Outdoor Summer Activities for Preschoolers

Outdoor Summer Activities for Preschoolers

I know you can’t wait to get outside so here’s your list of over 50 summer activity ideas to help encourage your preschooler to get outside more this summer. Be sure to download the printable version at the bottom of this post. Have FUN!!

• do art projects outside ( paint, color, draw)
• eat a picnic snack and /or picnic lunch outside
• draw with chalk on a sidewalk – they can also trace shadows with the chalk
• let your child ‘paint’ the house, a shed, or their swing set with a paintbrush and a bucket of water
• act out a story
• lay on a blanket and look for shapes in the clouds
• make tree rubbings with paper and the side of a crayon
• let them water the outdoor plants or the grass
• go fishing
• set up a tent to play in
• bring toys outside to play with

• build a fort with sheets and cardboard boxes
• play hopscotch
• blow with bubbles
• fly a kite
• collect tadpoles and watch them turn into frogs
• collect tadpoles and over time, watch them turn into frogs
• kick a ball around
• play catch
• play on a slip-and-slide
• play with a sand or water table
• jump rope
• ride tricycles or other riding toys
• practice balancing by walking on curbs or boards
• use magnifying glasses to look for insects

As you’re outside enjoying these summer activities with your little ones, you want everyone keep safe. Preschoolers should have someone keeping an eye on them at all times. Make sure everyone has suntan lotion, something to protect them from bug bites, and plenty of water available to drink. Also, make sure it’s not too hot.

• watch ants
• look for butterflies or grow some from crysillis with a butterfly kit – here’s the one I’ve used from Amazon
• play in a sandbox
• play in a kiddie pool or under a sprinkler
• practice doing cartwheels
• try to do handstands
• take a walk around the block or through the neighborhood
• jog around the yard
• see how far they can jump
• wash the car
• collect things like sticks, stones, pinecones, and dandelions
• practice skimming stones across a lake
• play in mud puddles on a rainy day

• make mud pies
• try roller skating
• learn to use a scooter
• play board games outside
• climb a tree
• collect flowers and press them in a book between wax paper
• learn to skip
• sit on the porch and name the colors of the cars as they go by. A fun alternative would be to guess what color the next car will be.
• gather some friends and play games like Mother May I, Red Light Green Light, Freeze Tag, Hide and Seek, Simon Says or What Time is it, Mr. Fox
• read stories under a tree or at a picnic tableread stories under a tree or at a picnic table – here’s a collection of our book lists to get you started

• make a ‘road’ to push cars and trucks on
• set up a playdate and have friends come over
• set up a dinosaur world, zoo world, or ocean world with plastic animals
• roll down a hill
• go bird watching – see how many birds you can see or hear
• set up empty water bottles and have them try to knock them down by hitting them with a ball
• learn to use a hula hoop
• set up an outdoor obstacle course
• play yard games like cornhole or bocce
• play catch with wet sponges

Free Printable Summer Activities List

Be sure to grab your free printable Summer Activities List. You can download it from our Printable Resource Library. Have a safe and FUN summer!

Summer Activities List pdf – Resource Library

Be sure to check out more summer fun ideas for kids that can be enjoyed outside :

• Sink and Float Activities for Preschoolers
• Living and Nonliving Things Activities for Preschoolers
• Favorite Preschool Songs on Spotify by Theme