Most summer activity lists focus on older kids, but babies can enjoy the sunshine too! Here are a few age appropriate ways to have fun in the sun with your little one.
Water Play
You don’t need a lake or a sandy beach to enjoy the warm weather, although either would make for a fun outing. A small wading pool with just a few inches of water can offer a splashy good time to babies who can sit. A few measuring cups and even sand toys such shovels and pails allow them to explore the water.
If you have a sandbox, try making a small water puddle so your baby can experience a different texture of sand. Most babies don’t appreciate water in their face, but a sprinkler on its very lowest setting, rising just inches from the ground, is less intimidating and will introduce them to a classic summer activity: running (or crawling) through the sprinkler drops.
Blowing Bubbles
Bubbles are a simple pleasure that can usually only be enjoyed outside, making them a prime summer activity. Most babies are happy trying to pop the small bubbles from a dollar store bottle, but you can expand the fun by branching out into the larger wands available at toy stores.
When it’s time to head inside, babies are delighted to discover that bubbles blown toward them at bath time stick to their soapy skin instead of popping. Just avoid bubble pipes and other gadgets which may lead to your baby accidentally drinking or inhaling the bubble liquid.
Take a Hike!
Every child loves to explore, and summer is the perfect time to move beyond the joys of the bathroom cabinet. If your munchkin is a pre-walker, use a backpack carrier or stroller. Walks can be as short as a jaunt around the block or as long as an all day hike. You’ll get bonus green points for walking somewhere you would normally drive, such as the park or the store.
Walks are a good time to try out new vocabulary by pointing out unfamiliar objects and saying their names. Stick to early mornings and late evenings during the scorching hot days of midsummer and be sure to pack plenty of water.
Dressed appropriately and well supervised, your baby can do almost anything your older kids can do, with a few modifications. Babies enjoy warm weather as much as anyone else, so use your imagination to find new ways to get them out of the house.
Emily Marshall - I am a freelance writer and mother of eight. Although my educational background is in Developmental Psychology, I worked in Development at ...
