Knowing the alphabet is a fundamental skill for a preschooler, and with letters all around him, fun teaching opportunities abound. You can play alphabet ball by tossing a ball around and having each child state the next letter of the alphabet every time he catches it. Then have whoever catches the ball on the letter Z recite the entire alphabet. You can also cut out squares of paper, write a capital letter on each one, cut each square in half jigsaw-style, and have the child try to put the two-piece puzzle for each letter back together.
Preschool age is not too early to begin teaching a child pre-reading skills. Write labels for several objects in your home or classroom on construction paper and tape them to the corresponding objects. Send the child on a search for an object such as a table, for example by saying, "I'm looking for something you can eat on and it starts with the 'tuh' sound." See if the child can recognize the labeled object. Or try writing simple object words on a set of index cards and taping corresponding magazine picture cutouts on another set. Lay the cards out on a table and have the child try to match each word with the correct picture.
Write the numbers 1 through 12, one number on each section of an egg carton. Ask the child to identify each number and then drop the correct number of small candies into each section. Then have the child count the number of candies in each section as he eats them. Make learning geometry shapes fun by choosing a specific shape and then asking the child to search for and bring to you things in the room that embody that shape.
All the writing, cutting and pasting a child does in kindergarten requires fine-motor skills, and certain games can get him ready. Put on a show of shadow puppets by turning off the lights and having the child make shapes with his hands to the glow of a flashlight. Or try filling a large bowl with uncooked rice and paper clips or other small objects and ask the child to sift through the rice to retrieve them.
A physically active preschooler improves her gross-motor skills daily just by moving around. Make this learning time fun by channeling that energy into an active game. Play a game of tag, kick a ball around, or practice aim and hand-eye coordination by tossing beanbags into a plastic bucket. Even try scattering stuffed animals on the ground and having the child scoot around on her bottom, pick up a stuffed animal with her feet, and drop it into a box or basket.