Summer is the perfect time to get outside with your little ones and enjoy all that the great outdoors has to offer. Outdoor activities help expose your child to an entirely different environment with lots of new things to explore and learn about. With a little more room and a whole lot less clean-up to worry about, you and your little one can get creative, playful, and maybe even a little messy. So, if you’re looking for summer activities for toddlers, you’ve come to the right place!  Here are our top 15 tips, tricks, and ideas. Ready for some fun in the sun? Let’s get started.  

Table of Contents

1. Arts & Crafts
2. Water Play 
3. Nature Games 
4. Summer Activities for Toddlers: Essentials 
5. Summer Activities for Toddlers: Tips 

Summer Activities for Toddlers

Arts & Crafts

We can’t talk about summer activities for toddlers without mentioning arts and crafts. The best part about outdoor arts & crafts in the summertime? You don’t have to worry too much about making a mess. This means you can focus more on having fun and less on coloring within the lines. So give yourself and your little one permission to embrace the process and just go with the flow. Here are a few arts & crafts ideas to get you started.

1. DIY Chalk Paint: You can always hand your little ones a few pieces of chalk and let them go to town on your driveway or sidewalk. But, if you want to keep your little ones busy for longer, get them involved in a little DIY before they get started. You can transform sidewalk chalk into paint by grating it and adding some water. Your little ones can even help with this second step! Put each colour into a different container and give your child some paintbrushes. Let them mix and match colors and create some art. The best part? This will wash away quickly and easily. 
2. Spray Bottle Art. If your toddler is fascinated by spray bottles, you’re not alone. Make the most of their fascination by incorporating them into your next arts & crafts project. All you need is a few spray bottles, water, a large piece of paper, and some liquid watercolors.  Mix a few different colors and let your little one have some fun creating a vibrant work of art. 
3. Pet Rock. Looking to incorporate nature into your next arts & crafts project? Why not have your little one bring a rock to life. Start the day by going on a hunt for the perfect rock subject. Then set up a station where your little one can turn that rock into a new pet (one that you won’t have to worry about feeding or walking). Set out some paint, pipe cleaners, a few googly eyes, a little glue, and let your toddler get to work on their next masterpiece. 

Play All Day Collection & On The Go Play Mat

Water Play 

Summer just wouldn’t be the same without splash pad games, refreshing dips in the pool, or a trip to the beach. So, when you’re planning summer activities for toddlers, make sure you incorporate a little water play where you can. If you don’t live by a body of water, or have access to a pool or splash pad, don’t worry. We’ve got plenty of ideas you can leverage to easily incorporate water play into your summer activities. 

1. Ocean Sensory Bin. Let your little one’s imagination run wild with an ocean sensory bin. All you need is a container, some blue food coloring, and a few ocean creature stand-ins. A couple of sea shells, a little sand, and a few sea creature toys will do the trick. Set your child up with some ladles and a sand sifter so that they have some tools they can use to explore the ocean environment you’ve created for them. 
2. Ice Boat Racing. Looking to add a little excitement to your summer activities? Ice boat racing is a great option and it’s easy to execute too! The night before race day, add about two inches of water into a small cup, cover the cup with foil, and create a small slit in the foil. Push a lollipop stick through the slit and let the water freeze overnight. The day of the race, have your little ones create some sails for their boats and glue them to the stick. Create your race tracks - you can use whatever you have on hand for this. All you need is a flat surface you can tilt to give your boats some momentum. Once your race track is set up - you’re ready to race. On your marks, get set, go!
3. Washing Station. A washing station is a fun way to teach your child about taking care of their clothes and toys. Set up one tub of water with soap, another tub for rinsing, and another area for drying. Teach your little one how to wash, rinse and dry their toy cars, their clothes, or their dolls. A learning opportunity and a fun activity all rolled into one? It’s a win-win. 

Nature Games 

Summer is the perfect time to get your little ones acquainted with Mother Nature. Here are a few fun summer activities for toddlers that incorporate elements of the great outdoors. 

1. Scavenger Hunt. Scavenger hunts are a great way to encourage your little ones to explore their surroundings. Make a simple scavenger hunt checklist and help your child find the items one by one. 
2. Nature Art. Encourage your toddler to create some art that incorporates the natural world. Collage art is a great option. Start by collecting some flowers, plants, and leaves with your little one. Create a collage by arranging your findings on a piece of Con-Tact paper. When your toddler is done creating, add a second piece of Con-Tact paper on the opposite side. Place the finished product in a window so the sun illuminates your little one’s beautiful art. 
3. DIY Paintbrushes. Doing a little painting? Turns out, Mother Nature makes the best paintbrushes. You can use twigs to create paintbrush handles and then add on different materials to create brush hairs - flowers, leaves, and plants all work well. Attach them to the twigs with elastic bands and let your toddler have fun creating paintings with different colors and textures. 

Toddler Rash Guard & Swim Bottoms

Summer Activities for Toddlers: Essentials 

1. Outdoor Play Mat. When you’re setting your little one up for some outdoor play, having a safe and comfortable surface is key. Our Outdoor Play Mat is the perfect solution. It is reversible and machine-washable. It also has a wipeable coating for easy clean-up, and it's foldable and packable with a velcro strap for on-the-go days. Our Outdoor Play Mat fits easily into our On The Go Tote Bag and has a handy front pouch to fit your On The Go Mini Pouch. 
2. Swimsuits. Planning a water play activity on a hot day? Try a fun swimsuit and poncho towel combo. From one-pieces to rash guards for baby or toddler, our swim collection has a little something for everyone. 
3. Bucket Hat. When planning summer activities for toddlers, always keep sun protection top of mind. A great SPF sunscreen is key if you and your toddler are planning a day outdoors, but SPF alone won’t do the trick. Make sure you have a hat on hand with a wide brim for added protection. 

Summer Activities for Toddlers: Tips

1. Leave room for exploration. It’s a good idea to have a few structured activities set up for your little one if you’re planning a day of summer fun. However, try to make space for exploration and free play. This is how your little one expresses their creativity and hones their imagination. 
2. Get involved. The more engaged you are in play with your children the more likely they are to want to engage in the activity along with you. Call on your inner child and dive into some nostalgic summer fun. 
3. Be mindful of the heat. If you’re spending an extended period of time outdoors, be mindful of the heat. Remember to have lots of fresh water on hand and be sure to take some breaks in the shade to avoid sunburns and overheating. 

CheckMate Bucket Hat & Garment Dye T-shirt

We hope this list of summer activities for toddlers has you feeling excited and inspired for a great few months of fun in the sun with your little ones. Remember to take lots of pictures and embrace the season to the fullest!