Your 3-year-old has now officially graduated from toddler to preschooler , and this age ushers in some exciting milestones. "By 3, children are consolidating language, fine and gross motor skills, and emotional regulation to an incredible extent," says Lynn T. Singer , Ph.D., a developmental psychologist and professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio.
Over the course of the next year, your 3-year-old will develop more and more empathy – they're understanding feelings and the difference between themselves and others , and starting to explore these themes through pretend play.
As a parent, you can help support the start of creative, imaginative play, as well as the other skills your preschooler is mastering right now, experts say. Here are 15 indoor and outdoor activities that will keep your 3-year-old engaged.
Indoor activities for 3-year-olds
These indoor activities can help your preschooler work on letter recognition, categorization, imaginative play, and more – plus, they're just fun.
1. Organize items around the house
What you'll need: household items to categorize
Why it's good for 3-year-olds: "Children can organize things around the house by color, shape, size, and use," says Rebecca N. Dudovitz , M.D., a pediatrician and faculty researcher for the UCLA Children's Discovery & Innovation Institute in Los Angeles, California.
For example, you might fill a laundry basket with a variety of household items, like different colored socks, small books, cups, and toy blocks. Then, ask your 3-year-old to separate items into piles based on what color they are, how big they are, or what they're used for.
This activity lets them use short sentences to communicate their thoughts and ideas ("The sock is white") and also teaches them how to compare things, Dr. Dudovitz says.
2. Play dress-up
What you'll need: dress-up costumes
Why it's good for 3-year-olds: "Children this age love to engage in dramatic play, which promotes foundational skills of self-regulation and empathy," says Donna Housman , Ed.D., a clinical psychologist in Newton Centre, Massachusetts. Having dress-up clothes on hand gives your preschooler plenty of opportunities to change their costume and imagine themselves as different people or in different worlds.
This activity is also ideal for a playdate. "Playing with others lays the groundwork for fostering key social skills like sharing and taking turns," Dr. Housman says.
3. Be your sous chef
What you'll need: something to cook or bake
Why it's good for 3-year-olds: At age 3, your child is old enough to help with some basic meal prep, Dr. Dudovitz says. "Children can help prepare meals by measuring, pouring, mixing, and cutting soft things with a dull knife," she explains.
Baking is a great way to get preschoolers involved. Wash you and your child's hands first. Show them how to measure each ingredient and pour it into a bowl; then let them mix the ingredients using their hands. They can mush and mash cookie dough together, for example.
This is a great sensory activity to help little ones tolerate different textures. It's also great for strengthening muscles for fine motor skills. Plus, the prospect of eating a sweet treat as an end result is motivating!
4. Make a deep breath pom-pom maze
What you'll need: pom-poms, straws, building toys like blocks or paper towel tubes, and tape
Why it's good for 3-year-olds: Set out all of the building materials and create a maze. Then, show your child how to breathe in and out deeply. Once they've gotten the hang of it, demonstrate how to breathe through the straw to push the pom-pom through the maze. This activity "encourages autonomous self-awareness and self-regulation," says Dr. Housman.
You can ask your child questions, such as: "How does your body feel after taking a deep breath? What emotion are you feeling after taking a deep breath?" Just supervise closely – preschoolers are less likely to put things in their mouths, but you still want to be careful anytime they're playing with small choking hazards .
5. Have a talent show
What you'll need: a song to sing
Why it's good for 3-year-olds: "One of our favorite family activities at this age was called talent show," says Dr. Singer. Each parent and all kids present a song (for a 3-year-old, that might be the alphabet song, for example, she says). This gives kids a chance to take turns, listen to others' voices, and learn how to present themselves using expressive language.
6. Create a mystery box
What you'll need: a box, scissors to cut a hole, and variety of small items to place inside
Why it's good for 3-year-olds: Take a shoebox and cut out a small hole on the side (make sure it's roomy enough for a child's hand to fit inside). Then, place a variety of small objects made from different textures inside the box — a soft stuffed animal, a smooth round ball, a crunchy cracker, a flower. Tell your child to place their hand inside and guess the items they're touching. Not only is this a fun sensory activity, but it supports your 3-year-old's language development and gives them a chance to ask you questions: "Is it a rock?"
7. Read labels
What you'll need: Post-it notes
Why it's good for 3-year-olds: Your 3-year-old may be a few years away from truly reading a short book, but you can start working on their early literacy skills now with this simple activity. Each day, write the name of a few household items on Post-its; for your preschooler, short ones might be easiest to start with, like "Pot," "Lamp," and "Door." Point out the word on the Post-it and ask them to tell you what letters in the word they recognize. Sticking the piece of paper on the item itself helps reiterate what it is.
8. Make a toy town
What you'll need: building blocks along with imaginative toys (dolls, animals, dinosaurs )
Why it's good for 3-year-olds: Help your child create a large "town" out of building blocks with different "homes" for their toy animals, dolls, or dinosaurs. Then, demonstrate how the toys might play and interact with each other.
"Pretend play is an important part of development at this age, so allowing children to imagine and pretend can support this," says Dr. Dudovitz. "Building toys enable them to create their worlds."
9. Trace letters
What you'll need: paper and crayons or markers
Why it's good for 3-year-olds: "Drawing, coloring, and tracing help [3-year-olds] improve their fine motor skills ," says Dr. Dudovitz. Free-form coloring is excellent all on its own, but you can also teach your preschooler the letters in their name by writing each letter out in dots, then encouraging them to trace over them one by one.
Many 3-year-olds will still hold a crayon or pencil in their fists, but you can demonstrate how to hold writing instruments like these between their fingers and thumb — a milestone they'll likely master as they get closer to age 4.
