50 summer activities for toddlers

Summer is the perfect chance to get outdoors with your little one! There are plenty of crafts you can make using twigs, leaves and other things you'll find outside.

Get inspiration from our summer crafts for toddlers here.

What's summer without a bit of water and sand-based playtime? Create a fun sensory box for your toddler filled with sand, cups of water and toys made from different textures. Plus, it's an ideal activity to take outside.

Have a baby as well as a toddler? Check out our top tips for building a baby sensory treasure basket.

Kites are a cheap, simple way to have tonnes of fun! Get outside on a sunny (but windy-ish) day and watch your little one marvel as their kite flies.

If you're lucky enough to have some nature nearby, grab a basket and see which bits of fruit you can find. You might even be able to go to a designated fruit-picking spot, which will guarantee you at least something to come home with.

Swimming is fun all year round, but it's especially great during the hot summer months. Take your little one to your local pool or lido – either alone or as part of a toddler swimming class. Even if they're unsure at first, they'll love it eventually!

Find the best pools in your area here, or check out our roundup of the best outdoor pools in the UK.

For an outdoors day out, try your local farm or petting zoo. Your little one will be able to hold and stroke the smaller animals like rabbits, guinea pigs and ducklings – and they'll get chance to see the bigger animals like sheep and cows up close too.

Find farms and petting zoos near you here.

Sunny days are the perfect time to get out and about in the wilderness – and a nature trail through your local woodland will be ideal for inquisitive little ones.

See our top tips for creating a nature trail.

On days when the sun is shining, it's the perfect chance to make use of the weather and get a paddling pool set up in the garden for your little one.

A small, shallow pool will be enough for toddlers, and they'll love splashing around! Make sure to supervise children at all times, and never leave them unattended in the pool.

See our roundup of the best paddling pools for your garden.

Just like a paddling pool, a sandpit is another great outdoor option for playtime. You might be able to find one set up in your local park, or you can buy small sandpits to go in your garden too. Grab some toys like spades and buckets and watch your little one enjoy!

This is a great way to introduce young kids to nature. You'll be able to buy bulbs for flowers in any garden centre (or even a supermarket). Find a spot in the garden or a nearby field or flowerbed, then help your little one try planting them in the soil.

Whether you have a garden or not, these green-fingered gardening activities are perfect for kids of all ages.

If you don't fancy planting your own flowers, you can still go and pick them! Find a field or piece of woodland where you're allowed to do so and let your little one pick out their favourites.

If you like the idea of gardening with your toddler, why not take things a step further than flowers and try planting some vegetables? Find a spot in your garden (or even on your balcony or windowsill, depending on what you're planting) and wait to see the results of your efforts!

Crafts are great for toddlers whatever the weather, but summer means there's even more chance for them to get stuck into some fun outdoorsy activities.

Try our summer crafts ideas for toddlers here.

Summer is a great chance to visit some nearby (or not-so-nearby) towns and cities that you've never been to! Take your toddler along for the fun, and they're sure to be wowed by every little thing!

Weather-permitting, summer's also a great chance to take your little one on a trip to the beach. Bring beach-friendly toys and get ready for lots of paddling!

Check out our list of the best family-friendly beaches in the UK.

Speaking of the beach, make sure a sandcastle is on your little one's to-do list. Grab some buckets and spades and watch their look of amazement as you reveal their creation!

Whether you're heading on a staycation, taking a day trip to the beach or going to visit relatives in another part of the country, the train ride alone will be tonnes of fun for your toddler! Choose a window seat and point out all the sights – they'll love it.

If your child's particularly locomotive-mad, check out our top days out for kids who love trains.

Who needs normal bubbles when you can have a giant bubble? Take your little one to the park (or even stay in your own garden) with a big bubble kit and watch them get amazed!

The kitchen will be a whole new world for your toddler – and what better food to make during the summer than ice cream? Get them to 'help' out with the easy jobs, and they'll love eating the finished product.

Try our homemade ice cream recipe here.

Even on rainier days there's still lots of fun to be had! Make some little boats out of paper or plastic tubs (an old butter tub will do), then head down to the canal or a local duck pond – or even a puddle if there's one big enough – and watch your boats float!

A teddy bears' picnic is a classic for spring or summer, and it's a simple way to keep your toddler entertained. Grab their favourite soft toys, a picnic blanket and a basket with some snacks, then head down to the park for an afternoon of fun.

Check out our top picnic recipes for inspiration.

Farmers markets make a great day out during the summer, and there'll be plenty of new sights for your little one to take in. Many host craft stalls as well as food and drink – and they'll be bustling in the warm weather!

Is your little one a dinosaur fan? There are plenty of dinosaur attractions across the UK including Dino Park in Dumfries, Dinosaur Adventure in Norfolk, Land of the Living Dinosaurs in Worcestershire and the Natural History Museum in London. Plus, most are outside, making them perfect for summer.

A rainy day doesn't mean the fun has to end! Line up some of your child's favourite films or TV shows, then cuddle up on the couch for a day or afternoon of non-stop entertainment. It's a great way to spend some quality time together without actually needing to get up too much!

Stuck for what to watch? Check out our picks of the 100 best kids' films of all time.

Getting outside with your toddler during the summer doesn't always need to entail a full day trip! Simply heading down the park or out into your garden with a ball will still be tonnes of fun for your little one. Try simple rolling or catching games – they're sure to be tired out by the afternoon!

