35 Summer Activities to Support Young Children During the Covid-19 Pandemic

By Lisa Sherman, M.A., LMFT, Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist and Founder of Planting Seeds Parenting

Photo credits (clockwise from top left): Agung Pandit Wiguna, Sharon McCutcheon, Matheus Bertelli, Georgia Maciel, Andy Kuzma, & Georgia Maciel

A summer at home with our preschooler would typically mean a lot of outings to the beach, zoo, and park. These activities provide opportunities to socialize and connect with friends and family, while also getting some much-needed sensory input. Covid-19 changed all those plans. Quarantining with young children can be challenging with limited options for keeping them active, stimulated, connected, and entertained. Disrupted routines, lost connections to peers and important adults, and being exposed to information they can’t quite make sense of have had a big impact on our children. Our children need us now more than ever.

In the midst of the current world-wide pandemic, many of us are finding ourselves needing to retool our parenting approaches to meet our children’s evolving needs. It’s important to be available for our children, whether we are working or stay-at-home parents. During these uncertain times, our children need to feel even more connected and supported. Consistent routines are also important to help children feel confident and secure in their environment.

Finding a balance between our own needs (e.g., work, self-care, hobbies, sleep) with our children’s needs takes a lot of work. Mindfulness approaches can help us spend more time in the moment with our children. Their adults being fully present and available is exactly what children need to help them feel loved and safe during this challenging time.

As a child and family therapist and mother of two, I have often had to get creative to come up with activities that are easy-to-access and meaningful that parents can do with their young children. The list below contains some of the most practical activities parents can engage in with their little ones (2 years +) while following social distancing orders and best safety practices during the Covid-19 pandemic.

1. SET UP A SENSORY PLAY STATION

Children have many sensory needs that support their ability to manage their developing bodies and big feelings. Getting access to a variety of sensory activities can be tough when we are staying at home most of the time. A great way of giving children access to sensory activities is by setting up a sensory play station. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Lidded plastic storage container or Step2 / Little Tikes sandbox (the lid is important to keep things contained)
• Sand, rice, beans, water, or water beads
• Small play characters (animals, sea creatures, people)
• A spoon, scoop, plastic measuring cup, funnel, bucket, etc.

2. BUILD A FORT OR SET UP A CAMPSITE

Having a quiet place to think, relax, or just let your imagination run wild is great for children who have limited access to the play spaces and friends they are used to being around. Transforming a couch into a fort with a few added pillows and bed sheets can be a fun afternoon activity. Letting your child lead the way shows them that you are confident in their ideas and helps them feel like they can accomplish the things they put effort into. Some ideas to get you started are:

• Pull out your camping gear (lanterns, sleeping bags, pop-up tent)
• A few high-backed chairs and a blanket make a terrific cave or tee-pee
• Having over-night camping trips in your yard or in the middle of your living room can provide a refreshing change of pace and be something fun for the whole family
• Bring along some favorite stuffed animals or dolls to join in the fun for some extended pretend play

3. GROW PLANTS FROM SEEDS

There is a lot to be learned through the process of planting, nurturing, and observing a plant grow day by day. Helping your child develop patience, caring, curiosity, and observation skills can all happen through the process of gardening. You don’t need a huge space or a large financial investment to make gardening a very rewarding and fun activity.

• Sprout vegetable or fruit seeds in an egg carton filled with soil or by wrapping them in a damp paper towel and placing it in a zipped plastic bag
• Plant and nurture seedlings in a planter by your kitchen window, out on your porch, or in your yard
• Notice with your child how the plants grow, what insects are attracted to which plants, and what plants need in order to thrive

4. HAVE A PICNIC PLAY DATE

Spending time having lunch, snack, or tea outdoors can be a terrific way to reconnect with your little ones. Stepping outside of the typical routine can be refreshing for both you and your child and can offer a change of pace that can be much needed during a time of social isolation.

• Have your child select food items a few days ahead prep and pack the picnic together
• Try a new fruit or veggie, taking the time to discuss what it tastes, smells, and feels like
• Make lemonade or iced tea together (measuring & pouring are great motor activities for young kids)
• Talk about things happening in the moment, make observations about what you see, hear, and feel happening around you
• Observe and experience the things happening around you — animals, plants, wind, clouds, etc.

5. START A GRATITUDE JAR

Take a mason jar and some slips of paper. Each day, develop a routine of writing down one thing you are thankful for and support your child in doing the same (you can do the writing for younger children or have them draw a picture of something they are grateful for). Practicing gratitude is an important life skill that can support healthy relationships and overall mental and emotional health for you and your children. Intentionally discussing what we are thankful for and taking a moment to appreciate the good things in our life, no matter how big or small, can improve our mood, reduce blood pressure, and help us manage stress. Some things you’ll need:

• A mason jar or shoe box to contain your notes and/or pictures
• Some colorful slips of paper and pencils/crayons
• Stickers, post-its, glue, or other decorations

6. DRIVE TO YOUR LOCAL AIRPORT OBSERVATION AREA TO WATCH AIRPLANES AND HELICOPTERS

Municipal airports usually have observation areas where little ones can safely watch airplanes and helicopters coming and going. Typically not too busy, these spaces offer a safe place to park and enjoy seeing smaller recreational planes, passenger jets, and helicopters taking off and landing. If relatively empty, getting out of the car and running around the space while abiding social distancing guidelines shouldn’t be too difficult.

