Summertime is the perfect opportunity to get out and explore with your toddler. The suns out the cold weather is long gone so it is time to get out of the house and make some new memories. With the warmer weather and longer days there are so many possibilities for fun during the summertime. I know our days go by smoother when we pack them with activities. In this blog post, we'll explore the best summer activities to do with a toddler, ensuring a season filled with joy, laughter, and exploration.
Top Summer Activities for Toddlers
1. Water Play
Water play is one of my favorite activities to do with my daughter and luckily she loves it too. When the heat is too much, water play is the best way to not only to cool down, but to have some fun too. This could include a couple different options, including setting up a kiddie pool, splash pad, water table, or sprinkler in your backyard and letting your child splash around or visiting a local water park or splash pad. Water play provides sensory stimulation and aids in motor skills development. Recently we were given a great tip by a friend and that is add ice cubes to your kiddie pool, splash pad, or water table to encourage your toddler to practice their fine motor skills and it keeps them busy.
2. Picnic Adventures
Pack a lunch and visit a nearby lake, beach or park. Bring a blanket to spread out on, and enjoy some snacks and outdoor activities together. I love to bring my daughter to a nearby lake to let her splash around in the water and then eat together on the bank. Or I can just bring her to an open field where she can explore the grass, flowers, rocks and all the wonder the outdoors provides. And my daughter never needs an excuse to eat so the picnic addition always makes for added fun.
3. Nature Walks and Scavenger Hunts
Take your toddler on a nature walk to do even further exploration of the outdoors. Point out colorful flowers, insects, and animals to your child. To add a little more fun to your adventure, create a scavenger hunt with easy items, such as leaves, rocks, or feathers. This activity promotes curiosity and appreciation for nature and can be done in your own backyard!
4. Indoor and Outdoor Playgrounds
Going to playgrounds with my daughter is probably one of my favorite things to do. I love watching her explore and discover what she can do. She's been practicing stairs and balance and even sounds as she realizes that if you knock on the poles it makes a sound. Of course I am right next to her guiding her through the playgrounds to ensure her safety, but she loves running around and building confidence as she practices her gross and fine motor skills. Indoor playgrounds are also a wonderful option for those especially hot or rainy days. Indoor playgrounds are not free though so keep your wallet in mind!
5. Zoos and Petting Farm Adventures
Zoos and farms are excellent options for building your child's curiosity and teaching empathy for animals. We took my daughter to the zoo for the first time this year and she was absolutely mesmerized by the all the different animals. She was busy pointing at all the animals and babbling to us about what she was seeing. And she was completely tuckered and ready for a nap afterwards. For older toddlers you can even do a scavenger hunt with the more common animals while you go through the farm or zoo. Farms are also great activity and a little less pricy than zoos if you are on a budget. Farms are full of the animals they have been learning about like cows, ducks, and pigs, and even some will have opportunities for the kids to feed them.
6. Museums and Science Centers
One of my favorite activities so far this summer was visiting a marine science center. There were plenty of cool activities for exploration at the science center. There were touch tanks, sand play with sea shells, and a little play area for the kids. Many museums and science centers have areas designated for young children. These interactive spaces encourage hands-on exploration and learning like some of the examples I described above. From sensory exhibits to imaginative play areas, your toddler will have a blast while gaining valuable knowledge and skills.
7. Creative Arts and Crafts
It is always good to have some backup plans if the weather is not cooperating. On hot or rainy days I try to include arts and crafts to help keep my toddler engaged. There are so many great arts and crafts activities to try with your toddler, but some of mine are sand or sensory activities. Some milestones for 1 year old's is trying to find hidden objects. So I filled a pan up with some infant oatmeal that we never used and hid some of my daughter's toys in it. It gets messy, but it was a lot of fun and kept her engaged! You can also use rice or sand to hide the toys; I wanted to do something edible because my daughter is still putting everything in her mouth. Another activity I like to do with her is painting. We put paper inside a freezer bag with paint inside and let her paint with her hands. There's no mess this way and we do not have to worry about her mistaking the red paint for ketchup.
Conclusion
Summer is a season filled with endless possibilities for fun and exploration. By engaging in these top activities with your toddler, you can create cherished memories and also foster learning and development. From water play, to learning how to interact with animals at a petting farm, there's an activity for every family to enjoy. So, get ready to soak up the sun (with sunscreen of course) and embark on an unforgettable summer adventure with your little one!.
Thanks for reading!
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