Summertime fun! Find new ways to keep kids active and learning during the summer months with our summer activities.
Individual Child
Summer is a perfect time to experiment with open-ended outdoor activities for toddlers and preschoolers. Open-ended art projects that emphasize process over product help young children develop crucial skills as they interact with others and think creatively. Grab some sidewalk chalk, and try these DIY sidewalk chalk activities to get your preschoolers outside and immersed in play today.
Summer Learning Outdoor Learning ArtIn this child-driven exploration by Angela Eckhoff, PhD, author of Provoking Curiosity: Student-Led STEAM Learning for Pre-K to Third Grade, children are invited to conduct physical changes with everyday objects and to create collages using the materials they have manipulated.
Science“It’s a bug!” is a common phrase heard across all playgrounds as young children explore all those small creatures that walk, fly, and crawl. This provocation (child-driven exploration) by Angela Eckhoff, PhD, author of Provoking Curiosity: Student-Led STEAM Learning for Pre-K to Third Grade, draws children’s attention to the differences among bugs, insects, and arthropods as a means to build both life-science understandings and classification skills.
ScienceLooking for some activities that will keep young children stimulated, contribute to their physical and intellectual growth, and that you can enjoy and participate in as well? Try three activities from Banish Boredom by Rebecca Green.
Art ScienceHome, family, and community are the first experiences a young child has. Whether the neighborhood is new to you or not, it is less known to the toddlers. Go for a walk!
Summer Learning Outdoor Learning Infant & ToddlerPlay and learn wherever you go--on the road, in the air, out to dinner, or back at home! Go Anywhere Games for Babies is a handy little book packed with learning and bonding games designed for each stage of your baby’s first year.
Infant & ToddlerTake the tots outside and guide their innate spirit of adventure! Nature bracelets are easy to make and a perfect activity for hikes or camping.
Movement and Play Outdoor Learning Infant & ToddlerWith the Fourth of July just around the corner, open-ended art experiences are a great way for toddlers and twos to explore art as a learning experience or an experiment, discovering what is stimulating and interesting. Try these timeless art experiences from First Art for Toddlers and Twos that are easily adapted for the Fourth of July.
Art Lesson PlanningPrevent summer slide with fun games and activities for kids. Infants can enjoy gross motor activities outside while toddlers and preschoolers explore the lush summer flora. Summer activities are fun for the whole family!
Browse through lists, author interviews, excerpts, and articles that connect theory and best practice in early childhood education.
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