Easy DIY children's games that make learning fun
Inexpensive DIY games for every stage to give their growing brains a workout
0-2 Years
Simple shape puzzle
This simple DIY puzzle is so easy to make and so much fun for little ones!
Our tots loved matching the cut-out shapes to the outline on the board, and playing it together with you builds their language and comparison skills.
You’ll need:
- Foam board
- Marker
- Foam paper in different colours
- Scissors
- Foam-board cutter
- Ruler
No-mess messy play
We know babies love painting – but we also know we don’t love the clearing up! Squirting paint into freezer bags is a no-mess alternative; stick it to a window and let them swirl the colours around, for sensory play that teaches them about colours.
You’ll need:
- Acrylic paint
- Sandwich bag with zip lock
Ball colour station
Little 19-month-old Zach loved matching up the coloured balls with the coloured holes and dropping them through – it’s a fun way to teach babies about colours that also develops their motor skills and hand-eye co-ordination.
You’ll need:
- Foam board or cardboard box
- Coloured balls
- Acrylic paint
- Can or bottle to use as a circular stencil
- Cutter
2-3 Years
Fun with numbers
As little ones learn more about numbers and begin to recognise their shapes, using objects they love – like toy cars or cards in the shape of ice-creams – can help bring it to life for them! These games are great for developing number-recognition and matching skills
You'll need:
- Printable ice cream artwork (you can find one on Google) and paper to print it on
- Card
- Scissors
- Glue to stick the ice cream shapes to the card
You’ll need:
- Foam board
- Marker
- Toy cars
- Clear tape
- White paper to write the numbers of the car
3-4 Years
Fishing for letters
Every kid loves a bit of water play, and three-year-old Noah had a great time fishing for the alphabet in this easy, educational activity that builds on a child’s familiarity with letters and sounds when you play it together.
You'll need
- Plastic container
- Sieve
- Toy alphabet
- Water
- Bowl
Salty ABCs
Getting pre-schoolers to copy letters by writing them in salt adds a sensory element to the ABCs that kids will love!
You’ll need:
- Shoe box or tray
- Marker and paper
- Salt, sugar or sand
- Paint brush
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Photos by Aiza Castillo-Domingo/Istock, Styling by Melany Demetillo-Reyes