As we head towards the school holidays, let’s take a look at some simple, fun activities you can enjoy together to help create a magical summer – full of play, learning, and lasting memories for your little one.
With all of the lovely weather we’ve been enjoying, it’s hard to believe the summer holidays haven’t even begun yet!
When we think back to our own childhood summers, they seemed to stretch on forever – filled with paddling pools, sprinklers, barbecues, ice-cream vans and dodging water guns.
As parents, we often want to recreate those carefree days for our own children. But it can be hard to balance that with busy routines, work commitments, and the pressure to “do it all.”
The good news is that summer magic doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Young children often find the most joy in simple moments.
As we head towards the school holidays, let’s take a look at some simple, fun activities you can enjoy together to help create a magical summer – full of play, learning, and lasting memories for your little one.
Create a Nature Collage
Explore your garden or a local park to gather everything you need for a nature collage. Collect summer flowers, grass, and leaves to glue onto paper and create your own masterpiece.
Nature collages are a wonderful way to encourage your child’s language skills as you talk about what you find together. They also help develop creativity and support fine motor skills as children pick up, arrange, and glue their natural treasures.
Ice Treasure Hunt
Freeze colourful ice cubes with summer-themed objects inside, such as small shells, flower petals, or toy insects. On a sunny day, lay them out and invite your child to guess what’s hidden in each one as it begins to melt. Talk about each object as it’s revealed – this encourages observation skills, language development, and sensory exploration.
Always choose items that are safe for your child’s age and avoid small objects that could be choking hazards.
Picnic and Story Time
Lay out a blanket under a tree and enjoy a simple picnic together. Once you’ve finished eating, read your little one their favourite summer-themed book. There’s something truly magical about reading outdoors – it can make the story feel even more special while also supporting your child’s language development and love of books.
Planting Seeds
Find some fast-growing seeds like sunflowers or cress to plant and nurture with your little one. Watch them sprout together and even measure how much they grow each day. This simple activity teaches patience, responsibility, and early maths skills, while encouraging a love of nature.
Critter Safari
Create a fun Critter Safari checklist with some of the most common creepy crawlies you might find in a garden or park. Head out together in search of them, and let your little one place a sticker on the checklist next to each critter they spot. This activity builds observation skills, encourages curiosity about nature, and turns outdoor time into an exciting adventure.
We hope these activities help add a little summer magic to your holidays. At Sandytots, we love planning activities that follow the seasons and special events – and your little ones really enjoy them! Please feel free to share your summer adventures with us on Tapestry, we’d love to see the wonderful adventures they are having during the summer!
If you’d like even more summer activity inspiration, chat with your child’s key worker about what we’ve been doing in the nursery. They’ll be happy to share ideas you can try recreating at home.
