The story of The Gingerbread Man is a fun and familiar tale that offers a wide range of educational opportunities for EYFS children.
Below are some engaging Gingerbread Man activities for EYFS, designed to promote creativity, language development, and motor skills while aligning with EYFS learning goals.
Blossom’s Recommended Gingerbread Man Activities for Early Years:
1. Gingerbread Man Story Time and Role Play
Begin by reading The Gingerbread Man story to the children, using props or puppets to bring the characters to life. After reading, encourage the children to act out the story in their own way, taking turns as the gingerbread man, the fox, or other characters.
Role play helps develop language skills, comprehension, and social interaction, while encouraging children to use their imagination.
EYFS Areas of Learning and Development:
- Literacy (Comprehension)
- Communication and Language (Speaking)
- Personal, Social, and Emotional Development (Building Relationships)
2. Gingerbread Man Paper Craft
Children can create their own gingerbread men using paper or foam cut-outs, decorating them with buttons, googly eyes, and glitter (or perhaps paper confetti for easier clean-up!). This activity fosters creativity and fine motor skills as they handle small craft materials.
You can also discuss shapes and colours, helping children develop basic maths and language skills while crafting.
EYFS Areas of Learning and Development:
- Expressive Arts and Design (Creating with Materials)
- Physical Development (Fine Motor Skills)
- Communication and Language (Listening, Attention and Understanding)
3. Gingerbread Man Baking
Get the children involved in baking real gingerbread men, allowing them to roll out the dough, use cookie cutters, and decorate the biscuits with icing and sprinkles.
This activity introduces early maths concepts such as measuring ingredients, while also promoting fine motor skills through handling kitchen tools. It also offers a sensory-rich experience with the smells, textures, and tastes of baking, with goodies to take home (or eat) too!
EYFS Areas of Learning and Development:
- Physical Development (Fine Motor Skills)
- Mathematics (Number)
4. Gingerbread Man Sensory Tray
Create a gingerbread man-themed sensory tray with brown playdough, buttons, googly eyes, and cinnamon-scented dough. Encourage children to shape and decorate their own gingerbread men while exploring the different textures and smells.
This activity promotes sensory play, creativity, and fine motor skills.
EYFS Areas of Learning and Development:
- Physical Development (Fine Motor Skills)
- Expressive Arts and Design (Creating with Materials)
5. Gingerbread Man Counting Game
Create a simple maths game where children count how many gingerbread men they can “catch” before they run away, just like in the story. Use plastic gingerbread man figures or cut-outs and ask the children to sort them by size or count them into different groups.
This activity reinforces early maths concepts such as counting, sorting, and comparing quantities.
EYFS Areas of Learning and Development:
- Mathematics (Number)
- Communication and Language (Speaking)
- Physical Development (Fine Motor Skills)
6. Gingerbread Man Movement Activity
Recreate the running scenes from The Gingerbread Man by organising a running game or obstacle course where children pretend to run away, just like the gingerbread man in the story.
This activity promotes physical development through gross motor skills while encouraging imaginative play and teamwork.
EYFS Areas of Learning and Development:
- Physical Development (Gross Motor Skills)
- Personal, Social, and Emotional Development (Building Relationships)
- Communication and Language (Listening, Attention and Understanding)
7. Gingerbread Man Rhymes and Songs
Sing gingerbread man-themed songs or create your own rhymes based on the story. This activity helps with language development, rhythm, and memory.
You can also introduce actions or props to go along with the song, encouraging physical coordination.
EYFS Areas of Learning and Development:
- Communication and Language (Speaking)
- Expressive Arts and Design (Being Imaginative and Expressive)
- Physical Development (Gross Motor Skills)
Incorporating Gingerbread Man activities for EYFS into your curriculum is a fantastic way to engage young children in learning while developing their language, motor skills, and creativity.
From sensory bin and baking to storytime and counting games, these activities are fun, educational, and align with EYFS learning goals.
For more brilliant EYFS activities, check out our Ultimate guide to EYFS activities blog post and easily cover the seven areas of learning and development!
