Educating Our Children | Simple Summer Activities for Preschoolers and Kids
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Simple Summer Activities for Preschoolers and Kids

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Looking for things to do during the time off from school? These Summer Activities for Preschoolers are perfect! The last stretch of summer can be the hardest, but this list of ideas can help! Use these summer activities to make plans, and many of them are free to do!

Each one listed below offers the perfect opportunity to create lasting family memories and make this a summer that no one will forget!

Looking for more affordable summer fun? Check out these 50 creative ideas to make your kids’ summer unforgettable!

How do I keep a child entertained during the summer months?

Structure + choice = happy, busy summer days. Keep it simple, fun, and connected to your child’s interests. Here are a few fun ideas to make the days of summer educational and fun!

Theme Weeks

Pick a theme each week—like space, dinosaurs, or cooking—and center books, crafts, and activities around it. It gives structure without feeling like school.

Daily Routine with Flexibility

Use a loose schedule (e.g. “morning craft, afternoon outside, evening reading”) to create predictable fun. Add in “free choice” hours to keep things relaxed.

Outdoor Adventures

Creative Play Indoors

  • Build blanket forts
  • Make stop-motion videos with toys
  • Try DIY science experiments
  • Set up a mini “restaurant” or “store” for pretend play

Pretend Play for Kids

Check out these fun pretend play resources for kids!

Skill-Building Fun

Sneak in learning with:

  • Baking (math + science!)
  • Simple coding games
  • Art projects with steps and planning
  • Building Lego challenges or puzzles

Camp at Home

Recreate the feel of summer camp with:

  • “Campfire” stories (real or fake fire)
  • S’mores nights
  • Talent shows
  • Nature crafts

Low-Key Screen Time

Use wisely with:

  • Audiobooks
  • Educational games
  • Nature or science shows
    Mix screen time with hands-on activity afterward for balance.

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How do I balance screen time and learning fun during the summer months?

Balancing screen time and learning fun during the summer is totally doable with a little strategy and creativity. Here’s how to strike that sweet spot:

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Set a Daily Screen Time Rhythm

Instead of setting hard limits, try setting time slots:

  • Morning: creative/educational play
  • Afternoon: screen time (1–2 hrs)
  • Evening: family activity or outdoor time

Screens become a predictable part of the day—not the whole day.

Make Screen Time Count

Choose quality over quantity:

  • Educational apps
  • Documentaries or YouTube learning channels
  • Audiobooks or podcasts for quiet, screen-free learning

If they’re learning and engaged, it’s time well spent.

Tie Screen Time to Real-World Fun

Bridge digital and hands-on learning:

  • Watch a baking video → then bake it together
  • Learn about sharks → then draw them or play ocean trivia
  • Play a geography game → then plan a “pretend trip”

Screens become a launchpad, not a dead-end.

Create a “Must-Do Before You View” List

Before screens, have kids complete:
✅ 30 mins reading
✅ A craft, puzzle, or outdoor play
✅ A chore or creative task

This builds habits and rewards initiative.

Use Tech-Free Time as a Bonus, Not a Punishment

Schedule intentional “screen-free” hours with:

  • Board games
  • Backyard science
  • Library visits
  • Water play

Frame it as fun, not deprivation.

Let Kids Help Set the Rules

Invite their input: “What screen-free ideas do you love?” or “How much time feels fair each day?”
When kids help make the rules, they’re more likely to follow them.

Screen time doesn’t have to be the enemy—it just needs to be balanced. Blend tech, learning, and fun to create a summer that’s both smart and screen-savvy.

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More Summer Activities for Kids:

Summer Learning Printable Activities

Check out these fun summer worksheets for the kids! Excellent to combat the summer slide!

1
Pick Flowers Outdoors
Get outdoors and pick wildflowers. The kids can then make a cute bouquet for the table.
See the activity here
2
Make Musical Instruments
Make musical instruments out of re-purposed items.
See the activity here
3
Bird Feeder Craft for Kids
Have the kids make a house for all the birds!
See the activity here
4
Two purple popsicles on ice, with two more on a white plate surrounded by fresh blueberries. Text reads: easy to make at home Healthy Blueberry-Lemon Popsicles.
Lemon Blueberry Popsicles
Make homemade popsicles with the kids to enjoy on a hot summer day!
Check out this recipe
5
Animal Adventure Themed Movie Night Idea
Pop some popcorn and have a family movie night!
See the movies here
6
Outdoor Art Fun: Painting Rocks
Outdoor Art Fun: Painting Rocks
Painting rocks and placing them around the house is always so much fun!
See the activity here
7
A colorful picnic charcuterie board featuring grapes, blackberries, pretzels, potato chips, assorted nuts, cherry tomatoes, pickles, and a dip. The text reads, Easy appetizer recipe: Picnic Snack Board.
Picnic Charcuterie Board
Create a snack board with the kids and have a super yummy outdoor picnic!
Check out this recipe
8
1 Corinthians 13:4-5 Bible Verse Coloring Page
Teach a new Bible verse and let them color the page!
See the activity here
9
Minecraft Summer Bucket List Printable
Work through the bucket list for tons of summer fun ideas!
See the activity here
10
The Easiest Homemade Playdough Recipe {Lasts for Months!}
The Easiest Homemade Playdough Recipe {Lasts for Months!}
Make homemade playdough in just 5 minutes of time!
See the activity here
11
English Muffin Pizzas
Let the kids make their own personal pizza!
Check out this recipe
12
Mud Pie Messy Playdate
Mud Pie Messy Playdate
Messy play is perfect for creative fun!
See the activity here
13
Inside Water Play Activity
Inside Water Play Activity
Set up a space for the kids to have indoor water play fun!
See the activity here
14
Outdoor Dandelion Messy Water Play
Outdoor Dandelion Messy Water Play
The kids will love picking the flowers and playing with the water!
See the activity here
15
Summer Coloring Activities for Preschoolers
Gather the markers or crayons and let them work through these printable free coloring pages!
See the activity here

Which of these fun preschool summer activities are the kids going to start with first?

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