Summer Learning Activities for Preschoolers

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. 

Nursery activity

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 0115 981 2980.

What Our Parents Say

Very talented and caring staff. My son really loved this nursery. He learnt a lot in all aspects from communication, relationship building, being independent, to learning maths, shapes, letters, word, sentences etc. Really pleased with the development. Thanks to all the lovely staff, you are all the best.

Vaibhav H (Father of Child)

My daughter has been in the nursery since the Baby Room. It has been an incredible journey. Now she is in the pre-school and every day she is excited to go to the nursery. She loves the staff, her key worker, the other kids, the setting (especially the garden). She really enjoys all the activities organised through the week/day. She enjoys and has fun while learning. The staff encourage and support multilingual families making the kids feel proud they can speak more than one language. Now the staff are also getting her ready to go to school this September. The staff have always been amazing, very approachable, flexible and caring.

B C (Father of Child)

The staff are so kind and caring, they all know my daughter even those in different rooms. She skips in to see them every day and they are as excited as me when she does new things. It's a home away from home.

H G (Mother of Child)

I can't thank the staff enough for giving me peace of mind when my child is with them. The number and variety of activities each day is amazing and the fact they manage to get in the garden or go on trips - even in winter is fantastic. My child's development is streets ahead of his peers who don't attend nursery.

S H (Mother of Child)

The nursery has a lovely nurturing and vibrant atmosphere which my son loves. There is plenty of space for him to explore and learn via the vast range of toys and equipment they have. I know he is well cared for. I am always well informed and I work together with the nursery staff to give my son the best possible experience.

Claire F (Mother of Child) 

The care, consideration and attention my son receives is exemplary. Staff pay attention to his strengths and weaknesses and verbalise them to us and ideas for developing them are implemented. All staff demonstrate an excellent attitude and have excellent relationships with their designated children.

A D (Father of Child)

The staff were warm, caring and professional and the facilities are great. We felt like our daughter was part of a big family. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all working there.

E S (Mother of Child)

I have been impressed by the level of care given to my son since he started. The daily warm welcome of the staff makes both children and parents alike feel at ease. Seeing the smile on my boy's face as we drive into the car park is proof enough for me that the team are doing something right.

Alexander M (Father of Child)

My little girl has recently started and is absolutely loving her time at nursery. The settling in sessions were brilliant and really helped put my mind at ease, especially with me starting back at work. The ladies in the Baby Room are super friendly and enthusiastic and I can't thank them enough for their support in what could have been quite an emotional rollercoaster.

G W (Mother of Child)

Once I drop my son off into the Baby Room, I feel he's as safe and as well looked after as I do at home.

Laura R (Mother of Child)