Summer can be one of the most memorable times in a child’s life. It’s time to let them explore, get their hands dirty, and grow. Discover summer activities that improve a child’s physical and mental development during their toddler years to make this time memorable for your whole family.
1. Play Copycat
Your child watches you bustle through your daily routine, which is advantageous during summer days. Encourage your toddler to copy you through simple movements like playing peek-a-boo, spinning in a circle, or counting your fingers. You’ll gradually teach them better hand-eye coordination skills. While kids practice during everyday activities like grasping and reaching, your child will have more fun if you make hand-eye coordination a shared game.
2. Choreograph a Dance
Create simple movements along with your child’s favorite music to dance together. As you jam out in your living room, your toddler will develop stronger muscles through the extra movement. They’ll also express themselves as they dance, which teaches them to follow their creative instincts.
3. Attend a Day Camp
Enrolling in a toddler-friendly day camp engages your child’s independence and fosters their social skills. Camps can help children get used to being away from their parents and prepare them to start preschool or kindergarten. They can also make new friends, do arts and crafts, and play games that will nurture their mental and physical growth.
4. Put a Puzzle Together
Child-friendly puzzles are a perfect at-home activity to do together. Your child will use fine motor skills to turn and place each piece. They’ll also have to match lines and colors, using their brain to problem solve. The big pieces and bright colors will dazzle your child so they stay engaged, even inside during summer thunderstorms.
5. Match Images on Cards
Research shows that kids undergo rapid hippocampal-dependent memory development during their preschool years. The neural growth means your child will retain better associative memories as a toddler. You can build on that development with matching flash cards.
Mix the cards and place them face up across a table. Ask your child to match what they see. As they get more comfortable with the practice, you could flip the cards so they turn them over to
reveal potential matches. If you want to get even more creative, you could color index cards together to make your own personal flashcards.
6. Blow Backyard Bubbles
Bubble wands provide hours of joy for kids in the summer. The soap provides a sensory texture, plus the motor challenge of making bubbles by gently waving the wand through the air. If your child loves this activity, you could turn the idea into a party. Invite their friends to make soapy creations in your backyard while music plays. They can jump into their bathing suits and play in a sprinkler if it gets messy.
7. Draw With Chalk
Grab a box of chalk and head outside on a sunny morning. Drawing is a great way to encourage your child’s creativity, and using chalk helps them get some fresh air at the same time.
Experts recommend keeping kids active throughout the day between the ages of 3 and 5. Coloring indoors is an ideal winter hobby, but you can always change it up during warm weather months. Moving the activity outside with chalk means your toddler will frequently move around or walk across your chalk space to continue their art. The extra movement compiles into a busier toddler lifestyle.
8. Ride Bikes Together
Get a little tricycle for your toddler to practice in your driveway. If you or older kids have bikes, your toddler will love the opportunity to ride alongside and feel like a big kid. Once they feel confident enough, you can ride to a nearby park and get a good dose of exercise for the whole family.
Plan Fun Summer Activities as a Family
Create lifelong memories this year by planning summer activities for your toddler. You’ll engage their minds, encourage their physical development, and make them smile every day.
About The Author
Cora Gold is a mother and writer who aims to connect with other moms through her experiences with navigating motherhood. Cora is the Editor-in-Chief of Revivalist magazine and writes for sites including For Every Mom, Mommy Bites, and Playground Professionals. When she’s not writing about style and beauty for her magazine, Revivalist, she loves to share her experience with family life. Follow Cora on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
