Have you run out of activities for your preschoolers yet? It can be hard to keep everyone entertained. Luckily, we have a few tricks up our sleeves for this July!
Whether you’re looking for ideas for a birthday party or need to keep your kids busy, here are some Olympic-themed activities for your kids! These are designed to inspire creativity and activity while learning a little something about the great Olympic Games!
Easy DIY Olympic Games for 2024
Here are a few of our favorite, easy at-home games to entertain your kiddos with this summer during the Olympics! From preschool-themed arts and crafts to active sports, there are ideas for all kids!
1) Craft an Olympic Medal
Create shiny medals using foil! Cut the foil into strips and then the students cut or tore it into pieces to glue onto their circles. Add a label and string to complete the Olympic medals. Your young athletes will love making their medals!
2) Paper Plate Skating
Ice skate in the classroom using paper plates! This is a fantastic way for students to get plenty of movement. This encourages practicing balance while using multiple parts of the body to complete a movement. You can even organize a relay race for a fun indoor gross motor activity for younger children.
3) Balance Beam
Create your balance beam using a 2 by 4 piece of lumber. They can be covered in duct tape for grip and color, also avoiding splinters. Students will develop essential skills such as balance, crossing the midline, and core strength.
For slightly older kids, you could purchase two 2 by 4s and screw them together for a little more hideth. Just be sure the screws don’t stick out where they could scrape someone!
4) Create Olympic Wreaths to Wear
This is a great time to explain the basic origins of the Greek Olympic games with green leaf wreaths. This could be made into an outdoor activity by taking the kids outside for them to each collect leaves for their head wreath. Though you can also just cut out a bunch of simple leaves from green construction paper.
Then cut strips of plain white or tan paper to use as the band. Simply have the kids glue or tape the leaves onto the white strip and then tape them around their heads to fit snuggly.
5) Ring Toss
Ring toss is very easy and fun! Use small cones as the toss target in a triangle formation. Make a few glow sticks into a ring to toss. This can add a new element of fun by dining the lights and making it glow in the dark!
6) Bean Bag Toss
Set up different “Olympic rings” on the ground using hula hoops or drawn circles. Have the children toss bean bags into the rings from varying distances.
7) Obstacle Course
Create a mini Olympic-themed obstacle course using cones, tunnels (like fabric tunnels or even cardboard boxes), and hurdles (low ones for safety). Time the kids as they navigate through the course.
8) Sponge Relay
Divide children into teams and have them race to soak up the water with sponges from one bucket and transfer it to another bucket. This can simulate the torch relay concept.
9) Olympic Torch Craft
Make Olympic torches using paper towel rolls or sturdy cardboard wrapped in aluminum foil. Let the kids decorate them with red and yellow colored tissue paper or craft foam.
10) Discus Throw
Use frisbees or paper plates decorated as discs for a discus throw game. See who can throw the “discus” the farthest. You could also play this sort of game with a box or basket as the target. See who can make the frisbee into the box or basket.
You could incorporate a cheering squad with these sorts of games by grabbing a few pom-poms!
11) Balloon Volleyball
Use a soft balloon as the volleyball and have the kids try to keep it in the air. They can use their hands or use makeshift paddles (like paper or plastic plates). You could also switch it up a bit by adding pool noodles.
If the balloon becomes boring, try switching it out for a beach ball. Practice hitting the ball over the net or just up in general.
12) Miniature Shot Put
Use small, soft balls (like foam balls or even balled-up socks) as the “shot puts”. Have the children take turns seeing how far they can throw them from a designated starting line.
13) Long Jump
Create a safe long jump area using masking tape or even spray paint (for the grass!). Have the kids take turns jumping from a starting line and see who can jump the farthest. Make sure this game is in the grass or sand to avoid injury!
14) Olympic Bingo
Create bingo cards with pictures or words related to the Olympics (e.g., torch, medal, rings, countries flag). Call out descriptions or show pictures and have the kids mark off the corresponding squares on their cards. Make sure the game does not last too long, as a preschooler’s attention span is not very long!
15) Rhythmic Gymnastics Ribbon Dance
Use ribbons or streamers on sticks and let the children create their own rhythmic gymnastics routines, dancing and twirling to music.
16) Medal Stand Photo Booth
Create a podium using boxes or platforms of different heights. Let the kids take turns standing on the podium to receive their “medals” (This could be the ones they made earlier). Take photos of each child with their medal.
Lighthouse School is Here for You
No matter how long the summer has been for you as a parent or teacher, Lighthouse School is here for you! We love being creative and coming up with fun activities for kids to grow and learn. Capitalize on this fun, game-filled time of the year with us!
At Lighthouse School, we desire to promote health and happiness in your preschoolers! If you are interested in learning more about our school or a tour, reach out to us today!