As a parent, you may be wondering if your child is learning the necessary life skills they need through their day to day activities. While life skills can be developed through instruction, they can also be developed through gameplay. These classic preschool classroom games are both fun and educational for young children.
Musical Chairs
Musical chairs help to teach many life skills, while also being a whimsically competitive game that children enjoy. To play musical chairs, you will need to set a certain number of chairs together in a circle facing outward.
Place one less chair than children are playing the game. Children walk around the circle when music is played and must find a chair when the music stops. If they do not, then they are out of the game and another chair is removed. This game helps children deal with their frustrations and allow them to exercise patience. If there is a disagreement, a child will need to use their words to settle it.
Simon Says
Simon Says is a game where the child who is designated as “Simon” will direct the other children by saying, “Simon says” and then an action. The children remain in the game as long as they follow the leader when they say, “Simon says” and only then.
This helps the children hone in on their listening skills. Children must also be able to follow instructions that the leader gives. Simon Says promotes active listening because if a child does not listen closely then they may be the only ones acting.
Hopscotch
Hopscotch is a classic game that is typically played on the sidewalk with chalk. However, there are some instances where a Hopscotch course may be made out of foam, such as at a school. Children use a rock or counter to toss into one of the squares of the Hopscotch course. Children then have to go through the course while hopping on one foot and avoid the square that their rock landed in.
This requires children to perform advanced planning to figure out the best way to avoid their rock. This game also allows children an opportunity to be patient while they wait for their turn to play the game.
Parachute
Parachute games for preschoolers involve a parachute or a large sheet. The children all hold the parachute or the sheet in a circle. While there can be many games involving the parachute, the majority of the games require that the children engage in teamwork with each other. For instance, a teacher may place a ball in the middle of the parachute. The children have to keep the ball moving but must keep it from falling off of the parachute. The children must try to move in sync with one another and gauge each other’s movements.
Red Light, Green Light
Playing Red Light, Green Light is a classic preschool game that is great for developing listening skills, as well as teaching patience. To play, there needs to be one child or teacher designated as the leader. Having a child as the leader also helps the children follow instructions from one of their peers.
The leader faces away from the group of the rest of the children to begin. When the leader is facing away from the group of children, they can move because that is a green light. When the leader turns to face them, that is a red light and everyone moving must stop. The children that get caught moving have to go back to the start. The end goal is for one of the other children to tap the leader on the shoulder.
Children that have to keep going back to the start will have to learn how to manage their frustration, while also maintaining patience. This will also help children try to control their impulses, as they will not be able to run forward whenever they want and will have to be strategic.
Hide and Seek
The end goal of hiding and Seek is to stay hidden for the longest amount of time without being found. Children want to be the last one found, to win the game. While the rest of the children hide, there will be one child who will close their eyes and count. Children will have to quickly assess where their best hiding spots may be, utilizing the process of elimination and honing in on their decision making.
The child who is trying to find the other children will need to utilize their problem-solving abilities and check multiple places. This may require a child to not become frustrated if they are not able to find someone and instead direct that energy towards trying new spots to check.
Duck, Duck, Goose
This game is one of the most popular preschool games. While it is a simple game, it is fun for kids to play. Children will need to sit in a circle. One child will need to get up and out of the circle and begin walking around the other children. This child that is walking will need to say “duck” while they touch another child’s head each time they pass another child. In their head, this child will then pick someone that they want to say “goose” to, instead of “duck”. That player will then chase the other child.
The goal is for the one walking around the children to not get tagged during this process. This game allows children to formulate a decision, as well as what happens when that decision has been made. Children may become more strategic, instead choosing children who may not be paying attention.
These classic preschool games allow children opportunities to develop important life skills. Life skills such as problem-solving, decision-making, and even dental hygiene are essential. Dental hygiene is something that should be taught at an early age. ABC Children’s Dentistry offers valuable skills to you and your child when it comes to oral hygiene. They help make it fun!