Games for Three- to Four-Year Olds

Animal Moves

• For a game that will encourage children's imagination and motor skills, challenge 3- and 4-year-olds to make it from a starting point to a finishing line using the movements of different animals. Assign each child a particular creature, such as a snake, tiger, eagle or rabbit. The children then have to slither, walk on all fours, flap their arms or hop as appropriate to the end spot.

Bubble Pipe

• Three- and four-year-olds love creating bubbles. Create simple bubble pipes with them by making a hole in the side of a paper cup about 1 inch from the bottom, and poking a straw through the hole half way into the cup. Pour clear detergent into the cup until it reaches over the straw, then add a couple of drops of food coloring and a little water. Children should then blow into the cup through the straw, creating bubbles that will reach the top of the cup and then float into the air.

Rock Collecting

• Help children learn about different colors, shapes and textures in nature and then develop their painting skills with a rock collecting game. Take 3- and 4-year-olds for a walk and help them gather rocks to display in an egg box. When they've each collected six suitable rocks, give them craft paints to decorate their rocks with. When the rocks are dry, they should put one in each cup of the egg carton and have fun counting them.

Obstacle Course

• Create a short obstacle course for the children to race round. This game helps develop motor skills and coordination and will ensure that the 3- and 4-year-olds use up lots of energy. Be careful to choose objects that do not have sharp edges. Pillows and cushions work well for obstacles for children to run round, while ropes can be laid out as obstacles for children to jump or hop over.