Winter is a magical time for 3- and 4-year-olds. They get so excited over the first snow, the winter holidays and the cozy togetherness. During the months of December, January and February, take the time to plan special winter activities for your young child. He will learn a lot and remember the memories that you make together.
Holiday Activities
Depending on which holidays your family celebrates, you can fill the month of December with baking, cooking, decorating and crafts. Tell family stories and make holiday cards together. Let your little one help choose gifts for friends and relatives, if that is part of your tradition. Read classic holiday stories together and watch age-appropriate holiday movies. Decorate a gingerbread house or help her to make other holiday decorations.
Aside from the December holidays, make special mention of Presidents' Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Valentine's Day as those holidays come up on the calendar. Read about the presidents and King, and make valentines for friends.
Arts And Crafts
Open-ended art and craft projects usually work best for the pre-K age group. This helps to reduce the frustration that may ensue when a child tries to copy a model of a cut-and-paste craft. Supply your child with various media, including paint and large paintbrushes, crayons, markers, glue, glitter, sequins, feathers and child-safe scissors. Show him various winter-themed crafts and ask him to come up with some of his own. Encourage him to use white or silver glitter as snow, for example, or urge him to draw a wintry scene. Give him paper doilies or cotton balls to construct his own snowman.
Science Activities
Winter presents interesting opportunities to teach your child about different science topics. Go outside on a snowy day with a piece of black felt or velvet to catch snowflakes. Examine them quickly with a magnifying glass and count the sides. Point out that every snowflake has six sides, and that each is unique. Talk about animals that live in your area during the winter, and look for their tracks in the snow. If you do not live in an area that gets snow in the winter, show your child pictures of snow and talk about what it feels and looks like.
Outdoor Fun
Your child will enjoy playing outdoors during the winter. Bundle her up and take her outside to sled, build a snowman or make snowballs. Bring a spray bottle filled with colored water and allow her to "paint" the snow. If you go sledding, be sure to follow safety precautions, such as making sure that the snow is not packed too tightly and wearing a helmet, especially if you are in an area with a steep drop or with trees. Encourage her to keep her hat and gloves on, and watch carefully for signs of her getting too cold or developing frostbite; if this happens bring her inside right away to warm up.
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