Here is a guide and ideas for making Summer Fun with your babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. I’m learning so much my first year as a mom with a Little Man always on the loose. I find the more we plan to do, the less I have to say “no, no,” get frustrated with my kid or chase random toys all over my house.
For me, summers are for making memories, resting, learning a little and loving on others. With littles, there is no reason to feel the pressure to spend a lot of money. Anything new is refreshing for them and really having only one thing to accomplish a day is important for you to keep your sanity as a parent.
Play up the things you know your kid already loves to do. Say “yes” to getting dirty and pushing some of the limits of where you usually say “no.” Be the mom in your swimsuit getting in the water with them, not afraid of what everyone else is thinking. Your kids will remember the memories! And, they will learn character from you and that includes body image, carefree spirit, trying something new, confidence and creativity.
Ideas for having Summer fun with your Toddler or Preschooler:
- Take water or Gatorade to the fire station
- Take cookies or brownies or another treat by the police station
- Popsicles and park play
- Water table – add ducks or new bath toys that float
- Cup of water and paint brush on driveway
- Sidewalk chalk, if they are old enough not to eat it
- Wagon or motorized car walk around neighborhood
- Neighborhood wagon or bike parade
- Backyard movie, as long as they will last – even if you are laying on blankets and watching it on a tablet
- Picnic in the backyard
- Drive through favorite place and take lunch to go at the park
- Visit the local train station
- Nature walk – maybe a series of these if you live in an area that has nature areas
- Play in the rain storm
- Jump puddles the day after the rain
- Library day for new books
- Visit a new playground
- Intentional family walk where everyone goes and you meet new people who are outside too.
- Swim at the city pool or a splash pad
- Stop by and shake hands and meet the Mayor or main city official
- Take money to the bank and open a savings account.
- Take treats by the EMT or emergency service personnel
- Make cookies or their favorite treat and take to a special neighbor or friend
- Do a “show” or performance at a local nursing home or visit and walk through to offer smiles to residents – take a special treat with you like travel size lotion or chapstick
- Paint window catchers
- Make firecrackers out of toilet paper tubes
When Little Man gets bigger, I know our list will look a little different. I’ve seen people work towards lots of different methods and I know we will develop our own. One of the patterns I’ve heard about recently involves rest time, play time, learning and discovering each day.
Then, another pattern I’ve seen is for each week:
- Do something local
- Do something out of town
- Do something that costs money
- Discover or make
- Cook something new
This pattern is something I can see myself getting in to. For now, I’m all about seeking what is fun in this season. And, that means playing at the water table, running our hands in the mud and feeling it on our fingers and walks at our local park. Any time we can drag a friend along, the more the merrier. My dream this summer would be to get a kids parade or neighborhood talent show together, but I’m still working on the details in my mind.
Have you ever hosted something like that with your neighborhood? What was involved?
- Set the date, time, location
- Invite people to attend
- Food or snacks?
- Parade of all the kids
- Performance and talent show
Don’t you think that would be so much fun???
