Summer’s Not Over Yet!
5 Easy Outdoor Learning Activities to Try This Month
We know how it feels when August rolls around. You want to squeeze every bit of summer fun out of these last weeks, but you’re also thinking about getting your little one ready for the school year ahead. Good news is you can do both with these outdoor learning activities for kids!
After years of watching children learn and grow here in Tallahassee, we’ve seen how outdoor play naturally builds the skills kids need for school success. Here are five summer activities for preschoolers that work beautifully for our Florida families.
1. Nature Scavenger Hunt for Kids
Create a simple list of treasures to find around your neighborhood or local park. Think smooth rocks, heart-shaped leaves, something that makes noise when you shake it. We love this outdoor learning activity because it builds observation skills while getting kids moving in our beautiful outdoors.
For pre-readers, draw pictures instead of writing words. Keep your list short and don’t worry about finding everything. The joy is in the looking.
Benefits: Develops observation skills, encourages physical activity, teaches nature appreciation
2. Water Science Experiments for Preschoolers
With our Tallahassee heat, water play activities are a natural fit. Gather different containers like, mason jars, measuring cups, old yogurt containers. Let your child pour water between them and discover how the same amount of water looks different in different shapes.
We’ve watched countless “aha!” moments happen during simple water play experiments. Add a few drops of food coloring or freeze some containers overnight. The learning happens naturally through play.
Skills developed: Early math concepts, cause and effect, fine motor skills
3. Sidewalk Chalk Learning Games
Draw letters, numbers, or shapes on your driveway or sidewalk. Call them out and watch your child hop to each one. This builds both gross motor skills and reinforces early learning concepts.
Try creating letter hopscotch or drawing a simple maze. We’ve seen kids spend an entire afternoon with just a box of chalk and their imagination. Sometimes the simplest outdoor activities for kids create the richest learning.
Educational benefits: Letter recognition, number skills, gross motor development, following directions
4. Garden Math Activities for Kids
Use whatever’s growing in your yard for counting practice. Compare sizes, sort by color, count petals on flowers. Math feels natural when it’s connected to the real world.
No garden? No problem. Count mailboxes on a walk or compare the sizes of pinecones at a local park. We’re fortunate to have so much nature right here in Tallahassee to explore.
Math skills practiced: Counting, comparing, sorting, measurement concepts
5. Shadow Play and Discovery Activities
Head outside during bright sunshine and explore shadows together. Trace your child’s shadow with chalk, make hand puppets on the fence, or come back later to see how shadows have moved.
This simple science activity introduces concepts about the sun, time, and how our world works. Plus, it’s magical for little minds to realize they can create and control shadows.
Science concepts: Light and shadow, time passage, cause and effect
Why These Summer Learning Activities Matter
These aren’t just fun ways to pass time. They’re building the foundation skills your child needs for school success such as, observation, problem-solving, following directions, and staying engaged with learning tasks.
Best of all, you don’t need anything fancy for these outdoor educational activities. Most use things you already have at home. That’s intentional. The richest learning often happens with the simplest materials.
Ready for more learning fun? Contact Just Like Angels Childcare to learn about our outdoor learning programs and summer activities for kids.