Preschool Family and Home Theme Activities
Below you can find preschool activities about family, friends, and your home!
Use the ideas on this page to plan your lessons!
Use the ideas on this page to plan your lessons!
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Collaborative Art
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Foster friendships by creating a artwork for the learning environment.
This invitation to decorate a branch was shared by Building Blocks Family Child Care.
Find more fun art processes to explore on the Exploring Process Art blog post.
This invitation to decorate a branch was shared by Building Blocks Family Child Care.
Find more fun art processes to explore on the Exploring Process Art blog post.
Create Houses out of Boxes
The preschoolers from Building Blocks Family Child Care used boxes and crayons & markers to transform boxes into houses.
High 5 Color Mixing
Invite your preschoolers to explore color mixing with a friendly art exploration.
Find these printable High 5 Color Mixing sheets in the Family Friends and Home activity pack.
Find these printable High 5 Color Mixing sheets in the Family Friends and Home activity pack.
Paint a House
Sheena W. created this invitation to paint a house! She set out paints along with a large cardboard house for children to paint freely.
Home Art using Water Resist
Community Member Sheena W. set up an invitation to create using crayon resist process. One child decided to create their home in the rain! This would be a fun process to explore after reading The Napping House by Audrey Wood and then inviting children to create their home in the rain.
Family Collage
Set out a variety of magazines that have people of all ages in them. Encourage children to find people in the magazines, cut them out, and paste to paper to make a collage.
design a Home
Introduce architecture by challenging children to design a home.
They can do this through drawings, computer programs, using shape cutouts, or by cutting images from a magazine.
When they are finished invite them to share their creation, ask them to share some of the things that make their home special to them.
They can do this through drawings, computer programs, using shape cutouts, or by cutting images from a magazine.
When they are finished invite them to share their creation, ask them to share some of the things that make their home special to them.
Create Blueprints
Community Member Sheena W. shared this photo. Invite your preschoolers to explore the effects of using chalk on construction paper with an invitation to create blueprints. Provide white chalk, blue paper, and rulers. Children may wish to further explore using other colors of chalk and paper.
Family Book
Have each child bring a collection of pictures of their home, family, pets or friends that are important to them. Give them a piece of paper to illustrate the front page of their book and laminate the book to keep in the classroom. The kids will love looking at each others books.
More Creative Ideas
Paper Bag Houses from Fun in Pre-K
Friendship Color Mixing from The Simplicity of Learning
Friendship Bracelet from Teach Preschool
Friendship Wreath from Preschool Playbook
Popsicle Stick Family from Meaningful Mama
Friendship Color Mixing from The Simplicity of Learning
Friendship Bracelet from Teach Preschool
Friendship Wreath from Preschool Playbook
Popsicle Stick Family from Meaningful Mama
This week consider setting up a Newborn Caring Station in your Dramatic Play Area.
Be sure to set out a variety of dress-up clothing that support children dressing up as family members of all genders and ages.
Be sure to set out a variety of dress-up clothing that support children dressing up as family members of all genders and ages.
Support Friendships through Play
Creating a space for dramatic play is a great way to support children as they develop friendships. Setting up invitations for dramatic play encourages role playing, problem-solving and communication skills to help children develop the skills needed to form lasting friendships. Read the Create a Space for Dramatic Play blog for ideas for this space.
Add in family pictures to the dramatic play area. You can include items for a family themed play like button up shirts, jewelry, briefcases, purses.
More Ideas
Check out these great ideas on how to set up a Baby Caring Station from Laughing Kids Learn and Teach Preschool.
Play Games with Word Wall Cards
Use the word wall cards from the PKPF Family Friends and Home activity Pack in your games this week to promote literacy.
Here are a few ideas:
Here are a few ideas:
- Hide the word wall cards around the room, as children discover the cards read each one together then hang it in your group time area. When all the cards have been collected challenge children to recall where they found each card using words to describe the location. Encourage and model spatial language such as under, above, beside, on top, and beneath.
