10 Budget Friendly + Play-Based Learning Activities for Toddlers This Summer
Simple indoor and outdoor activities to KEEP the kids entertained, but still learning this summer
Hey friends, Christin here! Next school year, my oldest will be entering kindergarten and I’m wanting to really soak in this summer with her. I created a budget friendly bucket list for our family and wanted to share with anyone else looking to keep their kids entertained, but learning too.
When we asked the ETP community on Instagram about their summer bucket list, the beach, splash pads, and library time were at the top of the list!
What’s ahead:
5 outdoor activities to kick-off your summer
5 indoor activities for those days it’s really just too hot
Practical tips to make to increase your child’s language skills through play
An invitation to our very FIRST Summer Language workshop! It’s totally free!
5 Outdoor Summer Activities TO KICK-OFF YOUR SUMMER
Get the family outside with these play-based learning activities
You’ve heard us say this before, but use what you already have. “More connection over more things” is my motto for this summer!
01 Go for a Nature HUNT (DIY sensory bin)
This is a favorite at my house! The only item necessary is at least one container to collect items from nature. A large container works best. Add in tools (if age appropriate) like scissors, a bucket, and garden shovel. Follow your child’s lead as they collect sticks, flower petals, pinecones, grass clippings, leaves, etc. Observing their creativity is part of the fun!
Tips to increase language:
Name and describe the items you collect.
Talk about what you can do with each tool (cut, dig, empty/fill, etc. )
Comment on what sounds you hear in nature.
02 Create a town
This is one that I have fond memories of from my own childhood. I’m looking forward to introducing my oldest to it! If you’ve got the outdoor space, grab chalk and any ride-on toys, trikes, scooters, or bicycles you may have. Draw out lines for parking spaces. Let your child determine a space for each “place”. A house, store, ice cream shop, etc. Depending on your child’s pretend play skills, you can make it as simple or as imaginative as you’d like! This is a great way to inspire your child’s imagination.
Tips to increase language:
No mundane flash cards. While you draw your “town”, practice concepts like colors, numbers, and shapes as they occur.
Draw different road signs and stop lights. Talk about what they look like, what they’re called, and what each sign means.
Role play taking an order or going to the grocery store. Encourage problem solving when the store is “sold out” of something that’s wanted or needed.
03 Make a Magical Potion
This idea is inspired by observing my daughter play with her friends. Here’s what you’ll need: water mixed with food coloring, containers of different sizes, baking soda, vinegar, and glitter!
Tips to increase language:
Use “I wonder” statements while playing. “I wonder what will happen when we mix red and blue?”
Incorporate temporal (time) concepts: before, after, first, next, last
Encourage pretend play. Are you mermaids, a fairy, or scientist?!
04 PLAN A Picnic
We’ve really been into picnics AKA snack time with our neighbors. Grab a blanket and some simple snacks to eat outside.
Tips to increase language:
Let the kids help brainstorm and prep for what’s needed.
For younger toddlers, focus on picnic vocabulary words and actions as they naturally occur: blanket, basket, cooler or lunchbox, sandwich, fruit, sun hat, etc.
For older toddlers, state the facts and let them reason or problem solve. We have four people. Let’s figure out how many sandwiches we’ll need.
05 BUILD AN Obstacle course
This is one we’ve done inside during the winter, but adapting it and adding outdoor elements brings new vocabulary and language opportunities. Whether you’re in your own backyard, the park, or at a play ground, use what you have around you.
Tips to increase language:
Incorporate action words: jump, skip, hop, run, walk, balance
Use spatial concept words: in, out, up, down, on, off, over, under, through, around
Label feelings with age appropriate vocabulary. This is so fun! It makes me happy to play with you. You’re upset that you fell down. I’m frustrated. Balancing is hard.
Want to introduce language concepts in the most simple, non-intimidating way possible? Our Summer Splash Guide offers 4 water play activities and practical tips to incorporate language, vocabulary, and basic concepts.
These pages are the perfect companion to the signature play guide.
5 indoor summer activities
Cool down inside with playful learning that’s fun!
01 Go for a Treasure hunt
My speech therapy clients love this activity and it’s so easy to adapt to whatever learning goal you have in mind. Grab some paper and draw a map of your home or just one room. X marks the spot! Fill any container with something fun to find and let the search begin!
Tips to increase language:
Incorporate music. We’re Going on a Treasure Hunt There are a lot of foundational vocabulary and concepts in this song!
Pretend certain areas of your house are different elements like trees, a lake, etc.
Incorporate spatial concepts. Go around the couch, under the table, “swim through the lake.”
02 Make popsicles (or A COOL TREAT)
Popsicles are the perfect summer treat that’s simple to make. Don’t have a popsicle mold? Use a muffin tin or plastic cup. The goal is to keep it simple and have fun making something together.
Tips to increase language:
Give a choice. Which flavor should we make, strawberry or grape? Giving choices helps children express preferences and take ownership of their choices. Don’t forget to think of others too! Now what flavor do you think your sister might like? Watermelon or orange?
Take a guess. I think it will take 2 hours for the popsicles to freeze. Let’s set a timer and play while we wait to come back and check!
Categories: Name as many things as you can think of that are cold!
03 Build a fort
Who doesn’t love a simple fort?! Grab some sheets/blankets and lay them over your chairs, couches, and/or table.
Tips to increase language:
While building that fort, decrease the distractions. Turn the TV off, put the IPads away. Talk about what you’re doing and be all in!
Be repetitive when introducing any new vocabulary words or concepts. Let’s crawl UNDER the table to go into the fort. We’re UNDER the table. Repetition gives multiple opportunities for your child to hear, learn, & practice!
Grab a book, puzzle, or board game and play together in the fort.
04 TAKE A Day time bath (with a twist)
A bath during the middle of the day?! I’ve used this as “reset” on difficult days and it works most of the time! Use what you have and the possibilities are endless: Make it popsicle bath! Find a good spot and read a book out loud. Turn on a bath time playlist to listen and sing. Give baby or your plastic dinosaurs a bath. Changing the time of day and playing with old toys in new locations are just two ways to add a bit of novelty.
Tips to increase language:
If you have a young toddler, expand on the words they say. Water. Splash water!
For an older toddler, try playing “I spy” using your surroundings and what you chose to put in the bathtub. I spy something green! Yes, it’s a green block!
Tell a story. Let your child fill in the blanks. Once upon a time, there was a _____. Dinosaur! The dinosaur went to ______. The car wash!
05 It’s NOT a box
Inspired by the book, Not a Box by Antionette Portis, if you don’t own the book check out this read aloud from Story Time Now. Gather your empty cardboard boxes and let your child’s imagination take over.
Tips to increase language:
Incorporate early learning skills like counting. Count the number of boxes you have to use for this activity together. Point and touch each box or pick up and move each box while you count out loud together.
Brainstorm together about what you can make and what supplies you might need. (markers, tape, etc.)
Allow space for problem solving and for your child to initiate requesting help or your assistance.
We’re so excited to invite you to our very first summer language workshOP!
We want to help you increase your child’s language language skills through play this summer, and we think everything is more fun with friends! Join us in our private, ETP Family where we are playing together through the month of June!
It’s TOTALLY FREE & starts on June 1st!
It’s a workshop style group for proactive parents who want to support their toddlers language development.
We’re keeping it simple and sharing a “play of the day”. The best part is that is that it can be completed in just 5-10 minutes. The goal is to have intentional 1:1 time with our children to build the parent-child bond + work on their language development.
