This game is for preschoolers who are somewhat familiar with the alphabet. It serves to reinforce basic phonics. To play it, pick a word and have the child try to name the letter (or sound) it starts with. Use words that the child is familiar with, such as animal names or shapes, and make sure to avoid words that do not sound like they start with the letter that they do.
The classic game of memory serves as an engaging way to help preschoolers develop strong recall skills. Use a set of cards that have matching pairs of pictures on the front. If the child is too young to play the regular matching memory game, lay out a few distinct cards upside up, then turn them over and practice finding a certain picture. When the child consistently succeeds on the first try, add another card to the game.
This activity works well with a group of preschoolers. Tell a simple story using one or two familiar characters, such as family members, favorite toys or animals the children know about. Describe a simple sequence of events, conversation or emotions that the characters experience, then ask the children to recall parts of the story, such as "What did the bear find outside?" or "How did the bear feel when he found the apple?"
This game helps children learn to categorize items while keeping the specified criterion in their memory. Choose a favorite stuffed animal, such as a teddy bear, and ask children to help Teddy find some toys he will like. Pick a color, size or other category and announce what kinds of toys Teddy likes (e.g., "Teddy likes animals.") Pick one toy at a time and let the children pick whether Teddy will like it. Every few toys, change the criterion and help children remember to pick toys based on the new category.