6 Ideas to Try Right Now
Sticker Sorting Game
- 1Draw sections on paper (colours, shapes, animals).
- 2Give your child a sticker sheet.
- 3Challenge: put each sticker in the right section.
Simon Says
- 1One person is Simon.
- 2Simon gives instructions: 'Simon says jump!'
- 3Only follow if it starts with 'Simon says' — catch everyone out!
Shadow Puppets
- 1Darken the room and point a lamp at the wall.
- 2Use your hands to make animal shadows.
- 3Tell a story with shadow characters.
Nature Soup
- 1Give your child a bucket with a little water.
- 2They collect leaves, sticks, flowers, and mud from outside.
- 3Mix it all together to make 'magic soup'.
Feelings Faces Game
- 1Draw 4 faces on paper plates: happy, sad, angry, surprised.
- 2Call out a feeling and your child holds up the right face.
- 3Swap: your child calls it, you hold it up.
This builds emotional vocabulary — one of the best 3–4yo investments.
Marble Run (No Kit Needed)
- 1Tape cardboard tubes (toilet rolls) at angles down the wall.
- 2Drop a marble in the top and watch it travel down.
- 3Experiment with angles to make it go faster or slower.