• Google search the name of your local municipal airport + the words “observation area” for location and driving/parking directions
• If your children are sensitive to loud sounds, be sure to bring ear protection
• Other places to try out include: see fire trucks at the fire station, observe heavy machinery at a construction site, see trains at the station, watch boats at the marina

7. COOK TOGETHER

Whether you are a seasoned chef or just learning, cooking together with our children provides so many wonderful opportunities to bond, learn, and develop a trusting relationship. Having your little one take part in meal prep can support them trying new foods and developing skills such as patience, planning, measurement, and a slew of other abilities linked to enhanced cognitive development. Additionally, sharing stories about family members who passed down special recipes is a wonderful way to establish an appreciation of family traditions.

• Support your little ones in asking close friends or family members about their favorite foods and recipes
• Ask your child(ren) for meal ideas, the earlier they are involved in planning a meal the more likely they will be to help prepare and enjoy the food
• Help them feel involved by demonstrating skills and helping them practice in age-appropriate ways (cutting or rolling out cookie dough, for example)
• Take pictures of finished dishes with your little sous chef to preserve memories and share with family and friends

8. ROUTINE FAMILY CONVERSATIONS

Having consistent and predictable routines can be one of the most regulating things for children and adults. Routine conversations — for example, taking turns discussing something you’re thankful for and something you’re worried about during dinner on Wednesdays — can provide a regular opportunity for family members to check in with one another and share about our thoughts and feelings. You can begin having these conversations with your children by:

• Get everyone’s input on what you will plan to talk about ahead of time (remember that predictability is important)
• Adults can begin by sharing first to model communication skills and ways to talk about feelings
• Be aware of complex feelings. We don’t always feel just one way about something. For example, your little one may feel sad about not being able to visit their grandparents’ house during quarantine and at the same time be excited because they have more time to play with their own toys at home

9. PRACTICE MINDFULNESS

Developing a mindfulness practice can support us feeling more relaxed and self-aware, as well as help improve our relationships with others. Mindfulness practice takes many forms — mindful breathing, meditation, yoga, or simply being more aware and intentional in the every-day things we do (walking, playing, doing the dishes). The younger we begin to practice these techniques, the greater the benefits to both our physical and mental health. Whatever our practice looks like, it can help us become more comfortable experiencing the present moment more fully and being aware of the thoughts, feelings, and sensations that we often overlook. A few ideas to get started:

• Lay out on a blanket and notice how the clouds drift across the sky
• Sit quietly together for a few minutes with awareness of what you feel in your body
• Practice taking a deep breath and noticing what you are thinking and feeling before intervening with your child(ren)
• Narrate what you are thinking / feeling during conversations with your child

10. BECOME PEN-PALS

Staying connected with family & friends during the Covid-19 pandemic has become more challenging than ever. Zoom, Skype, and FaceTime are great… but writing letters or sending artwork can be really meaningful for both the sender and recipient. Finding additional ways of maintaining connections with friends and family members can be especially important for children who are not developmentally ready for additional screen time. Having a physical letter from a special friend or loving grandparent to touch, smell, and come back to whenever they need can be a really meaningful experience for children of all ages.

• Younger children will need some support to get started — be prepared to support them in figuring out what they want to draw or write that they are excited to share with their pen-pal
• Identify appropriate pen-pals for your child (do they miss a friend from school that they haven’t been able to see? A cousin, uncle, or other family member?)
• Unused post cards, old thank you cards, or other stationary lying around can be put to good use

11. WATCH FAMILY MOVIES TOGETHER

Have your children ever seen your wedding video, a video of your birthday when you were younger, or movies from when they were born or their early birthday celebrations? Experiencing these moments together can be a wonderful way of sharing family traditions and helping young children develop a coherent family story that can support the development of their identity and self-esteem.

