As summer settles in, so does the opportunity to slow down, soak up the sunshine, and create meaningful moments as a family. While your little ones may be out of school or enjoying a more relaxed schedule, summer is still a time for learning, curiosity, and growth. At Church Childcare Center, we believe learning happens everywhere—especially when families engage together in playful, intentional ways. To build family connections and keep your child’s mind young and active, here are a few summer activities to do at home—easy and for all ages!

Toddlers [Ages 1-2]

1. Sensory Ice Play

Fill a baking tray or bin with ice cubes and a few favorite toys, spoons, or silicone cups. Let your toddler explore textures and temperatures while building fine motor skills and language through observation (“cold,” “wet,” “melt”).

2. Bubble Time with a Twist

Blow bubbles and invite your child to “pop them with your nose,” “catch them with a cup,” or “jump and reach!” This supports coordination, balance, and following simple directions.

3. Read & Repeat

Choose one book to read every day for a week. Toddlers thrive on repetition—it builds vocabulary, memory, and emotional bonding. Bonus: Ask them to turn pages or point to characters.

Preschoolers [Ages 3-5]

1. Nature Letters

Go on a walk and collect leaves, sticks, or flowers. Back at home, use them to create letters of the alphabet. This ties in literacy with nature exploration and creativity.

2. Water Painting

Give your child a paintbrush and a cup of water to “paint” the sidewalk or fence. It’s mess-free, builds pre-writing skills, and strengthens muscles used for writing.

3. Kitchen Counting

Turn snack time into math time. Ask questions like, “Can you give me three crackers?” or “How many grapes are on your plate?” Learning through everyday routines keeps it fun and familiar.

Kindergarten & Up [Ages 5+]

1. DIY Story Stones

Paint or draw pictures on small rocks (sun, tree, person, heart, house). Use them as storytelling prompts. Let your child pick three stones and tell a creative story from them—great for imagination, sequencing, and confidence.

2. Summer Journal

Start a simple daily or weekly journal. Drawing a picture and writing (or dictating to you) a sentence about their day builds early literacy and emotional reflection.

3. Backyard “STEM” Challenge

Give a problem to solve, like: “Can you build a tower with sticks and leaves?” or “How can we make a boat that floats using things from around the yard?” Let their curiosity lead—no perfection required.

Faith-Filled Extras!

1. Gratitude Walk: Take a walk and discuss things you’re thankful for with each step.

2. Memory Verse Art: Pick a short verse and let your child decorate it with markers or paint. Display it on the fridge for the week.

3. Kindness Jars: Fill a jar with ideas like “Draw a picture for Grandma” or “Help set the table.” Choose one each day to live out love and service.

A Final Thought

Summer doesn’t need to be packed with perfection—it’s about presence and intentionality. Whether you’re watering plants together, playing with bubbles on the porch, or sharing a story before bed, your everyday moments are shaping your child’s understanding of the world, of love, and of learning.

If you try any of these summer activities to do at home, let us know by making a post or story on social media and tagging us!

We love hearing how our families bring learning to life beyond the classroom.