Games that involve kicking and aiming help three-year-olds build their coordination and motor skills. Use rubber kick balls or inflatable beach balls to play games. Have children kick the ball back and forth, then set up a cardboard box as a goal. Start off by having children kick or roll the ball into the goal from a few feet away, then move the starting line back a foot at a time. You can also set up a bowling game using empty water bottles. Have children roll or kick the ball at the bottles to see how many they can knock down.
A treasure hunt teaches three-year-olds to read maps and use reasoning skills. Draw a map of your house or school. Mark a spot on the map with an "x." In that place, hide another map with an "x" marked in another place. Children must figure out where each map is located in order to find the final prize. Hide a new toy or a treat in the final location. Encourage children to work together in teams to complete the hunt.
Simon Says teaches children about listening and following directions. Start off with you as "It." Explain that whenever you say "Simon says..." children should follow the direction you give after, such as "jump up and down" or "touch your nose." When you don't say "Simon says..." children should stay still. Once you've led a few rounds, let children take turns being "It." They will get to use their creativity to come up with directions to give others.
Guessing games let children be silly and creative, but they also require three-year-olds to use reasoning skills. Place familiar toys inside a sock or cloth bag and ask children to guess what's inside using only their hands. You can also blindfold children and have them smell things such as flowers or foods to see if they can guess what they're smelling. For an artistic game, put out feathers, leaves, sticks and cotton balls along with paper and finger paints. Ask children to paint with these items then switch papers. Children must guess what kind of "paintbrush" was used in each painting.