What to do with a 5 year old: 25 Engaging Activities For 5-Year-Olds

25 Engaging Activities For 5-Year-Olds

When I think about five-year-olds, I think about the world of imagination and endlessly learning possibilities- where the impossible is possible, and there are no limits and boundaries. Five-year-olds are eager to learn, help, and do. They are on the go from morning till night, so they need plenty of short activities to keep them entertained. We’ve compiled a list of 25 engaging activities, so dive right in and remember to have fun!

1. Play With Your Food

Kids are always told, “Don’t play with your food.” Well, in this activity, we are going to do just that! Ever heard of Rainbow Toast?  Children will have edible paint and some toast and can let their imaginations go wild as they paint a rainbow. Afterward, they can enjoy an edible treat! 

Learn More: Holley Grainger

2. Cookie Merger

Hundreds of years ago, Othello was first played with black and white stones in Japan. The game’s object is to enclose the opposite color so it can be flipped over. This time we are using black and white sandwich cookies in a fast-paced game with a twist.

Learn More: Kids Activities Blog

3. Got Cups?

Plastic cups can be so much fun if you know what to do with them. Cup activities go far beyond just stacking them up. From bowling, ping pong, sorting, or drawing, plastic cup activities win hands down. Kids have big red plastic cups and small squares of construction paper, and the aim is to try and build the tallest tower. 

Learn More: Pickle Bums

4. Egg Carton Planting

Little ones like the experience and idea of gardening, but many do not like all the hassle it entails. Children can have lots of fun in the classroom with egg carton plants. They can simply fill a carton with soil, plant the seed, water it, and watch it grow. 

Learn More: Revolution Foods

5. Ants Go Marching

Ants are so interesting to learn about, and with this fantastic craft, children can make their own red and black ants out of spoons! Connect assorted spoons and paint them red or black. Glue on some googly eyes and pipe cleaner legs, and your ants are ready for marching! 

Learn More: Danielle’s Place

6. Junk In Your Trunk

This game takes a little bit of investment, but it is well worth it. All you need is some tissue boxes, ping pong balls, and a few other odds and ends. The game’s objective is to get all the balls out of the tissue box as fast as possible. Shake, jiggle and move to get your “junk out of your trunk.”

Learn More: JCTV Family Vlog

7. Shhh, It’s Quiet Time

Children need downtime, and to create the best chill time for your kindergartener, you need to create the right atmosphere. Healthy music, low lights or soft lighting, crayons and paper, soft toys, and comfortable seating do wonder! 

Learn More: Families In Schools

8. Bean Bag Fun 

Bean bags are so easy to make, and they are essential in child development. Practice the art of balancing by getting your little ones to balance bean bags on different body parts. There are so many games that can be played with bean bags; whether it’s a tossing or spatial activity, your learners are sure to have a good time! 

Learn More: Empowered Parents

9. Inventive Activity Cards 

Five-year-olds are full of imagination, and we have to help nurture their literary skills and public speaking. One great idea to help you do this is picture cards that can be bought or made. Children lay a few of the cards on the table and then tell us a simple story step by step. 

Learn More: Tinker Lab

10. Scavenger Hunt For Beginner Readers

Using cards with simple instructions and some picture cards, pupils can work together and solve the puzzles to discover the treasure. Hide items in the playground or classroom for learners to search for.  

Learn More: The Spruce

11. Lego Charades 

This is a fantastic game! Each child gets a picture to recreate using Lego blocks. The other children will guess what they are building as they create. It seems complicated, but it works really well, and your little ones will love the interactive guessing part! 

Learn More: Big Family Blessings

12. Musical Moves

This is an adorable, kid-friendly YouTube exercise video with easy exercise moves. All your little ones need to do is listen to the instructions and follow along. Exercise is important for everyone’s health; if you start young, your students will have good habits!

Learn More: Monica Flores Fitness

13. Paper Plate Snowman

Snowmen crafts are fantastic Winter makes! Make a paper plate snowman using paper plates, glue, and googly eyes. Print out the body parts before cutting them out and assembling the body. 

Learn More: Simple Everyday Mom

14. Learn With The Gruffalo 

To teach reading, kids need to know how to decipher rhyme. The Gruffalo is a funny tale to help with rhyming, and children can then invent their own crazy animals like a COG or a SNOG! 

