Celebrate summer and keep your kiddos engaged in learning with these 20+ Preschool Summer Activities. A summer theme is absolutely adorable and these activities are great for hands-on learning over the holidays.
RELATED: How To Make Ice Cream In A Bag (+ FREE PRINTABLE)
Preschool Summer Themes
A summer theme is a great idea for so many reasons. Whether you’re at home trying to entertain your kiddos, looking for fun summer camp activity ideas, or creating a summer holiday packet to send your students off with on their vacations… summer-themed resources are so cute!
It is also a practical theme because it incorporates real-world experiences that children can easily relate to, such as the changing seasons and fun familiar summer elements like the beach, sandcastles, seashells, SPF, sunhats, sunglasses, lemonade, watermelons, and so much more!
These preschool summer activities will help to reduce screen time, prevent the dreaded holiday boredom, reinforce important learning concepts, and enhance essential preschool skills in a fun way.
Summer activities will also prevent ‘summer slide‘ which refers to children losing skills or knowledge during the long summer break. Here are some easy ways to prevent summer brain drain.
These activities will also provide some structure as preschoolers thrive on routine and benefit from deliberate play. You could use these activities as inspiration to create a weekly activity calendar which will give the little ones a sense of safety in knowing what to expect.
Another tip is to make them choose which summertime activities they want to do each week. This will make the kiddos feel involved and help to nurture a sense of responsibility.
Learning Outcomes
Some of the skills or learning outcomes reached with these preschool activities are:
- Kids will be able to count to and recognize numbers from 1-10
- They will learn to spell their name
- Improved tracing for pre-writing
- Uppercase and lowercase discrimination
- Sight words, beginning sounds and enhanced vocabulary
- Development of fine motor and visual perception skills
- Sun safety tips, and more!
TIP: Having a crafts or activities corner or makeshift ‘classroom’ will save you time from prepping for different activities each day. You can even set it up in your backyard for some outdoor summer fun. Print out the activities in advance and set up your supplies.
You can also create a list of activities and mark them off with your kiddo as they complete each activity. This will give them a sense of accomplishment and make them feel excited for the next activity.
Summer Activities Supplies
Please note that these are a list of recommended supplies which will make activities easier and fun. However, if you do not have certain items, you can substitute them with something appropriate. For example, if you don’t have bingo chips, use candies or any small manipulative.
PRINTABLE ACTIVITIES
GENERAL SUPPLIES
Check out this comprehensive list of links to all the supplies we use here to make it easy for you to gather everything you need and get started on these fun summer activities with your little ones.
Please note that we are a part of Amazon’s Affiliate Program. If you purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission on the sale.
Preschool Summer Activities Pack
These activities will enhance math, literacy, and fine motor skills. Kids will also learn about colors, shapes, patterns, and the five senses, not forgetting about sun safety! Use these activities as inspiration for a summer theme and lesson plans, or get the printable activity pack at the bottom of the post.
MATH AND NUMBER ACTIVITIES
1. Seashell Counting Mats
Target number recognition by identifying and adding shells to the page.
3. Lemonade Ice Cube Counting
Improve number identification! You can prepare lemonade as a treat!
5. Splash The Number Cards
Splash the child with the same number ten frame. You can also play this game in real-time by assigning each kid a number and letting them take turns to run and assign the frames.
7. Sunray Counting
Find the number and place it on the card. If you don’t have magnets, write and cut out numbers.
9. Sun Clip Card Activity
Identify the number and clip the correct number of clothespins.
2. Palm Tree Ten Frames
Trace the numbers and place pom poms on the ten frame to make it more engaging.
4. Watermelon Counting
Add pipe cleaners and thread pony beads depending on the number.
6. Lazy River Number Matching
Splash the child with the same number ten frame. This is a great busy book activity and is a bigger mat or page for the kids to engage with. Laminate and stick the pieces in a sensory bin!
8. Counting Sunrays Clip Cards
Count the rays and clip the number. Use a clothespin as they improve the pincer grip.
LITERACY ACTIVITIES
10. Sunny Letters Alphabet
Find the letter in the sun and then cover or circle it.
12. Sight Word Lemonade Stand
Match the sight word to the lemonade or trace the word. Try setting up a real stand!
14. Sandcastle + Bucket Beginning Sounds
Match the picture sound to the correct letter.
16. Clip The Letter
Clip the letter on the beach bag!
11. Rhyming Words Sunglasses
Match the rhyming words in the cool sunglasses.
13. Lifeguard Alphabet Matching
Match the lowercase towel to the uppercase umbrella.
15. 5 Senses Cards
Clip the correct sense.
CRAFTS AND FINE MOTOR ACTIVITIES
17. Sandcastle Name Craft
Write each child’s name then let them decorate it.
19. Watermelon Shape Matching
Match the shapes to the same watermelon shape. Use math links to make it more hands-on.
21. Cutting Activity
Cut the dashed lines and improve fine motor skills.
23. Sun Craft
Color in the sun then add each child’s picture. Perfect for a classroom or home display.
18. Color Matching Buckets
Match the shovels to the buckets.
20. Summer Playdough Mats
Make various objects out of play dough. Use my homemade playdough recipe!
22. Sun Patterns
Use mini craft sticks to make this ray of sunshine.
SUN SAFETY ACTIVITIES
This might be one of my favorite and most important activities because it teaches kids all about sun protection!
Read the sun safety book and complete the activity by tracing and coloring. There is also a cut-and-paste worksheet which can be used to reinforce sun safety tips.
WORKSHEETS INCLUDED
These no prep worksheets are so convenient and incorporate math, literacy, fine motor skills and sun safety activities. Simply print on those busy days and your kiddos will be engaged in no time!
Interactive learning and messy play are wonderful tools for preschool summer activities. You can make it a rich, multi-sensory experience using these simple ideas to make it the best summer.
- Set up a picnic blanket. It’s the perfect time for the kids to leisurely do their activities while enjoying a fun picnic.
- Don’t let your toddlers be left out of the fun! To make it a sensory activity, I recommend laminating the printable activities. Then create your own sensory bin to get the little ones involved. Kids will have to find the different cards amidst sand, rice, or any other fillers! Check out this cool Ocean Theme Preschool Sensory Bin that also pairs well with summer activities.
- Many activities incorporate summer treats like lemonade and watermelon. Opt for these as snacks or even have the kids set up their own lemonade stand!
WHERE TO GET THIS ACTIVITY
GET THE SUMMER ACTIVITIES PACK HERE
Sunny days are ahead with this Summer Theme Activities and Worksheets Pack for preschool and kindergarten! Your students will enjoy these engaging, hands-on activities all featuring a fun summer theme. Explore rhyming words, uppercase and lowercase letters, counting to 10, sun safety and much more! Both color and black and white formats are included to suit your individual printing needs.
More Summer Activities
