35+ of the Best Toddler Summer Activities

Inside: Looking for toddler summer activities? Here are 35+ of the best activities that you will want to try. Art, sensory, nature, play dough, outdoor ideas, and more!

Summer! Oh, how we love summer! I’ve been collecting fun summer activities for toddlers just for you that are perfect for home. And I love this collection!

Our toddlers love to be busy :

creating

pouring

dumping

moving

and moving

did I mention moving?

I decided to round up some of our favorite toddler activities that can be done during the summer, indoors and out, any time of the day.

These fun activities involve lots of hands-on exploration and can be shared with older children, too!

Art

Ice Painting – Cool off on a hot day while painting on a block of ice. So fun!

Frozen Watercolors – Make your own sparkly frozen watercolors and watch what happens as they melt.

Paint with Balls – This is a fun activity that involves rolling balls dipped in paint. Try it indoors or outdoors!

Drive Cars Through Paint – If your toddlers love cars, they will adore this hands-on activity! Grab their favorite cars and trucks, add paint, and roll them across paper.

Fish Stamping Process Art – Use the free fish template and start stamping paint using a cardboard tube.

Stamp Circles with Paper Tubes – This activity is super simple, yet so much fun! All you need is a recycled paper tube and some paint.

Frozen Sparkly Paint – Whip up your own sparkly watercolor paint, stick it in the freezer, and you have a fun activity on a summer afternoon.

Paint Big – Take a big sheet of paper outdoors for some fun big painting. (Learn with Play at Home)

• More outdoor art activities: 30+ Outdoor Art Activities

Playdough

Play with Homemade Lavender Scented Dough – Toddlers will love helping you make this calming play dough. Save for those moments when everyone needs to wind down.

Scoop Edible Ice Cream Playdough – You will only need 2 ingredients to make this taste-friendly playdough. (Crafty Morning)

Dandelion Playdough – Pull the dandelions from your lawn and make some vibrant yellow playdough. (Parenting Chaos)

• More playdough ideas: 15+ Playdough Learning Ideas

Color Recognition

Yellow Sun Collage – Collect yellow objects and glue them to a paper sun – free printable!

Colored Ice Fun – Work on color recognition outside in the wading pool! (Learn-Play-Imagine)

• More color recognition activities: 15 Toddler Color Activities

Shapes

Cardboard Shapes Collage – Recycle cardboard for this fun process art activity. (My Bored Toddler)

Outdoor Shapes Hunt – Look for shapes in nature while taking a summer walk. (Creative Family Fun)

Shape Stamping – Use your toddler’s nesting blocks for a simple shape stamping activity.

• More shapes activities: Learning Shapes at Home

Math

Sticker Fish Counting – Work on simple counting skills (and fine motor) while pressing stickers on fish. (Happy Toddler Playtime)

Numbers Stones  – Here’s a fun way to expose toddlers to numbers while at the beach. (Nurture Store)

• More math activities: 25 Hands-On Number Games

Literacy

Alphabet Stamping – All you’ll need is a buck of water and some alphabet sponges for some fun outdoor literacy. (And Next Comes L)

Letter Tracing – Trace over letters on the sidewalk using water. (Coffee Cups and Crayons)

• More alphabet activities: 16+ Playful Toddler Alphabet Activities

Fine Motor

Transferring Ice – This fine motor ice transfer activity is an easy no-prep play idea. (Taming Little Monsters)

Ice Cream Fine Motor Play – Scoop pom-poms (ice cream) into cones. (Best Toys 4 Toddlers)

• More fine motor activities: 15 Easy Toddler Fine Motor Ideas

Large Motor

Color Hop – Draw different colored circles on the pavement and invite your toddler to hop on each one while recognizing the color. (Learn, Play, Imagine)

Discovery Bottles

Patriotic Discovery Bottles – Add some red, white, and blue to a water bottle for the 4th of July.

Ocean in a Bottle – Add sand and shells to make a fun summer discovery bottle.

Science

Plant Seeds – Kids love to help in the garden!

Bird Feeders – Use recycled paper tubes to make backyard feeders for our feathered friends. (Growing a Jeweled Rose)

Sink or Float Experiment – Cool off while exploring what objects sink or float in a tub of water. (Stay at Home Educator)

Heat Wave Science – Use the power of the sun to melt old crayons to make new ones! (Mama Smiles)

• More science activities: 10 Toddler Science Activities that Are Full of Fun

Cooking

Make Chocolate Ice Cream – No ice cream maker needed! This refreshing summer snack can be made in a bag. (The Best Ideas for Kids)

Smoothie Popsicles – These are super easy to make with just a few ingredients. (No Time for Flashcards)

Frozen Yogurt Drops – Strengthen fine motor skills while squeezing the liquid from a bag onto a sheet. (Entertain Your Toddler)

 Summer Books

• Llama Llama Sand and Sun
• I See Summer
• Summer Vacation Here I Come!
• Spot Goes to the Beach
• Let’s Go Camping
• Biscuit’s First Beach Day