- Slip the word wall cards into a sensory bin for children to find.
- Use for sorting! Use these cards along with people counters for children to practice sorting.
All About My Family & Friends Book
Set up an invitation for your preschoolers to create a book all about their family and/or friends.
Assemble books by folding 3-5 sheets of white paper in half and then stapling along the folded edge. For the front cover consider printing squares with titles such as "My Family" so children can glue the title on themselves. Next, encourage children to create pictures of their family or friends. On each page ask the child to say something about the person they drew, write down what they said on the page.
Assemble books by folding 3-5 sheets of white paper in half and then stapling along the folded edge. For the front cover consider printing squares with titles such as "My Family" so children can glue the title on themselves. Next, encourage children to create pictures of their family or friends. On each page ask the child to say something about the person they drew, write down what they said on the page.
Friends Letter Matching
Invite your preschooler to engage in a friendly letter matching game!
Challenge them to match lowercase to lowercase or uppercase to lowercase, both versions are included in the PKPF Family Friends and Home set.
Challenge them to match lowercase to lowercase or uppercase to lowercase, both versions are included in the PKPF Family Friends and Home set.
Count names
Make a grid for each child, then invite the child to decide which names they want to count up. If needed assist in writing the names on the paper, one letter in each square. Next, work together to count up the number of letters each person has in their name. Write the numeral at the end of the line.
Extension: Look for similarities in the names: How many names have an e in them? Which names contain the same number of letters? How do the names on one child's paper compare to those on another?
Extension: Look for similarities in the names: How many names have an e in them? Which names contain the same number of letters? How do the names on one child's paper compare to those on another?
Family Tree Read Aloud Activity
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Read the book Me and My Family Tree by Joan Sweeney to your group. Then invite children to create their own simple family tree!
You could simply provide plain white paper and crayons, or provide tree cutouts. Encourage children to draw the members of their family on the paper. When they are done, invite them to share their picture with the group. Be sure to write a little note of their description on a sticky note and attach to the drawing. |
Family Word Building
Create a sensory bin with letters and provide family word cards. Invite the kids to find letters to build the family words.
Family Recipe Book
For a family engagement activity send home a recipe card to each family, have them send in their favorite family recipe and build a classroom recipe book.
A Splendid Friend, Indeed by Suzanne Bloom
One Family by George Shannon
The Family Book by Todd Parr
I Love You Because You're You by Liza Baker
Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel
Me and My Family Tree by Joan Sweeney
One Family by George Shannon
The Family Book by Todd Parr
I Love You Because You're You by Liza Baker
Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel
Me and My Family Tree by Joan Sweeney
Washing Babies
Sheena W. from Building Blocks added a baby washing station to her space.
Exploring soap and water is always a great experience for preschoolers. Adding in the babies is a great way for preschooler to practice taking care of others.
Exploring soap and water is always a great experience for preschoolers. Adding in the babies is a great way for preschooler to practice taking care of others.
Zoo Baby Animals
Watch zoo cams of baby animals with their family. Here is one of a baby panda from the San Diego Zoo. While watching make comparisons between humans and animals, and how different animals interact with their young.
*Since animals can be predictable it may be best to preview videos before showing to young children. This is also a good opportunity to develop thought provoking questions while watching together.
*Since animals can be predictable it may be best to preview videos before showing to young children. This is also a good opportunity to develop thought provoking questions while watching together.
Who Said it?
Record each child saying something of their choice, later during small group time play the recordings one at a time and challenge children to figure out which friend said it!
Design and Build a Home
Challenge preschoolers to build a home using only craft sticks and play dough. As they build talk about stability and protection from the elements. What could you add to keep out the rain? How about making it strong to protect against high wind?
Home-building Tools
Create an invitation to discover tools and materials used for building homes.
Many tools and materials for home building are not safe for young children, be sure to provide appropriate supervision or otherwise make the materials safe for exploration.
