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With the weather warming up and school ending, it’s an exciting time to be a toddler! It’s also a wonderful time to be a mom—especially if you’re prepped and ready. Having a list of quick, easy, engaging summer activities for your little one is a pro tip to make summer fun for everyone. Yes, even you!

In this article, I share some of the best summer activities for toddlers. As a mom of four kids 7 and under with #5 on the way, I’ve tried ALL the activities and have some definite favorites. My priorities are activities that are screen-free, easy setup, low cost, and engaging. Because nothing is worse than spending a long time setting up an activity only for your child to play with it for five minutes and then become disinterested! There are some ideas in here for families of all interests, so I know you’ll find something that works for you.

Summer activities for toddlers

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1. Water Table

Playing with a water table is one of the easiest, most engaging toddler summer activities and finds itself at a well-deserved #1 on our list. This does require purchasing a water table if you don’t already have one, but I can honestly say this has been one of the best purchases of my entire time as a mother and well worth it. They aren’t overly expensive and provide years of excitement (my 7 year old still loves ours!). You might even be able to snag one used on Facebook Marketplace, Ebay, a garage sale, or your local thrift store.

Here are some pro tips for using a water table with toddlers:

• You don’t have to use fancy water toys with the water table—the beauty is you already have everything you need. A quick look through your kitchen will give you all the fun toys your toddler needs. Favorite of mine include a ladle, plastic measuring cups, plastic bowls or cups, and much more. Floating bath toys also make for a very fun time with a water table.

• I usually dress my kids in a swimsuit and sandals or Crocs for this because the water inevitably finds its way onto them. I keep my toddler in a normal, not a swim, diaper as the diaper itself doesn’t get too saturated from the water play.

• I always make sure the water table is in a shaded area to avoid prolonged sun exposure. If your location is in partial sun, be sure to use sunscreen on delicate toddler skin! Here is my favorite sunscreen.

2. Kiddie POol

The combination of water and toddlers is a magical one! Like the water table, the kiddie pool is another staple for at-home summer fun for our toddlers. This hits all our marks for low cost, extremely engaging, and easy to set up. Here is my favorite kiddie pool similar to what is pictured, and here is a lower cost alternative that also works great.

Here are some pro tips for using a kiddie pool with toddlers:

• Like with the water table, you don’t need anything special for toys for the kiddie pool. Sometimes cups, bowls, and ladles from your kitchen will make the most fun toys for your toddler. Floating bath toys are also a great option.

• Pictured above is a kiddie pool that has inflatable exterior, however, I also use the less expensive plastic ones with my toddlers. Both work great!

• Be prepared to stay close to your toddler to help them in and out of the pool. Many toddlers are not able to climb in and out of the pool by themselves, so close supervision is recommended.

• I always use swim diapers for my toddlers when they are in the kiddie pool.

• I always make sure the water table is in a shaded area to avoid prolonged sun exposure. If your location is in partial sun, be sure to use sunscreen on delicate toddler skin! Here is my favorite sunscreen.

3. Inflatable Bounce House

While it does require a cost to purchase, I am so thankful we purchased an inflatable bounce house a few years ago because it has gotten a LOT of use with all my kids. For birthday parties at home, snowy or rainy days inside, or any time the kids are bouncing off the walls and we need to mix it up, the bounce house is ALWAYS a favorite of my kids. Ours is easy to set up, has lasted for 5 years and counting, and has been the MVP for many different events and everyday play times.

This is the exact one we have and love. It fits in my basement as pictured above and also is great outdoors in the yard.

4. Sidewalk chalk

Many a summer day at hour house have been spent in the driveway using sidewalk chalk. The possibilities are endless! From drawing large pictures to writing their names, to creating racetracks for their bikes or hopscotch boards for playing, this is an incredibly versatile activity that promotes creativity.

We go through a LOT of sidewalk chalk in our house and so buy it in bulk. Here is a pack on Amazon that is a great value for the money.

