Summertime is the perfect time to get outside and enjoy the fresh air! However, if you’ve got a toddler at home summertime also requires a bit of planning, organizing and creativity. Having a list of activities for your toddler is crucial for a mama.
Getting outside in the sun often means trips to the park, the beach or a friend’s house. But for those times when you’re stuck at home and struggling to find activities for your toddler it’s nice to have some options.
Below are five toddler-friendly activities you can enjoy right in your own backyard. Keep your little ones, ages 1.5 to 3 years, stimulated and happy with these fun ideas. The best part? Unlike a trip to the zoo, they are pretty much free!
Ice Cube Sorting
On those hot days when you need to cool down a little, this bit of water play is the perfect activity! This one does take some planning though so try and prep the night before or have the ice cubes on hand.
Make 3-5 different coloured ice cubes by mixing food colouring into the water. Once ready, place all the ice cubes in a large bucket of cold water and have your toddler scoop them out with their hands or a strainer and sort them into appropriate cups.
Note: if your toddler is closer to one and a half years of age, skip the colours and just have them scoop ice cubes with a small mesh strainer and place them into a smaller cup or bin. This helps their dexterity and keeps them cool!
Gardening – Toddler Style
Every toddler wants to be just like their parents. But that doesn’t mean they’re ready to be unleashed on actual plants! Instead, give your toddler the tools they need for their own garden. Have them fill three or four pots with dirt, plant dandelions and water them.
Not only does this keep them keep busy, it also teaches them (a little) about what’s needed to run an actual garden.
Finger Painting
Finger painting is the perfect outdoor activity for summertime. Not only is it fun for kids but outdoor painting is a lot less messy! Strip your toddler down to their diaper or shorts and have them finger paint on a tarp on the ground.
Toddlers love all the different colours and that they can make a mess, while parents love that cleanup is much more simple with a hose!
Wagon Rides
Have your toddler play “parent” to their favourite stuffed animals and give them rides around in a wagon or small stroller. Your toddler will think it’s fun to take their “babies” around with them and the physical exertion of pulling a wagon or pushing a stroller will help them expend some of that classic toddler energy.
Bonus: set up stations around the yard and have them collect one thing from each station.
Collect & Sort Games
Toddlers love to explore and often want to show you their “treasures”. This easy activity is perfect for kids who just want to look around. Give your toddler the task of collecting different textured items. Sticks, rocks/stones, dandelions, pine cones, dry leaves or bird feathers. Have them bring the items back and sort them into bins.
If your toddler is older, challenge them to find a certain number of each. And if you’re crafty, make something later with all the gatherings!
Summer is the perfect time to spend long days outside. But if you’re getting bored with the same old games for your toddler give these activities a try. Not only are they easy to put together, they will keep your toddler entertained and even challenged a bit.
Do you have any other fun and wallet-friendly ideas for keeping toddlers busy in the summer? Share with us in the comments, please. 
FT&PD
Suz
**Need some indoor activities for rainy days? Check out these ideas for toddlers and older kids as well!
Lots of fun and great ideas, kids need to spend more time outside!!
oh my gosh I love the ice cube sorting idea! I will have to try that. We usually hangout in the backyard, playing in the place house, on the swings. We bought a water table and our girls have loads of fun with that. We bought ice cream and cones to make our own ice cream cones and cant go wrong with bubbles. I would like to try an idea I saw which is buying a small tent and filling it with some sand. that way they can play in the sand but then you can zip it up when they are done so no animals, bugs etc get in
Sand in the Tent what a genius idea and would also shade them from the Sun!
Fun doesn’t need to cost money – so right! There is so much to do outdoors and games inside too.
Great ideas and it’s always good for kids to get outside and play in the fresh air.
Some great ideas to use with my nieces & nephews, anything to get them to spend time outdoors is a plus in my books!
These are some great ideas! Outdoor games can be so much fun. We have an awesome park near our house with a splash pad and special events.
Lots of fun activities. Getting into warm summer weather here, lots of people everywhere!
We love spending time outside with the grandkids at the beach,building sand castles is one of out favorite things to do !
This is an swesome list of cheap activities! Ice cube sorting – I had honestly never thought of that! Brilliant. Wagon rides are always enjoyed by toddlers. Great post!
I have never done ice cube sorting with my boys. They would love it. My boys love to play with their sand table in the summer.
Young kids would love to play in a sandbox and build sandcastles. They can also help water flowers and vegetables. If you grow some tomatoes and strawberries, they can water them, see them grow and eat them.
Great ideas I will use when I watch my grand daughter this week,thanks!
I love these ideas for the kids to get outside and have fun .I like to see them get outside and away from their techy gadgets.
Fun ideas.
Lots of super fun ideas,thanks so much.I hate to see winter coming !
Thank you for all of these fun ideas! I really liked the Ice Cube Sorting idea.
These are perfect for my Grandkids, they will love some of these. I really like the ice cubes sorting. Thanks for sharing.
I bet these tips are great ideas but how are all these tips for protecting older siblings against being pestered Lol
Thank you for the ideas, with little ones you are always looking for new activities to do.