- What are the best summer activities for toddlers? They’re right here.
- What can toddlers do in the summer?
- 50+ summer activities full of future memories
- 15+ Summertime Sensory Activities for Toddlers
- 20+ Outdoor Art Activities for Toddlers
- 15+ Water Play Activities for Toddlers
- 15 Quick and Easy Summer Activities for Toddlers
- Which summer activities for toddlers are your favorites?
What are the best summer activities for toddlers? They’re right here.
Hello, summer. It’s good to see you again. It’s time for warmer weather, slowed down days, and toddler messes OUTSIDE. But what are the best ways to play this summer? Check out this list of amazing summer activities for toddlers.
RELATED: Looking for amazing outdoor toys to add to your backyard fun? Check out this list of the best outdoor toys for kids.
What can toddlers do in the summer?
Toddlers can do so much!
There’s all sorts of summer fun and learning for toddlers to be doing over the summer – the world is their oyster.
When you’re thinking of summer activities for toddlers remember: kids don’t need fancy to have fun. Toddlers need simple, easy, and open-ended activities – they don’t need lots of frills. Playing is learning, and they’re going to play all summer long.
RELATED: Need a summer bucket list? I’ve got a great one.
50+ summer activities full of future memories
Summer activities are some of my most favorite activities.
I’ve rounded up 50+ incredibly awesome summer activities tailor made and perfect for our toddler crowd. I’ve divided them into 4 categories: messy sensory fun, outside art activities, water play, and quick & easy fun. I’m so excited to share this list with you!
In no particular order (except put into nice, neat, “I’m type A” categories), here are some of my favorite summer activities for toddlers from around the web.
Get ready to click into some truly incredible blogs and see some fantastic ideas.
15+ Summertime Sensory Activities for Toddlers
- Jello Party – Busy Toddler
- Edible Sludge Sensory Play – And Next Comes L
- Shaving Cream Sensory Play – Days with Grey
- Shaving Cream and Sand Sensory Play – There’s Just One Mommy
- Clean the Cars – Busy Toddler
- Outdoor Window Painting – Simple Fun for Kids
- Frozen Water Beads – Busy Toddler
- Sticky Shaving Cream Sensory Play – Fantastic Fun and Learning
- Engineering with Mud Bricks – Play Teach Repeat
- Frozen Oobleck Sensory Play – Learning and Exploring Through Play
- Pudding Painting – Busy Toddler
- DIY Mud Kitchen – Learning and Exploring Through Play
- Frozen Sensory Play with Shaving Cream and Ice – There’s Just One Mommy
- Shaving Cream Rainbow Messy Sensory Play – And Next Comes L
- Sensory Play: Rainbow Cream Pie – There’s Just One Mommy
20+ Outdoor Art Activities for Toddlers
- Giant Name Art – Busy Toddler
- Cotton Rounds Splatter Paint – A Crafty LIVing
- Graffiti Art for Kids – Playground Park Bench
- DIY Chalk Paint – Busy Toddler
- Homemade Finger Paint Recipe – Powerful Mothering
- Painting with Sandals – Play Teach Repeat
- Giant Window Painting – Busy Toddler
- Water Pistol Painting – Messy Little Monsters
- Chalk Paint – Simple Fun for Kids
- Painting Ice Activity for Toddlers – Mommy’s Bundle
- Natural Finger Painting with Blackberries – Kori at home
- DIY Scented Sidewalk Chalk – Parenting Chaos
- Invitation to Paint Cardboard Box Castles – Playground Park Bench
- Painting with Rocks – Fantastic Fun and Learning
- Nature Paint Brushes – Messy Little Monsters
- Splatter Paint Tape Resist – Buggy and Buddy
- Fly Swatter Painting – Play Teach Repeat
- DIY Sidewalk Foam Paint – The Tip Toe Fairy
- Collect and Paint Rocks – Rhythms of Play
- Jackson Pollock Preschool Art – Learning and Exploring Through Play
- Washable Painting on a Shower Curtain – Fun Learning for Kids
- Splatter Paint – Busy Toddler
15+ Water Play Activities for Toddlers
- Pouring Station – Busy Toddler
- Paint the Ice Sensory – Days with Grey
- Outdoor Dish Washing Station – Mama Papa Bubba
- Ice Table (a water table twist) – Busy Toddler
- Nature Soup – Happily Ever Mom
- Colorful Melting Ice – Bambini Travel
- Ice Bath Fun – Busy Toddler
- Car Wash Sensory – My Mundane and Miraculous Life
- Ice Smash – Busy Toddler
- Ocean Bin – Days with Grey
- July 4th Sensory Play with Ice – Playground ParkBench
- Ice Boat Racing – Toddler Approved
- Transporting Water Play – Adventures of Adam
- Pom Pom Water Play – Busy Toddler
- DIY Homemade Water Wall – Little Bins for Little Hands
- Tide Pool Science Experiment – Buggy and Buddy
- Easy to Make Water Bombs – Adventures of Adam
15 Quick and Easy Summer Activities for Toddlers
- Making Ice Cream in a Bag – Busy Toddler
- Summer Lego Ice Rescue – Crafty Kids at Home
- Muddy Trucks and Car Wash – Busy Toddler
- Giant Bubbles Recipe – Learning and Exploring Through Play
- Sponge Targets – Busy Toddler
- Hammering Tees into Watermelons – Mom Inspired Life
- Apple Washing Bin – Busy Toddler
- Water Bottle Fun – The Tip Toe Fairy
- Dirt Box (a sandbox alternative) – Busy Toddler
- Grab and Pull a Letter Load – Growing Book by Book
- Nature Cutting Tray – Play Teach Repeat
- Outdoor Sticky Wall – Busy Toddler
- Racing Cars with a Gutter – Teaching Mama
- DIY Cardboard Car Wash – Non Toy Gifts
- Make a Bubble Snake Blower – Messy Little Monsters
- Plastic Bag Kite – Play Teach Repeat
We are so excited for warm weather and summer activities! I can’t wait to check these activities off day after day.
Hope Saecker says
Hello,
I am a grandmother to a toddler. 2 years old boy
We are having a great time but can always use some
fun ideas for inside and outside.
I never thought of putting ice in the water play area!!
Your help is very appreciated.
Hope
Alicia Ortego says
“Thank God summer isn’t over yet! I can’t wait to try out these activities with my kids! Thanks so this amazing and huge selection of things to do with kids in summer!
Actually, I have a list of my own. It has been approved by my own kids! Would take a look here https://aliciaortego.com/fun-summer-activities-for-kids/ and give me some feedback? “
Clare's Little tots says
Great list! We love anything outside and messy 🙂
Planet Toddler says
This is a very creative list! Thanks.
Christina says
What an awesome list of activities that are perfect for summer! Thanks so much for including our Frozen sensory play and sand and shaving cream activity in the list.
Chelsea @ Life With My Littles says
This is an awesome post, and it seriously has come just in time! I can’t wait to play in our backyard all summer long!