What a fun question! Games and activities for 3 year olds that promote learning... Well the simple answer is ANYTHING! My mother is an educator and has been my whole life. One of the primary things I learned from her that I hope to be half as good at with my daughter as she was with me is this... EVERYTHING is a learning experience for a child if you approach it the right way as an adult.

Let me explain. As adults we often look for the game in a box, or the TV, or videos that are "up to date." When reality is, the more we can get away from these things the more we can really teach our children. This is not to say that board games or video games are bad, just that learning is not something we get out of a box. Personally we try to stay away from the video games because we have seen that it is too easy to separate our-self from our daughter with them.

So what can you use? The grocery store is a GREAT learning location. Just make sure that you change your thinking before you go. As adults we often go to the store with the express purpose of getting in and getting out. As a stay at home mom one of the biggest hurdles I had to overcome is the simple fact of where else do I have to go? Yes, sometimes we have appointments etc, but lets be honest most of the time we are in a rush to get back home, and why?

Take the time when you go to the store there are different textures, shapes, colors, numbers, sizes, quantities, fruits, vegetables, shoes, socks, shirts, pants, you name it! When you go in, don't be in such a hurry, ask the child everything you are getting. Have them make a list before you go of things they want. Apples, oranges, a cookie, bananas, etc. Make their list using pictures, and then let them mark them off as they find them and place them in the cart.

Balls are a wonderful thing for children. Play catch this teaches them hand/eye coordination. Kick it back and forth again foot/eye coordination. Roll it between your legs, dribble it through an obstacle course. Does the ball float in water? Can you fill it with water? What does this do to the buoyancy? What is bouyancy? Do other objects do the same thing in water? Depth perception is also used doing these.

Blocks are wonderful as well. Build them up, how much does it take to knock them down? Find the colors. Can you balance a long block on a thin one? Can a circular block support a rectangular block? Many blocks have colors and letters on them, use these as well. Spell their name. Spell your name. Have them pick colors or letters out.

Get a small table. This is another great tool with children. Teach them to sit and complete a task with you at the table. Play with play-dough (good for fine motor skills), decorate a cookie (again fine motor skills), read a book (have them pick out items on the page, letters on the page, numbers on the page, colors on the page, etc), play Chutes and Ladders (great game for cause and effect as well as counting), play dominoes (age appropriate! let them line them up), color (teach them how to hold a crayon or pencil).

Most of the things that you can do with children up to at least 4-5 are free or very cheap and these are the things they will get the most out of. Your taking the time to talk to them, teach them about winning and losing, colors, shapes, depth perception, everything for this stage is hands on, and interactive. Most of all slow down and have fun! If this is the time you set aside for your child then that is the only thing you should be worrying about while you are playing :).

Have fun! This is a great excuse to act silly in the store or out in public!