5. At-Home Picnic

If you’re looking for a fun and easy activity, don’t underestimate the novelty of setting up a picnic right in your yard! I love to find a shaded area and pack a picnic lunch for my kids. They are always so excited to have a picnic and don’t mind one bit that we never leave the comfort of our own yard! There’s something magical about making everyday things like meals or snacks more exciting by doing it outdoors and calling it a picnic.

I love using a picnic blanket with a waterproof layer to help with any lingering dew or wetness that might be on the ground and that also wipes off easily in case of spills. My favorite one is also machine washable, which has come in handy many times!

Having a picnic basket is fun but of course not required. I love this insulated one.

6. Paint Outside

If anyone else is like me, painting indoors with young kids brings on a little bit of a pit in my stomach. Maybe it’s because I have four kids and so end up with 8 messy hands endangering my walls and furniture at the same time. In contrast, outdoor painting is a wonderful summertime activity for toddlers that keeps all of the mess outside where it is more easily cleaned up.

You can bring out large paper for painting, but feel free to get even more creative! It’s amazing how much fun my toddlers have had simply painting rocks (and washing them afterwards with toothbrushes can be another fun activity!). With washable paint, pretty much anything can be their canvas.

Here are some of my favorite washable paints and jumbo paint brushes for toddlers.

7. Scavenger Hunt

Setting up a scavenger hunt in your yard is a great activity for toddlers in the summertime.

Think Easter egg hunt—but it doesn’t have to be Easter eggs. I’ve used small animal figurines other small-ish toys. Depending on the age of your child, you can decide how difficult to make the hiding spots for the items. Your child will have so much fun running around and searching for the hidden toys!

8. Set UP A Sprinkler

This is one of my all-time favorite toddler activities for summer!

Again, let’s take advantage of the fact that water + toddlers is magical in the summertime. Setting up a sprinkler in your yard can be an easy way to generate a lot of laughter and excitement on a hot summer day.

The smiles on my daughters’ faces say it all.

Of course, the options for sprinklers are endless. Here is one that is similar to what you see in the photo above. It’s their favorite sprinkler they’ve ever used, but it isn’t the easiest to set up. Here are a few other options that are excellent for toddlers.

Option 1 - Toddler Sprinkler With Wiggle Tubes

Option 2 - Inflatable Rainbow Cloud Sprinkler

Option 3 - Rotating Spray Nozzles Sprinkler

9. Adventure walk

In our family, an adventure walk is simply a walk outside in which we make an extra effort to notice the world around us. One of my favorite things to do with my kids on our adventure walks is to have them look for something specific—in the fall, it might be colorful leaves. On our walk, they may each find and pick up 5-10 of their favorite colorful leaves for their “collection”. In the spring, we love looking for “signs of spring” and pointing them out—buds, new green grass, early flowers, etc. And for summer, we love looking for colorful wildflowers or berries.

An adventure walk is an easy, free activity that can get your little one enjoying the outdoors. It can be done in your neighborhood or on a more natural trail or path. Both a great for exploration!

10. Bubbles

This wouldn’t be a summertime toddler activity list without bubbles. A classic activity, and for good reason. Whether you have a basic bubble wand or a fancy bubble-making contraption that may be more toddler friendly, kids LOVE bubbles!

I personally prefer these toddler-friendly bubbles that reduce the likelihood of spills for younger kids.

If you’re looking for a bubble blower, here is a lawn mower one that we’ve used and love.

Now that you’ve read this article, you’re ready for a fun-filled summer with your toddler. Whether you choose an activity directly from this list or something here inspires you to create a game or activity of your own, I wish you a magical summer with your little one.

If you enjoyed this article, you might like these others here on Mom’s First Steps:

• Should We Ditch The Pacifier?

• 10 Gift Ideas for Babies and Toddlers

• Unique Gift Ideas For New or Expectant Moms