Preschoolers are full of energy and curiosity, and keeping them engaged in meaningful activities can be a challenge. However, you don’t need to break the bank to provide fun and educational experiences for your little one. Here are 12+ preschool games and activities that you can do on a budget:

1. Sensory Bin Fun: Fill a plastic bin with different textures like rice, beans, or sand. Add scoops, funnels, and small toys for your child to explore and play with.

2. DIY Playdough: Make your own playdough using ingredients from your kitchen pantry. Mix flour, salt, water, and food coloring to create a moldable and colorful dough.

3. Nature Scavenger Hunt: Take a walk in your neighborhood or local park and create a list of things for your child to find, such as leaves, rocks, or flowers. Encourage them to observe and collect the items.

4. Paper Plate Crafts: Turn ordinary paper plates into fun crafts with simple supplies like markers, construction paper, and glue. You can create masks, animals, or even a frisbee.

5. Puzzles and Memory Games: Print out or draw simple puzzles and memory cards on cardstock. Cut them out and let your child match the pieces or find the matching cards.

6. Storytelling with Props: Gather a few props like stuffed animals or puppets and create stories with your child. Encourage them to use their imagination and develop their narrative skills.

7. Homemade Musical Instruments: Make musical instruments using items like empty water bottles, rice in a container, or pots and pans as drums. Play along to their favorite tunes.

8. Shape and Color Sorting: Use colored paper or cardboard cutouts to create shapes and colors. Let your child sort and match them based on shape or color.

9. Obstacle Course: Set up a simple obstacle course indoors or outdoors using pillows, hula hoops, and small cones. Challenge your child to balance, jump, and crawl through the course.

10. Cooking and Baking: Involve your child in simple cooking and baking activities. Let them mix ingredients, decorate cookies, or make mini pizzas. They will enjoy the sensory experience and feel proud of their creations.

11. Water Play: Fill a shallow container with water and provide various cups, spoons, and containers for your child to pour and splash. Add a few drops of food coloring for extra fun.

12. DIY Crafts from Recycled Materials: Collect recycled materials like cardboard boxes, plastic bottles, or old magazines. Use these materials to create crafts like cardboard castles, bottle shakers, or collages.

Remember, the key is to provide engaging and age-appropriate activities that stimulate your child’s creativity and curiosity. With a little creativity and some everyday items, you can create a wealth of preschool games and activities that are both fun and budget-friendly.