Preschool is hard work! And with that hard work, some students need a rest. The problem occurs, however, when you have some students that need to rest while others simply are not sleepy. You can lead a preschooler to a cot, but you can’t make him nap! So what to do with the bright-eyed and bushy-tailed tots that won’t sleep on the cots? Try a quiet time activity from the list of our favorites!
Puzzles – A Quiet Time Staple
Puzzles can come in many shapes and sizes. The trick is to find one that works for each particular child. Beginners might need a little help with a basic 12 piece puzzle in a cardboard frame while others may coast easily through a 50 piece masterpiece. They don’t need to be pricey – they can be found at the dollar store or even in consignment shops. And for the teacher that likes to DIY, you can make popsicle stick photo puzzles or simple puzzles cut from cereal box fronts.
Looking for quiet? Try Seek and Find Books!
One of the most popular quiet time activities is reading. While reading might keep a preschooler quiet for ten or twenty minutes, it might be a bit too passive for an entire nap session. Seek and Find books to the rescue! There are many different types, from the familiar Where’s Waldo books to seek and count books, and even more can be found on this great list!
Variations on a classic: Coloring
Coloring is a traditional way to keep a fidgety child quiet and calm – that’s why crayons accompany many children’s menus. However, it might be hard to keep an interest in the same old coloring. Mix it up using any of these variations:
- Print out free coloring pictures of a favorite cartoon character and encourage the student to add an amazing background.
- Supply dry erase markers and a lap-sized dry erase board (available at dollar stores) or even slide some paper into a page protector for write and wipe fun!
- Along the same lines, pass some empty sheets through a laminator to get some transparent sheets. Encourage students to color different sheets and layer, or hold up to the light to look through.
- Give a different feel to coloring by providing dark paper and colored chalk.
- Mix in dot-to-dot puzzles that use letters instead of numbers to sneak in a little literacy reinforcement, or stick with traditional numbers to practice number skills.
Quiet Time Activity for the Future Architect: LEGOS
While LEGO is a great group activity, it can also be tranquil and introspective. Here are some links to great LEGO quiet time activities to keep a little builder busy!
- This free set of printable Duplo cards can encourage a builder to copy the cards. The site is in Spanish, but the cards are universal!
- This free calendar has 30 whole days worth of LEGO challenges!
- While not every challenge on this extensive list is quiet, there are plenty of good ideas here!
Quiet Time Manipulatives (that aren’t LEGO)
Individual play is a fantastic time to hone those fine motor skills. And if it is during rest time, there isn’t a line waiting for materials. Here are some ideas:
- Fruit Loop Graphing – if you don’t want to use fruit loops, beads work too!
- Try lacing beads onto a shoestring or on a tower.
- Creating pictures with string on sturdy sandpaper (or sandpaper glued to cardboard)
- Sewing buttons onto plastic mesh – Future life skills!
- Check out these ten hands-on ways to practice the alphabet – perfect for quiet time!
Soak up the quiet time with Sponge Blocks
Some students love to build. Block towers crashing down, however, are not great for quiet time…UNLESS THEY ARE BLOCKS MADE OUT OF SPONGES! Found at the dollar stores everywhere, or even bought in bulk on Amazon, sponges are easily cut into fun shapes or even left whole for building the quietest towers ever.
Magnet or Felt Boards help kids “stick” to being quiet!
Just because it’s a quiet time activity doesn’t mean it can’t bolster learning. An easy lap-sized magnetic baking sheet and some fun magnets are all you need to create an individual and fun magnet board. (Please check ahead of time. Many baking sheets are NOT magnetic!) Letter identification practice is easily added with magnetic letters and marking one side of the cookie sheet. For more magnet board ideas, look here!
To make individual felt boards, cover a large piece of cardboard, foam board, or even on the flip side of the same baking sheet! Premade felt pieces are lovely, but even scraps of felt cut into geometric shapes can be entertaining.
Keeping the Peace with Quiet Books/Busy Books
Another great idea, if you have time to make them, is a “quiet book,” sometimes also called “busy books.” Dyan at And Next Comes L has a whole set of ideas to explore!
Storage and Preparation of Quiet Time Activities
Looking for a great way to provide some choices and variety while storing these quiet activities? Try this fantastic idea of Quiet Time Boxes by Wildflower Ramblings. This ensures that the kids aren’t doing the same thing every day, and also makes sure that the pieces stay put. It also gives children some choices without needing adult interaction if they “finish” one activity.
Hopefully, this list helps restore peace and quiet in the classroom or home during quiet time!
FREE Posters And Organizational Tags
Enjoy these Free Posters and Organizational Tags perfect for the classroom!
After you subscribe, you will be redirected to the FREE Posters and Organizational Tags. We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.