30 Simple Summer Activities for Toddlers + Kids (Your BINGO Guide to Easy Fun + Connection over the Summer)
- Gina
- 2 days ago
- 11 min read
Updated: 11 hours ago
Summer with kids doesn’t need to be complicated to be meaningful. In fact, the most powerful moments are often the smallest ones, those quick, playful bursts of connection woven into your day.
This Summer Activity BINGO Card was designed to give you exactly that: simple summer activities for toddlers and kids that are easy to set up, low pressure, and rooted in what young kids actually need: movement, sensory play, and connection.
Because here’s the truth: when toddlers feel connected, their bodies are calmer, their emotions are more regulated, and their ability to play and learn expands.
That’s the heart behind all of this and I hope that when you need "a little something" you pull it out, pick and activity and carve out a little time to connect together!
Why These Simple Summer Activities Matter
Toddlers don’t need elaborate plans or packed schedules. They need micro moments of connection; small, intentional interactions that say, “I’m here with you.”
And during summer, those moments can happen naturally:
Outside on a blanket
At the kitchen table
In the backyard with water and bubbles
These activities also support a “body before brain” approach. When kids move, explore, and engage their senses, it helps regulate their nervous system so they can feel calm, connected, and ready to engage.
You’re not just filling time; you’re supporting your child’s development in a way that feels like play!
How to Use Your Summer BINGO Card
You don’t need to complete everything.
Instead:
Pick one activity a day, a few a week or once a week as a special connection day
Follow your kids lead
Keep it short and playful
Focus on connection
This isn’t about doing more. It’s about noticing more in the moments you already have.
Download the FREE Bingo Board HERE!!
30 Simple Summer Activities for Toddlers + Kids
(With Easy Directions)
Materials:
Construction paper or colored paper
Scissors
Tape, glue, or stapler
Marker
Optional:
Stickers
Drawings or labels
Different colors for special days
Step 1: Decide how many days away the event is. One strip of paper = one day.
You can use this for:
Vacations
Birthdays
Holidays
Visiting family
Starting school
Special outings
Step 2: Cut paper into strips. Simple rectangles work perfectly.
Step 3: Create your chain. Loop the paper strips together and tape, staple, or glue them into a chain.
Step 4: Remove one chain each day. This is the magic part!
Every morning (or every bedtime), let your child remove one link from the chain.
Now they can physically see time getting shorter.
Materials:
Cornstarch
Water
Food coloring
Muffin tin or bowl
Mixing spoon
Paintbrush
Step 1: Add the cornstarch to the muffin tin or bowl. The measurements are just "equal parts." So, if you add one tablespoon of cornstarch, add one tablespoon of water on top.
Step 2: Squirt 5-6 drops of food coloring, depending on how dark you want the colors.
Step 3: Mix the cornstarch, water and food coloring together.
Step 4: Bring it outside, add in your paintbrushes and create!
Every surface is different. Always test a spot first to assure it will not stain. I have never had a problem with it washing right off with the hose!
3. Outdoor Picnic
Lay out a blanket and enjoy snacks or lunch together outside.
4. Nature Walk
Take a short walk and collect leaves, sticks, or flowers along the way. Here is a FREE nature walk printable HERE.
Materials
Smooth rocks (medium to large size works best- I took them from our yard)
White paint (acrylic or multi-surface)
Acrylic paint markers (variety of colors)
Acrylic outdoor sealing spray
Paintbrush
Step 1: Wash and dry your rocks to remove any dirt or debris
Step 2: Paint each rock with a coat of white paint
Step 3: Let the rocks dry completely
Step 4: Use acrylic paint markers to draw fruits or foods (apples, strawberries, lemons, watermelon, etc.)
Step 5: Allow the designs to dry
Step 6: Spray each rock with an acrylic outdoor sealing spray to protect the paint. I put the rocks on an old piece of cardboard and sprayed them outside. I did 3 coats.
Step 7: Let dry completely before play
Materials:
4 cups warm water
2 cups dish soap
1 cup white sugar
Mixing bowl and spoon
DIY Bubble Wands or store bought
Cotton glove or sock
Step 1: Add the sugar to the warm water. Stir until dissolved.
Step 2: Stir in the soap. Mix well.
Step 3: Dip the bubble wands into the mixture and blow bubbles!
Step 4: Put a glove on your hand and gently bounce the bubbles!
Storage Tip: Store bubble in a mason jar or container with a lid.
Why do you need sugar?
Sugar helps create thicker and more durable bubbles by increasing the surface tension of the bubble: they last longer and won’t pop as quickly!
Materials:
Ice cube tray or bowl
Trinkets that can be frozen
Sensory tray or bowl
Tools to rescue the objects
Step 1: grab a plastic or metal bowl, an ice cube tray, a silicone mold or a cake/baking pan.
Step 2: Add in your favorite trinkets (plastic animals or figurines, legos, gems, pom Poms, shells, rocks, alphabet letters- literally anything) & add water. Food coloring is optional, a few drops go a long way.
Step 3: freeze for a few hours (length will depend on size and shape that you use.)
