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You are here: Home / Archives for learning activities

Make Time for a Child’s Rhyme

July 20, 2017 by Amy Smith

Make Time for a Child’s Rhyme

Generations ago, nursery rhymes were created to help young children develop their rhyming skills. Nursery rhymes have withstood the test of time because the ability to rhyme is an … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Therapist's Tips Tagged With: child development, learning activities, literacy games

Water Balloon Learning Games

July 3, 2017 by Amy Smith

Water Balloon Learning Games

If you want to really add a splash of excitement to academics, then transform water balloons into learning games!  In addition to being a great activity to do together, I always find … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fine Motor Activities, Gross Motor Activities Tagged With: education, learning activities

Educational Seek-And-Find Slime Games

June 26, 2017 by Amy Smith

Educational Seek-And-Find Slime Games

Ooey gooey textures have fascinated kids for generations.  With the advent of new gooey products on the market and many DIY recipes, it's easier than ever to get your hands on some … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fine Motor Activities, Sensory Regulation Tagged With: education, learning activities, sensory activities

Sensory Sentence Boxes

April 24, 2017 by Amy Smith

Sensory Sentence Boxes

Beginner readers who are learning how to decode and read words can feel a disconnect between the letters on the page with the actual meanings of the words themselves. Greater and more … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fine Motor Activities Tagged With: learning activities, reading

Counting & Sorting Coins in Pots of Gold

February 28, 2017 by Amy Smith

Counting & Sorting Coins in Pots of Gold

Need a quick and easy math game to teach money skills?  Try this Counting and Sorting Coins in Pots of Gold Game! This game only takes a matter of minutes to set up and can be adapted … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fine Motor Activities Tagged With: learning activities, math games

Picking Spelling Flowers

January 20, 2017 by Amy Smith

Picking Spelling Flowers

Add some fun to your child's spelling list or sight words with this adorable Picking Spelling Flowers game!   Learning with plain old notecards gets boring for kids, so transform the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fine Motor Activities Tagged With: learning activities, preschool, school activities

Help your Child Love School

January 7, 2017 by Amy Smith

Help your Child Love School

Kids Play Smarter is happy to introduce Tracey Clayton, a guest blogger and a mother of 3, so she knows quite a bit about kids and school. Here's her tips on helping your child love … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Handwriting Help Tagged With: learning activities, preschool, school

12 Days of Christmas Game

December 14, 2016 by Amy Smith

12 Days of Christmas Game

Do you need a quick and easy kids' Christmas game that incorporates movement and learning in a festive way? Try out this "12 Days of Christmas Game" which is sure to be a hit at school, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Gross Motor Activities Tagged With: Christmas games, learning activities, movement activities

Building Kid Cottages

December 9, 2016 by Amy Smith

Building Kid Cottages

Think about some of your favorite childhood memories.  They probably involve times when you were  creating, building, playing, and imagining with your family and friends.   Pass those … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Gross Motor Activities Tagged With: building, kid cottages, learning activities

Teaching Kids Pencil Grasp

November 30, 2016 by Amy Smith

Teaching Kids Pencil Grasp

Pencil grasps can be a difficult concept for kids to master.  Pencil grasps require hand strength, motor planning and coordination, plus a little instruction along the way.  Give your … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fine Motor Activities, Handwriting Help Tagged With: handwriting skills, learning activities, pencil grasp

The Teaching Turkey

November 19, 2016 by Amy Smith

The Teaching Turkey

Looking for ways to "sneak" in some academics into craft time?  This Teaching Turkey game combines the fine motor skills needed for a craft project with the academic practice of a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fine Motor Activities Tagged With: crafts, learning activities, Thanksgiving

Applesauce Etch-O-Sketch

October 1, 2016 by Amy Smith

Applesauce Etch-O-Sketch

Motivating children to learn new academic concepts like letters, numbers, words, and shapes can be challenging.  You may have tried using worksheets and notecards, but those methods … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fine Motor Activities Tagged With: academic activities, learning activities, preschool

Academic Benefits of Playgrounds

August 11, 2016 by Amy Smith

Academic Benefits of Playgrounds

We all know that playgrounds are amazing places for children to run around, get exercise, and play with their friends. But, did you know that when kids play on a playground, they are … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Gross Motor Activities, Handwriting Help Tagged With: academic activities, learning activities, playgrounds

You “Move” Tube

July 30, 2016 by Amy Smith

You “Move” Tube

Watching TV is notorious for being a sedentary, thoughtless activity and unfortunately, many kids are watching way too much of it. Watching TV is even easier as internet channels like … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Gross Motor Activities Tagged With: exercise, learning activities, Watching TV

Sensory Smart Treasure Hunt!

July 12, 2016 by Amy Smith

Sensory Smart Treasure Hunt!

Reaching into a big bowl to find a "hidden treasure" is ever so tempting for many kids, so why not increase the educational value of this game so that it's a "sensory smart" treasure … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fine Motor Activities, Sensory Regulation Tagged With: learning activities, sensory activities, tactile activities

Finger Pinchin’ French Fries!

June 25, 2016 by Amy Smith

Finger Pinchin’ French Fries!

This game is sure to motivate even the most unmotivated child!! Kids love games that incorporate food, especially really enticing food like french fries! This french fry game develops … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fine Motor Activities Tagged With: fine motor activities, hand stregthening, learning activities

5 Educational Spray Bottle Games

May 7, 2016 by Amy Smith

5 Educational Spray Bottle Games

There seems to be some kind of fascination that kids have with spray bottles! What better way to sneak some educational value into an already motivating game than to incorporate … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fine Motor Activities, Gross Motor Activities Tagged With: hand stregthening, learning activities, play, preschool

X-Ray Man for Excellent Writing

April 11, 2016 by Amy Smith

X-Ray Man for Excellent Writing

Want to sneak in some handwriting practice in a fun, child-friendly way? Play this X-Ray Man for excellent writing game! This game is simple to make and can be easily adapted to fit any … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fine Motor Activities, Handwriting Help Tagged With: handwriting, learning activities, preschool

Welcome to Kids Play Smarter

Amy Smith I am an occupational therapist with over 10 years of experience working with children. I created this website to offer parents, teachers, and therapists FREE ideas, strategies, and activities that they can do with their children to improve their fine and gross motor skills, handwriting, academic learning, and regulate their sensory system all while "playing" (just playing smarter)! Read More…

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