45 Fun-filled Preschool Activities for 4-Year-Olds | 2023

Preschool years are a crucial time for a child’s development and growth. At the age of 4, children are curious, energetic, and eager to explore the world around them. 

Providing them with various engaging activities that promote learning, creativity, and social interaction is important. This guide presents 45 fun-filled preschool activities for 4 year olds in the year 2023. 

These activities are designed to be educational and enjoyable, ensuring children have a great time while developing essential skills.

By engaging in these 45 fun-filled preschool activities 4 year olds in 2023 can embark on a journey of discovery, learning, and growth. 

These activities are designed to be enjoyable and nurture their cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development. 

So let’s dive into this treasure trove of ideas and make the preschool years 2023 a memorable and enriching experience for our little ones!

45 Fun-filled Preschool Activities for 4-Year-Olds | 2023

Here are learning activities for 4-year-olds in preschools that are interesting and educative:

1. Sensory Bin Alphabet Hunt

A sensory bin Alphabet hunt is one of the preschool activities for 4-year-olds. Fill a sensory bin with materials like rice or sand, and hide foam letters inside. Children can search for letters and practice letter recognition as they find them.

2. DIY Puffy Paint

Another preschool activity for 4-year-old children is DIY Puffy paint. To do this, create homemade puffy paint by mixing equal shaving cream and glue. Children can use the paint to create textured artwork that puffs up when it dries.

3. Number Hopscotch

Draw a hopscotch grid on the ground with numbers instead of shapes. Children can practice number recognition and counting as they hop through the grid.

4. Paper Plate Masks

Provide paper plates and art supplies for children to decorate and transform into their own unique masks. Encourage imaginative play and storytelling with the masks.

5. Rainbow Fruit Skewers

Rainbow fruit Skewers is one of the fun-filled Preschool Activities for 4-Year-Olds. It helps children create colorful fruit skewers using a variety of fresh fruits. This activity promotes healthy eating habits and fine motor skills.

6. Name Tracing

Write each child’s name on paper and provide markers or crayons. Encourage them to trace their names to practice letter formation and name recognition.

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7. Shape Sorting Relay

This is another 4-year-old preschool activity that can help them. This is how it works; Set up stations with different shapes and have children sort and transfer objects to the corresponding shape station, promoting shape recognition and teamwork.

8. Puppet Making Workshop

Provide materials such as socks, buttons, and yarn for children to create their own puppets. They can then use their puppets for imaginative play and storytelling.

9. Sensory Nature Collage

Sensory nature collage is a preschool activity for 4-year-olds. It takes children on a nature walk and collects various natural materials. Provide glue and paper to create collages using the items they found.

10. Puzzles and Problem-Solving

Offer age-appropriate puzzles for children to solve independently or in small groups. Puzzles help develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and spatial reasoning skills.

11. Color Mixing Experiment

Set up a color mixing station with cups of primary colors (red, blue, yellow) and encourage children to mix the colors to create secondary colors.

12. Indoor Bowling

Create a bowling alley using plastic bottles and a softball. Children can take turns rolling the ball and counting how many pins they knock down.

13. Texture Walk

Texture Walk is one of the numerous craft activities for 4-year-olds that helps them learn faster. It involves preparing a sensory path using various materials like bubble wrap, fabric, sandpaper, and foam. Children can walk barefoot and describe the different textures they feel.

14. Construction Zone

The construction zone is among the fun-filled preschool activities your child will enjoy. To do this, provide blocks, construction vehicles, and tools for children to engage in imaginative play as builders and engineers, constructing their own structures.

15. Paper Airplane Race

Help children fold and decorate paper airplanes, then have a friendly competition to see whose airplane flies the farthest or stays in the air the longest. This is one of the craft activities for 4-year-olds. 

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16. Shadow Tracing

On a sunny day, take children outside and have them trace their shadows with sidewalk chalk. Discuss concepts of light and shadow while fostering creativity.

17. Sensory Playdough

Add scents, textures, or colors to playdough to create a sensory experience. Children can explore the different variations of playdough and engage their senses.

18. Alphabet Hop

Place large foam or paper letters on the floor and call out a letter. Children can hop to the corresponding letter, reinforcing letter recognition and gross motor skills.

19. Marble Painting

Marble painting is listed among the preschool activities for 4-year-olds. It is done by placing paper and a few drops of paint in a shallow box. Children can tilt the box to guide the marble and create beautiful swirling patterns on the paper.

20. Science Exploration

Conduct simple science experiments such as mixing baking soda and vinegar to create a fizzy reaction or observing how ice melts at different temperatures.

21. Animal Charades

Write down different animal names on small pieces of paper and have children take turns acting out the animals for others to guess.

22. Texture Matching

Collect textured materials such as fabric, sandpaper, felt, and feathers. Have children match the textures by touch or create texture boards by gluing the materials onto cardboard.

23. Sensory Bin Alphabet Soup

Fill a bin with colored water and foam letters. Children can scoop and identify letters while engaging in a sensory experience.

24. Playdough Pizza Shop

Provide playdough, rolling pins, and toppings like beads or buttons. Children can create their own playdough pizzas and practice taking orders and serving customers.

25. Science Sensory Bottles

Create sensory bottles filled with glitter, water, or small objects. Children can shake, observe, and discuss the different sensory experiences.

26. Nature Bracelets

Wrap masking tape around children’s wrists with the sticky side facing out. Take them on a nature walk and let them stick small natural items like leaves or flowers onto their bracelets.

27. Musical Statues

Play music and have children dance, freezing in place when the music stops. Encourage them to hold different poses and get creative with their frozen positions.

28. Name Bean Bag Toss

Write children’s names on bean bags or pieces of paper and spread them on the floor. Call out a name, and the child with that name tries to toss their bean bag onto it.

