Summer break is right around the corner, and that means your preschooler is going to have extra time on their hands. Summer can be a wonderful season for spending more time with your children, or it can quickly turn into a fight to keep them busy until the fall semester starts. We’re here to give you our summer break survival guide: everything you need to know to keep your preschooler entertained and learning throughout the school break.
We’ll also explore the benefits of summer camp in kindergarten preparation. A camp program is an excellent way to keep your preschooler busy and prepare for the next school year. Here are some of our best ideas for easy days out, giving you the know-how to make this holiday educational, but most importantly, fun!
10 Summer Activities For Your Preschooler
Keeping your preschooler busy doesn’t just mean throwing on the TV. You can integrate daily learning and foster curiosity by involving your preschooler in your daily life. This way, they can learn about the world around them, work on their fine and gross motor skills, and improve their language ability. Most importantly, preschool children learn through play and engaging activities. Having your preschooler home in the summer shouldn’t throw your schedule out the window– even if you are a little busier than normal. Here are ten summer activities you can do with your preschooler this summer break.
Cooking
We cook every day, so why not let our preschoolers get involved? The basic skills involved in cooking rely on fine motor skills and following instructions. With a helping hand, preschool-age children are able to help you make simple recipes. Chocolate chip cookies are a solid choice: simple ingredients all added into the same bowl, and a healthy dose of fine motor skill work rolling the dough into little balls. Tasty and time-consuming, this is an excellent activity for an indoor day.
Gardening
With good weather comes yard work. Planting or tending to flowers gets your preschooler out in the sun and with their hands in the grass. Over a full season like summer, you can make this a recurring activity. As you check on the plants over time, take photos of how well your flowers are growing. By caring for plants, they’re learning how to look after flowers, vegetables, and a backyard, all while seeing life cycles in action.
Museum
Museums are a fantastic family day out– especially if you can pin down a special interest like dinosaurs or art. Museums are engaging, low-cost, and filled with learning opportunities disguised as a fun day out. They help preschoolers and young children be excited about a study topic, giving them something to ask questions about and dive deeper.
Library
The library is perfect for budding readers. Not only can you spend time browsing and reading to your children, but you can bring longer books and favorites back home with you. Additionally, libraries run extensive summer activities like children’s days and book readings for you to attend. Libraries are a haven for learning and entertainment.
Chores
Chores in summer? Yes! As fun as summer break is, your preschooler still needs routine. During the school year, this is provided during the day by the class schedule, set lunch hours, and the routine of getting ready in the morning and coming home at the same time. Preschoolers can be overwhelmed very easily without some sort of structure in their day, even if they’re having fun. Simple chores are a great way to keep this routine throughout the summer. In the morning, make sure to follow all the normal steps to get ready for the day: brushing teeth, clean clothes, and sitting down for breakfast. Chores can involve tidying up toys before lunch, wiping down the table, or spending some time with the dog outdoors.
Home Camping
One of the joys of summer is extra time. If you’re not planning on heading out of town for a vacation, you can easily recreate a vacation in your backyard or living room. Set up a tent or sleeping mattress, complete with lights, snacks, and traditional camping activities. This is a great choice if you’re hosting a sleepover, giving your preschooler that outdoor holiday feeling in the safety of your home.
Arts and Crafts
Arts and crafts are a classic summer break and weekend choice. Drawing, painting, cutting, and gluing are essential tasks that build fine motor skills and help in early writing activities. It’s also a great time for artistic expression, exploring what happens when you mix colors, and getting some new home decor.
Science Experiments
Preschool science experiments are simple, use few materials, and provide wonderful learning opportunities. Have you tried dyeing flower petals? Fill a few mason jars halfway with water, and place one white flower in each, with the bottom of the stem cut. Add a few drops of food coloring to each jar and leave the flowers for a few hours. As the flower soaks up water through the stem, the colored water travels up to the petals and dyes them.
Nature Walks
Being out in nature is essential for young children. Fresh air, being active, and observing the world around them. You can collect leaves or flower petals to press flat and dry, perfect to create nature-inspired artwork and posters about the greenery in your area.
Let Them Be Bored
Although it sounds counterintuitive, let your preschooler be bored! They will be bored (and likely complain) initially, but they will find something to do. This helps foster a sense of independence, teaches them about making decisions, and teaches them the vital skill of entertaining themselves. Can they find the toys they want to play with? Will they wander out into the backyard? Seek out the dog for some playtime? This skill will only benefit them as they grow older and help avoid their desire for constant stimulation.
Summer Camp at Parkland Children’s Academy
Summer is long, and keeping your preschooler busy can be difficult! Here at Parkland Children’s Academy, we run an engaging summer camp program for children aged 5 to 12. We have themed weeks, field trips, water activities, sports, and plenty of educational opportunities.
Preschool children learn through play first and foremost, and we’ve created a camp plan that’s engaging, educational, and entertaining. Give us a call at 954-688-5877 to find out more about our extensive summer break opportunities.