Sharpen a child's memory skills with this fun and simple matching game. Take a stack of index cards and make two identical sets with numbers, alphabet letters or shapes written on the cards. Place the cards on a table face-down and have the child flip over one card at a time in order to try to match them. Begin with only a few cards and add more as the child progresses.
Write the numbers 1 to 10 on index cards or separate sheets of paper. Tape them on the windows or doors around the house and ask the child to bring you a specific number. You can also have the child count various objects around the house and then bring you the corresponding number card.
Take a stroll around your neighborhood and have your child look at the buildings. Point out the differences and similarities among them. Have him distinguish between homes, stores and other businesses such as a post office or a fire station. You can also have him observe the shapes of the buildings.
This is a word game that can assist in developing a preschooler's shape and color recognition skills. You can play this game indoors or outside. Find an object and say, "I spy something pink" or "I spy something that is a circle." Have the preschooler investigate and guess what it is you are seeing.