Summer is quickly approaching. With hot days and quarantine, we may not always have accessibility to be outside. Here are some fun activities to do with toddlers and preschoolers that can be enjoyed inside or outside:
Water Play: This is a go-to activity for summer because it provides children the opportunity to cool down while they play and learn. Bring water play indoors by creating a sensory area for your children to play. Place a protective material (i.e., a tarp, plastic shower curtain, etc.) on the floor and put some water in a container. You can add some plastic toys and ice cubes in for some added sensory play. Add a few drops of food coloring to practice mixing colors.
Scavenger Hunt: Scavenger hunts are a fun game for toddlers and preschoolers because it helps them develop their problem-solving skills. You can create a scavenger hunt for inside or outside. You can find various scavenger hunts on Pinterest or create your own by having your children look for a specific object, color, or shape.
I Spy: This will develop your child’s working memory and visual discrimination. You could use an I Spy book or create your own. Start out broadly by spying a color, then narrow down characteristics until they correctly guess. Repeating the game develops working memory while narrowing down the characteristics of the object develops visual discrimination.
Shadow Drawing: This is a fun way to explore how shadows are made. Children will get to express their creative side while learning science. Take a fun item like a stuffed animal and place it in front of a piece of paper. Make sure the object is positioned in a way to create a shadow on the paper. Have the children trace the edge of the shadow to create their shadow drawing. You can enhance the creativity by using paint or chalk.
Meditation: Taking a few minutes to calm your body and re-center is a useful skill no matter your age. Sit outside and listen to the sounds of nature or sit inside and put on some nature sounds. Here’s a link to some breathing techniques to use: https://copingskillsforkids.com/deep-breathing-exercises-for-kids