Have you ever needed something calm and quiet to do with your preschool age children, but your idea bank was empty? I certainly have! My two girls can easily get excited and rowdy, but they can have a hard time calming down when it’s time. Here are some easy and fun activities to help your little ones calm down.

1. Story Time

A blankie, a stuffed animal and a few books can make for a great story time. Set up a little reading corner and have your kids bring their blankies and dolls along. Reading is a great way to settle down and get calm and quiet for naptime or bedtime.

2. Play a Tickle Game

Not the “tickle and laugh so hard you can’t breathe” kind of tickling though! Softly rub their arms or necks with your fingers. Draw pictures and have them try to guess what they are. Tell a story with your tickles. My daughter’s favorite is to build a sand castle! Her hand is the ocean and her arm and shoulder is the beach. We gather sand by the ocean and carry it up to her shoulder to build the castle. Several trips of sand gathering is a must! Pat the sand into the castle, then a dig a moat around it. Go down to the ocean and gather water for the moat. Again, several trips is necessary! Finally, we go back down to the ocean to get the flag for the top of the castle. When it is finshed, the tide comes up and washes the castle away! It is so calming and relaxing. When it’s done, ask her to build a sand castle on you! It feels so nice and she will have just as much fun!

3. Go On a Color Hunt

Take a walk around your house or the block. Ask them to find things that are a certain color. Go through the colors of the rainbow. If they know more difficult colors, give them a little challenge!

4. Art Show

Set out some paper and crayons and have your kids draw pictures. You can give them a theme or let them draw whatever they want. Play some quiet music in the background. When they are finished, display their pictures on the fridge or a wall. Let them show Daddy when he is home and have him “judge” the art show!

5. Dance Party!

Play some fun up-beat music and have your kids dance out their wiggles! Transition to calmer, quieter music. Let them make up dances, pretend to be ballerinas or butterflies. Have them dance quietly to naptime or bed.

6. Letter Fun

Go through the alphabet with your child. Have them tell you what sounds the letters make. Pull out some flash cards and let them tell you what the letters are. Pick a letter and let them find things around the room that start with that letter. 

7. Animal Zoo

Kids love to make animal sounds! At least mine do! Name an animal and have your child tell you sound they make. Turn the table and you make the sounds. Let them guess what animal you are!

Tell me about some of your favorite quiet activities you like to do with your children! What would you add to the list?

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