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Keeping those toddlers busy this summer doesn't have to be a full-time job. It's all about having a repertoire of fun summer activities for toddlers to explore and enjoy. Whether you're hanging outside in the yard, heading off on a little adventure, or beating those rainy day blues inside, we've got you covered. Let the fun begin!

Outdoor Toddler Activities for Busy Littles

You don't want to be cooped up indoors when the sun is shining. While you can always grab your toddler and head to the park or go on a walking trail, you might also want to try these entertaining and creative outdoor toddler activities.

Leaf Hunt

The woods are a magical place for your littles. They are filled with mystery and wonder. Take them for a walk with a basket and have them collect all different kinds of leaves. They can play with them or add them to a sensory activity or craft project.

Make Nature Crowns

Take your toddler for a walk. Give them a basket and let them collect flowers and leaves. Use their collections to create a crown for them.

Cloud Watching

Lie down in the grass and watch the clouds roll by. Have your toddler find shapes in the clouds. Make a game of it like "I Spy."

Sidewalk Art

Dump out a bin of sidewalk chalk. Your little can use the chalk to work on tracing, draw fun creations, and just have a good time.

Jump the Square

You've heard of the floor is lava. Well, this is jump the square. Make several squares on the pavement with sidewalk chalk that a toddler can jump. Have them practice jumping the squares. It's a great gross motor activity.

Collect Rocks

Some kids find rocks fascinating. Take a basket and collect rocks on a walk. You can take them home and create a fun rock jar for your little one to enjoy.

Capture Bugs

Grab a mason jar and take a stroll through your yard or a local park. Help your child collect interesting bugs and caterpillars along the way. Make sure to steer clear of those bugs that might bite or sting.

Go to the Beach

Pack up your swimsuit and supplies and make a trip to the local beach. You might also choose to go to the community swimming pool if a beach isn't close. Make a day of playing in the water.

Build Sandcastles

Sandcastles aren't just for building at the beach, although that's a great toddler activity. Can't make it to the coast? Add a little water to a sandbox or fill a bin with sand and water. Help your toddler create a fun castle and moat from the comfort of home.

Search for Beach Treasures

Most of the time, seashells and other cool things are found on the beach. However, if you have a collection you gathered during a recent beach trip, you can hide them in a bin of sand or a sandbox. Your little can use their shovel to search them out.

Play a Color Toss Game

Games with colors are great for toddlers. Grab a few colored pieces of paper and some balls to match. Have your child practice throwing the ball onto the matching paper. Make sure they shout out the color they are looking for, so they start to make the connection. You might want to try colors like red, white, and blue for the 4th of July.

Plant Seeds

Let your littles get their fingers in the dirt by planting a garden. Have them dig holes and drop the seeds in.

Go to a Splash Pad

Hit up a free splash pad in your area. Toddlers love the sprinklers and dumping out buckets of water.

Head to a Petting Zoo

A typical zoo might be a tad too dull for a toddler. However, they are sure to enjoy a zoo where they get to pet the animals. You can find petting zoos at county fairs.

Have a Bike Parade

Grab the craft supplies and decorate their bike or tricycle. You can let them help you decorate yours, too. Have a fun parade with your colorful bikes.

Dance in Bubbles

Dancing and bubbles are a sure-fire winner. You can break out a container of bubbles. You can also create a water and dish soap mixture using a pool and a hula hoop. Have your toddler dance around the giant bubbles and giggle in delight.

Play in the Sprinklers

Nothing makes a hot day more fun than a sprinkler. Turn it on and let them run through it.

Related: 25+ Outdoor Water Activities for Kids to Splash Into Summer

Go on a Treasure Hunt

Have you ever seen how psyched toddlers get for an egg hunt? They love finding candy and little treasures. Hide treasures around your yard and have them try to find them.

Dig for Worms

Wiggly worms are fascinating to bug-loving toddlers. Give them a shovel and let them dig for worms. You might even use their collection to go fishing.

Get a Closer View

Spark a little's curiosity and interest in science through yard exploration. Give them a magnifying glass and help them explore all the little creatures living in the dirt.

Camp in the Yard

Kiddos love to camp. Set up a tent in your backyard. They'll enjoy every minute under the stars, from making s'mores to singing songs.

Feed the Birds

Want to watch a toddler giggle? Give them some birdseed and have them feed ducks at the park or birds in your yard. They are going to be amazed by the surrounding wildlife.

