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Introduce several summer activities for toddlers to your little munchkins to let them have a jolly time during their summer vacation.
The first things that come to children’s minds when they think of summer are camping, outdoor activities, ice creams, and interesting activities. So find some respite from all that’s happening around you, especially with children around the house, and keep them engaged with this list of summer activities.
24 Summer Activities For Toddlers
Outdoor Activities
1. Jello party
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Get a jelly-making pack and follow the instructions. Make the jello according to the directions given on the pack and add a few toys inside while it cools. After it cools down, let your child explore through it. They would dig through the jello to hunt for the toys and play with them.
The anonymous blogger, who is a mother of a toddler girl, shares how much her baby girl loved playing with jelly. She says, ”I used Chivers raspberry jelly. This gave a much more loose textured jelly that broke up easily. This time, she(her daughter) dived right in and pulled things out straight away, and when they went in her mouth (as everything does), she realized she quite liked the taste. The play was abandoned as she shoveled handfuls of jelly into her mouth with gusto. She was so enthusiastic she grabbed the container to raise it to her mouth to cut out the necessity for hands. The jelly cascaded onto the floor and over her legs. She was delighted. The towel underneath caught a lot of it, but as she brandished a spoon, there was a splatter across the room (i).”
2. Window painting
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Grab a dry erase marker and draw large outlines on your window for your kids to color. Remember to draw outlines on the inside of window’s glass and let your little one paint on the outside to prevent the lines from getting smudged. Now, let your toddler paint the window in colors of their choice.
3. Frozen water beads
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Toddlers may enjoy the sensory experience in this activity. First, grow the water beads by soaking them overnight in water. After they are grown and ready, scoop them into a container and refrigerate them for about an hour. Next, take out the frozen beads and put them in a larger tub to play with ease.
Be watchful4. Pudding painting
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You will need vanilla pudding, food color, and a shower curtain liner for this activity. First, prepare the vanilla pudding as per the instructions on the box and let it set. After it sets, spoon the pudding into smaller bowls and add food coloring. Once it is ready, glob the pudding out onto the shower curtain. Don’t forget to keep some brushes and kitchen utensils handy to let your child make the most out of it.
5. Rainbow cream pie
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Gather a large tub, and a few play dishes or paper plates, a can of shaving foam, and some water beads for this activity. You can spray the shaving cream onto the dishes and let your child decorate it as they like, with the help of water beads or any other decorative items they might want to use. Voila, your rainbow cream pie is ready.
Indoor Activities
6. Walking water
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To set up this experiment, you will need two glasses of equal size, water, food coloring, and paper towels. Place the glasses about two inches apart and pour water into one of them until it’s halfway full. Add a few drops of food coloring and stir it well. Now, take a strip of paper towel and fold it until it is about two inches wide. Place one end of the paper towel strip into the colored water and the other into the empty glass. Let it sit for one hour. It’s now time for your little one to observe the results. Keep a camera handy to capture their expressions of amazement. You can also increase the number of glasses and add different colors that may form a rainbow pattern.
7. Splatter painting
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You will need liquid paint in cups, paper (cardboard or poster board can also be used), and a spoon/brush. Let your child dip the paintbrush/spoon into the paint and flick their wrist to splatter paint across the paper. Continue splattering using various colors and from different directions. Now, let it dry for some time.
8. Macaroni rainbows
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You will need different colors of macaroni/pasta for this activity. Take a large piece of paper and draw a few big curved lines on it to form the outline of a rainbow. Now, let your child place individual pieces of macaroni/pasta on top of these lines to form the layers of a rainbow. Continue to do so until the whole rainbow is ready. Display the creative art.
Quick tip9. Color mixing with ice
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Take some water in a container and add various food colors to it. Pour this water into ice cube trays and let it set. Repeat this with each primary color. After the cubes are frozen, take them all on a tray or container and give them to your child. As they watch the ice cubes mixing and forming new shades, explain the concept of primary and secondary colors.
10. Ice excavation
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Fill some bowls or containers with water and add a few small toys or trinkets into it. Now freeze it overnight. The next day, take a block of ice out and place it in a tray. It’s now time for your child to indulge in excavation. Encourage them to excavate the hidden trinkets from this block of ice. You can also use toy hammers or rolling pins to smash ice around these toys.
11. Shower curtain painting
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Shower curtain painting can be an indoor and outdoor activity. Set up a shower curtain liner with the help of twine. Secure the bottom with some heavy objects (e.g. stones if you set it up outdoors). Prepare paint of different colors in spill-proof cups and let your budding artist explore their new canvas. They may use brushes or their hands for painting.
Summer Camp Activities
12. Storytelling
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Storytelling activities help children to express themselves freely and in a creative manner. Stories are also considered to be a versatile yet powerful teaching tool. There are various ways by which you can conduct a storytelling session. And, it is important to remember that the stories you narrate during story time should not just be interesting but also relevant. The source for these stories may include your personal life, books, or movies.
13. Scavenger hunt
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Scavenger hunts can help in learning colors, alphabet, numbers, and so much more. The way to go about this activity is super simple. The whole idea is to let your child run around finding things from nature like leaves, rocks, grass, and other bits and then match it to each color on the printable. It’s intuitive, and kids would be able to learn new words, improve their critical thinking skills, and their ability to link objects with words.
14. Shell painting
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Shell painting is a simple but fun process art for children to enjoy during their summer break. To start with, let children use paintbrushes to color their seashells. Now, place some watercolors in shallow trays or cups, give them some paintbrushes and let your little artist unleash their creativity. Depending on the needs of your child, you may use either big or small brushes. Smaller brushes allow for detailed painting and also help in improving a child’s fine motor skills. But if your child enjoys using large or wide brushes, that’s okay, too!