29. Rainbow Sensory Writing

Fill trays with salt, colored sand, or rainbow rice. Encourage children to use their fingers or small brushes to draw or write letters, numbers, or shapes in the sensory material.

30. Balloon Tennis

Inflate balloons and provide children with paper plates or fly swatters to hit the balloons back and forth, promoting hand-eye coordination and gross motor skills.

31. STEM Building Challenge

Give children materials like popsicle sticks, clothespins, and rubber bands. Challenge them to build the tallest tower, a bridge, or a structure of their choice.

32. DIY Marble Run

Use cardboard tubes, paper towel rolls, or blocks to create a maze for marbles. Children can experiment with different designs and test how the marbles roll through the course.

33. Rainbow Scavenger Hunt

Hide colored objects around the room or outdoor area. Children can search for items of each color and place them in their corresponding color buckets.

34. Yoga Storytime

Lead children through a yoga session using storytelling. Incorporate animal poses and imaginative movements to engage their bodies and minds.

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35. Bubble Wrap Stomp Painting

Lay a large bubble wrap on the ground and provide washable paint. Children can stomp and jump on the bubble wrap, creating colorful prints with their feet.

36. Tactile Sensory Bags

Fill resealable plastic bags with materials like rice, beans, or sand. Seal the bags and let children squish and explore the textures without making a mess.

37. Miniature Garden

Provide small containers, soil, and tiny plants or seeds. Children can create their own miniature gardens, learning about gardening and responsibility as they care for their plants.

38. Math Race

Set up a number line or hopscotch-style number grid. Call out math problems, and children can jump or step on the correct answer, reinforcing basic math skills.

39. DIY Bird Feeder

Help children make simple bird feeders using pinecones, peanut butter, and birdseed. Hang the feeders outside and observe the birds that come to visit.

40. DIY Sensory Story Bags

Among the craft activities for 4-year-old children in school is DIY Sensory story bags. It involves creating story bags by filling small fabric or cloth bags with objects.

41. Science Experiments

Conducting science experiments is one of the preschool activities for preschool children. Conduct simple science experiments such as creating a volcano eruption using baking soda and vinegar or making a homemade lava lamp using oil, water, and food coloring.

42. Sensory Play with Kinetic Sand

Sensory Play with Kinetic Sand is a fun and engaging activity that allows children to explore their senses and unleash their creativity by manipulating a unique, moldable material called kinetic sand. This type of sand is specially designed to have a soft, squishy texture that offers a satisfying tactile experience.

To begin the activity, you provide children with a container or a tray filled with kinetic sand. Along with the sand, you can offer a variety of molds and tools, such as shovels, scoops, cookie cutters, and small plastic toys. 

These tools enable children to shape, mold, and manipulate the sand according to their imagination and curiosity.

43. Color Mixing with Ice Cubes

Color Mixing with Ice Cubes is a captivating and interactive activity that introduces children to color blending and allows them to explore the magical process of color transformation using frozen water and food coloring.

To start the activity, you can prepare colored water by adding a few drops of food coloring and mixing it thoroughly. 

Then pour the colored water into ice cube trays and place them in the freezer until they solidify, creating colored ice cubes.

44. Storybook Character Dress-up

Storybook Character Dress-up is a fun and engaging activity that encourages children to bring their favorite storybook characters to life through costumes and imaginative play. 

The idea is to inspire children to dive into the magical world of their beloved storybooks by dressing up as the characters they adore and reenacting scenes from the story or creating their own unique narratives.

The first step in this activity is to select a favorite storybook. It could be a classic tale like “Alice in Wonderland,” “The Jungle Book,” or “Cinderella,” or even a contemporary story that has captured the child’s imagination. 

Once the story is chosen, children are encouraged to pick a character from the book that they would like to become.

45. Science Nature Walk

The Science Nature Walk activity engages 4-year-olds in exploring the natural world around them. It involves taking the children on a guided walk in a natural setting, such as a park or garden, where they can observe and collect various natural items like leaves, rocks, or flowers.

During the nature walk, the children are encouraged to use their senses to observe the different elements of nature. 

They can touch the bark of trees, feel the textures of leaves, listen to the sounds of birds, and smell the fragrances of flowers. 

This sensory experience helps them connect more deeply with the natural world and enhances their awareness.

How can I ensure the safety of 4-year-olds during preschool activities?

Safety is crucial during preschool activities. Here are some tips to ensure the safety of 4-year-olds:

1. Supervise children at all times.

2. Choose age-appropriate activities and materials.

3. Ensure a safe and child-friendly environment free of hazards.

4. Use child-sized furniture and equipment to prevent accidents.

5. Teach and reinforce safety rules, such as properly handling materials or equipment.

6. Check for any choking hazards in materials or toys used.

7. Conduct regular safety checks of the play area and materials.

8. Have a first-aid kit readily available and be familiar with basic first-aid procedures.

9. Communicate with parents about any allergies

Learning Activities for 4 Years Old FAQs 

Conclusion 

The year 2023 presents a plethora of fun-filled preschool activities for 4-year-olds. Engaging children in interactive and educational experiences is crucial for their development and enjoyment. 

The activities mentioned in this list cater to various growth areas, including sensory exploration, fine and gross motor skills, creativity, problem-solving, and social interaction.

The compilation of 45 fun-filled preschool activities for 4-year-olds in 2023 offers diverse experiences that cater to young children’s developmental needs and interests. 

These activities provide a foundation for learning, encourage creativity and imagination, and foster social interaction, making preschool a joyful and enriching experience for every child. 

Reference 

www.teachingexpertise.com

happytoddlerplaytime.com

www.splashlearn.com

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