- Print circus coloring pages from online or give the children circus-themed coloring books. Have them color the circus pictures using crayons and markers. Other paper activities include circus-themed connect-the-dot and picture puzzles. For added decoration, give the children cotton balls to glue on the pictures to create a clown's hair or cotton candy in a 3-D effect. Award prizes to the best, funniest and most creative circus pictures.
- Test the memory of your pre-kindergartners with a few games. Place several circus-related items like a clown nose, circus peanut, box of animal crackers and a bag of cotton candy on a tray. Have the children look at the tray and then take it out of the room. Remove one item from the tray and bring it back in the room. The first child to tell you which item is missing wins a small prize. Alternatively, see who can remember the most items from the tray when you take it out of the room. You can also have the children play a memory matching game using circus-themed pictures. The child who finds the most pairs wins the game.
- Children can make their own cotton candy on a stick using an empty paper towel roll and several cotton balls. Light blue and pink cotton balls are available at most retail stores and work perfectly for this craft. Have the child stretch out and glue the cotton balls to the empty paper towel holder. They can also use paint or markers to color white cotton balls. Give the children small rice cakes and frosting to make balloons. Cover each rice cake with colored frosting and place on a paper plate in a bunch. They can use licorice string to resemble balloon string.
- For an easy relay race, divide the children into two teams and give each team a clown nose. Mark a starting line and run-to line 20 feet apart. Give the first player in each team line a clown nose. When you say "Go," the players must put on the clown nose, and race to the run-to line and back. He must pass the nose to the next player in line who must do the same thing. The first team to finish the relay wins the game. Another idea is to have the same race; however, have each player put on a clown costume when racing to and from the line instead of the clown nose. Alternatively, have them wear the clown costume and the nose.