Summer should be a fun relaxing time with your young children, so why does it feel like you have to plan it to the last minute? Relax and let me help you find simple preschool activities for your kiddos to do all summer long. These 50 summer activities for 3 year olds are fun and easy. So relax and browse this great list of summer activities for kids and start having fun.
Three is that magical age between being a baby and being a big kid and is the perfect time to mix some planned activities in with free play. I get asked often about my schedule and I hesitate to share it because our schedule changes so much. What I won’t hesitate to share is that three year olds shouldn’t be sitting down doing mom or other adult-directed activities a lot. This is the icing, not the cake. The cake should be free play including having sensory materials available, outside time, tons and tons of books within reach, and lots of quiet cuddle time too!
Here are 50 summer activities for 3 year olds some are as simple as setting something up and letting them explore and others are more structured.
Bubble Wrap & Dish Scrubber Starfish
Hosing Down Shapes and Letters In The Yard
Build Your Own Obstacle Course
Handprint Fireworks for 4th of July
This is just the tip of the iceberg – what activities do you like to do with your 3 year old? Tell us on our Facebook page!
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Mrs P says
Not just for three years old my daughter five a would still love to do some of these. xoxo
Crown Maryjane says
Beautiful, I can also share with my daughter of 6. But I would love to see money of the worm painting with Noddles
Jennifer says
I LOVE that you provided pictures for each one of these. When its just a list, I sometimes will click through to a couple but I usually get annoyed/bored and leave (horrible to admit, I know) so I SOOOO appreciate this format, even though I know it probably took FOREVER. 🙂
Alice says
I agree! I am the same with lists – I WANT to look at each item, but just don’t have time. And it does get boring. Photos make it much easier to quickly see the things I want to see. Thank you! 🙂
Allison McDonald says
You are both welcome – feedback like this is important to know it helps me for the future!
Ally says
I totally agree too about pictures!! Got some great ideas for my bored 3 year old who is about to drive me crazy haha. She LOVES collecting flowers and leaves, so cutting them is a great idea. Hope it keeps her busy awhile. Also gonna try the gelatin sensory tub.
Nancy says
So true! I’m the same way. I like seeing pictures of the end result.
carola says
Thnx for this great list! I love the painting ideas! We’ve already painted with cars, but it never crossed my mind to paint with kitchen stuff, plastic bugs or feathers. I also love the jelly sensory play.
Thanks again for this list (and the pictures really do help!)
Jagriti says
I love the listing of ideas- it’s simple and with photographs. What will really help is if you could add a line on the preparatory time to playtime ratio (I understand both will be either ball parks or averages). I have tried a few of the ideas and the preparatory time for me has been far longer than the time my baby (23mo) stayed interested in it. Thanks.
Allison McDonald says
I think you will find that most things take longer to set up than the actual play time at this age. BUT this won’t last they will last longer and longer as they age.
anastacia spencer- little says
my 3 and 4 year olds love the art activities for the summer, thank you soooooo much. I really loved the ( jello ocean as they called it, lol!)
Allison McDonald says
Awesome!