Some ideas: hammers, drills, bricks, nails, roof shingles, doorknobs, wrench.
Many tools and materials for home building are not safe for young children, be sure to provide appropriate supervision or otherwise make the materials safe for exploration.
Some ideas: hammers, drills, bricks, nails, roof shingles, doorknobs, wrench.
Play dough Family
Invite preschoolers to create their family from play dough, you can add loose parts such as yarn, googly eyes, pipe cleaners.
More Science & Discovery Ideas
My Family Sensory Bin from Munchkins and Moms
*Family Photo Patterning
Review the family photo card, then recreate the photo on the mat.
These family cards can also be used for other patterning games. Start a pattern by placing a mom card, child card, then another mom card and ask your child to continue the pattern. Keep playing and introducing new patterns. Invite your child to start a pattern for you to finish as well.
These cards can be found in the Family Friends and Home activity set.
These family cards can also be used for other patterning games. Start a pattern by placing a mom card, child card, then another mom card and ask your child to continue the pattern. Keep playing and introducing new patterns. Invite your child to start a pattern for you to finish as well.
These cards can be found in the Family Friends and Home activity set.
Family Size Ordering
Use pictures of families cut from magazines or print stock photos. Count up the number of members in each family and place in order from smallest to largest.
*These photos can also be used for the activity listed in the Social Studies section below.
*These photos can also be used for the activity listed in the Social Studies section below.
Friendly Math
Take a variety of pictures of the children in your group. Include a different number of children in each photo, including one with the entire group (for the solo photo consider a selfie). Print the photos and provide them along with index cards with numbers on them. Challenge children to sort the photos by how many friends are in each photo.
Family Count & Clip Cards
Practice counting and cardinality with this activity. Count up the members in the family and then clip the matching number at the bottom with a clothespin. This activity can be found in the PKPF Family Friends and Home Activity Pack.
Family Counting
As a class you can graph how many people are in each student’s family, using words like more, less, big, and small! The children will have fun comparing the amount of people that everyone has in their family.
Who Lives in Your House?
Create a chart to keep track of who lives in each students house, use colored squares to represent the different people i.e mom, dad, brother, sister, grandma, grandpa etc. Each student will get to share and create a big chart for a student visual.
More Math Fun
Construction & Small Word Play Area
Add Playhouses, and Pretend Families to your Construction space this week.
Create some DIY blocks featuring the children, their Families, and Homes.
Create some DIY blocks featuring the children, their Families, and Homes.
syrenentoreboda
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Teach Preschool
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LMNO Preschool
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DIY Friendship Blocks from Teach Preschool
My House Blocks from syrenentoreboda
All about Me Puzzles from LMNO Preschool
My House Blocks from syrenentoreboda
All about Me Puzzles from LMNO Preschool
Building with Foam Blocks
Foam blocks are inexpensive, versatile and so much fun.
Pair your foam blocks with shaving cream and invite your preschoolers to build homes with them. You can use small foam blocks at the table or use larger foam blocks.
Pair your foam blocks with shaving cream and invite your preschoolers to build homes with them. You can use small foam blocks at the table or use larger foam blocks.
Build Homes
Add a variety of block people, wooden blocks, and accessories for children to build homes with. Also consider including dollhouses or playhouses for small world play.
Family Block Play
Invite students to bring in pictures of their homes to add into the block area and students can have fun building each other's homes.
*Window Shape Clip Cards
Working with clothespins is excellent for fine motor and hand-eye coordination development.
Pair clothespins with clip cards for fun and engaging learning activities.
These window shape clip cards are a fun way to practice shape recognition and matching. These clip cards are included in the Friends Family and Home Activity Pack
Pair clothespins with clip cards for fun and engaging learning activities.
These window shape clip cards are a fun way to practice shape recognition and matching. These clip cards are included in the Friends Family and Home Activity Pack
*Three Legged Race
This fun classic is a great addition to this theme. Encourage children to work as a team to complete the obstacle. Use a bandanna or other fabric gentle enough for preschoolers to lightly tie together the right leg of one child to the left of another.
