11 fun and educational activities for 5 year olds

Even though your 5-year-old is likely participating in a ton of educational activities in their kindergarten class, it's also a great idea to incorporate some of those fun activities at home, too. From outdoor activities to educational ones and much more, we break down some great things you can do with your young child to promote physical activity, cognitive skills, and motor development.

Why are learning activities essential for 5-year-olds?

Kids are active, curious, and excited about the world, especially when they're right at the start of their schooling years. Parents can help satisfy this natural curiosity and prepare their kids for a social learning environment through play and learning activities at home. Then, they'll have a good foundation from which to grow their skills.

Skills like basic numeracy, phonemic awareness, motor skills, and memory can all be improved through fun games for kids. Games and activities can support your child's holistic development. Plus, any fun activity is an opportunity to spend more time with your child before they start going to school for a large portion of each day.

Be a financially smart family!

Be a financially smart family!

From saving for the future to understanding credit, see how families are thriving with Greenlight.

Try Greenlight today

Indoor activities: Fun games and creative ideas

Whether it's a rainy day or your child just isn't a fan of the outdoors, there are plenty of indoor activities you can do to support learning and development.

As they get older, your kids will also probably bring home indoor recess games or educational activities they learn from school. Until then, some great options to try out include:

• Math games: Help your child boost number and math skills through basic numeracy and arithmetic problems like Mad Minutes or downloadable games like Math Kids.

• Puzzle treasure hunt: Improve your child's memory by playing memory-matching games or hiding items throughout the house and providing clues for a treasure hunt.

• Arts and crafts: Spark your child's creativity and encourage them to think creatively through a crafts activity like finger painting, coloring pages, or making simple crafts like paper airplanes, paper plate masks, or bead stringing.

• Storytime and rhymes: Build literacy by reading together and engaging in creative play like dressing up with costumes, performing a puppet show with DIY puppets, building a fort with blankets and pillows, or playing "store."

Outdoor fun and discovery: Boosting motor skills

Outdoor activities for 5-year-olds are often a favorite. When the weather gets nice, the best after-school activities are the ones you can enjoy outside together. Some ideas include:

• Nature scavenger hunt: Head into the backyard and overturn rocks to see what you find. Bring a nature book to understand the flora and fauna in your own backyard, or set out into a local park or trail to explore together.

• Playground games: Boost your child's social and physical skills by playing playground games at home, like hopscotch, butts up, and other simple games you can do in the driveway.

• Mini science experiments: Learn about the natural world and stoke your child's curiosity through hands-on learning like the classic activity of building a vinegar and baking soda volcano.

Smart screen time: Educational online games for 5-year-olds

It's no secret that today's kids love their screens. Screen time can be a powerful incentive towards good behavior, but you can also use it to teach your kids the utility of technology. Online activities for 5-year-olds can help teach kids problem-solving skills and how tech tools can be valuable assets.

• Math and reading apps: Many digital learning tools on the market, like Math Kids and Reading Eggs, gamify age-appropriate learning. Make sure to read reviews from other parents to verify that they're quality programs before starting.

• Virtual museum tours: Many museums offer virtual tours so you can explore subjects like art, natural history, and science from the comfort of your own home with your child. Not to mention, it can foster an appreciation for travel and exploration by exposing children to other parts of the world.

• Fun educational games: Card games like Crazy 8s and Uno require counting and math, while many education brands offer physical and digital games that require kids to use their brains in different ways. Your local toy store or big box store likely has a whole section of age-appropriate educational games for children.

• Financial learning: Financial literacy is an important skill for all people, and introducing basic money concepts to children at a young age will help them better understand key topics like saving, budgeting, and even investing. Greenlight offers a host of great financial learning resources for kids to understand the value of money like Level Up™, Greenlight's in-app game that offers a best-in-class financial education curriculum.

What to keep in mind when choosing learning activities: Key tips

Any fun activity is great to share with your kids, but the most valuable ones provide mental stimulation and support their development. There are a few key things to keep in mind when you're planning playtime.

How do you mentally stimulate a 5-year-old?

At age 5, children are naturally curious. They're likely already asking interesting questions about all kinds of things. The activities above are all good options to turn playtime into an opportunity for education, but it's crucial that you remain active and engaged yourself.

Ask questions to support the activities you're doing together. Encourage your kids to be creative and think through problems. Give them challenges, but nothing so complicated they can't even begin to manage it. Productive struggle is an important skill to learn.

Which type of activity is best for a 5-year-old?

It really depends on your child! They're never going to ask you about chores for 5-year-olds, but they will give you insights into what they like to do. Listen to your child to learn what they like, what they're interested in, and what they're curious to know more about. Then, you can tailor your activities to their interests.

How to support your 5-year-old's development through activities

Parents play a vital role in their kids' education and development. While kids will learn a lot at school, you can support their learning at home through fun, educational activities that nurture their interests and support your bond.

Teaching kids to manage money: Fun activities for financial growth

There are so many fun activities you can do with your 5-year-old to spark their creativity, support their physical and motor development, improve their problem-solving skills, and even introduce them to financial literacy. In fact, the earlier you start teaching your child about money, the more likely they are to understand money better as an adult. Check out Greenlight's financial literacy tools to support your child's financial growth.

Teach money skills for life. Kids learn by doing — and Greenlight’s all-in-one family app helps you weave money management into daily life. Try Greenlight, one month, risk-free.†

†Valid for new customers only. Subject to identity verification and minimum load requirements. Your first monthly fee will be billed to your parent wallet seven days after successful registration. To receive a refund of your first monthly fee, you must request to close your account on or before the day immediately preceding your first Monthly Billing Date. See the ‘Account’ tab of Settings by tapping the gear icon on the Greenlight app home page to confirm when your risk-free trial ends. See Terms for details.