The summer holidays bring long, sunny days, family outings and a welcome break from routine, but they can also be a time when young children’s learning slows down. EYFS summer activities offer a simple way to keep little minds curious and engaged while still allowing plenty of room for rest and fun. Rather than formal lessons, these activities weave learning into everyday play, so children continue to build language, physical, and social skills without even realising they are “learning” at all.

For parents and carers, the challenge is often knowing where to start. There are countless ideas out there, but not all of them are suited to the EYFS framework or to the age and stage of a young child. This blog brings together practical, easy-to-set-up ideas across outdoor play, sensory play, summer crafts, and nature activities, all designed to support the seven areas of learning within the Early Years Foundation Stage. Within our own childcare setting, we see first-hand how much children thrive when summer play is purposeful, varied and enjoyable.

What Are EYFS Summer Activities and Why Do They Matter?

EYFS summer activities are simply play-based experiences that align with the Early Years Foundation Stage framework, adapted to make the most of warmer weather and longer daylight hours. They cover everything from splashing in water trays to hunting for minibeasts in the garden, and they are designed to be flexible enough for home, garden, park or nursery settings. The beauty of summer is that it naturally lends itself to hands-on, sensory-rich learning that children find genuinely exciting.

Children between birth and five years old learn best through first-hand experiences rather than worksheets or screens. Summer offers a unique opportunity to get outside, explore natural materials, and encourage independence in a relaxed setting. When adults join in with gentle questioning and encouragement, these moments become powerful learning opportunities that support communication, physical development, and personal, social and emotional development all at once.

Keeping some structure to the school holidays also helps children feel settled. A mix of planned activities and free play gives little ones the security of routine alongside the freedom to explore, which is particularly valuable for children who are due to start nursery or school in September.

Outdoor Play Ideas for the Summer Term

Outdoor play ideas sit at the very heart of any successful summer routine. Fresh air, space to move, and the freedom to be a little louder than usual all support physical development and emotional wellbeing. Children who spend regular time outdoors tend to sleep better, concentrate more easily, and develop stronger gross motor skills, from running and climbing to balancing and jumping.

Outdoor play does not need expensive equipment or a large garden. Many of the most effective activities use everyday household items or simple, inexpensive resources that can be reused throughout the summer. The key is variety, allowing children to choose between active, physical games and quieter, more reflective outdoor moments.

Simple Outdoor Games to Try

• Water play stations – set up a few buckets, sponges and small watering cans so children can pour, splash and experiment with how water moves.
• Obstacle courses – use cushions, hoops and garden furniture to create a course that encourages jumping, crawling and balancing.
• Chalk drawing trails – pavement chalk can turn a driveway into a treasure map, a hopscotch grid or a colourful mural.
• Mini sports day – simple races, bean bag tosses and skittles introduce turn-taking and friendly competition.
• Bubble stations – homemade bubble mixture encourages chasing, popping and early counting as children track how many bubbles they catch.

These outdoor play ideas can easily be adapted for smaller spaces, such as balconies or courtyards, by scaling down the equipment while keeping the same sense of adventure.

Sensory Play Ideas to Try at Home or Nursery

Sensory play ideas are particularly valuable during the summer months because warm weather makes messy, tactile activities far more practical to set up outdoors. Sensory play supports early brain development by encouraging children to explore texture, temperature, sound and smell, all of which build important neural pathways linked to language and problem-solving.

Many sensory activities also have a calming effect, which can be helpful on hotter days when children may become overstimulated or tired more quickly than usual. A well-planned sensory activity gives children a focused, absorbing task that naturally slows the pace of the day.

Easy Sensory Activities for Summer

• Frozen treasure hunt – freeze small toys or shells in ice cubes and let children use warm water or tools to free them.
• Sand and water tables – combining textures encourages children to compare wet and dry, heavy and light.
• Herb and flower sensory bins – fill a container with soil, herbs and safe flowers for children to smell, touch and sort.
• Foot painting on paper – a classic summer activity that supports creativity and body awareness.
• Rice or pasta sensory bins – dyed rice or pasta can be scooped, poured and sorted into containers of different sizes.

