20 Simple Summer Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Are you looking for some fun activities to do with your toddlers this summer? Ones that are simple and easy to do? Then these simple, easy, and fun toddler and preschool summer activities are ideal.

Best Summer Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers

It can be hard finding simple summer activity ideas that won’t cost the earth to do with your toddlers at home or out and about. So we’ve put together this list of easy summer activities that kids of all ages but especially your toddlers and preschoolers will love.

Simple Summer Sensory Play for Toddlers

Sensory play is great for toddlers and preschoolers. A bonus of summer you can take the messiest activities outside into the backyard and hose it down at the end of the day meaning mama that your house stays free from the mess.

From playing in the sand to the water table there are so many sensory activities you can do (check out our ideas for simple summer sensory play for even more inspiration). Below the image of just a selection of the sensory tubs you’ll find on that page we’ve put some of our favourites.

A really simple idea is to grab some water beads and fill up a sensory bin and let your little ones explore.

Keep cool with some Instant Pudding and Ice sensory play this summer, this is the perfect summer sensory play, especially for all of your toddlers that put everything in their mouths.

Pirate Party Small World Play get the water table set up and start the pirate play. Keep cool in this simple water play idea for your little ones.

When it gets too hot outside move inside for some Ocean Sensory Bin and for those little ones that put everything in their mouth it’s edible as well.

Of course one of the best and easiest activities is to create some giant bubbles – our homemade bubble mix with glycerin added is perfect for doing just that.

Water Sensory Bin from Toddler Approved where even the youngest toddlers can join in and keep cool.

Summer crafts for Toddlers

One of our favourite fun summer activities is crafts. We love to set up invitations to create, do some process art with the kids and even set up some specific crafts. Check out these simple ideas below for more inspiration.

Grab some shaving cream and get creative with this easy-to-make marbled paper.

Your little ones will love keeping cool and painting with these really simple Ice Paints that you can make and they can then get creative.

Summer means butterflies and butterflies mean caterpillars so get craft with some Caterpillar Making.

Why not combine some homemade bubble mix with some art and create some bubble prints. The perfect summer process art that little and big kids will enjoy.

Always a great idea is to get out the sidewalk chalk and create some brilliant colourful pictures. Our homemade sidewalk chalk recipe is easy to do and means that you will never run out.

Shell Imprints in Salt Dough from The Imagination Tree are the perfect thing to do with all of those beach finds that you bring home and great for improving fine motor skills as they push the shells into the salt dough.

Sun Catchers are great for making and decorating with in the summer and this sun shaped suncatcher is a great summer activity idea

Get crafty with the symbol that makes the summer fun with this Sandpaper Summer Sun from No Time for Flash Cards

20 Classic Crafts for Summer from Red Ted Art with some of these perfect for your little toddlers to enjoy with you as well.

You can't beat some Sidewalk Painting from The Educators' Spin On It

Summer evenings mean one thing some fireflies and Toddler Approved creates some fantastic Crayon Relief Fireflies

Summer Science and Nature Study for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Toddlers and preschoolers are fascinated by the world around them. It's an ideal time to introduce some simple science and nature study you'll be amazed at what they pick up!

Making Ice Cream Soup is the perfect things to do this summer - especially if like J your child doesn't like cold ice-cream

Only one thing to do go Bug Hunting and discover what lives in your back yard

Discover what lives below the waves with Shrimp Netting at the beach or even try taking your toddler rock or tide pooling - we have some great safety tips and advice for going with them on our guide to rock pooling with kids.

Make your summer reading transpotable then create an Outdoor literacy Sack on Toddler Approved

This is one of my all time favourite activities Hunting for Sharks Teeth from The Educators' Spin on it we know some great beaches to go and take the kids to for some guaranteed finds.

Summer Recipes to Cook with Toddlers

4th of July is so close now you can almost smell the fireworks in the air these Patriotic Cupcakes are perfect to make with your toddlers to celebrate and would be great for Jubilee celebrations this year!

Why not make a rainbow ice pop with your kids. 100% fruit and tastes amazing!

Set up your own lemonade stand for your toddlers and preschoolers and get them to help you make some homemade lemonade.

More Ideas for Summer Fun with your Toddlers

There are plenty of more ideas - ditch the plastic water balloons for your next water balloon fight and instead why not grab some sponges and turn them into DIY sponge water bombs like these from Messy Little Monsters.

Spending time by the pool this summer then grab some pool noodles and have some Pool Noddle Play with Growing a Jeweled Rose

• Summer Paper Plate Crafts for Kids of All Ages
• Beach Themed Crafts for Kids
• Summer Books for Toddlers and Preschoolers