Free Games for 3-Year-Olds

Fun with Blankets

• Carefully wrap up your three-year-old in an appropriately sized blanket. Wrap her up like a taco with her head sticking out the top. Count to three then slowly unwrap the blanket and watch her giggle as she rolls out of it onto the floor.

Duck-Duck-Goose

• With a group of at least three children, sit in a circle outside or in an open space. Select one child (or yourself) to be ̶0;it.̶1; The person who's ̶0;it̶1; walks around the circle touching every person on the head while saying, ̶0;duck.̶1; The ̶0;it̶1; person selects someone to be ̶0;goose̶1; by touching him on the head and saying, ̶0;goose!̶1; The ̶0;goose̶1; then runs around the circle and tries to tag the ̶0;it̶1; person before she sits down in his spot. If tagged, that person continues to be ̶0;it̶1; until she's able to safely occupy another person`s spot in the circle.

Couch Boat

• Place a blanket on the floor (preferably blue) and pretend it's the ocean. Place couch cushions on the floor and form a ̶0;boat.̶1; Stuffed animals can serve as fish, whales, turtles or other sea creatures. Pretend you're sailing around the world to different countries or continents. Tell your child about each place so he learns about different cultures. For example, say, ̶0;Now we're sailing to Mexico where there are beautiful beaches and the people sing mariachi songs.̶1; You can even pretend to fall off the boat and have your child rescue you.

Story Time

• With a group of three-year-olds, or adults and children, sit in a circle and start to tell a story. Share about three to five sentences before moving on to the next person. Each person adds three to five sentences. Listen as a creative and imaginative story unfolds. This game also works as an activity to play in the car.