We are in a Hotwheels phase here with my 3 year old boy. His sister also loves to play, so we used this to practice directionality(left and right)!
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This directionality activity was more for my daughter, but my son enjoyed it as well!
Directionality is a vital part of perceptual motor skills that kids need to help them develop spatial awareness. Directional awareness is important for optimal learning, for example: understanding where the left of a book is to start a sentence, not even speaking about functional reasons: turning right at the end of the corridor to find the office.
Before a child starts formal schooling, these things need to be in place, hence us working on it with my 5.5 year old daughter that will start Grade 1 next year January.
So, a while ago, we made this garage/parking lot box, complete with “speed bumps”(plasters)! And some personalized “art”:
Then, we used stickers and added left and right arrows to the cars.
The cars were lined up at the entrance and the kids had to decide which way to turn into the parking lot according to the sticker on the car. I expected of my daughter to say with each turn: left or right.
Notice the cars in the same row has different arrows? She did too! The opportunity arose to explain that even if it does look “wrong” to her, it is still right, because those cars entered from the opposite side(brothers side).
Little guy has a chance to count all the cars, so this activity is not only good for directionality practice, but counting practice too!
A fun, but educational activity that shows you that you can use what you have in your house to teach you kids in a playful way!
More fun learning ideas with small toys:
Car Parking Lot Preschool Math Grid Game from Life Over C’s
Alphabet Car Wash from Learning 2 Walk
Sorting and Counting with Die-Cast Trains from Crafty Mama in ME
Directionality Activity with Small Cars from Teach Me Mommy
Forest Animals Letter Sounds Activity from Stir the Wonder
Learning Shapes with Toy Cars from Adventures of Adam
What Makes Ice Melt Fastest from Raising Little Superheroes
Fun DIY Phonics Game from Mum in the Madhouse
What Do Animals Eat? Classification Activity from Schooling a Monkey
Color Mixing with Toy Cars from The Kindergarten Connection
AM and PM Time Telling with Shopkins from Sugar Aunts
Sorting Animals Venn Diagram Activity from Mom Inspired Life
Hands-on Way to Learn Letter Sounds from School Time Snippets
Fairies & STEM Activities: Gardening with Kids from Edventures with Kids
Name & Letter Practice: A Painting With Toy Car Activity from Play Dough & Popsicles
Learning Letters & Reading With Cars! from Preschool Powol Packets
Shopkins Sorting from Still Playing School
What a fun activity. My boys were obsessed with cars when they were younger. I love the directional aspect to this. It is so achievable and great for everyone
Love it. I also have a car obsessed three year old! I love the different activities for everyone. Plus plasters and speed bumps – genius!
What a great activity. But I like it even more that both your kids can play the same activity together and both learning from it as well.