbers of toppings together.
For example, “Can you make a pancake with 3 strawberries and 2 blueberries? How many toppings are there in total?”
Ages suitable for:
Preschool and Kindergarten (3-6 years)
Skills developed:
- Basic addition and counting skills
- Fine motor skills (manipulating play food)
- Cognitive development (problem-solving through math)
2. Coin Activities
What you’ll need:
- Coins (real or play)
- Small container or piggy bank
How to play:
Engage your child in coin-related activities. Sort coins by size or value, and count them together. Create simple transactions like “buying” toys or treats using play coins. Additionally, teach them about different coins and their worth.
Ages suitable for:
Preschool (3-6 years)
Skills developed:
- Counting and sorting skills
- Basic understanding of currency and money management
3. DIY Phone Speaker
What you’ll need:
- Empty paper towel roll or plastic cup
- Washi tape or stickers
- Pushpin or needle
- Smartphone with music or audio
How to play:
Guide your child in crafting their DIY phone speaker. Decorate the paper towel roll or plastic cup with washi tape or stickers to make it uniquely theirs. Then, using a pushpin or needle, carefully poke holes into the bottom of the roll or cup. Place the smartphone’s speaker against the holes and play music or audio. Witness the magic as the sound is amplified!
Ages suitable for:
Young Children (6-10 years)
Skills developed:
- Basic engineering concepts
- Fine motor skills (decorating and handling tools)
- Scientific curiosity (understanding sound amplification)
4. DIY Soda Rockets
What you’ll need:
- Empty plastic soda bottle
- Cork or rubber stopper
- Vinegar
- Bicarbonate of soda
- Funnel (optional)
- Outdoor space for launching
How to play:
Embark on a rocket-building adventure! Assist your child in creating their DIY soda rocket by adding vinegar and bicarbonate of soda to the soda bottle. Quickly cork the bottle, turn it upside down, and watch it launch into the sky!
Ages suitable for:
Young Children (6-10 years)
Skills developed:
- Understanding chemical reactions
- Fine motor skills (measuring and handling materials)
- Outdoor play and exploration
5. Propeller Car
What you’ll need:
- Toy car (preferably with wheels that can spin freely)
- Propeller (plastic or cardboard)
- Pin or thumbtack
- Straw (optional)
How to play:
Get ready for a race! Attach the propeller to the toy car using a pin or thumbtack. Alternatively, use a straw to blow air and make the propeller spin. Have fun racing the car and exploring different propulsion methods.
Ages suitable for:
Pre-school and Young Children (4-10 years)
Skills developed:
- Basic physics concepts (propulsion and motion)
Hand-eye coordination (racing and controlling the car)
Creativity in designing and testing different propellers
6. Paper Fish Making
What you’ll need:
- Coloured construction paper
- Scissors
- Markers or crayons
- Googly eyes or stickers (optional)
- Glue or tape
- Fishing line or string (optional)
How to play:
- Draw & Cut: Draw fish shapes on colored paper and carefully cut them out.
- Decorate: Use markers or crayons to add patterns and colors to the fish.
- Assemble: Glue or tape fins onto the fish body.
- Optional: Add googly eyes or stickers for extra fun.
Ages suitable for:
Young Children (6-10 years)
Skills developed:
- Creativity and artistic expression
- Fine motor skills
- Marine life and conservation awareness
- Imagination and storytelling
7. Simple Catapults
What you’ll need:
- Craft sticks (popsicle sticks)
- Rubber bands
- Plastic spoon
- Small objects for launching (e.g., pom-poms, marshmallows)
How to play:
Build simple catapults using craft sticks and rubber bands. Attach a plastic spoon to the end of the sticks, creating a launching platform. Load the spoon with small objects and let the launching fun begin!
Ages suitable for:
Young Children (6-10 years)
Skills developed:
- Basic engineering and construction skills
- Hand-eye coordination (aiming and launching)
- Understanding projectile motion
8. Simple Bird Automation
What you’ll need:
- Craft sticks (popsicle sticks)
- Rubber bands
- Index cards or heavy paper
- Markers or crayons
How to play:
Unleash creativity by making a simple bird automaton! Decorate the index cards or heavy paper to create bird designs. Attach the cards to craft sticks using rubber bands, then make your birds “fly” by rotating the sticks.
Ages suitable for:
Pre-school and Young Children (4-10 years)
Skills developed:
- Creativity and artistic expression
- Understanding basic mechanical movements
- Fine motor skills (decorating and assembling)
9. Gravity and Air Resistance
What you’ll need:
- Feathers
- Small objects (e.g., paper clips, small toys)
- Fan (optional)
How to play:
Explore the concepts of gravity and air resistance with simple experiments. Drop feathers and small objects to observe how they fall differently due to air resistance. For added fun, use a fan to demonstrate how air can affect falling objects.
Ages suitable for:
Young Children (6-10 years)
Skills developed:
- Understanding scientific concepts (gravity and air resistance)
- Critical thinking and observation skills
10. Experiment with Salt
What you’ll need:
- Table salt
- Small containers or cups
- Dropper or spoon
How to play:
Engage in a salt exploration adventure! Fill small containers with salt and provide a dropper or spoon for experimentation. Let your child explore and observe how salt behaves when mixed with water or other substances.
Ages suitable for:
Pre-school and Young Children (4-10 years)
Skills developed:
- Scientific exploration and experimentation
- Fine motor skills (using droppers or spoons)
- Basic understanding of solubility and chemical reactions
National Play Day is the perfect occasion to celebrate the wonders of educational play. These ten engaging activities offer a world of learning opportunities for your child, sparking their curiosity, creativity, and cognitive development. Remember, Dr. Amanda Gummer always emphasises the importance of playful learning, where children can explore, experiment, and grow while having a blast!