Whether it’s a cozy weekend at home or a quiet evening after school, your child’s natural curiosity doesn’t stop when they leave the classroom. At Creative Kids Academy, we believe that learning can—and should—happen everywhere! That’s why we’ve rounded up some of our favorite screen-free activities you can do at home using simple items you already have.
These activities are perfect for toddlers and preschoolers, designed to build cognitive, physical, social, and creative skills, just like those we develop in the classroom.
1. Easy Educational Games Using Household Items
You don’t need fancy toys to create meaningful learning moments! Try these simple setups using everyday items:
Color Sorting with Muffin Tins: Grab a muffin tin and fill it with colored pom-poms, buttons, or paper scraps. Have your child sort by color—great for visual recognition and fine motor skills!Alphabet Treasure Hunt: Write letters on sticky notes and hide them around your home. Challenge your child to find them all in order or spell their name.
Build a Fort = STEM Time: With a few chairs and blankets, your child can engineer their very own cozy space. It’s more than fun—it’s early problem-solving in action!
Pouring & Scooping Station: Fill a bin with rice, beans, or pasta. Add measuring cups and containers for endless sensory exploration.
2. Printable Activities for Hands-On Fun
Sometimes, a quiet coloring moment or focused tracing activity is just what the day needs. Try:
Shape Matching Sheets
Trace-the-Line Practice Pages
Color-by-Letter Printables
Simple Counting Exercises
3. Age-Specific Play Ideas
For Toddlers (1.5–3 years):
Bubble Wrap Stomp: Great for sensory play and gross motor development.
Texture Walk: Create a path using towels, bubble wrap, soft blankets, and other textured materials for barefoot exploration.
Cup Stacking Challenge: Simple stacking promotes hand-eye coordination.
For Preschoolers (3–5 years):
Story Cube Prompts: Create story dice with images and let them build silly stories.
Pretend Post Office: Have them write “letters” and deliver around the house.
“What’s Missing?” Game: Show them five objects, then remove one; what’s gone?
4. Why Learning Through Play Matters
Every moment of play is an opportunity for growth. These activities build foundational skills in language, math, problem-solving, and creativity. Most importantly, they show your child that learning is a joyful experience.
At Creative Kids Academy, our curriculum is rooted in these same principles. From infant care to our school-age programs, we nurture the whole child, at school and beyond.
5. Share the Fun!
We’d love to see how your little learner explores at home! Share photos of your child’s favorite activity and tag us on Facebook. And if you’re not yet part of the CKA family, schedule a tour today to learn more about our nurturing, play-based programs.