I still remember my despair when N and M stopped having their afternoon naps. Once I got over the shock of it all, I realised it was actually quite a nice opportunity to make time for them, working, playing and resting with them, while Mr E and Miss K napped.
During this time in the afternoon, we would do some quick literacy or math work (max 15 minutes), followed by an undisclosed amount of time watching TV or playing games on the iPhone or iPad; yep, I said it. This still happens now and then, but since I’ve started putting these play kits for quiet time together, I’m surprised by how quickly an hour of screen free time passes by.
Each play kit for quiet time includes:
{BOOKS}: A variety of non fiction and fiction books – provides opportunities for modelled reading.
{FINE MOTOR ACTIVITY}: To build up their pre-writing skills.
{PROBLEM SOLVING / CREATIVE ACTIVITY}: These skills are often overlooked, yet it’s so important to foster these skills as they enable deeper levels of thinking.
There’s certainly value in independent work, but these play kits for quiet time aren’t put together with the aim of having children be entertained and engaged independently. Rather, these play kits for quiet time provide opportunities to work with children, to model new skills to them, to work and play with them, and all done in a relatively quiet manner, (because the rest of the household is napping).
Here are the contents of this play kit for quiet time:
{FINE MOTOR ACTIVITY}: Make a simple black and white collage to build up fine motor skills; a great pre-writing activity for kids.
{PROBLEM SOLVING / CREATIVE ACTIVITY}: This Sesame Street memory game was a hand me down from a church family. Such a classic game. (My memory is shocking btw!!).
{BOOKS}:
What quiet activities that work really well in your home? I’ll be sharing play kits for quiet times regularly here, (i.e. hopefully on a weekly basis), so watch this space.
More Activities for Preschoolers
Three to Five: Playful Preschool is stuffed to the brim with tried, tested and loved playful learning ideas for preschoolers. There are 25+ ideas for preschoolers, ten printable resources and additional links to over 50 more activities. A great resource for parents. Download your copy here.
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