If your preschooler is spending some time off nursery during the summer holidays, there are lots of ways to keep them learning with bundles of fun! Check out these top summer learning activities for preschoolers.
The importance of play and learning activities for preschoolers
While preschoolers aren’t yet doing any formalised lessons at nursery, everything they experience at this important stage helps lay the foundations to be confident, independent learners, ready to thrive in the now and at school. Learning activities, both at home and in nursery, can prepare them for the transition to school, giving them the knowledge they need to have success when they get to Reception.
From physical skills like jumping or using a pencil, to social and emotional skills that help preschoolers to make friends and be comfortable in a group, learning activities can support their development in all these areas. Fun summer learning activities for preschoolers – such as water play, cooking activities and getting close to nature on a forage hunt – are all great ways to achieve this.
Easy summer activities for preschoolers
The ideal activity is one that doesn’t take too much effort to set up (or clear away afterwards!) These easy summer activities are the perfect way to keep your preschooler happy and engaged without needing a lot of preparation.
- Home made playdough: this is a great way to introduce experimentation with children, you can talk about volume, what happens when we mix things together, introduce fantastic new vocabulary about textures, consistency etc. The great thing about this activity is all you need is flour, oil, salt and water. If you want to make it a bit more interesting, add paint/food dye and some essential oils like lavender or peppermint.
- Playdough and seashells: Go for a walk on the beach and let your preschooler gather any shells that take their fancy. Then use the shells as moulds for playdough. Use this as a great time to introduce mathematical language by counting the shells and sizing them from large to small.
- Nature letters: see how many sticks, twigs leaves they can find in the garden or out on a walk and use these to make the letters of their name.
Sensory based learning activities
Sensory learning activities are all about engaging the five senses, from touch to sight to smell, taste and sound. Preschoolers will jump at the chance to get involved in these, using all their senses to gain an understanding of the world around them.
- Touchy-feely lucky dip: Using play sand (or at the beach), bury objects such as shells and small toys. Ask your preschooler to dip their hand in and see if they can recognise what they’re touching. This is a great activity for imagination, critical thinking and fine motor skills.
- Scooping and pouring water: Water play is a great way to cool down and help children learn about its properties. With a few plastic cups and other containers, your preschooler can play in the bath or paddling pool, at an outdoor water table, or even at the kitchen sink. This can be a great way to learn about mathematics for volume
- Tree bark rubbings: Explore the texture of different trees, with just a sheet of paper and a wax crayon. You could also add to this by talking about the sounds you hear under the tree or the smells of the tree.
Art based learning activities
Art-based activities are always popular here at our nurseries, and they’re a great way to engage with your child at home. They’re the perfect opportunity to hone your preschooler’s fine motor skills while exploring and expressing their creative side. Strengthening your child’s fine motor skills helps build strength in their hands and fingers. This supports their ability to hold a pencil to mark make and start the process of writing.
- Painting with water: On a hot day, you don’t need anything but water – use regular brushes to make marks on the ground. From big whole body strokes to small strokes. As a bit of extra fun, ask them to draw around you on the floor.
- Decorating tree branches: Tree decorating isn’t just for Christmas! If you’ve been pruning trees in the garden, or you find a branch in the park, it’s a great starting point to get creative with your preschooler. Let them paint the wood and hang colourful objects, then display it in a vase.
- Playdough and nature creations: go on a mini expedition in your garden or for a walk and scavenge for leaves, sticks, seeds, stones etc. With these you can make amazing creations with the playdough. The possibilities of imagination are endless.
Get in touch
As you’ve seen, it’s not difficult to keep your preschooler actively learning all through the summer. Just as they do at nursery, they’ll absorb a huge amount from both indoor and outdoor environments. If you’d like to find out more about how we promote learning here at All About Children, please get in touch. Contact us on 0207 737 5455.