Learn More: Deanna Jump

15. STEM Paper Airplanes

Paper Airplanes can be challenging to make, but with the right instructions, you have a great educational STEM project! All your learners need is some paper, crayons to decorate their finished product and a whole lot of patience! 

Learn More: Engineering Emily

16. BIG or PIG 

5-Year-olds are at the age where they are beginning to read. This website is great for practicing blending words and developing pre-reading skills that will improve your child’s phonological awareness. 

Learn More: Education.com

17. Bed Of Roses

Make a beautiful bouquet of roses using play dough! They are truly beautiful and easy to make. Start with a few small pieces of playdough or clay – rolling them into small balls and then into oval shapes before pressing the pieces together and forming flowers. 

Learn More: Krokotak

18. Twister

There is something exciting about being entangled with your friends! Time to take off your shoes and stretch a little. Challenge your learners to keep their balance as you spin the instruction wheel and have your students follow the prompts by placing their body parts on the mat. 

Learn More: Little Learning Corner

19. Obstacle Course

Use some yarn and other household items you have lying around the house to create an awesome obstacle course. Get your little ones involved in designing and setting up their very own obstacle course before maneuvering through it for hours! 

Learn More: Life Family Fun

20. Cotton Ball Balancing 

This is an awesome activity to practice balance if you have a few teaspoons and cotton balls lying around. Place a cotton ball on the spoon and have your learners race from one end of the classroom to the other without dropping their cotton balls.

Learn More: A Mom’s Take

21. Full Of Beans

Set up a sensory bin using assorted beans. Kids will love the sensation of running their fingers through the beans and enjoying the texture. They can use containers to pour the beans from one box into another or even practice their math skills by counting out a given number. 

Learn More: Bounce Back Parenting

22. Hot Potato Balloon Game

Hot potato entails moving extremely fast. Blow up a balloon and have your learners stand in a circle. The object of the game is to keep the balloon in the air and not hold onto it for too long. 

Learn More: Empowered Parents

23. Simon Says

Simon says is an awesome opportunity to practice listening skills. Learners can play by following the instructions called out by “Simon.” If an instruction is given without the words “Simon says…”, the learners who complete the action are out. 

Learn More: Patty Shukla Kids TV – Children’s songs

24. Dice Game

Moo like a cow, jump like a rabbit, sing like a bird- all of these options and more can be played in an animal activity dice game. Roll the die and follow the instructions written on a piece of paper. Make sure your learners have plenty of space to move around in.

Learn More: Twitchetts

25. Horse 

Using smaller basketball nets and softballs, children can play this great classic game. The object of the game is to shoot the ball into the basket from different positions.   If you miss after three tries, you get an H, and so on. Once you have the word HORSE spelled out in full, you’re eliminated from play. 

Learn More: Rookie Road

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Activities for 5 Year Olds

Preschooler activities that are perfect for 5 to 6 year olds.

Please note: This is just the age that we tried these activities in our house.
These activities may be suitable for other ages. As well as not suitable for your child that is of this age. Please take into consideration the level of development that your child is at.

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What to do with a child from 5 to 8 years old at home and on the street

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• Classes for children 5-6 years old
• What to do with a child 7-8 years old
• 5 ideas for entertaining a child outside the home

Having a baby is both a blessing and a lot of trouble. As the child grows older, the question of his involvement in the gaming or developmental process becomes more and more difficult. That is why parents are increasingly interested in what activities are available for children aged 5 to 8 years, studying information on the Internet. We have prepared a brief digression into the world of entertainment for your child with valuable recommendations and examples.

Classes for children 5-6 years old

At the age of 5-6 years, children are very energetic and inquisitive. This is a golden time when kids are happy to comprehend everything new. At the same time, exploring the world and its possibilities together with parents is perhaps the most favorite thing. It is quite easy to take a child of 5-6 years old at home, while there is a huge variety of entertainment for both the boy and the girl. While the baby does not go to school yet and spends a lot of time at home, it is required to show imagination in order to surprise and captivate him.

The most popular ways to spend time are:

Enable audio playback. Create for your crumbs a cozy corner or a “chalabuda”, relaxing in which the baby will enjoy a fairy tale story while you are busy with other things.

Plasticine of bright colors. In combination with various pebbles, beads, threads and even beans, modeling will become even more interesting. You can also try to run the craft to swim in a basin or bath.

