35+ of the Best Toddler Summer Activities
Water Play
Pom Pom Water Play – Toddlers love pom poms, so why not add them to a bin of water, along with cups? (Busy Toddler) Summer! Oh, how we love summer! I’ve been collecting fun summer activities for toddlers just for you that are perfect for home. And I love this collection! Our toddlers love to be busy : creating pouring dumping moving and moving did I mention moving? I decided to round up some of our favorite toddler activities that can be done during the summer, indoors and out, any time of the day. These fun activities involve lots of hands-on exploration and can be shared with older children, too! Frozen Watercolors – Make your own sparkly frozen watercolors and watch what happens as they melt. Paint with Balls – This is a fun activity that involves rolling balls dipped in paint. Try it indoors or outdoors! Drive Cars Through Paint – If your toddlers love cars, they will adore this hands-on activity! Grab their favorite cars and trucks, add paint, and roll them across paper. Fish Stamping Process Art – Use the free fish template and start stamping paint using a cardboard tube. Stamp Circles with Paper Tubes – This activity is super simple, yet so much fun! All you need is a recycled paper tube and some paint. Frozen Sparkly Paint – Whip up your own sparkly watercolor paint, stick it in the freezer, and you have a fun activity on a summer afternoon. Paint Big – Take a big sheet of paper outdoors for some fun big painting. (Learn with Play at Home)
More outdoor art activities: 30+ Outdoor Art Activities
Scoop Edible Ice Cream Playdough – You will only need 2 ingredients to make this taste-friendly playdough. (Crafty Morning) Dandelion Playdough – Pull the dandelions from your lawn and make some vibrant yellow playdough. (Parenting Chaos)
More playdough ideas: 15+ Playdough Learning Ideas
Color Recognition
Yellow Sun Collage – Collect yellow objects and glue them to a paper sun – free printable! Colored Ice Fun – Work on color recognition outside in the wading pool! (Learn-Play-Imagine)
More color recognition activities: 15 Toddler Color Activities
Outdoor Shapes Hunt – Look for shapes in nature while taking a summer walk. (Creative Family Fun) Shape Stamping – Use your toddler’s nesting blocks for a simple shape stamping activity.
More shapes activities: Learning Shapes at Home
Numbers Stones – Here’s a fun way to expose toddlers to numbers while at the beach. (Nurture Store)
More math activities: 25 Hands-On Number Games
Letter Tracing – Trace over letters on the sidewalk using water. (Coffee Cups and Crayons)
More alphabet activities: 16+ Playful Toddler Alphabet Activities
Ice Cream Fine Motor Play – Scoop pom-poms (ice cream) into cones. (Best Toys 4 Toddlers)
More fine motor activities: 15 Easy Toddler Fine Motor Ideas
Ocean in a Bottle – Add sand and shells to make a fun summer discovery bottle. Bird Feeders – Use recycled paper tubes to make backyard feeders for our feathered friends. (Growing a Jeweled Rose) Sink or Float Experiment – Cool off while exploring what objects sink or float in a tub of water. (Stay at Home Educator) Heat Wave Science – Use the power of the sun to melt old crayons to make new ones! (Mama Smiles)
More science activities: 10 Toddler Science Activities that Are Full of Fun
Smoothie Popsicles – These are super easy to make with just a few ingredients. (No Time for Flashcards) Frozen Yogurt Drops – Strengthen fine motor skills while squeezing the liquid from a bag onto a sheet. (Entertain Your Toddler) Simple Water Play with Balls – Add some small balls with water in a wading pool for some cool summer fun. (Learn, Play, Imagine) Pouring Water – Learning how to pour water is perfect outdoors with the inevitable spills and overflows. (Hands On As We Grow) Build Your Own Sprinkler – Toddlers love to jump in the sprinkler on a hot day, so why not make one yourself out of a plastic bottle? (Housing a Forest) Splash Pad – Turn a tarp into a fun slip and slide. (1 Little dude and 3 Little Ladies)
More water activities: 10 Ways to Have Fun with Water
Summer Activity Plans
I’ve teamed up with other early childhood teachers and homeschoolers to put together these hands-on summer activities for toddlers and preschoolers! Easy to follow plans that include activity modifications and adaptations to meet the needs of all learners. For more information, click on the graphics below: Here is my Privacy Policy