No garden? No problem! Check out these great indoor ball games for toddlers, too!

If you live close to a forest or nature trail, take your toddler down to spot some animals. They'll be able to see squirrels, wild rabbits and all kinds of birds – and you can point out all the different plants and trees to them too.

This is an easy summer craft to pull off, and a great chance to get outside with your little one too. Collect some stones and pebbles in different sizes, then stick them on a piece of card to make a simple nature-themed picture.

Sponge painting is another easy craft idea for kids, and it's an ideal one to take outside during summer - meaning less mess inside the house! All you need is some sponges cut into different shapes, plus some paints and a big sheet of paper, then let your toddler go wild.

Plus, check out more great painting ideas for kids here.

You'll need to hang onto some old egg boxes for this one. Simply cut them into flower shapes made up of four holes each, then paint them in different colours and add green-painted lolly sticks to make the stems. Easy!

See our easy, step-by-step instructions here.

This is another cute summery-themed craft. Take some pieces of different coloured paper, then cut them into flower shapes and stick them onto coloured pipe cleaners or lolly sticks to make simple paper flowers.

For green-fingered little ones, try planting some seeds on your kitchen windowsill or outside in your garden. Herbs work well and are easy to grow – and you'll be able to pick up seeds and pots easily in your nearest garden centre, or even a supermarket.

This one's a great summer game that's fun and educational! Fill up a washing up bowl or plastic tub with water, then collect a few (waterproof) objects and have your toddler guess which ones will sink or float, then try them out. Or, alternatively, you can skip the guessing and just show them!

Check out more great science activities for kids here.

This is an easy summery craft that's really cheap to make too! Wrap an old toilet roll in coloured paper to make the body of your butterfly, then cut some wings out of a different colour, stick on some antennae and draw on a smiley face. Done!

Making your own playdough can get pretty messy, which means it's an ideal activity to try outside where you'll keep the mess out of the house!

Follow our steps for making your own playdough here.

Whether you're in the garden with friends or out at the park, a giant picture is fun for a small group! Roll out a big piece of paper, then bring pens, pencils and paints, and let everyone have a go at decorating their own patch!

Warm weather is perfect for getting the giant chalks out! Find a spot on your patio or driveway if you have one, or head down to a concrete part of the park. Let your toddler choose which colours they like and go wild! The best part is that it'll wash right off with the rain or some water.

Summer is the time for ice lollies galore, but if you don't want to give your kids a sugary snack then a paper 'ice lolly' might still keep them happy. These are easy to make using coloured paper and lollipop sticks – use pens, pencils, biodegradable glitter, glue and paint to decorate!

Rainy days might mean you're stuck for activities inside the house, but there's still lots of fun to be had. Hide and seek is a classic, and it'll still be a novelty for young children. Now to choose your best hiding spot...

Another good option for a rainy day... Spending more time out in the sun shouldn't mean you cut back on reading to your child. It's important to try to read to them everyday – so, if you want to keep the summer theme alive, try picking some summery books to take a look at.

Check out our lists of the best books for 2 year olds and 3-4 year olds.

A great messy option to take outdoors in the sun! All you need is some paint, paper and some little fingers! Get creative with designs, but if you want somewhere to start then trees and flowers will work well.

Toddlers will love helping you with baking! Have them help out with some easy tasks like rolling out the dough or decorating your finished creations.

Take a look at our easy biscuits recipe for kids here.

For rainy days, you could make a treasure hunt to do inside the house. Alternatively, in warmer weather take a treasure hunt chart out with you on a day trip and have kids see what they can spot!

Print out our summer treasure hunt charts here.

Puppets don't need to be complicated to make, and they're an easy crowd pleaser with kids. Use some old socks to make your puppet pals, then put on a show for friends and family!

Take a look at our puppet-making ideas (with socks and no socks) here.

Vegetable stamping is an easy creative craft, and a great way to use up some old veg that needs chucking. Carrots and broccoli will work well – but you can use anything you have! Simply cut the veg into shapes, then use paint to print onto paper.

Next time you're out and about in the park or exploring nature, get your little one to keep an eye out for any dandelions. They're the perfect colour for this dandelion bees craft – you just need a piece of card, some dandelions, some green leaves, glue and a pen or pencil to draw on a smiley face. Easy!

This one's great if you're heading down to a stream or river. Get your toddler to help you collect some twigs, then bind or glue them together to make a raft and see if it'll float in a puddle, the bath or a stream. You can try the same with corks fastened together with elastic bands.

This is another great way to use up your old toilet rolls. Get out some paints, pens and coloured pencils and have your toddler decorate them however they like. Then, stand them up in the garden or inside the house like a set of bowling skittles and have friends/family take it in turns trying to knock them down with a ball.

This is a great messy craft to take outside during the summer, meaning no mess inside! All you need is a some paint and a straw and you're good to go.

Mix up some watery paint and place a blob on some paper. Then, blow using a paper drinking straw to create cool shapes. 

We've got step-by-step instructions for making blow paintings here.

If you're taking a trip to the seaside, get your toddler to look out for pretty shells and pebbles. They'll love picking up their favourites and you can bring them home to do some fun crafts with, or just to keep as a collection!

If you and your little one have hung onto your treasures from the beach, why not turn them into some beach art?

Shells, sand, dried seaweed, stones and driftwood will work well. When you're home, glue them to a large piece of blue card to create a beachy picture.

If you're using sand, this one is best done outdoors!