Using hands-on activities in early childhood is a great way to link new concepts to ideas that children already understand. The Hands-On Activities database provides activities that are hands-on and ready-to-do in a variety of early childhood settings.
School is back in session and many early childhood educators are looking for fun, hands-on activities they can use in their classrooms that will keep their learners engaged and learning. Hands-on learning is a great way to teach new skills that build on what children already know, but it can be difficult to keep activities interactive and fun while still teaching important concepts that build a strong foundation for future learning.
Children are more likely to develop skills when they are having fun, but also when the skills have meaning for them; hands-on learning aims to provide for both of these characteristics of learning. With all the information that is available on the Internet, it can be difficult to find high-quality activities that are easy to implement with existing plans and curricula. Young children of all ages learn, develop and flourish with hands on type of learning.
Early childhood activity sheets should include information needed to conduct the activity. There are age ranges for the activity, a “What’s needed” section of supplies and materials, a “What to do” section that gives specific instructions on doing the activity and a section that tells what the children will learn by doing the activity. The database covers topic areas that include:
Great Hands On Learning Activities could include:
- Art
- Dramatic play
- Eye-hand coordination and small motor skills
- Health and safety
- Holidays and celebrations
- Language and literacy
- Math
Music - Movement and physical activity
- Nutrition and cooking
- Outdoor play
- Science and nature
- Social-emotional health
- Sensory learning
- Social/group interaction
- Technology
- Writing
Other Activities could include science projects, art projects, games, dancing, pretend play and much more.
These activities are designed to help young children of all different ages expand their learning and are all written by early childhood staff who work in Preschool and Early Childhood Development.