• Let your child’s curiosity be your guide and spend time talking about any questions or comments they come up with
• Share how you were feeling in the moment as well as how you feel being able to share these memories with your child
• Support their ability to connect with people in the videos to reflect on the experience together
• Follow up conversations may pop up over time and your child might surprise you with what they’re curious about. These opportunities provide you a chance to observe how they make sense of people in their world and is also a chance to support their curiosity and model empathy by taking their questions seriously

12. GET ACTIVE TOGETHER

Physical activity helps expel energy, improves immune functioning, regulates mood, and supports healthy development. Going for a walk or bike ride, digging in the garden, swimming, playing tag, or helping clean up around the house; getting kids to be active is an important way to off-set all of the extra screen time they are likely getting. You may find that your child is much more talkative and self-reflective while engaging in physical activity. Leading a physically active lifestyle is also a great opportunity to laugh together and discover a hobby you can enjoy with your child. Some activities you might enjoy while maintaining social distancing:

• Go for a walk, jog, or nature hike
• Ride skateboards, scooters, or bikes
• Have an impromptu family dance party
• Make music together (you can use buckets, pots / pans, sealed containers with rice, etc.)
• Take an on-line, yoga, exercise, or dance class together

OTHER IDEAS THAT MIGHT WORK WELL FOR YOUR FAMILY:

EXPLORATION: A change of pace can be very important to you and your little ones during quarantine. Here are some more fun ways to support your child’s curiosity and need for exploration:

• See how many animals you can spot in your neighborhood
• Stay at home camp — brainstorm weekly themes that they would like to have (e.g., water week, space exploration week, safari week, etc.) and set up activities based on the theme
• Amateur bug explorer — look for bugs in your yard, in a neighborhood grassy area, plant, or tree and spend some time observing… talk about what you notice
• Set up an in-home mystery adventure or scavenger hunt. Leave clues to help them solve the mystery

GROSS/FINE MOTOR: Mastering large motor skills like climbing and jumping, as well as small motor abilities like picking up small items or fitting pieces of a puzzle together are an important part of typical development. It is important to provide children with a varied diet of motor activities to keep them interested in being active.

• Build together (wooden blocks, used boxes, Lego, Duplo, magnetic tiles, etc.)
• Work on developmentally appropriate puzzles together
• Draw or paint a mural using chalk, paint, etc.
• Set up a vehicle/toy “car wash” with sponge, brushes, and a bucket of soapy water

SENSORY: Our children need opportunities to get messy, feel their bodies in motion, and to develop a deeper connection with their senses. Here are a few added ways to bolster their healthy development:

• Get messy with finger painting, shaving cream, slime, play dough, cooked noodles, etc.
• Set up an outdoor mud kitchen
• Blow bubbles or play with water balloons
• Hang up a swing or get a weighted blanket/vest for vestibular and proprioceptive input
• Walk barefoot in the grass and sand
• Go to a less crowded beach to dig in the sand and play in the waves

SOCIO-EMOTIONAL: Healthy socio-emotional development contributes to future educational and interpersonal success. Support of socio-emotional development from an early age helps children in being able to identify and label their emotions, communicate about their feelings, and empathize with their friends’ experiences.

• Establish a day each week for family game night
• Narrate your feelings in the moment — if you feel tired, happy, worried, excited — tell them. Letting our children know it’s healthy to talk about a wide range of feelings can help them be better communicators in future relationships
• Family discussions: Say one thing you liked/didn’t like about today; share something you would like to get better at; share strengths you notice about each other
• Pretend play / role play activities are a wonderful way to help children make sense of their world or develop problem solving skills. Bring in characters from books or shows they might be interested in and support them in playing out some of the themes that stick with your children

BONDING: Spending time immersed in an activity together and developing some shared interests can help children feel supported by their parents and caregivers. Finding a hobby to enjoy together is a wonderful way to give our children a chance to enjoy discovering something new together.

• Learn something new together — what have you always wondered about but never had the time to find out? Do the research together, watch a documentary, etc. and discuss what you discovered
• Teach your child a skill (e.g., sewing, knitting, beadwork, scrapbooking, playing an instrument, repairing things around the house, etc.)
• Take pictures (let your child use an old digital camera, old smart phone camera, etc.) — make a photo book of special photos your child chooses
• Explore old yearbooks/family photos and share stories about your childhood
• Rescue/adopt a family pet

With everything happening in our world today, one of the most important things we can do for our children is providing positive experiences that will leave a lasting impression. Finding ways to connect and strengthen relationships with our children can be challenging when we are stressed, worried, or worn out. Not only will the activities above provide engaging opportunities to do something fun with your children, but they might also be the thing they remember years from now when they bring up the Summer of 2020. I hope that this list provides you some activities that can be included in your family’s daily routines. If there is something on this list that you and your little one really loved, or another idea you would like to contribute, please feel free to share in the comments below.

Lisa Sherman, M.A., LMFT

About the author: Lisa Sherman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and founder of Planting Seeds Parenting. She specializes in supporting parents in building healthy and nurturing relationships with their young children. Lisa’s work is guided by the mindfulness teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, attachment theory, and a focus on relationships as the foundation of all development. Her passion for this work stems from her own personal growth through reflective practice and experience as a mother of two children. Planting Seeds Parenting is focused on supporting parents in the most important work they will ever have to do — raising resilient, compassionate, and mindful children.