15. Ice cream numbers
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Learning numbers for the first time can be a lot more fun when you set them out on yummy-looking cones and ice cream scoops. Draw a few ice cream cones on colored papers and outline scoops of ice creams on the same. Cut out some pieces of paper and number them as scoops. Now, ask your child to find pieces of scoops and place them inside the cone. Line them all up on a cone, and the ice cream is ready.
16. Sand volcano
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First, place an empty plastic bottle in a mound of sand, and using a funnel, add some baking soda into it. Next, mix some food coloring with vinegar and pour this mixture inside the bottle. Watch the volcano erupt. Sounds fun, right?
Quick tip17. Bowling with coconuts
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Fill a few plastic bottles with water to be used as bowling pins. You may also add a few drops of food color into the water to make it colorful. Set up the bottles in a triangular pattern and use coconut for bowling. Bowl away!
18. Water balloon target practice
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Draw a target or a line on the sidewalk with chalk. You can also place an object on the ground at some distance from your child to serve as a target. Have your child toss a water balloon as close to the target as possible and enjoy this fun balloon play.
19. Water bag pinata
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Who doesn’t enjoy playing with water balloons and pinatas? Try this fun activity! Hang a pinata and use water balloons to aim at the target. Whoever breaks open the pinata, wins. To double the fun, blindfold each participant.
20. Bubbles
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Toddlers enjoy playing with bubbles, chasing and bursting them. Get a bubble toy from the store or DIY at home. Turn a boring day into hilarious and fun with this bubbles activity.
21. Color-changing flowers
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Get a few white carnations, some paper cups, water, and food colors. To start with, trim the stems of these flowers so that they fit in your cups. Next, add water to each cup and then put two to three drops of food coloring into the water. You may use a variety of colors for each cup. Next, place the carnations in these cups and let them be. Let your child observe the setup in an interval of two to three hours to observe any changes in the color of the flower.
22. Water pistol painting
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You will need poster paint, water, water pistols, and a large canvas for this activity. Load these water-pistols with various watercolors. Once the pistols are filled, place the canvas in your backyard and start jetting the paint onto it.
23. Sponge water bombs
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You will need a few colorful sponges, scissors, and strings for this activity. First, cut the sponges into equal-sized strips and stack them on each other. Make sure that the ends of these strips match each other after stacking. Next, tie a string around the center of the stack and fasten it into a tight knot. The sponge bomb will instantly fan out. Give these sponge bombs to your child and let them dip these in water. Now toss it just like a water balloon.
24. Cloud dough
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For this no-cook version of play dough, you will need corn starch, lotion, and a few drops of food coloring. Mix the ingredients to get a soft play dough for your tiny tots and let them make fun shapes with it. Ensure to keep spare dough in airtight containers as it tends to dry out quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How can I keep my toddler cool during the hot summer months?
To keep your toddler cool during the hot summer months, you can dress them in lightweight, breathable clothing made of cotton or other natural fabrics. Provide plenty of fluids and encourage them to drink water frequently. Create a cool environment at home by using fans or air conditioning.
2. How can I encourage my toddler to explore nature during the summer?
One way to encourage your toddler to explore nature during the summer is by planning outdoor activities that involve nature, such as going on nature walks, gardening, bird watching, picnics in the park, bike rides, visiting a botanical garden, and exploring natural swimming pools. Be a positive role model by showing your own interest and excitement in nature and its wonders.
3. What are some healthy summer snacks for toddlers?
Some healthy summer snacks for toddlers include fruit skewers, frozen yogurt popsicles, homemade trail mix with nuts and dried fruits, Greek yogurt with fresh berries, sliced cucumbers with hummus, and homemade fruit sorbet.
4. How can I plan a successful summer playdate for my toddler?
Select a suitable location, such as a park, playground or backyard, and ensure it is safe and age-appropriate. Invite other parents and their toddlers to join, and plan some fun activities such as kite-flying, bubbles, water play, or simple games like Simon says. Be sure to provide snacks and drinks for the little ones, and consider setting up shaded areas to keep everyone cool.
Summers are a great time to play in the dirt and splash in the water, so why not use this season to plan exciting summer activities for toddlers? You may set up outdoor games (such as hide and seek) and activities such as window painting, pudding painting, and a jello party or indoor activities such as making macaroni rainbows and ice excavation. Further, consider adding summer camp activities such as scavenger hunts, fishing, sand volcanoes at the beach, and color-changing flowers for some extra fun. No matter what activities you choose, remember that children may get messy. However, give them the freedom to explore things on their own. Create a learning experience that is educational and fun.
Infographic: Summer Time Activities For Toddlers
Summer brings several opportunities for toddlers to engage in fun activities that promote their physical, cognitive, and social development. The infographic below presents summertime activities for toddlers, from outdoor adventures to creative projects. These activities will surely help keep your toddlers engaged productively for long hours. Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Key Pointers
- Indoor and outdoor summer activities keep toddlers engaged and promote the development of vital life skills.
- Encourage self-learning and creative thinking through painting and easy DIY activities.
- Find interesting activities such as target practice, storytelling, bowling, and more as you scroll further.
Image: Dall·E/MomJunction Design Team
Get creative this summer and learn how to make a paper cup craft, explore summer craft ideas, and discover fun summer activities.
Personal Experience: Source
MomJunction articles include first-hand experiences to provide you with better insights through real-life narratives. Here are the sources of personal accounts referenced in this article.
i. Sensory jelly play attemptshttps://wanderingpram.wordpress.com/2019/01/23/sensory-jelly-play-attempts/
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Read full bio of Deepa Thomas
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Read full bio of Trisha Chakraborty
