Activities: 3-6 Year Olds

LOCAL SUPPORTS & ACTIVITIES

• *NEW* Family Centre has many in-person and virtual programs happening including Play Zone, Me & My Family, Discover Together, and Me & My Dad  AND Big Chef Little Chef! 
• *NEW* Lethbridge Public Library has live streams all of April! Find the schedule here!
  • Babes in the Library - Exercises, tickeles, and knee bounces, nursery rhymes, and songs for caregivers and their babies 0-18 months!
  • Time for 2's - Nursery rhymes,creative play, short stories, songs and books for toddlers 18 months to 36 months and their caregivers. 
  • small n' TALL - Rhymes, songs & fun livestreamed on facebook! 
• Lethbridge Early Years regularly rounds up the best local and digital resources for littles! 
• Alberta Health Services has monthly Pre-school calendars
• Active for Life has at-home ideas for developing physical literacies! 
• Roving Gym - with take-home kits! 
• South Region Parents as Teachers - personal visits to provide well-researched information to help you make good parenting decisions and to provide concrete support for you when you need it.
• Opokaa'sin Early Intervention Society's Aapatsi'kaktosi North Star Program includes a parent cafe and other parent and child support! *NEW* Check out their Matsiyikkapisaiki-somm (Frog Moon-April) Calendar for all their activities this month.

QUIET ACTIVITIES

• *NEW* Play Nature Memory and other fun games from Helen Schuler Nature Centre!
• *NEW* Learn more about the environment, gardens, and community with the Interfaith Food Bank's Learn & Grow Totes to borrow!
• *NEW* Try this fun shadow drawing activity with the spring sunshine
• Have some fun with Lethbridge Plays’ Bingo game!
• Use compassion and creativity to do acts of good from home.
• Check out the recipes in Our Time Together cookbook.
• Sign your preschooler up for a free library card – and enjoy:
  • Tumblebooks gives you access to animated and interactive children’s stories, games, and videos.
  • Visit Lethbridge Public Library Kids to participate in one of their online story times and other programs!
• Lethbridge Early Years has a variety of activities listed to engage in together.
• Check out Alberta Health Services April Preschool Calendar of activities. 
• Choose a Loose Parts Play idea and let the creativity begin!

ENERGETIC ACTIVITIES

• *NEW* Visit Galt Gardens to look at the beautiful new kid-friendly art from Leila Armstrong and Allied Arts Council "Backyard Wildersness"
• *NEW* Have 5 minutes? Try a 5 minute game! 
• *NEW* Grab a kit from the library and enjoy a Storywalk around town! 
• Looking to learn some new games?  Watch these short video instructions for Musical Freeze, Simon Says, and Lips and Ears.
• Lethbridge Early Years Coalition has put all their Digital Play Pack books online during COVID-19.  Check out all the workbooks and activities. 
• Building Brains Together has put together some fun ideas called Walk & Play.
• Stay healthy with the Eat Right Be Active eating guide activities for preschoolers.
•  Be Fit with your Kid is a free resource developed by Be Fit For Life to help parents and kids stay active together from the comfort of their home, yard and neighbourhood
• Lethbridge Public Library invites your child to join their Children’s Book Scavenger Hunt and search for clues in your books at home.
• Local parents made the “Activities for Kids – Southern Alberta” Facebook Group to share activity ideas and build connections!
• GoNoodle is a high quality and free website and app that gets kids up and moving for fun, engaging content and games. 
• Get Outside and Play!
• Try a game of Musical Freeze!

MENTAL HEALTH CARE

• *NEW* Follow this daily calendar from Action for Happiness as a family to stay active for mental wellbeing in 20 different languages! - and *NEW* Download their App! 
• Answers for your young child’s questions about the Coronavirus.
• Meaningful activities to support families well-being while coping at home by Alberta Health Services
• Activities created by Canadian Government to help young children understand what is going on and how they can help.
• Check out this activity book, in 15 languages, that explains covid-19 to children and how they can stay safe
• Follow this daily calendar from Action for Happiness as a family to help cope with the crisis, in 20 different languages!
• Watch “Time to Come in Bear” together – a children’s story on social distancing

LEARNING

• Play is essential for children’s healthy development – socially, emotionally and physically.  Play is the work of children!!  Don’t put pressure on yourself as a caregiver to teach letters or numbers or reading.  Follow your child’s lead and make lots of time for play!
• Play games with simple rules.  Let your child practise losing and being sad about it. It is ok when they feel sad, disappointed, frustrated.   Be available to offer empathy and support.
• Let your preschooler explore reading, grasping, beading, drawing and cutting activities that interest THEM!
• Read with your child daily and allow them to read the pictures of books too.