Summer is often a time when people have plenty of free time on their hands. Children are usually home more, and this gives them more time to be bored. Rather than putting them in front of the television, give them something to do! Here are some activities that preschool children might be interested in.
Go to the Zoo
Not only do kids have fun at the zoo, it’s also educational. Most of the zoos that I’ve been to are spread out, so everyone will get a lot of exercise as well. If you visit your local zoo’s web site, you might find out if they have special programs or shows. These are usually free and add a lot to the experience. Many zoos offer season’s passes at a reasonable rate; if you don’t live too far from the zoo, consider getting a pass and making the zoo a regular experience.
Classes
Your preschool child might not be spending as much time with his or her friends during the summer, and may be missing the companionship of other kids. Consider enrolling your child in a fun class. Your local community center might offer swimming lessons, sports clinics, or art classes.
Dress Up and Pretend
Preschoolers love to dress up. You can cut down old adult clothes, or find old clothes that could work at garage sales or good will. Cover old cardboard food boxes with Contac paper to make accessories for a play kitchen. Consider getting a play doctor’s kit, tool belt, or other pretend items to make play more interesting. If your child doesn’t have siblings, invite over a friend to play dress-up with.
Check to see if your local library has a summer reading program. Most of these have a preschool program where the child listens to stories. You read to your child and the book will count. As they read or listen to books, they earn prizes. Many libraries also have special activities that are perfect for preschool children.
Visit the Playground
Unless it’s 100 degrees or more outside, the playground is a great place to go in the summer. Not only do preschoolers get to stay active, but there are often friends to meet while they’re there. If your local playground has a sandy area, bring some sand toys and shovels and build a sand castle.
This is a fun activity that helps your preschooler’s map reading skills. Hide a piece of candy somewhere in your backyard, where animals won’t get to it. Draw a map to the “treasure” that your preschooler can follow. For an older child, you can add a couple of clues for them to follow.
Messy Crafts
Some crafts are very messy, like painting. Since it’s summer, take the messy crafts outside. Allow them to create their masterpieces outside, then display them on your refrigerator after they have dried. Be sure that your child wears old clothing, or puts on a smock (an old adult t-shirt will work).
Summer doesn’t have to be boring for your preschool child. Give them something fun to do, and the day will fly by.