When deciding what to do with a child of 6 years old, a boy or girl can be captivated in a simple way – by watching a cartoon. The main thing is to correctly regulate the time of watching TV.

Games with various drawers, boxes and caskets. Do not refuse the baby and the game with pots and other unbreakable and non-hazardous household items.

Coloring and drawing (drawing). Give the kid paints, pencils, felt-tip pens and colored pens, and he will gladly go into the world of creativity.

Among the educational games for children 5-6 years old is sorting. Entrust the baby with shifting and sorting, and he will be passionate about this activity for a long time. At the same time, a very useful effect will be exerted on fine motor skills of the hands, and, accordingly, on memory indicators and communication capabilities.

Entertainment for preschool children is primarily educational games. Constructors, various puzzles, creativity kits and similar toys are a way not only to captivate the attention of the crumbs, but also to develop it.

Due to the characteristics of age, some children are characterized by increased activity. Parents often do not know what to do with a hyperactive child and what games to offer him.

The best solution would be to show him exciting experiments or offer something to “invent”:

1. Put a bar of soap in the microwave and in a couple of minutes you will surprise your child with a bubble of soap.

2. Create applications on various topics (about sea inhabitants, cars or a castle for a princess, for example).

3. Create a model of the solar system from improvised means.

4. Make glow-in-the-dark paints.

5. Make together homemade clay from starch, glue and dyes.

6. Paint the fan blades in different colors and get an iridescent palette that shimmers beautifully while the device is running.

There are countless options for what you can do with preschool children. You can use both already known methods, and come up with your own, taking into account the interests of the child.

What to do with a child 7-8 years old

At the age of 7-8 years, children prefer to learn new and unusual things. They are interested in more complex games and activities that require more attention. Basically, kids willingly play role-playing games, imagining themselves as scientists, heroes of their favorite cartoons and representatives of various professions. When choosing what to do with a 7-year-old child, it should be understood that a boy can be interested in cars, experiments, toy guns and dinosaurs, and a girl can be interested in dolls, playing “daughter-mothers” and other “girly” fun.

Mostly children of this age are free during extracurricular time. In fact, it is not so difficult to keep a child busy during the holidays or after school. If your baby is healthy and full of energy, it is worth drawing attention to sports activities. Cycling, roller skating, swimming and even simple exercises to rhythmic music with parents and in a positive mood will be useful for your child, taking his free time.

It’s great if your child has a hobby. In this case, the problem of what to do with a child of 7-8 years old at home will disappear by itself. He will be engaged in embroidery, drawing, music, modeling and even cooking (under parental control) with pleasure and for the benefit of himself.

If you have a dog, entrust your child with its training and walking. In the face of a pet, the baby will find a friend, and time will be busy communicating with him.

Logic games for children 7-8 years old are perhaps the most useful activity. At this age, the brain is actively working to establish causal and logical relationships, so entertainment of this kind is very relevant.

When looking for a solution to what to do with a child of 8 years old, you should pay attention to educational games. A variety of games in the form of a twister, monopoly, chess, Lego and similar are presented in a wide range in children’s stores – the main thing is to make a choice that your child will like.

5 ideas for entertaining your child outside the home

There are an infinite number of ways to captivate a child at home. When it comes to entertainment outside the home, there are also many options.

When choosing what to do with a child for a walk or on the street, it is worth considering the following ideas:

1. Sport. Scooters for children 5-6 years old and bicycles for children 5-8 years old will be a wonderful hobby that brings physical development to your child.

2. Games with friends. When wondering what game children of this age category can play, it is worth remembering the famous classics, yard football, jump rope, games with chips, balls, role-playing games.

3. A trip to an amusement park. Various swings and carousels, a children’s shooting range and attractions are loved by children of all ages.

4. In the question of where to go with a child in Minsk, one should consider various entertainment centers, circuses, park areas (summer version) and children’s theaters.

5. Organizing leisure activities with a child that all family members will enjoy may involve going to the movies.

Knowing the various ways of entertainment for children, you will make their leisure time as pleasant, useful and interesting for your child as possible.

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90,000 what should parents do? Psychologist’s advice

Growing up, a person goes through age-related crises – in childhood, youth, maturity. Transitional periods are inevitable: thanks to them, the formation of character occurs. In this article we talk about the crisis of 5 years in a child. How to overcome it?

