Hot Cocoa Activities and Dominos Game
Looking for the best Christmas preschool activities? These printable hot cocoa activities, like this super-fun dominoes game, are a perfect way to add some cozy winter fun to your classroom or home.
I know how much little ones love hot chocolate (and who doesn’t?!), so I created these colorful dominoes featuring mugs piled high with whipped cream and marshmallows. They’re not just cute, though – they’re great for building important skills like matching, memory, and even gross motor skills when you use them for movement games.
Keep reading to find out all the ways these dominoes can be used this holiday season.
Lead your preschoolers into the winter wonderland with our hot cocoa themed printable dominoes game.
This isn’t just an fun game – it’s a means for cognitive and sensory development, adorned with inviting images of hot chocolate mugs and fluffy marshmallows. Games like these are incredibly beneficial for preschoolers, presenting a fun and engaging method to enhance their cognitive skills while also fostering hands-on learning through sensory play.
The adaptability of these printable pieces surpasses a mere matching game; they can be included in sensory bins or used in an energetic motor skills game.
At the end of this post I’ll share loads of ideas of how else you can use these cards in other hot cocoa activities.
Get ready to add an extra dollop of sweetness to your winter learning experience!
Hot Chocolate Game
The beauty of these hot cocoa activities is that they aren’t limited to just the Christmas season.
You can incorporate them throughout the entire winter, adding a touch of chocolatey delight to your winter-themed activities!
This post may contain affiliate links, which means that at no cost to you, I may earn a small sum if you click through and make a purchase.
What’s Included
This freebie includes nine full color pages, making up a total of 36 pieces for game play. The pieces fit six to a page, making them extra large and easier for little hands. This game is perfect to play on the floor.
Materials
- Free hot cocoa dominos printable
The Set-Up
Print the hot cocoa dominos on heavy card stock and laminate for added durability. Cut apart the dominoes cards using a rotary paper cutter, mix them up, and place them in a pile.
Then invite your preschoolers to join you in a game!
You’ll also enjoy this chocolate playdough recipe, perfect for the holiday season.
How to Play Dominos
Start by dealing the appropriate number of dominos to each player. This is how I do that for my preschoolers:
- 2 players = 5 cards each
- 3-4 players = 4 cards each
The remainder of the dominos are placed face down in a draw pile.
In a traditional game of dominos, you don’t let others see what pieces are in your hand. But for preschool, I ask my preschoolers to place their cards face up so I can help them play the game.
- Choose a player to go first.
- To start the game they must choose a card from their hand to place in the playing field.
- Do not start with a card that has the same color of hot cocoa on both ends.
- The next player must then add a card from their hand by finding a matching colored hot cocoa and placing it next to the starting piece.
Players may only add one domino per turn. If the player has no matching dominos that match an open end, they must draw a card from the draw pile. If the new card cannot be played, that player’s turn is over
If the new card can be played, then it must be played at that time. (Note: if there are no cards left in the draw pile, then the player’s turn ends without drawing a new card).
We have St. Patrick’s Day Themed Dominoes, too!
Playing Dominos with Preschoolers
In a traditional game of dominos, pieces must be placed end-to-end unless it’s a double piece with the same count or image on each side. In that case, it can be placed sideways, opening up new ends for play.
I don’t worry about this when playing with my preschoolers.
When I play with my preschoolers, I allow them to place their cards in any direction as long as they are making the match.
Hot Cocoa Activities For Preschoolers
If you know me, you know I love a printable that can be used in many different ways. It saves me time and money in printing, but more importantly, it allows me to differentiate for my students.
Here are five more learning activities using this hot cocoa printable.
- Use these dominos as color matching cards.
- Use one-inch colored blocks (or another small-ish manipulative) to match to each side of the card.
- For younger preschoolers or toddlers, do #1 above and then ask, “Are they the same?”
- Being able to differentiate between matching colors or objects is an important math skill.
- Add a fine motor element by offering tweezers and pom poms and using these cards as color matching cards.
- Take a handful of pieces and hide them around the room for your preschoolers to find.
- Once found, invite your preschoolers to find as many items or toys as possible that match BOTH colors on the card.
- Add these cards to a colorful sensory bin.
- As preschoolers pull out the pieces they can attempt to match them in different ways. You can also offer sensory play in a bin full of wintery white cotton balls, which will make the colors of the dominos pop!
Here are more Christmas Preschool Themes to try out.
Hot Chocolate Games for Preschoolers
Are you planning an entire hot chocolate preschool theme? Here are some more fun games to play.
- Hot Chocolate Games for Homeschool
- Hot Cocoa Mug Puzzles
- Hot Cocoa Science Games
- Hot Chocolate More and Less Activities
Grab Your Free Hot Cocoa Preschool Printable Here
Think these hot chocolate games are something that would compliment your winter or Christmas preschool theme? Grab yours below!
Then keep reading for even more winter and Christmas activities for preschoolers!
Hot Cocoa Picture Books
Utilizing picture books from Amazon can significantly enrich preschool thematic activities by providing vibrant, engaging visuals that foster comprehension and imagination. These are some of our favorites.
- Willey, Kira (Author)
- Kaner, Etta (Author)
- Krensky, Stephen (Author)
- Mai, Sunny (Author)
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I’m Sarah, an educator turned stay-at-home-mama of five! I’m the owner and creator of Stay At Home Educator, a website about intentional teaching and purposeful learning in the early childhood years. I’ve taught a range of levels, from preschool to college and a little bit of everything in between. Right now my focus is teaching my children and running a preschool from my home. Credentials include: Bachelors in Art, Masters in Curriculum and Instruction.
Thank you for all the wonderful ideas and printables.