Preschoolers develop language and literacy awareness while playing matching and memory games in class. Fill a tray with Disney related toys, and challenge students to memorize what they see. After studying the tray, students will recall what they saw, building their memory skills. During play time, allow the children to play a Disney memory card game by placing cards with Disney characters face down and then flipping two at a time to make a match. They will need to remember the locations of previously flipped cards to collect matching pairs.
Playing matching games like bingo with preschoolers helps develop their math skills. Set up a Disney bingo game for the class as a large group game. Have the children sit on the rug or at the table, and pass out cards that contain 16-square grids with a Disney character in each box. As you hold up pictures of the Disney characters, the students will place markers over the corresponding squares until they have four in a row.
Dramatic play allows preschool children to role-play, express themselves and build social skills. Stock the dress up area with Disney costumes so children can emulate their favorite movie characters. The preschoolers can don Disney princess gowns or animal costumes to act out scenarios in the classroom. Help them develop story lines and dialogue to guide their imaginations. Adding props, such as wands, Mickey Mouse ears and tiaras, to the dramatic play center will embellish the Disney costumes.
Movement activities help children release energy and strengthen gross motor skills. When they're on the playground, encourage the children to participate in routines and movements related to Disney characters. The preschoolers can hop like Tigger, fly like Tinkerbell or Dumbo, twirl like a princess or swim like Nemo. Ask the students to think of more Disney character movements to demonstrate for the class. The children will use creativity while designing actions and enjoy this silly movement game.