Indoor Games to Play with your Preschooler on a Rainy Day

.Being stuck indoors on a rainy day does not need to be boring. Use rainy days as a way to spend quality time with your preschooler. Interacting with your child with age appropriate games is both a learning opportunity and a fun time.

 

Bottle Bowling

Bottle Bowling is a fun, indoor game.

• Clear an area long enough to roll a ball into the pins. A hallway or a long room is ideal.
• Use empty plastic bottles for the pins.
• Set up the bowling pins in a ten pin formation which resembles a triangle.
• Use a soft form or small rubber ball for rolling toward the pins.

As a parent or caregiver, you have the option to just play or keep score. Being in constant motion with rolling the ball and setting up the pins is a benefit of bottle bowling.

Board Games

Along with passing the time on a rainy day, board games are a learning opportunity for your preschooler. Playing a simple board game may actually help your preschooler with cognitive and fine motor skill development. Counting, color recognition, the value of taking turns, patience, and other learning experiences will occur.

• Chutes and Ladders
• Card games
• Picture Bingo
• The Ladybug Game
• Sequence for Kids
• Memory games
• Matching games
• Perfection
• Puzzle boards
• Toss Across

As a parent, you will know the best type of board game to play with your preschooler. The gaming experience should be fun without too much pressure to win.

Plastic Cup Ball Catch

The plastic cup ball catch game is easy to implement. Simply use plastic cups to catch the ball. Ping pong balls or soft foam balls are the safest choices for indoors. Trying to catch the ball in your cup, you may toss the ball to each other.

Another option is to place the cups on the floor in different lengths. Easily prevent the cups from tipping over by using masking tape to secure the cups to the floor. Use the masking tape to create a line for your preschooler to stand. Now, simply throw the balls into the cups. For an added learning experience, assign numbers to the cups. As the cups get further away, assign a higher number. The one with the most points wins.

Hunting for Colors

The color hunt game helps your preschooler recognize and identify colors. Using a large poster board, draw out color squares. Use the basic colors for the game, including red, orange, blue, green, purple, yellow, black, and white. Now, simply ask your preschooler to find objects or toys with the exact color.

From store bought board games to homemade games, spending time indoors on a rainy day can be a fun adventure. At Montessori Childrens Center, our private day care in Fremont, CA, encourages child to explore and learn through play. Contact us today to learn about the Montessori approach to hands-on learning.

This article originally appeared on Montessori Children Centers’ blog at http://montessorifremont.tumblr.com/post/161583273833/indoor-games-to-play-with-your-preschooler-on-a.