Location: outdoor

Materials: tricycles (optional) and stopwatch

Winning and losing graciously can be concepts that are very hard for preschoolers to manage. Instead of encouraging competition between kids, encourage them to compete with themselves through time trials. A time trial is where you race against the clock and try to beat your best time.

Set up a racecourse (for running or biking) and challenge kids to run or bike as fast as they can while you time them.

Bring out a clipboard with marker and paper to keep track of each child's time. Ask them to help you compare the numbers: did you go faster or slower?