Stages of a child’s psychological maturation

A child’s behavior directly depends on the level of brain development. In early childhood, neural connections are formed, which in the future will determine the basic skills of a person: speech, motor skills, memory, reaction. In infancy, we learn about the world around us, learn to interact with living beings and objects.

Let’s look at the main stages of growing up that parents should know about.

1. Infant age (from birth to 1 year). most active period. At 12 months, a newborn learns to understand simple speech, the purpose of objects. The child stands, walks, tries to pronounce the first words. The foundation is laid for the further development of the individual.
2. Early age (from 1 year to 3 years). The child depends on mom and dad, but strives for independence, finding his own “I”. Establishes causal relationships between things. There is a noticeable craving for communication with other children. The period ends with a crisis of the age of three: “I myself!” becomes the dominant phrase in the speech, the kid throws tantrums, manipulates, gets what he wants at any cost. The main goal is gaining personal space, setting boundaries.
3. Preschool age (from 3 to 7 years). A long period of childhood. The child’s social circle expands: relatives, friends, caregivers, casual acquaintances. The game becomes the main activity. With its help, social roles, beliefs, and views are determined. There is a crisis of five years of age, which we will discuss in more detail.
4. Junior school age (7-12 years). Education plays an important role. Children develop social status, determine the sphere of interests. There is a transition to abstract-logical thinking.
5. Adolescence. The physical development of the body is completed. Puberty is accompanied by rebellion, the rejection of old principles. A person develops a new system of judgments and matures.

How does the behavior and psychology of a child change at the age of 5?

At the age of 5, individual character traits appear, the child freely expresses his opinion, realizing that his views may differ from those generally accepted. It is interesting to have a conversation with him. Children’s observations at this age amaze adults with their originality and depth. The vocabulary is replenished, the child easily picks up synonyms and rhymes, retells the plots of books, games, cartoons, learns poems by heart.

Toddlers often lie to see what the consequences will be: it’s interesting to check the possible scenarios. Often, children have numerous imaginary friends – fantasy works in an enhanced mode. Long-term memory functions well.

There is an interest in describing feelings and emotions, playing with role models. Preschoolers at the age of 5-6 are able to take minimal care of themselves – dress, wash, use cutlery.

Why does a crisis occur at 5 years old?

The child’s psyche and cerebral cortex develop daily, and there is a need for self-expression. Whims, unpredictable behavior, emotional outbursts, disputes – this is how a personality is formed.

Communication with parents is disrupted, friends disappoint – children are haunted by a feeling of loneliness. Uncontrollability is explained by an attempt to attract the attention of elders, to confirm the significance of one’s opinion.

The child realizes belonging to the biological sex, is interested in the differences between boys and girls, tries to understand his place in the complex system of human relationships. It is not easy for a kid to cope with the flow of incoming information, and he splashes out the accumulated tension through stubbornness. Fortunately for parents, this is not forever.

How long can a crisis last?

The duration of the crisis cannot be determined in advance: it depends on the individual characteristics of the child’s psyche, the reaction of adults, and the atmosphere in the family. The transitional period does not strictly begin at 5 years – sometimes a little earlier or later. As a rule, it lasts from 1 month to 1 year.

The crisis of the age of five sometimes passes easily: parents do not even notice changes in the behavior of the baby. Each case is individual, and your task is to prepare for possible difficulties, follow the advice of pediatricians and psychologists.

Signs of the beginning of a crisis

How to understand that a crisis has come? It arises from an internal conflict: the child discovers that desires and real opportunities do not coincide, and it is not possible to achieve complete autonomy – parents control every step.

1. Unreasonable aggression. The kid is rude, snaps, refuses to follow requests. Repels relatives whom he used to love very much.
2. Tantrums. Minor failures bring tears: I couldn’t find my favorite car, I was forbidden to go outside.
3. The child mimics the elders, imitates them, tries to be “adult”. Grimaces, adopts habits.
4. There is a need for solitude: children at the age of five love to lock themselves in a room, organize secret corners. Refuse to share information (do not tell how the day went, what they discussed with friends). This is due to the desire to solve problems individually.
5. Phobias, nightmares, restless sleep. The child is afraid of supernatural beings, refuses to sleep in a room alone. Existential fears are also added – obsessive thoughts about painful illnesses, death, a sad future (“What if I don’t have friends? Will I not get sick?”)
6. Self-doubt. The kid competes with peers, compares himself with others. Asks to evaluate his appearance or actions (“Do I have a nice dress?”)