Watch Local Concerts

Toddlers are true music lovers. Pack a bag and head out to a local concert in the park. Watch your littles dance around in glee.

Quick Rainy Day Indoor Summer Activities for Toddlers

A rainy day is a real bummer in toddlerville. But the day can still be fun. Grab a few supplies and create some fun DIY activities toddlers can enjoy indoors in the summer.

Create a Squish Bag

You wouldn't think a freezer bag could be so much fun, but kids love a beach-inspired squishy bag. Grab a freezer bag, food coloring, water, and several cute plastic ocean toys. Throw them in the bag with a bit of water and blue food coloring. Close it up and watch them have fun moving the toys around in the water. You can even add a little super glue to the opening if you are afraid it will come unsealed.

Make a Tape Starfish

Toddlers are just learning to perfect their skills with tape and scissors. Help them use some safety scissors to cut strips of tape. You'll layer the tape to create a fun starfish. They can pull the tape off and put it back together to build their fine motor skills.

Build a Beach Bottle

Much like the squishy bag, a beach bottle can provide lots of entertainment. Put little plastic ocean toys in a 20-ounce plastic bottle. A washed-out pop bottle works well. Fill it with water, a bit of glitter, and blue food coloring. Show them how to shake it up.

Work With a Ball Scoop

Picking up things with a spoon is a fine motor skill that toddlers are trying to perfect. Give them a hand by putting several plastic baseballs in a bucket or container. Have them work to scoop the balls out one at a time with a big spoon.

Make Sensory Bins

Sensory bins offer hours of fun on rainy days. Use sand and scoopers to create a beach or summer-inspired bin. Toddlers will love it.

Create a Shaving Cream Rainbow

Mix food coloring with shaving cream in containers. Have kids scoop the shaving cream into a clean container to create a fun shaving cream rainbow.

Sort Colored Paper

Colorful paper sorting is all kinds of fun. Toddlers get to use scissors and improve their finger coordination, but they will work with colors. Help toddlers cut up several pieces of colored paper. After they cut it all up, have them sort each color into different buckets.

Wash Rocks

When your toddler can't play in the water outside, bring it inside. Fill a bin with soapy water. Give your toddlers a container of dirty rocks and a toothbrush. Have them wash the stones. Watch them closely to make sure no rocks go in their mouth.

Camp Inside

What toddler doesn't love to make a fort? Grab a bunch of sheets and throw them over a chair. Climb inside and read a book or talk about the stars.

Play With Jello

Jello is a summer staple. Use it to keep your toddler entertained. Just remember, this activity is going to get messy. Create a big container of clear-colored Jello (colored Jello will stain). Throw down an old shower curtain and let your child play with the Jello. They can scoop it, cut it with their play knives, squish it, and more. They are going to love it.

Go to a Library & Read Aloud

Local libraries offer summer reading programs for toddlers and preschoolers. Not only are these fun and interactive, but they are learning experiences, too.

Water Play Activities for a Splash of Fun

When it comes to summertime, water is on the brain. It doesn't matter what the weather is like; your little wants to be in the pool or playing in the sprinkler. But that's not always an option. Try out these fun water play activities for toddlers instead.

Excavate Some Ice

Ice excavating is fun and super easy. Fill a container with several toys and water. Allow it to freeze solid. Dump the ice cubes into a new container and give toddlers metal spoons to chisel away at the ice and dig out their treasures.

Smash Ice

This activity is just like it sounds. Fill a container ⅓ of the way with ice cubes. Allow toddlers to smash them with their toy hammer or safe kitchen utensils.

Create Water Bombs

Balloons are typically a no-go for toddlers. But that doesn't mean they shouldn't take part in the fun. Cut sponges into strips and tie them together in the middle with string to make a poof. Allow your littles to dip the bombs in water and throw them around.

Paint With Squirt Guns

Rather than pointing a squirt gun at each other, let them make a little water art. Put a piece of colored construction paper on the ground, and they can draw with their water guns. If you're brave, you can fill squirt guns with paint and let them aim and shoot at a canvas for a truly original work of art.

Hold a Water Pour

Learning to pour water is more challenging than you think when you are two or three years old. Help your toddler perfect the skill by having them play with water. Fill a container with some water. Let your toddler pour the water into a new container and back again.

