Allow children to participate in movement activities every day. Plan activities that enable children to exercise their large muscles. This not only includes free outdoor play but dancing, jumping, clapping and bending activities and games. For example, incorporate movement games such as freeze dance, scarf dancing and fun aerobic exercises into your morning circle time.
Plan fine motor skills activities, but also allow these to develop organically. For example, include at least one art activity in your daily lesson plan, but be sure that art materials are available for children to explore in the classroom at their leisure. Play dough, coloring supplies, markers and materials for easel painting should be offered in the preschool classroom each day.
Allow children to help with snack preparation. Enlist two or three preschoolers each day to help with simple cutting, pouring, stirring and other elements of snack preparation. These everyday activities will not only enhance a preschooler's fine motor skills but will introduce early math concepts. For a fun gross motor activity, allow children to carry the snacks they helped make to the snack tables using cafeteria trays. This will help develop balance and strength.
Offer children a daily journaling activity. Provide a journal for every child, made simply with one-subject wide-ruled notebooks labeled with each child's name. Ask children to reflect on the day's events or a special activity that your class participated in. Or, allow children to decide what they would like to draw or write about. For children who need more prompting, ask specific questions such as "What would you like to be when you grow up?"
Act out simple stories with children using costumes and props. Stock your dramatic play area with outfits and other accessories that will allow children to perform some of their favorite stories. For example, provide a red cape, a picnic basket and a simple wolf mask for children to act out "Little Red Riding Hood." Avoid directing the play, but rather moderate and facilitate the children's interpretation of the story. Answer questions as they arise.
Encourage class participation while reading a story at circle time. Choose books that include rhyming text, picture clues or repeating lines to encourage children to read along with you. Some examples of good books for class participation include "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle, "In The Tall, Tall Grass" by Denise Fleming and "Quick as a Cricket" by Audrey Wood as well as almost any Dr. Seuss book.