Summer Activities for Kids: Fun Ideas to Beat the Heat
- The Green Elephant
- Dec 9, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
In a rush? Here's a quick rundown.
Summer is the perfect time for screen-free outdoor play — sports, water games, and backyard adventures keep kids active and engaged.
Simple sporty activities like obstacle courses, relay races, and ball games build motor skills, coordination, and teamwork.
Beat the heat with an at-home water park using sprinklers, kiddie pools, water balloons, or a DIY slip-and-slide.
Creative crafts like ice block painting, bird feeders, and water gun art combine fun with learning about colours, nature, and science.
Summer is a time of endless possibilities for children — bright sunny days, longer hours, and a break from the usual routine. But as much as kids look forward to the freedom of summer, keeping them entertained and engaged at home can be a challenge for parents.
If you're trying to minimise screen time and want to help your child learn new skills, there are plenty of fun and educational activities to keep them happy and active all summer long.
Outdoor Activities for Kids in Summer
When the weather is warm and inviting, there's no better way for kids to expend energy and learn than by spending time outdoors. Whether in the backyard or on a local adventure, summer activities promote physical health, cognitive development, and social skills.
Sporty Activities for Young Children
Introducing sports in a playful way is a perfect summer activity. Simple games help children develop motor skills, coordination, teamwork, and discipline.
Try these ideas:
"Simon Says," hopscotch, or backyard soccer
A mini obstacle course with cones, hula hoops, or jump ropes
Throwing, catching, or kicking with soft balls or beach balls
A family relay race — run to the mailbox, do a silly dance, and race back
The focus should always be on fun and inclusion rather than competition.
At-Home Water Park
An at-home water park is the ultimate way to stay cool during the hot summer months. You don't need a pool — a simple sprinkler or inflatable water slide can create hours of fun.
Ideas to try:
Set up a slip-and-slide in the backyard
Fill a kiddie pool with water toys
Have a water balloon fight
Create water-pouring stations with cups and containers
For an added educational element, introduce fun science lessons about water — the water cycle, or how water interacts with different materials. With a little imagination, an afternoon of splashing can turn into a valuable lesson about nature.
Getting Crafty This Summer
Crafting encourages imaginative thinking, fine motor development, and problem-solving skills. It can be adapted for children of all ages, and during summer it provides a great way to cool down indoors or enjoy quiet time outside.
Best of all, summer crafts offer opportunities for little ones to express themselves and work on projects they can feel proud of.
Painting With Ice Blocks
Painting with ice blocks introduces a new texture and experience for young children — and it's especially fun on a hot day.
How to do it:
Freeze water in an ice cube tray with a little food colouring added
Once frozen, give your child a few blocks of ice and some paper
As the ice melts, kids can paint with the coloured ice, creating beautiful watercolour-like designs
This activity is a wonderful way to explore colour mixing, temperature differences, and texture. Encourage your little one to experiment with different motions — slow strokes or quick scribbles — and watch as they discover how the ice behaves.
Creating Outdoor Bird Feeders
Making bird feeders is a great way to bring nature to your backyard. Using simple materials, kids can create their own feeders and watch as they attract local wildlife.
How to do it:
Tie a string to a pinecone
Spread peanut butter all over it
Roll the pinecone in birdseed
Hang it from a tree branch
Children can then sit quietly and observe the birds, learning about the different species that visit the feeder. This project teaches children about the environment, animals, and the importance of caring for nature.
Water Gun Paintings
Water gun paintings combine physical activity with art — and kids love getting a little messy!
How to do it:
Fill water guns with diluted paint
Set up large sheets of paper, cardboard, or a blank canvas outside
Let kids spray the paint and watch it splatter in creative patterns
This activity allows children to experiment with colours and design in a dynamic, original way. It's best done outside where everyone can enjoy the mess!
Make the Most of Summer
Summer is the perfect opportunity to step away from screens and embrace hands-on, outdoor learning. Whether your child is splashing through a sprinkler, creating ice block masterpieces, or watching birds visit their homemade feeder, these simple activities build skills, spark curiosity, and create lasting memories.
FAQ
How can I keep my child entertained in summer without screens?
Focus on outdoor play, water activities, and creative crafts. Simple ideas like backyard obstacle courses, sprinkler play, ice block painting, and DIY bird feeders keep kids engaged while building skills and encouraging imagination.
What outdoor activities are good for toddlers in summer?
Toddlers love sensory play with water — kiddie pools, sprinklers, and water pouring activities are perfect. Simple ball games, nature walks, and messy outdoor art like ice painting are also great for younger children.
How do I set up an at-home water park?
You don't need a pool! Use a garden sprinkler, a slip-and-slide, water balloons, or a kiddie pool with water toys. Add cups and containers for pouring play, and you've got hours of entertainment.
What summer crafts can I do with preschoolers?
Try ice block painting (freeze coloured water and paint as it melts), making bird feeders with pinecones and peanut butter, or water gun paintings on large paper outdoors. These crafts combine creativity with sensory and science learning.
How can summer activities help my child's development?
Summer activities build physical skills (running, jumping, coordination), fine motor skills (crafting, painting), social skills (playing with others), and cognitive skills (learning about nature, colours, and science concepts) — all through play.
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