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Home › Articles › Your Toddlers › Toddler's Day Out

Toddler's Day Out

Tips for Summer Playgroups

By Jacqueline Bodnar

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"At this age, children in playgroups have the opportunity to explore new areas in their environment," says Suzanne Reszka, the lead teacher at People's Church Preschool in East Lansing, Mich. "As they explore these new areas, they become more independent. Their emotional, social and language skills develop, and their feelings of self-esteem increase."

For children 3 and younger, Reszka recommends planning events around sensory activities such as water play, textured blocks and playing dress-up. Other areas that are good for this age group are activities that involve large motor skills as well as playing with music and finger play.

No matter what type of playgroup you plan, make sure you have fun. If your child sees you getting frustrated at some of the behavior, they will pick up on that and become frustrated, too. Have fun and they will have fun, too.

"Play dates are very exciting for young children," says Kennedy-Moore. "But focus on keeping them short. Shorter play dates work better."

Summer Playgroup Ideas

When it comes to putting together a playgroup that young children will love, you are limited only by your imagination. Here are a few ideas you can use or adapt when creating your own theme:

  • Field Trips: Summer is a great time to plan field trip playgroups. You can visit the zoo, the beach or even the library for story time and finger play. Other great field trips include going on a nature walk or meeting at the park for a picnic and play date.
  • Gym Class: Planning a gym class is a great way to keep the kids active – and they should take a great nap afterward! This can be set up outdoors or indoors on rainy days. Just create a gymnasium and have all the kids follow along with the routine. You can set up a small balance beam, create a floor routine and help them do tumbling.
  • Treasure Hunt: It doesn't have to be Easter for children this age to have a blast running around and gathering up treasures. You can create a treasure hunt in your backyard that will keep them busy looking for summer treasures.
  • Art: All year long, you've thought about pulling out some finger paints and other messy things for the kids to play with, but you have dreaded the thought of it getting all over the carpeting. Take the paints outside and set them up at the picnic table or on the ground. Well-supervised, the children will create their own little masterpieces.
  • Sidewalk Chalk: Find a safe area in your driveway or on the sidewalk to give the children colored sidewalk chalk and let them draw. You can also create and introduce them to different games, like hopscotch.
  • Beach Bash: You don't need to have a big swimming pool for children this age to have a beach bash. Just get a small wading pool for children and help them have some water fun. Throw in a picnic lunch and you have a perfect day at the beach – right in your own backyard.
  • Themed Play Dates: To make it a little more fun and creative, you can have a theme for each playgroup. You can concentrate on characters that the children like, sports or even animals.
  • Ice Cream Party: Summer means ice cream for kids of all ages. A simple yet tasty ice cream party can be thrown for the children.


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