10. Have storytime
What you'll need: books
Why it's good for 3-year-olds: Reading is as important as ever for your 3-year-old. "Telling stories and reading books can help their language and social development," says Dr. Dudovitz. Books that discuss feelings can be particularly important at this age, since your preschooler is continuing to learn how to label feelings and feel empathy for characters.
So, too, can books that spark their imagination — themes from a bedtime story about princesses and castles might very well make their way into your child's pretend play the next day.
Outdoor activities for 3-year-olds
The weather may not always cooperate, but in an ideal world, "children should get at least one hour a day of outdoor playtime," says Dr. Dudovitz. Here, experts share their favorite ways to entertain your 3-year-old outside:
1. Make a nature collection
What you'll need: leaves, sticks, stones, or other items from your backyard or a local park
Why it's good for 3-year-olds: You've probably been going on walks since the newborn days, but your 3-year-old can now get even more involved during outdoor explorations. Dr. Dudovitz recommends asking your child to collect things they see into a basket, then take everything out and categorize it: "Let's see which rock is the biggest," or "Which leaf is smooth, and which is rough?"
2. Go alphabet bowling
What you'll need: large plastic cups or bowling pins , tape, a marker, a soft ball, alphabet cards
Why it's good for 3-year-olds: Label the cups or pins with different letters (A, B, C, D, and so on) and set them in a bowling formation. Then, encourage your child to take turns with you (or other children) to roll the soft ball and knock over as many as they can.
This game "supports early literacy skills while also encouraging problem-solving, turn-taking, and sharing in a group setting," says Dr. Housman. Plus, you can use this activity to help your child learn to self-regulate disappointment: "Whoops, the ball went right past the cups!"
3. Introduce a scooter or tricycle
What you'll need: a tricycle or scooter with three wheels
Why it's good for 3-year-olds: Now that your child has likely gotten the hang of running and jumping (most kids check this milestone off sometime around the 30-month mark ), they may be ready to try getting from point A to B with a little more speed. "This is a great age for using a tricycle and three-wheel scooter," says Dr. Dudovitz.
Look for a trike that’s low to the ground with big wheels (those are less likely to tip over, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics) and cover up your tot’s toes to protect their feet whenever they’re using a scooter or tricycle. And remember: Your child should wear a helmet anytime they're on wheels, Dr. Dudovitz adds.
4. Practice swinging
What you'll need: a swing
Why it's good for 3-year-olds: Learning to swing on their own is a great outdoor activity for this age, says Dr. Singer. Your child will probably need your help figuring out how to kick their legs back and forth, she says. You can teach them with lots of cues to "push" and "pull," and watching other kids can help, too ("Children are great imitators," Dr. Singer says).
Over time, they'll get the hang of balancing in the seat and they'll understand that swinging their legs in each direction causes them to go higher and higher.
5. Add water
What you'll need: a bin or basin and toy animals
Why it's good for 3-year-olds: Water play is as fun as ever at age 3, and your preschooler will likely love the chance to pour water back and forth between different cups and bowls (and all over themselves, too). At this age, water can also be a prime vehicle for imaginative play: Fill the basin with plastic toy animals or water-safe cars, and encourage them to invent different pretend scenarios.
You can also add a little dish soap and bubbles, then tell your 3-year-old they can wash all of their toys. (Just remember that even though your child is a little older now, they should still be supervised every second they're around water.)
Skills your child is developing at 3 years old
Around age 3, you'll probably notice that your child is communicating with you in new and exciting ways — in fact, you might find yourself marveling at how rapidly their skills seem to improve from day to day.
"Language is blossoming and growing exponentially at this age," says Dr. Housman. And your child is using these impressive communication skills to interact more with other children. Parallel play is still common, but your 3-year-old may seem increasingly eager to join other kids doing something fun.
Your newly minted preschooler is also graduating to some major movement and cognitive skills, likely feeding themselves with a fork, drawing a circle, and perhaps recognizing when something is dangerous, like a hot stove you tell them not to touch.
Every preschooler develops at their own pace, but here's more about the developmental milestones many children hit by 3 years old , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If you have any concerns about your child's development, bring them up to your pediatrician at the 3-year checkup .
How much playtime does a 3-year-old need?
Play is still your child's full-time "job" at this age, experts say. "Play provides children with a treasure trove of learning opportunities," says Dr. Housman. "It is fun and exciting, but it is also a child's work." Whenever your 3-year-old isn't eating or sleeping, they should be playing.
Some preschoolers can focus on certain activities for longer, but a typical attention span for a 3-year-old is around 20 minutes, Dr. Housman says. This means that while your child will be playing for large chunks of the day, they'll probably be switching between different games and activities during this time — and that's perfectly normal.
Sample daily schedule for a 3-year-old
Between the ages of 3 and 5, kids need 10 to 13 hours of sleep a day, including naps, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Whenever your 3-year-old is awake, they'll likely be playing.
Here's an example of what your 3-year-old's day might look like. Just keep in mind that every preschooler is different: For example, this schedule assumes your child still naps for about an hour each day, but some 3-year-olds may no longer need daytime sleep.
7 a.m.: wake up
7:30 a.m.: breakfast
8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: playtime
12:30 p.m.: lunch
1 p.m. to 2 p.m.: nap
2:15 p.m.: afternoon snack
2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.: playtime
5 p.m.: dinner
6 p.m.: bathtime
6:30 to 7:30 p.m.: playtime
7:30 p.m.: bedtime stories
8 p.m.: bedtime
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