Preschooler Playtime with Lots of Toys
Sometimes it is good to play with the same thing again and again. Other times it is nice to try something new. Mixing different types of toys together can help make playtime more exciting for both you and your child.
- Audience
- Caregiver
- Subject
- Open-Ended Play
- Age
- Pre-KPreschool
- Languages
- EnglishHaitian CreoleSpanish
Play is a natural way to support the parent-child bond. Try engaging your preschooler in playtime with lots of toys!
Get ready
Clear some space on the floor. Place two or more different toys on the floor and say, “Hmm… what should we do with these?”
Try this!
Cup bowling
Work together to build a tower that is wide at the bottom, like a pyramid. Give your child a ball. “Can you roll the ball to knock our tower down?” Then build a tall, thin tower. Try to knock it down. Take turns building and knocking down towers.
Pretend worlds
Use the cups, scarves, and some clean things from your recycling bin to make a pretend world for a stuffed animal. “Where will Bear sleep?” “Where will it find food?” An empty tissue box could be a cave. A scarf could be a pond. “What else does Bear need?”
Challenge yourselves!
Try some physical challenges. Balance a ball on a cup and say, “Can you carry it across the room without the ball falling?” Or try to jump three times with a cup on your head. Let your child make up some challenges for you too!
Safety tip!Take these activities outside. Just be sure to find a safe place where the balls cannot roll into the road.
While you play...
Watch carefully. Does a scarf become a shirt for a stuffed animal? Or maybe a pinecone from a walk becomes a tree in your child’s pretend world? Watch your child’s actions and listen to their words. They have so many new ideas as they grow!
Practice together. Using toys in new and different ways is a great way to practice being creative. Invite your child to share their ideas for how to play. “That idea sounds really exciting. Can you show me?”
Say, “Yay!” Your child has lots of ideas. Show them you are interested in their thinking. “Wow! I never thought of playing with the ball and the scarf like that! Let’s try it your way.”
Related Resources
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As your child gets older, something as simple as cups can still be a great toy. Use playtime as a way to have a conversation. Ask your child what they are doing. Then ask more questions. Your child will love that you are interested in them!
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