Hot temps and lots of free time during the summer can leave you wondering what to do with your littles! Here's a few fun (and mostly free) ideas to keep everyone happy and smiling all summer! Let's dive in!
- Splash Pad Fun: Hit up your local park that has a splash pad or water feature for a fun afternoon! If you don't have any locally, make your own fun in your backyard with a simple sprinkler set-up... trust us-- your kids will LOVE this! 2
- Sensory Play with Ice: Beat the heat with an icy sensory play bin. DIY this by freezing colorful toys or objects in the ice and let your child explore and play while they melt. Create a sensory wonderland for your little one by incorporating ice into their playtime. Freeze colorful toys or objects in ice cubes and let your child explore the textures and shapes as they melt. The best part is this is virtually mess free! Here's our favorite ice cube trays that are big enough to fit a small toy.
- Nature Walks and Scavenger Hunts: A year round favorite, but especially fun in the summer! Take your toddler on nature walks at a local park or even just around your neighborhood. Encourage them to touch leaves, smell flowers, and observe insects. Create a simple scavenger hunt by making a list of items they can find along the way, such as a smooth rock, a yellow flower, or a chirping bird.
- Picnic Party: Plan an easy picnic adventure with your little one in a nearby park or your backyard. Pack their favorite snacks, bring a blanket, and indulge in a mini feast together. Encourage interactive games like "I Spy" or storytelling to make the experience even more engaging. We recommend our best-selling bento and lunch boxes to pack your picnic feast!
- Bubble Bonanza: Bubbles are the ultimate warm weather activity. Toddlers love to chase and pop them! Spend quality time blowing bubbles in the yard or at the park. We bought this bubble machine in the spring and it's been a hit!
- Miniature Gardening: Introduce your toddler to the joys of gardening by creating a small plot or container garden together. Let them explore different textures of soil, plant seeds or seedlings, and teach them the importance of caring for plants. You can keep this going all summer long and they'll love seeing their plants flourish!
- Outdoor Art: Unleash your child's creativity by setting up an outdoor art station. Provide washable paints, large sheets of paper, and kid-friendly brushes. Depending on the age, this might be a big mess, but for sure a lot of fun!
- Dance Party: Turn up the music and have a dance party with your little one. Our one-year old immediately starts bouncing around as soon as turn on some music! Create a playlist of your favorite songs and encourage them to move and groove. Dancing helps develop gross motor skills and is a wonderful way to bond and have fun together. Pro-tip: A dance party for kids while you're tidying up around the house is the ultimate multi-tasking mom move!
- Homemade Sensory Bins: If your kids can't get enough of our icy suggestion above, DIY sensory bins are another great way to engage your toddler's senses and keep them entertained. Fill a container with materials like colored rice, sand, water beads, or shredded paper. Add scoops, cups, and small toys for exploration and imaginative play.
- Storytime Outdoors: Take storytime to the great outdoors. Find a cozy spot in the shade and read your child's favorite books together. Ask them to point out objects in the story or make up their own tales inspired by their surroundings.
So tell us, what are you most looking forward to this summer with your little one?