Summer Sorted: 5 Easy Garden Activities for Children
The summer holidays are the perfect time to get children outside, away from screens and immersed in the simple joys of nature. Whether you have a garden at home or a park nearby, there’s no shortage of creative ways to keep little ones entertained outdoors. Here are five fun and easy ideas to try with your children this summer.
1. Shadow Drawing
Set up a few toys or objects on a large sheet of paper outside. dinosaurs, dolls or flowers work especially well. As the sun casts shadows, children can trace the outlines with pencils or crayons. It’s a great way to teach them about how light works while creating quirky silhouette drawings. You can even return later in the day to see how the shadows have changed.
2. Bark and Leaf Rubbing
Nature provides the best textures for art. Go on a hunt around the garden or park for interesting tree bark or leaves, then place a piece of paper over the surface and gently rub over it with a crayon or pencil. Children will love seeing the patterns appear as they rub. Try using different coloured crayons or layering rubbings from different plants for a collage-style effect.
3. Pressing Flowers
Collecting and pressing flowers is a lovely way to preserve summer memories. Encourage your children to pick fallen petals or small blooms (with permission, of course) and lay them between sheets of paper in a heavy book. After a week or so, they’ll have beautifully pressed flowers ready to use for homemade cards, bookmarks or framed art. You could even start a summer nature journal together.
4. Garden Treasure Hunt
Create a simple list of things for your children to find. A feather, something yellow, a smooth stone, a bee (to spot, not catch!). You can adjust the difficulty depending on age. It’s a brilliant way to get them exploring the garden and noticing the small details. Add some bonus challenges like “find something that smells nice” or “find two things that feel different”.
5. Make a Mini Den or Fairy House
With a few sticks, leaves and scraps of fabric, children can build a mini den for their toys or even a fairy house nestled in a flowerbed. Let their imaginations lead the way. Acorn caps can become bowls, twigs can be fences and leaves can make a comfy bed. It’s a great opportunity for creative storytelling and hours of pretend play.
Spending time in the garden or park can be a wonderful way for children to explore and learn during the holidays. So grab your ILO sunhat and head outside – summer’s waiting.
