Unplugged Play: Preschool: 263 Activities Games for Ages 3-5

by Bobbi Conner

Unplug Your Preschooler with more than 200 screen-free games and activities!

“Just plain fun!... Will help parents give their children the kind of childhood that more and more children are missing.”––Mary Piper, PhD., author of Reviving Ophelia Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls
 
From Animal Doctor to Lunch Bag Puppet, Letter Hunt to Life-Size Me, here are more than 200 screen-free games and activities to help kids enjoy the wholesome, old-fashioned experience of playing creatively and freely...without technology. There are outdoor games and indoor games, games to play solo and games to play with others, arts and crafts, songs and rhymes, playdates and party favorites––even instant activities to do at the kitchen table while dinner’s cooking. All games are preschooler-tested and approved.  

A note to parents: Play matters! Technology has its place, but these unplugged games are designed to stretch the imagination, spark creativity, build strong bodies, and forge deeper connections with family and friends.
 

Genres: Nonfiction, Parenting

288 pages, Paperback

Published September 15, 2020

About the author

Bobbi Conner created the award-winning, nationwide public radio series The Parents Journal and hosted the program for twenty-four years. Conner’s public radio program, audio interviews, books, and articles have been featured in USA Today, Newsweek, the Washington Post, Parade, Parents, Parenting, CBS This Morning, and PBSParents.org.

Bobbi Conner is the author of:

* Unplugged Play Toddler
* Unplugged Play Preschool
* Unplugged Play Grade School
* Everyday Opportunities for Extraordinary Parenting
* The Book of Birthday Letters

Conner is the mother of three children. She lives in South Carolina

Reviews

[Lauren]

This book only more highly confirmed that games during the preschool years are not my cup of tea. So much prep for 10 minutes. Thankfully there are people who love these things, it just is not me. 😆

[Lara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Soooooo…I dunno. I picked this up on a whim while at the library because we’re definitely in the pretty much zero screen time category at this point in time. But there were very few ideas in here that I thought my kids would be interested in, and the rest seemed so obvious I really didn’t need a book for them: Play train! Pretend to cook! Blow bubbles! Play with play dough! Make a tent!

Anyway, I wrote down a couple of things, but I sort of finished it feeling like…okay, we’re already doing most of these things, so now what? And I guess now what is I put on my children’s programming hat and be less lazy about planning activities? Ugh. Or I let my three year old take over and we just play lawn mowing construction team every day…

[Alison · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the overall theory explanations and prose in the book more than the activity ideas. They either seemed exhausting or like my child would have limited interest in them. The theory is great though and an inspiration to keep at the activities that my kids do enjoy outside of screens.

[Bobbi Galvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Banish boredom and celebrate screen-free, creative fun. This well-organized book is packed with activities, games, songs, and projects. Has a great index.
Includes ideas for indoor and outdoor play, as well as solo, parent/child, and group play.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is more of a reference book, so I honestly didn't read it cover to cover. Some great ideas in here! I didn't like how it makes me feel bad about how much time she spends in front of the tablet/TV.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of new ideas

[Sierra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of creative ideas, for solo or group play. I like the format and the clear explanations.

[Jeani · Rating 3 out of 5]

So helpful!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great resource. I have so many ideas to try and inspirations for activities. I highly recommend this book to all of my friends with littles