Summer is the perfect time for educational summer activities for preschoolers. Here are 25 ideas that will engage their senses, spark their curiosity, and keep them active all season long.
1. Create a sensory bin
Sensory bins are a great way to enhance your child’s sensory perception. For this activity, you fill a bin with materials such as rice, beans, or sand, along with other objects such as plastic toys and shells. Your child can insert their hands into the bin and explore its contents, helping to develop their tactile sense. As they interact, they can differentiate between the different objects based on their tactile qualities, helping to refine their sensory skills.
2. Plant a garden
Planting a garden is an excellent way to educate your child about nature and the environment. You can start by planting flowers, herbs, or a vegetable garden. This activity teaches your child about the life cycle of plants and where their food comes from. As they sow seeds, they will learn about the science of germination. Over time, they can watch the plants sprout and grow, providing a fun, hands-on learning experience.
3. Make homemade ice cream
Makng homemade ice cream can be a fun and delicious activity for the summer. You can involve your child in the process by letting them mix and pour the ingredients. Watching while the mixture freezes, then eating the freshly-made dessert, can foster appreciation for parent-child collaboration and teach children how to use kitchen equipment safely.
4. Go for a nature walk
Taking a leisurely walk through a park can be refreshing and educational. Encouraging your child to find sticks, rocks, and leaves along the way teaches them the basics of observing the natural world. It’s a terrific chance for bonding and exploring natural settings when they are young, fostering a deep appreciation for the natural environment as they grow up.
5. Do some water play
Water play is a fun and refreshing activity for summer. You can set up a sprinkler, a kiddie pool, or water table for some outdoor play. Children can experiment with different water toys, learning basics of cause and effect, hand-eye coordination and refine sensory skills in the process.
6. Host a backyard picnic
Picnics are a way to enjoy a meal outdoors with your child. You can spread a blanket out in the yard and indulge in a selection of sandwiches and snacks. Besides the food, bring toys and games to keep your child’s attention. This activity encourages bonding and appreciation for outdoor settings.
7. Read together
Reading together is an excellent activity for children and parents alike. You can plop down in your preferred spot and either read a favorite book or listen to a new story. Children can pick up new vocabulary, learn about storytelling, and foster their imagination.
8. Build a fort
Building a fort provides a setting for imaginative play and creativity. Children can gather pillows, blankets, and add furniture to build elaborate forts, allowing for role-playing games and imaginative adventures.
9. Play dress-up
Playing dress-up has many stimulating features, from imaginative roleplay to problem-solving. Let your child transform into a princess, superhero, or dinosaur and explore new identities through costume play.
10. Paint with nature
Painting is a terrific activity to engage children’s creativity. Using natural materials, such as leaves, flowers, and twigs as paintbrushes, is an exciting and creative way for children to create unique outdoor artworks.
11. Go to the beach
A day at the beach provides priceless experiences. From building sandcastles and searching for seashells to playing in the waves, children can exercise and enhance their sensory skills.
12. Have a dance party
Dancing is a fun way to get moving and exercise. Turn up some music and show your child different moves for them to imitate, promoting physical activity and coordination.
13. Play with bubbles
Playing with bubbles is an entertaining and magical outdoor activity. Children can blow bubbles or use bubble wands to create a captivating experience as they observe the iridescent colors and patterns of the bubbles.
14. Make a birdhouse
Building a birdhouse can be an excellent activity to bring birds to your backyard. It is a way to teach children the importance of animal habitats and how to care for wildlife, increasing their empathy for nature in the process.
15. Attend a farmers’ market
Visiting a farmers’ market is a fun way to educate children about where their food comes from. Children can see produce, learn about different foods, and observe the farming process, supporting the idea of healthy eating habits and environmentalism.
16. Play with mud
Playing with mud can be messy but fun and engaging. Children can squish their hands into the muddy texture, shape the mud into different forms and experiment with depth and height, teaching them the science of soil and clay.
17. Go berry picking
Picking berries is a fun activity for children. They can get outside and enjoy the fresh air, while simultaneously learning about where food comes from. Berry picking promotes healthy eating and fine motor skills needed for hand dexterity.
18. Do a science experiment
Engage your child’s curiosity with a science experiment. It’s a fun way to teach children basic scientific concepts and stimulate their critical thinking skills. You can try simple experiments, such as making a baking soda volcano or mixing colors with food dye.
19. Watch a movie outdoors
Watching a movie outdoors can be an entertaining experience for parents and children alike. Set up a movie screen or use a laptop on a beautiful summer night and indulge in a kids’ movie.
20. Have a backyard campout
Camping in your backyard provides hours of entertainment and fun. You can create a tent and decorate it with cozy blankets and pillows. Children can participate in storytelling, engaging in imaginative play and bonding with parents.
21. Play with sidewalk chalk
Playing with sidewalk chalk is an affordable and creative activity to spend time outdoors. Children draw, write or create imaginative worlds with colorful designs on an outdoor canvas.
22. Make homemade playdough
Making playdough is an exciting and tactile experience that children will love. They can handle, mold and shape the playdough while experimenting with new forms and shapes. It provides a gateway for creativity and imagination.
23. Visit a park
Visiting a park provides endless activities for children. From playing on swings and monkey bars while running around the park, children can enjoy plenty of opportunities for discovery and exercise.
24. Build with blocks outdoors
Building with blocks hones children’s spatial awareness, problem-solving skills, and imagination. Wooden or foam blocks or other toys such as Legos provides new builds and reinterpretation of the space surrounding them.
25. Explore new foods with a picnic
Trying new foods can be an exciting activity for children. They can participate in cooking or baking activities and learn about new tastes and smells.
