Summer Activities for Toddlers That Don’t Cost a Thing

Summer is an exciting time for young children. The weather is warmer, the days are longer, and there are plenty of opportunities to explore and play. But for parents and caregivers of toddlers, summer can also become a challenge, including finding ways to keep busy little ones entertained without spending a lot of money.

Good news — toddlers don’t really need expensive toys or complicated activities to have fun! Some of their favorite things to do are often the simplest. Young children are naturally curious about the world around them, and everyday moments can become great opportunities for learning, moving, and connecting with things around them and other people.  

If you’re looking for affordable ways to fill your summer days, here are some fun, toddler-friendly activities that won’t cost you a thing.

Cost-Free Outdoor Adventures Close to Home

You don’t even have to leave the area around your home to create summer fun!

Go on a Nature Hunt

Drum up some excitement with your toddler by “announcing” that you’re taking them on a nature hunt! Simply take a walk and look for simple outdoor items like leaves, flowers, rocks, birds, or insects. Toddlers love to search for treasures, so making it an adventure, getting excited, and talking about what they find will help them feel a sense of wonder for what they might find.

Create a Water Play Station

A bucket of water, a few cups, spoons, and containers can provide endless entertainment. Adult-supervised water play helps develop fine motor skills while keeping little ones cool on hot days. (Note: never leave young children unsupervised around water.)

Draw with Sidewalk Chalk

Whether it’s on a driveway, sidewalk, or shared outdoor space, drawing with chalk encourages creativity and helps toddlers practice early drawing and pre-writing skills. Be sure to ask your toddler about what they drew, so you can get a peek into their very active imagination.

Have a Bubble Party

Blowing bubbles and chasing them around encourages movement, coordination, and lots of giggles. Even adults love bubbles! Here is a bubble recipe for making your own bubbles at home.

Take a Neighborhood Walk

Even familiar surroundings can feel new and exciting to a toddler when you can direct their attention to things they love. Point out trucks, flowers, pets, construction equipment, or anything you know your toddler loves or sparks their curiosity. If there are neighborhood friends, invite them to join in on the exploration journey.

Enjoy Indoor Fun on Hot or Rainy Days

Unfortunately, summer in Iowa can also mean rain or extremely hot and humid days, making days spent indoors more comfortable and safer. Fortunately, there are many engaging activities that can happen right inside your home.

Build a Fort

Using blankets, pillows, chairs and other furniture is a great way to create a fun hideaway. Once the fort is constructed, your toddler may love looking at books, playing pretend, or resting in their special place.

Host a Dance Party

Turn on some favorite songs and dance together! The movement will help your toddler (and you) burn some energy while supporting coordination, physical development, and special time together.

Read to Each Other

The “downtime” of summer can be a great time to build a daily reading habit. Reading together is a great way to help toddlers develop several skills. Even if your child doesn’t read words yet, they can choose the book they want to explore, and you can read it to them or the two of you can talk about the pictures, characters, or stories. 

Create a Sensory Bin

Toddlers are great at turning any ordinary object into an exciting adventure. Empty boxes can become cars or trucks, laundry baskets can become boats, and stuffed animals may become classroom students. Encourage them to use their imagination, and enjoy watching the magical worlds they create.

Turn Everyday Activities into Learning Opportunities

It may surprise you to learn that some of the best toddler activities are already things you do every day.

Cook Together

Invite your child to help you cook together by washing fruits and vegetables, stirring ingredients, or sorting/putting away grocery items. These simple tasks build confidence, teach family responsibilities, and support language development.

Help with Household Chores

They may not be as efficient as an older child or an adult, but toddlers often love the feeling of being helpful. They can help match socks in a pile of clean laundry, pick up toys after a play date (tip: make it a race to see who can pick up toys the fastest), wipe surfaces after cooking or eating, or water plants.

Practice Sorting or Counting Items

Using toys, blocks, or household objects, help your toddler sort items by color, size, or shape. Count the items together as you work.

Tell Stories

You don’t need a book to enjoy a great story. Make up simple stories together about animals, favorite toys, or adventures you’ll have during the day. Try starting a story and then asking your toddler what happens next (and no answer is wrong!) You can take turns adding to the story.

SNAP Benefits May Offer Free and Reduced Admissions

If you’re looking for new adventures for the family, did you know that if you receive SNAP benefits, you can get FREE or reduced-cost admissions to museums, zoos and more through Museums For All? You will simply need to show your EBT card and a photo ID. 

Make the Most of Summertime with Your Toddler

Thankfully, it doesn’t take a lot of money to have a great summer with your toddler. You may be surprised how many fun memories they will have of splashing in water, chasing bubbles, reading books with someone they love, and discovering new everyday things that they never noticed before.

You may find that the most valuable summer activities are the simplest ones. When you encourage play, movement, learning, and special time together, your family can create a summer full of fun without stretching your budget.

Remember to keep an eye on our website for upcoming family-friendly events in Southwest Iowa or more opportunities to learn about positive parenting. We’re here to help your family make the most of every season.

Free Summer Activities for Toddlers