Experiment With Color Mixing

Color mixing is just like a science experiment for wee ones. Fill several cups with water and drop food coloring in each one. Give your toddler a dropper and have them practice sucking up the colored water and putting it into a new cup. They can make some fantastic colors and are working on their pinching skills at the same time.

Make Flower Soup

Are you wondering what you will do with all those dandelions and weeds your little picks for you? Give them a bowl with water and have them make some flower soup.

Sink the Floaties

With splashing water, you can't go wrong. Fill a bin about halfway with water. Cut a pool noodle into several four to five-inch pieces. Throw them in the water bin and let your kiddo try to sink them.

Scoop the Lemons

Lemonade is more common than water in the summer. Use those lemons to engage your toddler. Put some cut lemons in a bin of water. Tell your toddler to scoop them all out. Scooping games are excellent for fine motor skills.

Give Toys and Dolls a Bath

Fill a kiddie pool or large tub with some water and grab a few wash cloths. Let kids wash up their toys outside.

Easy and Fun Art Activities for Toddlers

Art can get messy with littles, but it's fun and easy. You don't need a lot of setup to keep them entertained. Art projects are also great to do during the summer because you can take the mess outside. Create a few fun summer art projects to add to your home.

Try Your Hand at Finger Painting

Grab the fun summer colors, a bit of cardstock, and your toddler. Help your child create a fun summer scene of your adventures.

Do Some Splatter Painting

Splatter painting isn't something you want to do in the house. But it's great out in the summer sunshine. Get a few non-toxic paints and let your toddler use their hands and brushes to throw them at the canvas. You can also use water with food coloring as your paint to create a watercolor piece.

Get Creative With Outdoor Window Painting

Your toddlers and preschoolers will love window painting. Take them outside with some paint and allow them to create masterpieces you can enjoy for several days or weeks.

Paint Rocks

Go on a walk and find some big rocks. Have toddlers paint them. You can have them decorate your yard with the colorful rocks.

Make a Paper Plate Fish

Cut a paper plate into the shape of a fish, or allow your toddler to cut it with assistance. They can use crayons and markers to decorate their fish.

Create a Sand Painting

Buy some colored sand and throw it into a bin. Have toddlers play with it to create fun, colorful art.

Make Hand Art

Grab a paper plate or a piece of cardstock. Roll some paint onto your toddler's hands. They can use their handprints to make a bright yellow sun or a cute fish.

Do Some Sponge Painting

Mix water and food coloring into several cups. Have littles dip the sponge into the water and tap it on a piece of white paper or cardstock. You can help guide them to create a friendly sun or a cloudy sky.

Paint Seashells

Did you get some seashells on your most recent trip to the beach? Take out the paints and let your little ones use their imagination to make them even more beautiful.

Try Marshmallow Painting

During the summer, you have marshmallows and typically some whipped cream. So, you can easily do this fun summer activity. Mix food coloring and whipped cream. Have your toddlers dip the marshmallow into the whipped cream to paint onto a plate. When they are done, they can eat their creation.

Thread Pool Noodles

Toddlers are constantly learning from the world around them. Help them perfect their hand-eye coordination by having them thread pool noodles. Cut several pool noodles into three to four-inch pieces. Have kids use a piece of rope to weave them together. It's fun, and they create a new fun water toy.

Make Torn Paper Art

What kiddo doesn't like to destroy stuff? Well, now they can. Have toddlers rip up several pieces of tissue paper. Give them a plate. Help them use a glue stick to glue the paper onto a piece of tracing paper. You have a cool new light catcher or fun stained glass art.

Create Fork Art

With all the picnics you've been enjoying, you should have a few plastic forks on hand. Help your toddler dip the fork into the paint and create a sun or starburst.

Lay Out Rock Shapes

Rocks are fun. Gather up several dozen rocks large enough that your toddler can't stick them in their mouth. Have them create shapes by lining up the stones. They can make hearts or circles.

Summer Activities Toddlers Will Enjoy

While you can also take your kids to museums and do other indoor activities during the summer, the weather often allows for outdoor fun. The great outdoors can be a relief. Mom and Dad are usually more lenient about running, jumping, and shouting when outside, which means that young kids can do what they do best without getting in trouble. Another benefit of outdoor activities is that many of them are free or have lower admission prices than museums and concerts. Enjoy the great outdoors with your kids for lots of adventure and exploration, not to mention learning and laughs.