Check out this simple learning activity for preschoolers using supplies you probably already have at home!
If you’re like me, you bought a ball pit for your kids thinking it would be a fun only to find plastic balls in every nook and cranny of your house! What a nightmare right?!? Well I found a simple activity that uses these plastic balls that doesn’t involve throwing them everywhere. Ball Patterns is a fun learning game for preschoolers using large dot stickers, a muffin tin, and plastic balls to make patterns.
Introducing Patterns
It’s never too early to introduce patterns to your kids. I like to start talking about patterns with my toddlers and begin fun pattern recognition activities around 3 years old. Kids learn best through repetition and what repeats more than a pattern!
When introducing this ball pattern activity, make sure to demonstrate how to make the pattern with balls first, then stay close in the background incase your little one needs some assistance. I think you’ll find that preschoolers will understand pattern making very quickly!
How to Make Ball Patterns
Start by placing the large dot stickers into different patterns on white printer paper. I used 2 inch dot stickers and 12 stickers fit perfectly on an 8×11 inch piece of paper. Remember you can make as many of these pages as you like! Ball patterns is the perfect quiet time activity!
Next, set up your pattern paper, an empty muffin tin, and a basket of balls and let your preschoolers create patterns. If you have multiple muffin pans like me, you can set up multiple ball pattern stations for your kids to work through. If you don’t have plastic balls you can use pom poms!
I love this learning activity because it helps develop a critical skill for young kids through play! As a busy parent I’m always looking for simple, budget friendly activities for kids. Ball patterns is a great indoor activity for kids. This would even be a great game to keep kids entertained during a playdate or birthday party! And it only takes 5 minutes to set up.
Don’t forget to pin and save this fun activity for later!
