Have you ever spent an evening planning an activity for your preschooler only to find that it lasted all of 10 minutes? I have. It’s extraordinarily frustrating.

I cannot tell you the number of times I made that mistake with Tigger when she was younger. I’d meticulously plan a unit study, complete with books, games, activities, crafts, and more – only to find that she’d lost interest after just a few minutes.

But let’s be real: Preschoolers are not known for their long attention spans. Which means that when it comes to activities, the quicker the better. And if the setup is also simple, then that’s a win-win!

So here are ten 10 minute preschool activities that are fun, easy to set up, and educational! Don’t worry. With these, your preschooler won’t have time to get bored!

Image c/o: dmitrimaruta / depositphotos

Ten 10 Minute Preschool Activities

1. Pick a part of the human body and do a craft about it. These can be as simple as a cut-and-paste activity. For example, try this simple hands-on craft about taste buds!
2. Read a great picture book with your preschooler. If you need book suggestions, check out my list of the best picture books for three-year-olds!
3. Practice scissor cutting skills. Learning to use scissors is an important preschool skill. This set of bee-themed scissor practice printables is simple to set up!
4. Go on a nature walk. Take your child outside and look at the plants, animals, and insects in your neighborhood. If you have a lot of trees nearby, grab these free leaf identification flashcards and see how many you can spot!
5. Learn sign language. ASL is a wonderful language for both deaf and hearing kids and you can learn to sign a few words in just a few minutes! Check out this video to learn how to sign weather words in ASL.
6. Look through a kids’ cookbook and find a recipe to make together. This list of fun children’s cookbooks features some great selections!
7. Do a simple science experiment. In just a few minutes, you can show your child a scientific principle or two! Try this quick experiment to learn how to make an egg float!
8. Design a map of the solar system. Use this set of free printable solar system flashcards to set up a universe on your dining room table!
9. Make moon sand. When the weather’s nice outside, take your preschooler outdoors and make this recipe for colored moon sand together! It’s an awesome play material and a great way to incorporate sensory integration in your day.
10. Create a batch of edible play dough. This recipe for edible dairy-free play dough is super fun and super easy to make!

Try these other activities for early learners!

Harry the Dirty Dog Extension Activity

How to Teach Preschoolers to Play Quietly

The Best Picture Books for Three-Year-Olds

For more preschool learning ideas, follow my Learning for Little Ones board on Pinterest!

And for more ideas to teach kids of all ages, check out The Big Book of Homeschooling Ideas!

This post is part of the “Useful Tasks You Can Do in 5 to 60 Minutes” linkup from iHomeschool Network! Stop by to see the other quick tasks you can get accomplished in your homeschool!