Activities for 5-year-olds

• a pillowcase each

• stuffed animals
• a chair or cushion to land them on

• painter's tape

• blocks or bricks

• a balloon
• paper plates
• wooden spoons for handles

• a turkey baster
• water
• two bowls or cups

• a pile of small toys

• ice cubes
• a bowl or tray

• pillows or couch cushions

• water
• a big bowl or tub

• dice

• cushions or pillows

• small toys

• empty bottles or cups
• a ball

• shaving cream
• a clear jar or glass
• food coloring
• water

• a sponge
• two buckets
• water

• ten small toys

• a plastic bottle
• dish soap
• water

• baking soda
• white vinegar
• a tray with a rim

• painter's tape

• ice cubes
• water
• a rimmed tray
• straws

• vegetable oil
• food coloring
• water
• a clear cup and a few small cups
• +1 more

• a picture book they know well

Nothing to gather

• masking tape
• small toys

• paper plates or paper
• something to draw with

• water
• a bucket
• a brush or sponge

• a bath, sink or tub of water
• cups and containers

• loop cereal
• string or pipe cleaners

• couch cushions and pillows

• paper

• paper or sidewalk chalk
• something to draw with

• tape

• a clear plastic bottle with a lid
• warm water
• glitter or food coloring

• baking soda
• white vinegar
• food coloring
• droppers or a teaspoon

• shaving cream
• food coloring or paint
• a bath or a big tray

• child safety scissors
• a tray or shallow tub

• cushions and chairs

• cornstarch
• water
• a bowl or tray

• toy cars or balls
• something to make a ramp

• clothes pegs
• string
• letters or paper to write them on

• five bottles or glasses
• water
• a metal spoon

• an ice cube tray
• paint or food coloring
• water
• thick paper

• tape

• a big cardboard box

• thin paper
• crayons with the wrappers off

• paper
• pens

• small bottles or tubs with lids
• rice, beans or pasta
• tape to seal the lids

• foil or a bottle for the hull
• water
• a tub of water
• a small figure as the passenger

• kitchen scales, or a coat hanger and two cups
• small things to weigh

• a tall clear glass
• sugar
• water
• food coloring

• bird seed
• string
• a tube, bottle or plate

• blankets or sheets
• chairs or cushions

• a box big enough to sit in
• paper plates
• markers or crayons

• masking tape

• play money or real coins
• paper for price labels

• tubes, blocks or a marble run set

• tube pasta
• string or pipe cleaners

• uncooked white rice
• food coloring
• white vinegar
• zip-top bags

• all-purpose flour
• salt
• water
• a mixing bowl

• paper
• pens

• odd socks

• clean recycling
• tape or glue

• old pans and bowls
• water
• spoons and scoops

• outdoor play equipment

• paper for menus
• pens

• cardboard boxes
• tape

• wooden blocksto buy

• magnetic tilesto buy

• large building bricksto buy
• a bath

• building bricksto buy

• a jigsaw puzzleto buy

• play doughto buy

• a toy doctor kitto buy
• a stuffed animal or doll

• a train set with trackto buy
• small people or animal figuresto buy

• play doughto buy
• toy animals or dinosaursto buy

• building bricksto buy
• play doughto buy

• kinetic sandto buy
• small treasures: buttons, coins or figures

• a train set with trackto buy
• cargo: pom-poms, small blocks or buttons

• magnetic tilesto buy
• painter's tape

• a sheet of bubble wrapto buy
• washable paintto buy
• paper

• a box or rimmed tray
• washable paintto buy
• paper
• a marble or small ball

• toy carsto buy
• a big sheet of paper or flattened box
• a marker

• clear contact paperto buy
• painter's tape
• scrap paper to scrunch into balls

• magnetic tilesto buy
• paper
• a marker or crayon

• magnetic tilesto buy
• toy carsto buy

• a toy doctor kitto buy
• stuffed animals or toy animals
• painter's tape for bandages

• a train set with trackto buy
• wooden blocksto buy

• wooden blocksto buy
• toy carsto buy

• play doughto buy
• cookie cutters

• kinetic sandto buy

• play food or a tea setto buy
• stuffed animals

• play doughto buy
• drinking straws cut short for candles

• dried beans or seedsto buy
• a clear jar or glass
• cotton wool or paper towels
• water

• a train set with trackto buy
• a shoe box or cardboard box

• washable paintto buy
• cotton balls
• a big sheet of paper

• washable paintto buy
• plastic toys that can be washedto buy
• a tub or tray

• play food for toppingsto buy
• paper plates for pizza crusts

• washable toysto buy
• warm water
• two tubs

• toy cars with wheelsto buy
• washable paintto buy
• a big sheet of paper

• animal or people figures
• blocksto buy

• a train set with trackto buy

• play doughto buy
• small figuresto buy

• a small figureto buy
• string
• tape

• a trike, scooter or ride-onto buy
• water
• two buckets

• sidewalk chalkto buy

• small figures or carsto buy
• water
• a container to freeze in

• small figuresto buy
• a shallow tub or tray
• a filler like rice or dry pasta