Boredom Busters!
Preschool Summer Activities
"I'm bored!" You know your preschoolers need some fun preschool summer activities after hearing that phrase for the 127th time during the first week of vacation.
Whether you work outside of the home or not, you'll inevitably face this situation over the summer. Your preschoolers are not in school mode, the weather's nice (except for those pesky rainy days), and they need some stimulating fun!
Below you will find some great resources to keep your preschoolers active, engaged, and perhaps a little less bored this summer.
Outdoor Preschool Summer Activities
On days when the weather is fanastic, take advantage of it and head outside with your preschoolers!
The following are suggestions for outdoor preschool summer activities:
- Fill up a wading pool and let the kids splash around. Take some plastic dolls and cars to "wash".
- Go to a local farmer's market and let the children pick out fresh fruits and veggies.
- Take a trip to the local zoo.
- Tour the local playgrounds - maybe try a new one each week.
- Go for a walk or bike/tricycle ride.
- Pack a picnic lunch and head to a local park - or even your own yard or playground!
- Set up an outdoor obstacle course: Jump over a log/bush, run around the play house, swing on a swing, and then roll down the hill.
- Run through the sprinklers.
- Pick berries and make homemade jam.
- Go on a bug hunt.
- Draw with sidewalk chalk.
- Create a treasure map and help the children dig up "buried treasure".
- Fly a kite.
- Take a book (or several) outside and read under the shade of a tree.
- Play a game of tag.
- Play with the hose and sprayer.
- Set up a "Summer Olympics".
- Create a lemonade stand, or fresh produce stand.
- Plant a garden together.
- Head to a local beach/lake/river. If you don't have one near you, create one! Fill up a wading pool with sand, the tub with water and you've got sand and water to play in!
- Play with shadows on a bright, sunny day.
- Set up a tent in the backyard.
- Find local festivals and attractions to visit.
- Go on a nature hike and find interesting objects from the outdoors. You could then create a collage with the materials.
- Play hopscotch and jump rope.
- Play games with a parachute (or just use a sheet) - like switch spots if you're wearing red, or make a "mushroom" to hide under.
- Blow bubbles together.
- Have a water balloon fight. (check state requirements first.....balloons are not allowed in certain programs).
These are just a sampling of ideas. Hopefully you can take this list and use it to spark your imagination!
Indoor Preschool Summer Activities
Of course, there will be days when the weather doesn't cooperate, and you are forced to be inside. What to do then??
Try these ideas for indoor summer fun:
- Make a summer craft project together.
- Take a trip to the local library - many have storytime hours too!
- Invite a friend over to play.
- Tie-dye t-shirts.
- Try a rainy day walk - Suit up in your raincoats, boots, hats (or not!) and catch raindrops on your tongue!
- Make sock puppets and put on a puppet show.
- Try a local museum - our city has a wonderful children's museum that is perfect for rainy days.
- Play a board game - I love Memory, CandyLand, and Chutes and Ladders for preschoolers.
- Find a local indoor pool that has "Open Swim" hours.
- Create an indoor scavenger hunt. Have your child find things like: a red sock, a circle, a scratchy item, etc. to sneak in some learning.
- Look through photo albums and remember fun times.
- Go see a matinee movie in the theater.
- Play with play dough.
- Build an indoor fort with chairs, sofas, blankets, and pillows - make it even cozier by having a pajama day too!
- Cozy up in a favorite place and read favorite books.
- Make some tasty recipes together.
For a full week of free preschool activities for all of your interest learning centers, click here on my Summer Theme from my sister site!
Go to the Preschool Activities Main Page for more ideas!
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