It’s Presidents’ Day, and that means it’s the perfect time to do some fun preschool activities with your little one. There are many great ways to celebrate, from learning about the presidents to making crafts and playing games.
Here are some of our favorite ideas for spending Presidents’ Day with your preschooler. Happy celebrating!
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Read a Story About Presidents
Help your child understand more about Presidents’ Day by reading a story together. Try one of these books:
- “George Washington’s Birthday” by Margaret McNamara
- “The Story of George Washington” by Margaret Davidson
- “Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday” by Ann McGovern
- “The Story of Abraham Lincoln” by Mary Pope Osborne
Make a Presidential Paper Plate Mask
With this easy craft project, your child can make their own presidential paper plate mask. All you need is a paper plate, some markers or crayons, and some elastic string.
Once your child has decorated their cover, they can wear it while reading stories or playing games about presidents.
Play “I Spy” With Presidential Facts
Play an “I Spy” game with your child and help them simultaneously learn fun facts about presidents. For example, you could say, “I spy with my little eye something that starts with the letter ‘L’ and is associated with presidents.” The answer could be “Lincoln’s hat.”
Sort Pictures of Presidents By Era
This sorting activity is a great way to help your child learn about the different eras presidents have served. Print out some pictures of presidents (you can find these online or in books) and then sort them into groups according to the era in which they served.
For example, you could have a group for presidents who served in the 1800s, a group for presidents who served in the 1900s, and so on.
Match Pictures of Presidents to Their Names
This matching game is a great way to help your child learn the names of some of the most famous presidents. Print out pictures of presidents (you can find these online or in books) and then write each president’s name on a separate piece of paper.
Cut out the terms and mix them up, then challenge your child to match each word with the correct picture.
Count How Many Terms Each President Served
This activity is a great way to help your child understand how long each president served in office. Using books or online resources, find out how many terms each president served, then write this information down on some pieces of paper (or use sticky notes).
Then challenge your child to arrange the documents from the shortest term to the most extended period. You could also do this activity with other facts about presidents, such as their date of birth or when they were inaugurated office.
Draw Pictures Inspired By Presidents’ Quotes
Help your child learn more about what presidents have said by challenging them to draw pictures inspired by famous quotes from presidents.
For example, if you choose the section “Government of the people, by the people, for the people,” your child could draw a picture of people voting or gathering together for a protest rally. You can find lists of famous quotes from presidents online or in books about presidents.
Crafts
There are tons of great crafts that you can do with your child to help them celebrate Presidents’ Day.
You can make paper plate wreaths, handprint Abraham Lincoln hats, or construction paper chains in red, white, and blue.
Cooking
Presidents’ Day is an excellent opportunity to teach your child about some of the traditional foods of our country. You can make patriotic snacks like red, white, and blue Jell-O cups or star-shaped sandwiches.
Try making a flag cake or presidential pizza for a more substantial meal.
Songs and Fingerplays
Singing songs and doing fingerplays is a great way to teach your child about Presidents’ Day. There are many great songs about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln that you can sing together.
You can also find fingerplays online or in children’s books such as “Five Little Presidents” by William Accorsi.
Field Trips
If you live near Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, or another city with historical significance, consider taking a field trip with your child to learn more about presidents and our country’s history. If a trip isn’t possible, you can always visit a local museum or take a virtual tour online.
Games
Playing games is another fun way to celebrate Presidents’ Day with your child. Try playing “Pin the Nose on George Washington,” “I Spy a President,” or “Presidential Memory.” You can also find many great printable games online.
Puzzles and Coloring Pages
Puzzles and coloring pages are always popular with kids, and many great ones are available for Presidents’ Day. You can find puzzles featuring pictures of presidents, the White House, or patriotic symbols like the American flag.
There are also tons of coloring pages available online or in activity books at your local bookstore.
