Summer is here, and the warmer weather brings an opportunity to get outside and have fun in the fresh air! From sensory play ideas to water walls and bubbles, here are 19 Fun Summer Activities for Kids to Make the Most of this lovely Season.

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Let the children get creative this summer and enjoy activities that will challenge while ensuring they have fun. From water to ice, mud to mini beasts, kids of all ages will enjoy these super fun summer activities.

Fun Summer Activities For Kids Of All Ages

#1. Create And Decorate A Cardboard Car

Image: Sugar Aunts

Kids just love cardboard boxes and the opportunity to mark make and get creative, like this from Sugar Aunts, provides the perfect invitation to play! I recently saw a Summer Garden Party idea, where the kids made their own cars and sat with snacks watching a movie that was projected outdoors! What a fabulous idea! Perfect for some calm down time after your parties and play dates!

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#2. Fine Motor Flower Cutting

Is your child currently developing their fine motor skills? With flowers in bloom and looking gorgeous at this time of year why not take your scissors outdoors and encourage your little ones to create a flower display in your home by cutting the stems and putting them in a vase of water?

#3. Design And Build A Water Wall

Image: Learning & Exploring Through Play

This water wall was created using mainly recycled items. It is available for play whenever you are outside. Everyone who visits will love having fun with it too!

#4. Educational Water Play

Not only does water play have lots of educational benefits it is the perfect way to keep cool in the hot weather! We did a roundup of the best water play fun on the web! Be sure to check it out! Why not create your own Boats using Margarine Tubs or Cork Screws to enjoy with your water play?

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#5. Sensory Fun With Waterbeads

Image Danya Banya

Have you played with waterbeads yet? They are a soothing sensory media, here Danya shares with us how to use them for imaginative play in the water table. Always make sure you supervise your children closely when playing with water beads.

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#6. Bubble Magic

During the summer months there is plenty of opportunity to make bubbles outdoors, avoiding wet and slippy floors inside! Here are some different ways to play with bubbles:

• Make your own bubble mixture – Red Ted Art
• Bubbles Sensory Play – Messy Little Monster
• Bubble Painting – Learning and Exploring Through Play
• Make Gigantic Bubbles – The Nerds Wife
• Swatter Bubbles – The Seasoned Mom

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#7. Paint Seashell Ladybugs

Image Still Playing School

Summer wouldn’t be complete without sea shells! Here are some fabulous ways to play and create with the shells you collect this summer. For shell crafts, Red Ted Art has a Seashell Pendant Craft and a Seashell Windchime Craft. Or why not paint them and create Seashell Ladybugs, like Still Playing School.

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#8. Fun With Bugs And Mini Beasts

With lots of bugs out and about in your gardens, your little ones will no doubt be drawn to them at some point – its a great opportunity to enjoy some bug fun together. From sensory play, to arts, crafts and resources this post covers it all.

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#9. Ice Cream

Ice cream is yummy delicious any time of the year but a gives a perfect cool down during Summer. Here we have some ice cream activities to try:

• Edible Playdough Ice Cream – Still Playing School
• Egg Carton Ice Cream – In The Playroom
• Make Ice Cream Sundaes – You Clever Monkey
• Taste Safe Playdough – Little Pinch of Perfect
• Make your own delicious ice cream in a bag! – Buggy and Buddy

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#10. Ocean Themed Sensory Tub

Image Danya Banya

Continue the water fun and set up a little small world sensory tub, such as this one for ocean-themed water play, from Danya Banya.

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#11. Water Science Experiments

Expand water play and learn and experiment with some everyday objects around the house.

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#12. Outdoor Games

Play your way through these outdoor games. The games will be enjoyed by children of all ages (I’m sure you will have some adults who are keen to give them a go too!)

• Name Hunt – Messy Little Monster
• Tin Can Toss Game – Crafts by Courtney
• Sponge Darts – The Seasoned Mom
• Bowling – Learn Play Imagine
• Gigantic Car Track Name – Adventures of Adam
• A Zillion things to do with Pool Noodles – Moms and Crafters

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#13. Make a Kite and Fly it

We recently took a trip to a local toy store and Little N really wanted a £2 Frozen kite that she saw hanging up. We took it out with us that evening as we visited the park and I was pleasantly suprised at just how much fun we all had flying it! It is probably the best £2 I have ever spent.

Imagine designing and creating your very own? Older children especially would love this kite challenge from Red Ted Art! Here is a great read before you go out flying your kite – Get Outside and Connect by Rhythms of Play

#14. Mud Kitchen

Image Messy Little Monster

From making cakes and pies to simply getting messy, Messy Little Monster shows us how to put a very simple mud kitchen together.

If you prefer a ‘cleaner’ option you could always make your very own Rainbow Clean Mud like You Clever Monkey, or get mark making with some colourful Mud Paint, like Learn Play Imagine.

#15. Cool Ice Play

Kids love activities with ice and it also gives learning opportunities as you discuss the science behind ice. Get some inspiration from these great ideas:

• Ice Painting – Learning and Exploring Through Play
• Colour Mixing with Ice – Learn Play Imagine
• Frozen Rainbow – Learning and Exploring Through Play
• Frozen Rainbow Eruptions – Learn Play Imagine

#16. Art That’s Perfect for Outdoors

There are so many fun ways to experiment with art. Some art can get pretty messy so take it outdoors! You can’t beat the freedom to get creative!

• Dip Dye Art – You Clever Monkey
• Chalk Painting – Crafts by Courtney
• Make your own crayons for your art work – Mama Smiles
• Painting on Foil – Learning and Exploring Through Play
• Canvas Painting – Arts Crackers

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#17. Gardening with Toddlers

Have you planted your own seeds this year? If not get yourself down to a garden centre and select some plants with your little ones. Enjoy planting up beautiful pots to decorate your gardens. You could even make a personalized flower pot gift, like this one from Messy Little Monster.

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#18. Summer Crafts

Do you have children who love to create and make things? From boats to fairies to suncatchers, here’s a fun list of crafts to work your way through, during the Summer months:

• Rainbow Jelly Fish – Crafts by Amanda
• Flower Fairies – Childhood 101
• Melted Bead Suncatchers – Learning and Exploring Through Play
• Sea Crab Cups – Crafts by Amanda
• Fruity Plates – Crafts by Amanda
• Coloured Shape Boats – Danya Banya

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#19. Super Messy Sensory Play

We love Sensory Play, once the weather starts getting warmer it’s great being able to take the super messy play outdoors. With a quick blast of the hose or a sweep with the brush, all the mess is gone! Here are some super messy play ideas that are perfect to take outdoors in Summer.

• Shaving Foam Painting Tuff Tray – Learning and Exploring Through Play
• Soapy Slime  – Learning 4 Kids
• Cornflour – Learning and Exploring Through Play
• Lemon Scented Sensory Bin – Little Bins for Little Hands
• Erupting Moon Dust – Learn Play Imagine

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For lots more fun activities, follow Learning & Exploring Through Play on Facebook & Pinterest

Have you say! Any more summer activities for kids to add to list? Let us know in comments below.