Describe the objective prior to creating teams. Rather than a race consider have the kids work together to walk as far as they can.
After a few rounds engage in discussion about what they thought was difficult or easy about the activity.
*Be sure to pair kids together that are of similar size.
Describe the objective prior to creating teams. Rather than a race consider have the kids work together to walk as far as they can.
After a few rounds engage in discussion about what they thought was difficult or easy about the activity.
*Be sure to pair kids together that are of similar size.
Relay Race
Encourage children to work together to reach a goal with a relay race.
Here are some ideas:
Here are some ideas:
- Spoon with a hard boiled egg on it, walk as carefully as you can to the other side, then transfer the egg to your friend to return the egg to the starting point.
- Dress-up relay
- Paper race: One child will lay down paper or newspapers on the ground creating a path from the starting point to the finish line. The other child goes from start to finish only stepping on the papers the first child put down.
Class Puzzles
Create puzzles using photos of children in the class or the class pet. Print on cardstock or laminate and then cut into puzzle pieces. Full page prints are great for this activity.
Fine Motor Family Words
Using printable family word cards, invite students to use letter beads to string on pipe cleaners to spell out the words.
More Physical Development Ideas
Family & Home Dough Set from Life Over C's
We are the same, We are Different
Learning to recognize how people are similar and different from one another is important for promoting inclusion and acceptance.
Create a graph or simply have a discussion! Talk about what color eyes each friend has, what color hair, what color their shirt is, how long their hair is, how many ears...and so on. Challenge children to lead the conversation by asking them to take turns talking about how they are similar and different than their friends.
Create a graph or simply have a discussion! Talk about what color eyes each friend has, what color hair, what color their shirt is, how long their hair is, how many ears...and so on. Challenge children to lead the conversation by asking them to take turns talking about how they are similar and different than their friends.
Sort Household Items
Practice sorting and classification skills while exploring the home environment by inviting your preschooler to sort the objects by where they belong in the home. This activity is included in the PKPF Family Friends and Home Activity Pack.
Count up Family Members
Cut out pictures of families from magazines, or print out stock photos of families.
If using stock photos consider using photos of many types of families to promote inclusion.
During group time read The Family Book by Todd Par, then introduce the photos.
For each photo simply count up how many family members are in each photo. The children may wish to discuss who they think is in the photo, allow room for discussion and clarify when appropriate by providing your thoughts as well.
If using stock photos consider using photos of many types of families to promote inclusion.
During group time read The Family Book by Todd Par, then introduce the photos.
For each photo simply count up how many family members are in each photo. The children may wish to discuss who they think is in the photo, allow room for discussion and clarify when appropriate by providing your thoughts as well.
Pen Pals
Introduce pen pals to your group. You can collaborate with another program somewhere far away or contact a nursing home. Children can draw pictures and dictate letters to send as a class.
Family Chart
Have a conversation with the kids about families and make a list of who is in a family, where families can live and attributes of a family.
Book Chat
Read Alma and How She Got Her Name: Encourage your students to go home and ask their parents how they got their names.
Recognize Emotions
Learning to recognize and properly identify emotions is an important part of development for preschoolers and supports them in their interactions with friends and families.
Set up an invitation for your preschoolers to explore and create emotions with play dough.
Use the mats and playing cube included in the Roll & Create Emotions Dough Mats set. Roll the playing cube and then create the emotion shown.
Set up an invitation for your preschoolers to explore and create emotions with play dough.
Use the mats and playing cube included in the Roll & Create Emotions Dough Mats set. Roll the playing cube and then create the emotion shown.
All About Me Posters
Invite each child to create an All About Me poster. They could use plain poster board or for a fun twist, trace their body on a large sheet of rolled paper and cut out. Then children can add clothing and notes that say things that are important to them. Be sure to encourage children to include friends or family that are important to them as well as things like their favorite color, book, or food.
