No matter where you live, you can find outdoor places to take your preschooler. Parks offer opportunities for exercising from climbing and swinging to sliding down slides and running from one thing to the next.
At a park, in the country or in your yard, examine plants available. Help your preschooler take samples of grass, bark, leaves and flowers. Inside, lay out your finds on large sheet of banner or butcher paper. Show your preschooler how to examine the finds under a magnifying glass. Point out different aspects of each to show the intricate designs. In books, such as encyclopedias or online, help your preschooler identify the plants. Have your preschooler draw the plant. You can show him how to press the plants between paper towels under heavy weights, like books, and later make a plant book of the finds.
Local libraries offer many activities for preschoolers. Call or check online for the events and activities offered by your library. Some offer story time or bring in speakers for children. Libraries often have special play areas for children and areas where a parent and child can share a book. When teaching about a particular subject such as bears, take a trip to the library. Show your preschooler how the library works and how to find books on different subjects. Look up bears and find several different books. Read one book in the library and allow time for your preschooler to play and get comfortable in the library setting. Take other books home and show your preschooler how to check out books.
Along with your preschooler, create cards with information on a variety of animals. Download information and pictures from online sources. Title the cards with the animals' name, such as bear, horse or moose. Below the animal names write, "Sound," and write in the sounds each animal makes. Add three or more facts about each animal, such as where they live or usual colors. On the back, add a picture of the animal. Your preschooler can assist by gluing on the pictures. Talk to your preschooler as you create the cards. Afterward, use the cards to ask questions about the animals. Every time your preschooler correctly guesses the animal from your clues, she gets the card. As she learns about the animals, have her play the teacher and ask you questions.
Visit a music store. Show your preschooler all the different instruments. With the assistance of a clerk, show your preschooler how the different instruments sound. Show him sheet music and how the marks correspond to the music played. At home, create an instrument by putting buttons or other small items in a plastic container, close and shake. Using a wooden spoon, show how drumming on different surfaces sounds differently. Together make music by singing, drumming and shaking the container.