Help preschoolers practice their colors during snack time using finger foods. All of the finger foods can be the same color. Have the preschooler help you to brainstorm what foods fit the color of the day. For example, if the color is brown, you can choose pretzels, peanut butter and chocolate chips.
Colors can be combined to help teach patterns. For example, fill a plate with red strawberries, green grapes and yellow cheese cubes. Create a pattern board to follow based on the colors. The child can practice following the pattern to eat the snack. One red, two green, one yellow, one red, two green, one yellow--and so on.
Preschoolers love to dip things. Ideal for rainy days, have them practice dipping animal-shaped crackers into chocolate pudding. The can make the animals play in the mud. Practice listening skills and animal identification by calling out which animal gets dunked next.
Preschoolers practice their fine motor skills by using finger foods to create objects. Use large marshmallows, pretzel sticks and raisins to create snowmen. Place a marshmallow on the table. Insert the pretzel into the top. Place another marshmallow on top. Use pretzels for arms. Raisins can be used for snowman eyes, nose and mouth.
Children will surprise you. Offer them an array of snack foods and ask them what animal shapes they can make.
Using sticks of vegetables and pretzels, make letters out of finger foods. Preschoolers just learning their letters can use a piece of paper with the letter written on it. The preschooler simply arranges the food over the lines, forming the letter.