Display around the classroom as long as desired.
Display around the classroom as long as desired.
How to play with friends from Powerful Mothering
EDUCATOR RESOURCES : GROUP ACTIVITIES, CIRCLE TIME, & PARENT ENGAGEMENT
*Play Who Has?
This is a fun game that promotes communication and language development.
Give each child in the group a card, then the child with the apple starts. They say "I have an apple, who has a butterfly?" then the person with the butterfly goes!
This game is included in the PKPF Family Friends and Home activity pack.
Give each child in the group a card, then the child with the apple starts. They say "I have an apple, who has a butterfly?" then the person with the butterfly goes!
This game is included in the PKPF Family Friends and Home activity pack.
Grandma & Grandpa's Glasses
Here is a fun fingerplay/rhyme to teach during small group time. Another fun one for this theme is Finger Family and The More We Get Together.
More Group & Circle Time Ideas
*Friendship Bread from Tastes of Lizzy T
Family Event
Host a family event such as a tea party, bbq, ice cream social, or game night where children can bring their families to meet their friends and educators.
Family Photo Display
Set up space in your program for family photos. Sheena W. created this family photo album in her reading space. If you cannot find space consider a special display for this week.
Family Photo Puzzles
Have each child's family supply a copy of a family photo. Consider enlarging the photo to an 8x10 size. Laminate the photo and then cut to create puzzle pieces. Children can assemble the puzzle in the learning environment and then take home to share with their family.
More Family Engagement Ideas
Family Photo Albums from Early Childhood Scribbles
My NEIGHBORHOOD
Take a walk around your neighborhood!
Even if this is a frequent activity, take the time to take a walk in the neighborhood with a new purpose. Focus on the place in which you live. Talk about neighbors you know, animals you see often, street names...all the things that make your neighborhood home.
Even if this is a frequent activity, take the time to take a walk in the neighborhood with a new purpose. Focus on the place in which you live. Talk about neighbors you know, animals you see often, street names...all the things that make your neighborhood home.
My phone Number
Take time this week to work on helping your child learn your phone number.
This is also a good time to make sure your child can access a phone in an emergency. Many homes no longer have a "home phone" if you only have a cell phone in your home be sure your child knows how to dial 9-1-1 in an emergency and/or knows how to unlock the phone to make a call.
This editable I Know My Telephone Number page is a nice learning tool for this activity.
This is also a good time to make sure your child can access a phone in an emergency. Many homes no longer have a "home phone" if you only have a cell phone in your home be sure your child knows how to dial 9-1-1 in an emergency and/or knows how to unlock the phone to make a call.
This editable I Know My Telephone Number page is a nice learning tool for this activity.
Friends of All Ages
Contact local nursing homes to see if any allow visitors of non-family members.
Make a friend or two that you can visit and share a story with.
Make a friend or two that you can visit and share a story with.
Family Memory
For this activity you will need several family photos, 2 copies of each. Printing a sheet of wallet size photos for this activity would work well.
Consider printing on cardstock or laminating (use a laminator, self-laminating sheets, or packing tape) for durability.
Flip all the pictures over and play like memory.
**Be sure to include a few photos with your child in them, they love to see pictures of themselves!
Extension: Consider adding names to the photos, later they can be used as 3-part cards.
Consider printing on cardstock or laminating (use a laminator, self-laminating sheets, or packing tape) for durability.
Flip all the pictures over and play like memory.
**Be sure to include a few photos with your child in them, they love to see pictures of themselves!
Extension: Consider adding names to the photos, later they can be used as 3-part cards.
Learn your address
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Having your child know their house number and street is important for safety. Teach your preschooler this important information through visuals, chants, and crafts. Practice ordering their house numbers with number blocks, and mail a letter home. Point out street signs, and house numbers as you take a walk around the neighborhood.
Are you Pre-K Printables Club Member? You can download this set of editable address worksheets inside the member area! |
