7 Free Summer Activities for Pre-schoolers and Early Years
As the warm summer months arrive, longer days and sunshine offer endless opportunities for fun, creativity, and learning. Summer is the perfect time to get outdoors, embrace the natural world, and make memories together as a family.
At My Ohana, we believe that summer activities for preschoolers don’t have to be expensive to be enriching. In fact, many of the best learning moments happen when children are simply exploring, playing and having fun in their local environment.
In this blog, we’re sharing a collection of free summer activities for kids that support early childhood development - helping children to stay active, curious, and inspired all summer long.
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What Makes Summer So Special for Young Children?
Summer brings with it the freedom to play outside, discover new surroundings, and build confidence through hands-on experiences. These warm-weather months are an ideal time to continue learning through play outside of the nursery setting.
Many summer activities for early years help young children develop fine and gross motor skills, encourage communication, and support emotional wellbeing - all while having fun.
7 Free Summer Activities for Preschoolers and Early Years
Here are some of our favourite ideas for free summer activities for preschoolers, suitable for at home, in the garden, at the park, or while on family outings.
1. Nature Scavenger Hunt
Take a walk in the woods, a park or even your garden and ask your child to spot certain things - like a feather, a yellow flower, a smooth stone, or something that smells nice. This simple summer activity for children encourages observation, vocabulary building and a sensory exploration!
Check out our free nature scavenger hunt here!
2. Garden Water Play
Fill up a washing-up bowl or bucket with water, throw in cups, ladles, or sieves, and let them pour, splash, and play.
You can even set up a mini car wash for toy vehicles. This is a brilliant summer activity for kids that promotes physical coordination and imaginative play.
3. Outdoor Story Time
Take your child’s favourite books outside and create a cosy reading nook with cushions or picnic blankets. Reading together under the shade of a tree adds a sense of adventure to story time and supports early literacy.
Want more ideas like this? Take a look at our blog on our favourite nursery activity ideas.
4. Mud Kitchens & Nature “Baking”
Use old pots, pans, and utensils to create a mud kitchen in the garden. Children can mix mud pies, leaf cakes, and pretend potions using twigs, petals, and stones.
Messy, imaginative fun that also builds social and problem-solving skills!
5. Chalk Drawing & Hopscotch
Pavement chalk is cheap and offers endless fun. Let children draw pictures, shapes, or practice letters and numbers. Add in a classic game of hopscotch to develop coordination and number recognition.
6. Bug Spotting Adventure
Grab a magnifying glass and go hunting for bugs. Ants, ladybirds, butterflies, and beetles are all fascinating to little ones.
Learning to observe, name, and respect the tiny creatures around them is a great free summer activity for kids that introduces early science.
7. Free Outdoor Events
Check your local area for community-led summer events like storytelling in the park, music in the garden, or toddler-friendly trails.
These are great ways for children to engage socially and continue learning through play in new environments.
Summer Learning Through Play Benefits
All of these free summer activities for preschoolers help children learn in natural and enjoyable ways.
At My Ohana, we believe in the power of play-based learning as a way to nurture social skills, confidence, resilience, and curiosity.
Some key learning through play benefits during the summer months include:
Supporting physical health through movement and exploration
Encouraging communication and teamwork
Building emotional regulation through independent play
Boosting creativity and problem-solving skills
Fostering a love for nature and outdoor spaces
You can read more about the benefits of play in our blog on holistic child development.
Why Summer Activities Matter in Early Years
Summer activities for early years don’t need to involve packed schedules or expensive trips.
A simple garden picnic, a walk in the woods, or some creative crafts can spark wonder and develop important life skills.
Incorporating these free summer activities for kids into your routine encourages your child’s growth while building joyful memories.
Want more inspiration? Explore our blogs on the importance of role play in early years, music and child development, and why early years education is important.
Making the Most of Summer
Whether you’re heading to the beach, staying home in the garden, or enjoying a trip to the local park, every moment of summer offers the chance for children to learn, grow and thrive through play.
At My Ohana, we make the most of every season - and summer is no different. Through our outdoor learning approach and enriching programs, we encourage every child to enjoy the wonders of the world around them.
If you’re interested in finding out how we support learning through play all year round, get in touch to learn more about our nursery curriculum.