• About
  • NEW Digital Handwriting Workshop
    • How to Teach Handwriting to Kids VIDEO
    • Printable Handwriting Handouts
    • Handwriting Letter Progression
  • SHOP
  • Want online therapy services?

Kids Play Smarter

Maximizing your child's play with purposeful activities

  • Fine Motor Activities
  • Gross Motor Activities
  • Handwriting Help
  • Sensory Regulation
  • Therapist’s Tips
You are here: Home / Archives for learning activities

Make Time for a Child’s Rhyme

July 20, 2017 by Amy Smith

Find out the importance of rhyming for speech, reading, and writing. Plus, download the free printable for worksheet practice!

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

Play water balloon games with an educational twist. Perfect for children who are learning spelling words, numbering, order, and size comparisons.

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

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 sentences boxes are perfect for kids who are learning how to read because they include more senses to enhance learning. FInd out how to make one for your child.

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

This math game teaches kids how to identify, count, and sort coins. It's perfect for the classroom or homeschool learning.

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

Make learning more fun with this kids' game! Teach spelling words, letters, numbers, or shapes to your kids with these flowers. Perfect for school or home!

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

Learn tips on how to help your child love going to school. Find out how to make learning fun and ease the anxiety of making new friends.

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

Incorporate movement, exercise, learning, and fun into this 12 Days of Christmas Game that goes along with the 12 Days of Christmas song. Try it with your kids!

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

Develop problem solving skills, team work, creativity, and pride with these kid cottage kits. They put hands on playing back into a child's day!

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

Teach your kids how to hold a pencil properly with these simple tips that make writing easier for your kids!

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

Incorporate academics like shapes, colors, letters, and numbers into this kids' turkey craft to transform it to a learning game.

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

Teach your child shapes, letters, and numbers with this hands-on applesauce etch-o-sketch activity. Grab some applesauce and get to learning today!

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

Playgrounds offer academic benefits like improving handwriting and classroom performance.

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

This "You Move Tube" game makes your child feel like they are on TV so search for an exercise channel and encourage your child to start moving! This game will be fun for all!

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

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

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

Improve your child's academic skills with letters, numbers, shapes, and words in these fun 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

DIY craft that teaches kids handwriting, letters, shapes, colors, and numbers by using a baby wipes box as an X-Ray Man.

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…

Top Posts

Joint Compressions for Calming
How to Keep Writing on the Lines
Calming "Cookie Dough"
Why Teachers Should Never Take Away Recess

Copyright © 2023 · Lifestyle Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in