Puzzles, large beads, pegboard and lotto games help develop skills that help later in reading and writing. Children this age also enjoy drawing or painting on a variety of surfaces such as textured papers, sidewalks or fabric. Preschoolers are learning to mimic adult behavior. They play house, teacher and firefighter for hours. Provide girls and boys with plenty of dressup clothes, hats, bags and shoes - and a tall mirror so they can watch themselves act the parts of both real and imaginary people.
Books are always a safe bet for children from an early age.
Children who are read to become better readers. Younger children need books that have simple stories with repetition and clear, whole, realistic pictures. Choose books that both you and your children will enjoy. Small cars and trucks are popular toys. Soft stuffed animals, dolls, kitchen sets and tapes of children's music are also good items.