January Preschool Activities

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January preschool activities can help young children discover all that is special about this winter month. The Theme for this month is Penguins and Polar Bears. Take time to introduce to children other animals that particularly live in very cold climates. Also, introduce to children the idea of hibernation. Explain why animals hibernate and which animals go into hibernation.

The letters for this month for our January preschool activities are A and P. You will find below many activities related to help young children learn about these letters.

The number for this month is 1 and the shape is the circle. Through various math counting and sorting exercises, children will learn how to identify the number 1 and the circle.

The color for this month is white since we usually associate the color white with winter. Think of snow, polar bears, snowmen, snowflakes, puffy snow clouds, igloos, and more.

Use the January preschool activities to teach about 2 important holidays: New Year's Day and Martin Luther King, Jr. Have a little New Year's celebration so the children understand how exciting it is to look forward to an exciting year of new events. Be sure to explain about the importance of Martin Luther King, Jr.

There are also some great January preschool activities for science concepts and imaginary play. These activities help develop critical thinking skills.

Finally, you will find many January preschool activities that are explored through art. Children love to explore through art and have the freedom to express ideas through art.

1. Holidays:
January 1- New Year's Day
January 19- Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday

2. Science:
a. Show how to freeze water into ice (Predict how long it will take, then compare predictions to result).

b. Research about arctic animals including penguins and polar bears (discuss size and color of the animal, what it eats, and where it lives).

3. Social Studies:
Teach the children about Martin Luther King, Jr. and why he is an important historical figure. Have the children tell what their dream is.

4. Imagination:
Make a playhouse with a table and a white blanket and pretend it is an igloo.

5. Arts and Crafts:
a. Make a pair of mittens out of construction paper, then connect them with a piece of yarn. Have the child decorate, paint, color the mittens with whatever materials you provide and deem age appropriate.

b. Use spray adhesive to coat a styrofoam ball, then let the child roll the ball in a bowl of glitter to make a snowball.

c. Either provide pre-cut snowflakes or, if children are old enough, allow them to cut out their own snowflake pattern. Then, apply spray adhesive and sprinkle with glitter.

6. Reading:
Read "The Mitten" by Jan Brett and "The Three Little Kittens Who Lost Their Mittens."

7. Language:
Introduce the letters and letter sounds for A and P. Give each child a plate with enough salt on it to use his finger to practice writing the letters A and P in the salt. Ask parents to have their child bring in a picture or object that represents something that starts with letter A or letter P.

8. Math, Thinking Skills:
Play sorting games with winter clothing items. Have children put all the scarves together, all the boots together, all the mittens together, all the hats together, and all the socks together. For more precise sorting, have the children match up individual pairs of mittens.

9. Math, Shapes:
Use 3 circles (small, medium, and large) cut out from white construction paper to create a snowman. Talk about the circle and how it is round with no edges. Then, provide other pieces (hat, carrot nose, buttons, eyes, mouth, scarf) to decorate the snowman.

10. Math, Counting:
Introduce the number 1 and show everyone how to hold up 1 finger and count 1. Provide a worksheet that contains groups of items such as 8 stars, 5 squares, 3 triangles, 7 hearts, etc. In each group, have the child circle only 1 item and again count 1.

11. Coordination and Movement:
Have the children pretend to walk like a penguin, then show them how to crawl like polar bears.

12. Social Skills:
Have the children sit in a circle. One child picks another child to say something nice to. Each child must pick a child that has not been chosen so that everyone has a fair turn.

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