Stay-At-Home Summer Ideas For A Toddler

Staying home with a toddler can be, well, challenging. Fun and sweet, but definitely challenging! Especially when it’s too hot to be out. If you’ve been on the search for easy ways to keep your little one entertained and busy this summer season, we’re right there with you. Today, we’re sharing a list of some fun, practical things to do with your toddler this summer!

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30+ Stay-At-Home Summer Ideas For A Toddler

Water/Sand Table

Having a water/sand table is a top toy that most toddlers love! It’s a great way to keep cool. The sand also brings a sensory element that toddlers really enjoy!

Bubbles

I have yet to meet a toddler who doesn’t LOVE bubbles. If you invest in an automatic bubble machine, you’ll love bubbles all over again too!  Bubble wands are also great for toddlers who don’t have the capability to blow them yet.

Sidewalk Chalk

Sidewalk chalk is so great for little hands. Toddlers love the bright colors and writing outside is such a fun concept!

Paint with water

Painting with water is great for so many reasons! You can “paint” with water on the sidewalk or on the fence. You can even use colored construction paper to paint with water. All you need is a large paintbrush and a bucket of water. This brush and sponge set is perfect for toddlers!

Go on a walk

Toddlers love to go on a walk! Some love walking themselves, while others love to sit in a stroller or a wagon. Either way, taking a walk is great for you and your little one!

Collect Rocks

Collecting rocks is so much fun! You can show your toddler the different types of rocks. Show them the different colors and textures.

Paint rocks

If you end up going on a walk, you can find some rocks that would be great for painting! If you’re not that adventurous, you can get a whole rock painting kit.

Read summer themed books

Reading books about summer is a great way to teach your toddler about different seasons. You can even bring your books outside to switch things up!

Make healthy popsicles

There’s nothing better than a sweet, healthy treat for the heat. Especially when your little one can help you make them! Try out this Strawberry Chia Seed Popsicle or our Creamy Peach Popsicles recipe!

Make a sensory bin

You can put all kinds of things in a sensory bin for kids. All you need is a plastic bin. You can fill it with dirt, rocks, mud, water, sand, rice, oatmeal, or even dry noodles. You can really get creative with this one!

Swim in a kiddie pool

If you haven’t already purchased a kiddie pool, now is definitely the time to get one! Kiddie pools don’t take up too much space and most kiddos love them! It’s a great way to introduce them to swimming without overwhelming your little one.

Sweep or rake outside

Kids love to help sweep or rake. You can even get little brooms or rakes that are the perfect size for kids!

Have an outdoor picnic

Grab your lunch and head outside. You can set up little table and chairs outside or just eat on a blanket. One big benefit of eating outside is not having to worry about cleaning up your toddler mess from lunch! 

Water your plants

Your toddler can help you water your plants. If you don’t have plants, let them help you water the grass or any kind of landscape. You can let them help you for real or you can even pretend with a little watering can.

Play in shaving cream

Shaving cream is another great sensory activity. If your toddler is still prone to putting things in their mouth, you can try letting them play in whipped cream. Both are equally fun! This is another great activity you can do outdoors!

Jump on a trampoline

If you have a super active toddler, you’ll love having a trampoline! Toddlers are just learning how to jump and letting them learn on a trampoline really helps them develop this skill. If you’re worried about your toddler on a big trampoline, don’t worry, they make them just for toddlers (Toddler Trampolines).

Find bugs and worms

Nature has given us so much to explore and learn from. Finding bugs, worms, caterpillars, butterflies, snails, and ants is such a fun way to explore and learn! You can find them and keep them for a day in a bug catcher or just enjoy looking at them in their natural habitat.

Swing

Having a swing can be such a wonderful investment for kids. You can go all out with a play set or you can buy a swing to attach to your porch or tree. Either way, your littles will enjoy having a swing at home.

Sprinkler

Sprinklers are so fun for kids! You won’t regret having one for your toddler! What we love about this type of sprinkler is you can keep the water level low for little ones or you can keep the water level high for kids who are older. Perfect for everyone!

Build a fort

Whether you are outside or inside, forts can be so much fun! Grab some pillows, blankets, cardboard boxes, and have a fun, fort adventure with your little one.

Have a car/bike wash

Here is another great activity with water. If your toddler has any toy bikes or cars, let them get wet and get things clean! Don’t feel like getting outside in the heat? Driving your own car through the carwash can be fun for little ones, too!

Get crafty

You may think that your toddler is too little for crafts, but your little one may surprise you! Here is a great list of crafts for your toddler.

Utilize your slide

While slides are fun to slide down, they are also fun to use in other ways. You can roll balls, cars, and even stuffed animals down your slide. A lot of toddlers will be entertained by this for hours!

Pick flowers or weeds

There’s really nothing sweeter than seeing a toddler pick flowers. Most toddlers enjoy finding things. It’s always great when we encourage our littles that picking weeds is fun too!

Play I spy

This is another great indoor or outdoor game that toddlers love! Toddlers can learn a lot when we play I spy.

Wait for the mail truck/garbage truck

If you have a mail truck or a garbage truck visit your neighborhood, you are certainly lucky! Get to know their schedule. Watching and waiting for the city trucks can be a toddler’s favorite hobby!

Have a color scavenger hunt

This is such a fun way to teach colors to toddlers! Find things around the house or outside. This one doesn’t have to be complicated. Here is a great, easy color scavenger hunt resource as an example.

Pick up sticks

Little ones love to be helpers! Have them find and pick up sticks in the yard for hours of entertainment. You can use them to play pretend or collect them for a future craft!

Feed the birds

If you have a little nature lover, feeding the birds will be a great thing for them. You can make a little feeder or purchase one to fill. Either way, watching for birds will be a fun thing to pass the time.

Play with ice

Taking ice outside on a hot, summer day is quite rewarding. You can watch the ice melt, play with the ice, or you can even freeze plastic toys in ice and excavate toys. Whichever way you chose to use ice, you’ll have a blast!

Build an obstacle course

Find fun things around the house or outside to set up an obstacle course for your toddler. You can really get creative with this and your toddler will have such a fun time!

Play with sports equipment

Introducing toddlers to sports is great for their large motor skills. We’re loving the basketball net and the golf set for little ones! There are many other great sports equipment options for toddlers as well.

Bring indoor toys outside

It’s fun to watch how children play with their indoor toys outside. This is a great way for them to use their creativity. Plus, changing the scenery is always good for them as well!

More fun outdoor ideas and toys to try