Please help! :) Any ideas on fun activities to do with kids at a daycare??

Question

I just started working at a childcare facility and i am looking for fun things to do with the kids i am teaching. They are around 5 years old and have lots and lots of energy. I need ideas on learning games as well as fun games to pass time, also arts and crafts activities. Please help, one more day of screaming children and i might go crazy, i want them to have a fun time as well as i.

Answer 1

cut the top of a milk jug off. put some dirt in the bottom and add grass seed. Put jiggly eyes and draw a mouth and nose. When grass grows, the kids can cut the "hair". They are called Mr. Jughead. Kids LOVE them.

Answer 2

THey could play this houla hoop game where you put the houla hoop in the crease of someones arms and then you tell everyone to link hands, you have to try to pass the houla hoop around everybody in the circle without letting go of each others hands. Its fun for the young and the old !

Answer 3

U may also try this web site.Hope help u:

http://kid-games-to-play.blogspot.com/

Answer 4

GAME 1 (items needed: at least hulahoop)

TANGLED

have the kids stand in a circle and hold hands. place the hoop between 2 kids so the hoop rests on their hands while holding. the kids must climb through the hoop with their entire body without letting go. the hoop needs to make it around the circle. you can make it more fun by starting 1 hoop at one side of the circle and another hoop at the other side. teaches the kids cooperation.

GAME 2 (tems needed 4 nerf balls)

MANIC HOT POTATOE

divide the kids into 2 groups. each group sits in a circle. start 2 balls in each group, passing around like hot potatoe. except when the child drops the ball they aren't out, the go to the other group. the game continues until the kids get tired of it. you can add as many balls as you like also.

GAME 3 (no supplies needed)

AMEBA

gather kids in a group. tell them that they have to listen closely to your hand claps. they have to self divide into however many claps they hear if they hear 4 claps, they need to get together in groups of 4. anyone odd man out comes and stands by you. then clap again and that child can re-enter. i always used this game to divide up into teams. eventually you can do 2 claps and they will self divide into 2 teams and no one has to pick sides.

GAME 4 (supplies: pitchers of water)

SPLISH, SPLISH, SPLASH

kids sit in a circle and play duck, duck, goose. but instead of thumping someone on the head they do a splish of water on each and a splash on the chosen one.

POPULAR FAVORITES

ghost in the graveyard

heads up 7 up

freeze dance

2 weeks ago

Source(s):

retired childcare director

former teacher

Answer 5

singing and reading to them always works, they also need transition periods for one activity to the other. do themes, like dr.seuss week, or garden week.

set up different tables, one with puzzles, the other with water colors, and do a role play area. there set up a pretend dinner, or office. bring supplies from home of just see what is laying around the school.

interact with them as well, but let them know they  need to respect u.

Answer 6

A crazy yet fun age. They all love music. You can tape two plastic cups together with dry beans inside to make maracas. Then have them march in a line while shaking them. A craft and game.

   Can you be a dog? cat? bird? Kids love pretend.

   Stamps, stickers, simple origami.

   Clap your hands to a steady rhythm. Say my letter is A, a is for apple... Go around the room, help the kids is necessary, a fun way to learn. You can also clap sitting cross legged on your thighs. Have the kids clap too.

  Picturnary is fun. You can have the kids take turns also. Hint: Is you tell them ahead of tome then only pick those that are sitting still and raising their hand it really helps keep the peace.

   There are a ton more ideas online. But most important, don't let them know they are driving you crazy. Be yourself, don't be afraid to look silly and everyone will have fun. Best of luck!

Answer 7

umm get some shaving creme and spray tons of it on the tables and have them play with it..

Answer 8

umm, try duck duck goose on a big scale or maybe kickball or tag or hide the flag! good luck

Answer 9

Play musical chair ,  buy a craft book  from where you can teach them  ,   let  them  scrrible  on the walls  they will  enjoy  it  .

Put  a big  chart  paper  covering the  walls  paste  the articals  made  by  them  there.Give  special  gifts to kids  who  win  the games.

Answer 10

READ TO THEM. TEACH THEM SONGS. TALK ABOUT THE WEATHER. TEACH THEM ABOUT THE DIFFERNT TYPES OF CLOUDS AND MAKE MODELS WITH COTTON BALLS. rEAD THEM A STORY- DON'T SHOW PICTURES HAVE THEM DRAW PICTURES FOR IT.WATCH DISNEY MOVIES. EXERCISE. PAINT PICTURES. yOU HAVE TO PLAN OUT YOUR ENTIRE DAY IF YOU WANT TO MAKE IT. tHEY NEED STRUCTURE, AND CONSTANT STIMULATION. START OUT BY SEARCHING THE WEB FOR ACTIVITIES AND TAKE THE TIME TO PALN OUT YOUR WHOLE DAY. yOU WONT BELIEVE HOW MUCH SMOOTHER IT GOES

Answer 11

Yes, you probably want to start looking into the school-age resources.  You can search this online and get many an idea.  

First create a routine being sure that there is movement activities in between the sit down tasks.  Some things you might want to incorporate into your schedule...I don't know what you have available so I can't be more specific.

*  Story time...be sure to read more than once and do dramatic retellings :-)  They love it.  And they aren't too old for fingerplays.

*  Game time or free play depending on how your room is set up.

*  arts/crafts... I would say most of the children like open-ended art projects yet...but some are getting into crafts so you may wish to include a few.

*  outdoors/large motor

* make their own snacks for snack time.  Providing a visual recipe is always a well accepted activity

*  music and movement...make your own instruments or movement materials...scraves... crepe paper, tissue paper, pom poms etc.

Consider doing a theme week ...not only will it help you get organized...it's fun for the summer program.

Get them outside as much as possible...do your art projects outside :-)

Balloon bats:  strong paper plates decorated with puffy glue or what ever materials you have available and tape to large craft sticks.  Blow up balloons...use a masking tape line to create sides of the room and split the group up into teams.  The team that has least balloons on their side after a timer goes off or the song stops playing wins.  Can be done with crumpled paper as well.

Science Experiments are ALWAYS a hit with Kindergarten ages.

Have the children make their own playdough (non-cook version)...they can take it home.

Do a Share and Tell session...though give them a topic of something to bring....If you are doing themes...make it theme related.  Be clear and firm about what they can and can not bring.

This age loves the parachute.

Memory Games:  A tray of objects and have them look at it for awhile...close their eyes...then take away one.

Teach a language.  They love this!  Teach them a song.  Learn songs in a different language... learn a simple play and do for the rest of the center.  Put on a talent show for either your class or the center.

Charades

SILENT BALL!  This was a favorite of my school agers.  The children sit in a circle and throws a ball from one child to the next... if the throw is short...the thrower is out.  If anyone makes a noise...that individual iss out.  Be sure to appoint or be the judge.  Sometimes it's fun to have the winner of the game be the judge for the next game.  

Check your local library...I bet they have all sorts of game books.

Good luck!