Step 4: when frozen, place in a sensory tray or bowl, add medicine droppers, pipettes, squirt bottles or wooden mallets. Also add a few cups or a bowl or warm water.
Step 5: rescue your treasures!! Squirt, squeeze & bang away until they are free of the ice!
Materials:
2 clean & dry sponges
String
Scissors
Step 1: Cut each sponge in four vertical strips.
Step 2: Put all eight pieces in a pile and squeeze them together in the center.
Step 3: Put a strip of string & tie the sponges together in the center. Tie a few knots so they stay secured.
Materials:
(2) part Water
(1) part Tear-free bath soap (or dish soap!)
Food coloring (optional)
Blender or hand mixer
Mixing bowl
Sensory tray or bowl
Step 1: Measure the water and soap and pour them into a sensory tray or bowl. If you are using a blender, add ingredients in there now!
Step 2: If you are using food coloring, add now. Blend all of the ingredients together until it becomes very foamy, this can take several minutes.
Step 3: If you are making multiple colors, repeat the above steps for each color you want to make.
Step 4: Pour the mixture into a sensory tray or bowl and PLAY!
Step 5: If you want to extend your play once the bubbles dissolve, blend it back up again.
This is a one-time use sensory bin, meaning it can’t be stored. It is best when used immediately after blending. It cannot be stored for later use.
Materials
White table salt
Sidewalk chalk
Small bowls or containers
Plastic container or jar with lid
Spoon or funnel (optional)
Step 1: Color the salt. Pour a small amount of white salt into a bowl. Give your child a piece of sidewalk chalk and encourage them to stir and mix the salt with the chalk. The motor skills here are 10/10! As the chalk rubs against the salt, it will slowly change color! It's a little bit of art, a little bit of sensory, a little bit of science and a whole lot of fun!
Repeat with different chalk colors in separate bowls.
Step 2: Layer the colored salt. Once the salt is colored, carefully pour it into a plastic container or jar. Encourage your child to create layers, stripes, swirls, or patterns using different colors. A spoon or funnel can help make pouring easier for little hands.
Step 3: Seal and display. When the container is full, place the lid on tightly. Display the finished art on a shelf, windowsill or desk. The colorful layers create a beautiful sensory art piece children will feel proud of!
11.Read a Book Series together
Find a book series or just a few chapter books that everyone would be interested in and do a family reading time. You can do one chapter a day, switch off reading or just snuggle up and read together.
Materials
Ice cube tray
Water
Food coloring (variety of colors)
Craft sticks (popsicle sticks)
Step 1: Fill each section of the ice cube tray with water
Step 2: Add a few drops of food coloring to each section
Step 3: Gently mix to distribute the color
Step 4: Place a craft stick into each cube slot. You can cover the tray first with aluminum foil and make a small slit to put the craft stick in, that will keep it upright.
Step 5: Freeze for several hours or overnight Once frozen, remove and bring outside to paint
Materials:
Water
Sensory tray or bowl
Washable neon paint
Sponges
Scoops, Bowls or Cups
Step 1: Fill the bin with warm water, enough for kids to splash and scoop.
Step 2: Add neon coloring to the water. Start with just a few drops and watch the color pop!
Step 3: Place tools and scooping items in the bin for open-ended exploration.
Step 4: Let your kids dive in (figuratively!) and start exploring.
APFL Tips:
Always supervise young children during water play.
Add a few drops of baby shampoo to make the water bubbly and silky.
Try different
Materials:
Pipe cleaner
Pony beads
Bubble mixture (store bought or make my DIY Bubble Mix, recipe HERE!)
Step 1: Create a loop and handle in your pipe cleaner by curving the top few inches inward, then twisting it around itself to make a loop.
Step 2: Thread pony beads onto the bottom, straight piece of the pipe cleaner.
Step 3: When the handle is almost filled with beads, twist the pipe cleaner around the final bead to secure.
Step 4: Dip the loop into the bubble mixture to blow bubbles!
APFL Tip: Let the wands dry after use, then use them as reading pointers, magic wands, or pretend magnifying glasses!
15. Flash Light Walk
Grab some flashlights and head for a walk when the sun starts to go down! Check out your shadows!
Materials:
A sturdy stick (collected from your yard or a park)
String (I used bracelet string)
Beads (plastic, wooden, or translucent for light reflection)
Scissors
Optional: feathers, shells, ribbon, or other natural items
Step 1: Find a sturdy stick that will serve as the base of your mobile
Step 2: Cut several pieces of string- you can cut different lengths or keep them all the same length
Step 3: Tie one end of each string securely to the stick
Step 4: Thread beads onto each string, spacing them out or clustering them as desired
Step 5: Tie knots to keep beads in place
Step 6: Tie a piece of string across the top of the stick for hanging- we added beads to this part as well, but it is optional
Step 8: Hang your mobile outside where it can catch the breeze and sunlight
Materials:
Cornstarch
Hair conditioner or lotion
Mixing cup
Bowl
Spoon
Sensory tray or bowl
Any tools or trinkets you'd like
Step 1: Measure and pour (1) cup of conditioner or lotion into the bowl.
Step 2: If you are adding food coloring, mix it in now.
