Click here to read 30+ Opposite Activities for Preschoolers to Help with Directions, Feelings & More! on Hands On As We Grow®
There are many benefits of activities that teach opposites to preschoolers.
It can help them expand their vocabulary, learn directions, understand how to express feelings and emotions, and so much more.
But simply repeating hot and cold, happy and sad, up and down, and other opposites over and over again can get so boring.
So what is a parent to do?
Here are more than thirty opposite activities for preschoolers that you can try today.
Simple, educational, and the opposite of boring!
Download FREE Week of Activities for Preschoolers! (3-5 year olds)
Opposite Directions Activities for Preschoolers
Up and down. Over and under. In and Out. Left and right. We’ve got you covered with these twelve opposite activities for preschoolers. Get ready to dive in and check them out!
- Hatch your own pop up bird as seen on I Heart Crafty Things. A template is available for purchase if desired. Peek a boo!
- Blast up and down with a rocket found on Arty Crafty Kids. A free template is provided with an email subscription. Up, up, and back down!
- Raid the craft cupboard to make this craft supplies weaving as shown on The Craft Train. Use leftover supplies while practicing over and under!
- Go outside with this opposites preschooler activity and collect items for this nature weaving from Rocket City Mom. Outside, inside, over, and under.
- Grab some paper for a paper weaving found on Kids Activities Blog. Paper is so versatile!
- Construct a paper and yarn weaving as seen on Days with Grey.
- Move a worm in and out with this worm in an apple craft shown on I Heart Crafty Things.
- Catch an insect in this frog toilet paper roll craft as seen on Messy Little Monster. Then spit it back out. Does the frog want the insect in or out of its mouth?
- Do the hokey pokey like Homeschool Preschool. Put your right hand in, take your right hand out. Great gross motor activity for practicing opposites with your preschoolers while getting out the wiggles!
- Jump up and down with this left and right game shown on Childhood 101.
- Play a left, right, up, down activity as seen on Shumee.
- Practice left and right with this painted hands wrapping paper found on Stories of a Shift Working Mom. Perfect for wrapping gifts!
Opposite Feelings Activities for Preschoolers
Feelings can include emotions and textures, right? Happy and sad. Hard and soft. Smooth and rough. Wet and dry. I’m happy to share these six opposite feelings activities for preschoolers. Please don’t be sad when they’re done!
- Smile and frown with this face craft found on East Coast Mommy. How are you feeling today?
- Go on an opposite hunt with this hard vs. soft activity and as seen on TeachersMag.
- Stick your hand in sensory boxes as shown on How We Montessori. A great way to practice many texture opposites!
- Play with oatmeal in these wet and dry oatmeal sensory bins found on Fantastic Fun and Learning. O is for opposites and oatmeal. And sensory bins are great for hands-on learning!
- Feel various objects on a texture collage like the one on Modern Homestead Mama. Soft pom poms, hard buttons, rough sand paper, smooth pebbles, shiny and dull pennies. These are just some items that could be used.
- Talk about big emotions and small emotions with this sticky learning activity seen on I Can Teach My Child.
More Opposite Activities for Preschoolers
Are you looking for even more opposite activities for preschoolers?
Don’t miss the following list of fifteen more fun learning activities you can do at home.
- Taste opposite treats like cold ice cream in a bag as seen on The Best Ideas for Kids with hot chocolate. What about soft and hard pretzels or sweet and sour candies? Opposites are yummy!
- Build short and tall towers without blocks. What other opposites can your preschoolers create in this activity? Wide and narrow, wavy and straight?
- Create a day and night craft as seen on Fun a Day. A great craft for light and dark, too!
- Paint black and white art as shown on Play to Learn Preschool.
- Learn about germs with dirty and clean hands as seen on Adanna Dill. A great way to discuss hand washing!
- Explore dental health with dirty and clean teeth shown on Curious Little Gnomes.
- Practice fine motor skills and full or empty with a pom pom activity found on Super Simple. Click the link to find two more opposite activities to try.
- Stretch a short and long dog as seen on Seasonal Memories.
- Race with a game of red light, green light found on Kids Learning for Life. Fast, slow! Stop, go!
- Expand vocabulary with this possible or impossible activity. Try this activity with other opposites, too.
- Create a little book of opposites as seen on Real Life at Home.
- Play an opposites game found on The Measured Mom. An email is required for the free download.
- Flip some cards to play an opposites memory game shown on Playdough to Plato.
- Match the opposites puzzles available for free on Tot Schooling.
- Use this free opposite words printable from Itsy Bitsy Fun to play even more opposite games.