Benefits of the crisis 5 years

Any crisis brings not only trials, but also new opportunities. At 5-6 years old, children reach the peak of learning and susceptibility to new information, gradually learning to read, write and count. To distract from psychological problems, try to help your child find a favorite activity.

During the crisis of the age of five, a sea of ​​energy appears. This fact cannot be ignored. You get an invaluable opportunity to direct the forces of the child in a peaceful direction: find a hobby, prepare for school, discover a new talent, improve health.

Physical activity will be useful – sports, team games, long walks. If the baby grows calm and withdrawn, it’s time to unleash the creative potential with the help of developing circles.

Changes after the crisis

After a sharp jump in the development of the psyche, the child becomes more balanced, heeds the advice of his parents and enjoys spending time with his family.

Strong-willed qualities of character, self-control are strengthened. The kid organizes the daily routine, prioritizes (first do homework, then relax; go to bed on time).

Character traits, tastes and preferences are clearly manifested. The child judges events almost without regard to parents or friends.

Doctor Komarovsky’s advice

What does pediatrician EO Komarovsky recommend to do with unruly children?

1. React to tantrums calmly, with a smile, ignore if necessary. The child makes scandals in front of people who are sensitive to him. If you understand that you are ready to break loose, go somewhere else. Family members should adhere to one line of behavior: the pattern “mom scolds, dad does nothing, grandma allows everything” will lead to spoilage.
2. Do not follow the lead of others. Do people stare in disapproval because you won’t let your child take a second chocolate bar from the store shelf? Wait until the tantrum stops without your intervention. If you give in, the child will begin to use this technique to manipulate, being capricious in front of strangers. A minute of silent condemnation is better than hours of childish screaming.
3. It is necessary to master pedagogical subtleties not during a crisis, but much earlier. Is the child still crawling, just preparing to take the first steps? Read about upcoming crises 3 and 5 years. Prepare for tests in advance.
4. If tantrums occur without a reason, and the child is rarely in a calm state, consult a doctor.
5. Adults may lose their temper: spank, punish, yell. With recurring nervous breakdowns, parents should seek help from a family psychologist. Children sensitively capture the state of the elders, such behavior traumatizes them. The consequences will show when the child grows up.
6. There must be a cause-and-effect relationship in the actions: if you drop a cookie, you will take the second one from the pack tomorrow. Refuse the offered food – you will get it later. No need to instantly correct the mistakes of children, pick up objects from the floor, force-feed. Form responsibility for the actions taken from an early age.
7. An important thing is the relationship between actions and time. “I messed up in the morning, in the evening you will be left without cartoons!”, “If you cry, you won’t go to your birthday on the weekend!” – it is not right. By the end of the day, the child will have forgotten what happened. Report the consequences immediately.
8. Children are entirely dependent on your will. Don’t compete with them. You do not have the right to ignore biological needs, limiting healthy food, walking, sleep, but as a punishment, you can prohibit “excesses”: sweets, buying toys.

What should parents do? Psychologist’s advice

Parents should clearly define the boundaries of what is permitted. The child must understand the established laws. This is not only a matter of good behavior, but also of safety: children feel secure when there is a system of rules in life proposed by parents.

Don’t change your decisions to fit your baby’s needs. Otherwise, he will understand that you can be manipulated: “Why listen to the elders if they agree to my demands anyway?” Forbidden today – forbidden forever.
The golden rule of pedagogy is “Teach by example”. It is strange to punish children for swear words if you yourself use them in speech.

Remember: the child grows, learns new things in order to realize his potential. Disobedience is a sign of independent thinking. There are no ideal kids who unquestioningly fulfill the requirements. Hyper-obedient children grow up in initiativeless, amorphous people.

What should not be done?

1. Unfortunately, parents sometimes lose their patience and raise their voices to their children. It is useless: talk calmly, softly, but persistently. Give logical arguments.
2. Physical abuse is unacceptable. Eliminate even spanking and other “harmless” touches.
3. Do not take out your anger on a child.