Our approach across the setting reflects the values that guide our early years practice, where hands-on exploration is treated as a genuine and valuable form of learning rather than simply a way to pass the time.

Summer Crafts for Little Hands

Summer crafts are a lovely way to combine creativity with fine motor skill development. Cutting, sticking, threading and painting all strengthen the small hand muscles children need for future writing, while also giving them a sense of pride in something they have made themselves. Crafting during the holidays does not need to be complicated; some of the most effective activities use recycled materials found around the home.

Choosing crafts with a summer theme, such as sun catchers, paper fish or flower collages, helps children connect their artwork to the season and to conversations about the weather, holidays and the natural world around them.

Craft Ideas Worth Trying

• Paper plate suncatchers – decorate with tissue paper and hang in a window to see the light shine through.
• Salt dough shells – a tactile alternative to traditional playdough, perfect for a seaside theme.
• Handprint flowers – handprints painted and arranged into a bouquet make a lovely keepsake.
• Recycled bottle boats – simple boats made from plastic bottles can then be tested in a paddling pool or water tray.
• Nature print pictures – dip leaves and petals in paint to create pressed nature artwork.

Creative activities also connect naturally with music and movement, and our music and creative expression sessions show how rhythm, singing and craft can be woven together to build confidence and self-expression in young children.

Nature Activities to Explore During the Holidays

Nature activities give children the chance to slow down, observe closely and ask questions about the world around them. Whether it is a walk through a local park or simply spending time in the garden, nature-based play supports curiosity, vocabulary development and an early understanding of the environment. Children who regularly engage with nature also tend to show greater resilience and a calmer approach to new experiences.

Summer is an ideal season for this kind of learning because there is so much to notice: minibeasts, changing plants, longer evenings and warmer weather all provide natural talking points. Encouraging children to describe what they see, hear and feel helps build the kind of rich vocabulary that supports later reading and writing.

Nature-Based Activities for Young Children

• Minibeast hunts – a magnifying glass and a simple checklist turn a garden walk into an exciting investigation.
• Cloud watching – lying on a blanket and describing cloud shapes builds imagination and descriptive language.
• Growing seeds – planting quick-growing seeds such as cress or sunflowers teaches patience and responsibility.
• Nature scavenger hunts – searching for specific colours, shapes or textures keeps children engaged for longer periods.
• Bird and insect spotting – simple picture cards help children identify what they find and encourage early literacy skills.

Balanced, active days like these work well alongside good nutrition, and our focus on healthy eating and balanced meals supports children’s energy and concentration throughout busy summer days, whether at home or in our care.

How Young & Smart Nursery Supports Summer Learning

Throughout the summer term, our practitioners plan a rich mix of outdoor play, sensory experiences, crafts and nature-based learning, all carefully linked to the seven areas of the EYFS framework. Rather than treating the holidays as a pause in learning, we see them as an opportunity to build confidence, independence and a genuine love of exploring the world. Children are given plenty of time to lead their own play, supported by attentive staff who know how to extend learning through gentle conversation and encouragement.

Families who are considering a nursery place for the autumn term, or simply want to see how a summer day unfolds in our setting, are always welcome to book a visit and see our approach for themselves. Seeing children engaged in purposeful, joyful play often says far more than any description can.

Conclusion

Summer does not need to mean a break from learning; with a little planning, it can become one of the richest periods of a young child’s year. From outdoor play ideas and sensory play to summer crafts and nature activities, each of the ideas shared here supports the EYFS framework while keeping things light-hearted, flexible and genuinely fun for both children and the adults supporting them. The best summer learning happens when children are given time, space and gentle encouragement to explore at their own pace.

At Young & Smart Nursery, we believe the summer holidays are the perfect time to nurture curiosity, confidence and a genuine love of learning. If you would like to find out more about how we bring the EYFS framework to life through play all year round, please get in touch with our friendly team, we would love to welcome you and your child to our nursery in Lewisham.

Frequently Asked Questions