Activities for Summer: Fun-filled and Educational Preschool Programs
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Summer is here, and it's the perfect time for children to learn and play. Here are some fun and educational activities that can be organised in a backyard setting, suitable for children of all ages.
Nature Scavenger Hunts
Embark on a nature adventure by sending the kids on a scavenger hunt. They can search for items by colour, shape, or specific types, such as bugs or plants. This activity fosters observation and communication skills and can be tailored to different ages. Make it more exciting by adding prizes or photo challenges [1][2][3][5].
Backyard Race Tracks
Unleash the creativity by creating race tracks for toy cars using chalk, dirt, or simple materials like scrap wood and tires. This combination of creativity and physical play will keep the little ones entertained for hours [1].
Sky Watching
Teach children about clouds, stars, constellations, and lunar cycles either during the day or night. Using printable guides or telescopes can deepen their learning about astronomy [1].
Sandcastle Building Station
Set up a DIY sand and water play area for kids to construct sandcastles, encouraging imaginative and tactile play [3].
Bug Hotel Construction
Collect natural materials to build shelters for insects, teaching kids about ecosystems and insect life in a hands-on way [3].
Creative Sensory and Art Projects
Go on walks to collect natural materials (pine needles, leaves) to make paintbrushes or create chalk murals and water painting on sidewalks [2][4].
Gardening Activities
Engage kids in planting, watering, and observing a garden or tree. Older children can keep garden journals to track growth and practice writing [5].
Mud Pies and Dirt Writing
Classic sensory activities involving mud pies decorated with natural objects, or writing letters and numbers in dirt with sticks for literacy practice [5].
Nature Matching and Cutting Tray
Use leaves, flowers, and grasses for safe cutting practice or matching games that sharpen observation and fine motor skills [5].
Water Balloon Games
Incorporate fun physical activity with cooling effects by including toss, balloon fights, or creative variations like balloon piñata [5].
These activities promote learning through exploration, creativity, and physical movement, making them easy to organise in a backyard setting and adaptable to children's ages and interests [1][2][3][5].
Listening Hikes
Take a quiet walk and listen for different sounds during a Listening Hike. Participants should listen carefully for insects, birds, wind, cars, and other sounds. This activity requires no materials and can be conducted in a forest, park, or even around a home or apartment [4].
Vinegar Volcano
Experiment with the Vinegar Volcano activity by adjusting the amounts of baking soda, dish soap, and vinegar to observe the effect on the eruption. The activity involves the reaction of baking soda and vinegar, resulting in an eruption. To set up the Vinegar Volcano, place the glass or small bowl inside a large bowl. Mix the water, baking soda, and dish soap inside the cup, add food coloring if desired, and add the vinegar to make the volcano erupt [6].
TV Cartoons
The TV Cartoons activity encourages creativity and storytelling. A three-part story is drawn and rolled up inside a box to be narrated and played. The activity uses a shoe box or other small box, paper, pencils, tape, and crayons or markers [7].
Kazoos
To make a kazoo, cover one end of the toilet paper roll with wax paper and stretch the rubber band around the tube to hold the wax paper in place. Decorate the kazoo with crayons or markers, and test it by placing the open end of the tube against the mouth and humming or singing [8].
The activities "Listening Hikes" and "TV Cartoons" are part of the Cloverbud Program Curriculum Instruction Materials from the Ohio State University Extension.
References:
[1] Children's Backyard Activities
[2] Nature Exploration Activities for Kids
[3] Summer Nature Activities for Kids
[4] Nature Sounds Scavenger Hunt
[5] Backyard Nature Activities for Kids
[6] Vinegar Volcano Science Experiment
[7] TV Cartoons Activity
[8] Kazoo Craft Activity
- For a more educational approach to fashion and beauty, consider DIY projects such as making personalized 4-H clothing or creating homemade face masks using natural ingredients found during nature scavenger hunts.
- Expand the backyard race tracks concept to include a pop-up pet-themed café where children can learn about different breeds of pets while enjoying food and drink inspired by their favorite animals.
- Merge the gardening activities with home-and-garden projects by having children create their own herb gardens using repurposed containers and mixed with web-based tutoring on proper care and cooking methods for culinary herbs.
- Enhance the relaxation of sky watching with guided meditation and mindfulness exercises related to personal-growth and learning concepts, like self-reflection and appreciation for nature's beauty.
- While shopping for items to support their learning through exploration and creativity, explore online courses on career-development and learning to improve financial literacy skills and make informed choices when purchasing what's needed.
- Design a learning journey around travel by creating scrapbooks or virtual travel experiences for pets along with kids, featuring pictures, maps, and information about different destinations, enhancing their relationship-building skills with their pets and fostering a deeper understanding of various cultures.
- Continue the Listening Hikes activity by introducing fun educational games like identifying different car makes and models based on their sounds or learning about the history and evolution of vehicles by visiting local museums and libraries.