Step 3: Pour in (2) cups of cornstarch.
Step 4: Mix all of the ingredients until fully incorporated. After you mix your dough, it may still look a bit crumbly. Here's where your hands get a workout! Take the mixture out & knead it. The more you squish & squeeze & smoosh the dough, the softer it gets! As all of the ingredients blend together, the dough becomes silky soft, easy to mold & perfect for little hands.
Step 5: Place it on your sensory tray or bowl, add in your favorite tools and trinkets and PLAY!
Materials:
Sidewalk chalk
Painter’s tape
A bucket of water (optional, but highly recommended!)
That’s it. No prep the night before. No complicated setup.
Step 1: Create your design with tape. Use painter’s tape directly on your driveway or sidewalk. Make lines, zig-zags, triangles, random shapes...there’s no wrong way to do this.
Think of it like creating a giant coloring page.
Step 2: Add chalk. Let your kids color in the spaces between the tape lines. We used wet chalk (just dip it in water), which makes the colors so much brighter and smoother.
Step 3: Fill every section. Encourage them to cover all the concrete spaces. It doesn’t have to be perfect—that’s part of the charm.
Step 4: The magic moment… peel the tape. Once they’re done, gently peel up the tape.
And just like that—you have a bold, beautiful mosaic design.
19. Make S’mores
Make simple s’mores together and enjoy the shared experience.
20. Family Movie Night
Pick a movie and watch together with snacks for a cozy connection moment.
21. Popsicle Walk
Take a short walk while enjoying popsicles together.
22. Potion Party
Turn everyday household items like water, shaving cream, food coloring, and measuring cups into magical sensory potions that spark creativity, imagination, and hands-on learning for kids. Want to make it fizzy? Use baking soda and white vinegar!
23. Family Game Night
Play simple kid-friendly games and keep it light and playful.
Materials:
Your uncooked sensory base filler of choice (see above)
Food coloring and white vinegar OR Acrylic Paint OR liquid watercolor paints
Ziploc bag or container with lid
Parchment paper or Foil
Baking sheet
How To:
Line the baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. Set aside.
Pour the sensory base into the Ziploc bag or container.
Add your color to the base:
Food Coloring + Vinegar Method: For every 1 cup of base filler, add 1 tbsp of white vinegar. Then add 5-10 drops of food coloring.
Acrylic Paint Method: For every 1 cup of base filler, add 4-5 squirts of paint.
Liquid Watercolor Method: For every 1 cup of base filler, add 2-3 tablespoons of liquid watercolor paint.
Shake and squish until the color is fully incorporated.
If you want the color to be darker, add more food coloring or paint. Shake and squish again!
Pour dyed filler onto the lined baking sheet and spread out.
Let dry for 30 minutes to an hour. Lay out in the sun if possible & it will dry even quicker!
Materials:
Coffee filters
Washable markers
Pipe cleaner OR
Clothespin
Spray bottle with water OR
Paintbrush with water
Step 1: Gather your materials. We like to do this activity on top of a piece of butcher paper or on a
sensory tray/baking sheet.
Step 2: Use the markers to color in the coffee filters. For each butterfly, you want to color two filters. Use one color or multiple colors, totally up to you!
Step 3: Once you have colored the coffee filters, you are going to use your paintbrush or spray bottle to saturate them with water. This makes the colors blend and swirl together and is SO pretty!
Step 4: Lay the coffee filters flat and let them dry completely.
Step 5: Fold the filters accordion style (back to front, back to front). Lay them on top of each other and secure in the middle with a pipe cleaner OR clothespin.
Materials:
1 cup flour
1 cup water
1/4 cup salt
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
5-10 drops food coloring (optional)
5-8 drops essential oil (optional)
Step 1: Pour all ingredients (except essential oil, if using) into a pan.
Step 2: Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently.
Step 3: When it forms a ball, remove from pan.
Step 4: After it cools, knead well (add essential oils now, if using).
Step 5: Store in an airtight container for up to 6 months!
27. Watch the Stars
Lay outside at night and look up at the sky together.
28. Write and Mail a Letter
Draw a picture or letter and send it to someone special.
Materials:
Baking soda
White Vinegar
Food coloring (optional)
Glitter (optional)
Muffin tin or ice cube tray
Sensory tray or baking dish
Pipette or medicine dropper
Step 1: If you are adding glitter, sprinkle it in the bottom of your sensory tray or bowl.
Step 2: Sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda in the bottom of your tray or bowl.
Step 3: In your small cups/bowls add 3-5 drops of food coloring, then fill halfway with water. Fill the other half with vinegar. Stir.
Step 4: Fill your pipette with the vinegar/water mix & squirt it into the baking soda tray. Watch as it bubbles & fizzes & colors mix together.
Step 5: Keep the magic going by adding in more baking soda and/or vinegar!
Use dirt, water, and old kitchen tools to go outdoors and create messy pretend play. Mud pies anyone?!
A Gentle Reminder for This Summer
If you do one thing from this list—just one—you’re doing enough.
It's not about the activity, it’s about the moment you share inside of it together!
And those small, repeated micro moments of connection? They add up to something really meaningful.
