Do you teach preschool during the summer? Or are you the kind of parent who likes to throw in some educational activities between popsicles and swimming lessons? I’m the latter. Try these summer printables for preschoolers to keep your preschooler engaged in learning while also having loads of summer of fun!
Summer Activities for Preschool to Keep ’em Learning
Summer learning activities for preschool has never been so easy!
Ok, so I’m that mom who every single year, when fourth-quarter report cards come home, takes a look at her childrens’ strengths and weaknesses and immediately sets to work devising a summer plan to keep learning.
I’d love for our district to move to a modified year-round schedule because I am that parent who is afraid her kids are going to forget everything they have learned over the year. I mean, I can tell one of my kids not to use their shirt as a napkin and two seconds later they are wiping their face on their sleeve. So, what does that say about long division?
Ok, so maybe I don’t give my kids enough credit, but I certainly don’t think there is anything wrong will partially filling our summer days with learning activities. Seriously. remember how good it felt that last time you learned how to do something new?
These summer learning activities are just the thing to help keep your preschooler advancing throughout the summer, but still having loads of fun. But don’t worry. These are not academic lessons! They are just happy, summer themed activities that are downright fun!
Some are free printables for summer and others are hands-on activities using basic household materials. Keep reading to find all my best summer learning activities for kids.
Free Printable Summer Learning Activities for Preschool
In case you are looking to target a specific skill developing in your preschooler this summer, I have have categorized these summer printables into three topics:
- math printables
- alphabet and literacy printables
- pre-writing practice printables
If you are a homeschooling parent, you could choose just a couple of printables for each week of the summer. You’ll find preschool activities with a watermelon theme, ice cream theme, beach theme, and all other summer themes.
Math Based Summer Printables for Preschoolers
Links are organized to correspond with the image below, going from left to right, top to bottom.
These Lightning Bug Counting Clip Cards are a fun way to add some insect fun to your math centers while practicing counting from 0-20 and reading ten frames. You can work with your students or turn it into a self-checking activity.
Preschool and kindergarten kids will love these Ice Cream Number Mats. They can be used with play dough to reinforce counting and number recognition.
These Seashell Counting Numbers Math Mats are a helpful tool for kids to use as they learn to count and show numbers in different ways. These mats are super versatile and can be used in many different ways to fit with your specific lesson needs.
Grab some watermelon seeds and rolling dice for these Watermelon Math Mats! This free printable comes with both addition and subtraction mats.
These Ice Cream Count and Clip Cards are perfect for practicing counting from 0-10. They can also be used to work on color identification and fine motor skills.
This Printable Camping Counting Book is a great way to help toddlers and preschoolers with their early math skills. This activity is super cute and can also double as a coloring book!
Roll and Count games like this Free Seashell Math Activity are perfect for introducing numbers or practicing number sense. There are multiple sections for diving into the different parts of a number as well as counting, making this free printable perfect for preschool all the way through kindergarten.
These free Watermelon Counting Clip Cards are a fun way for preschoolers, toddlers, and kindergarteners to practice counting to 10. This activity is low-prep and can easily be made into a self-checking activity.
Alphabet Based Summer Printables for Preschoolers
Learning uppercase and lowercase letters is so much fun with this free Ice Cream Alphabet Matching Activity. They can also be used to practice building simple words like CVC words.
This free Sunglasses Alphabet Matching Printable is the perfect way to have your kids practicing and remember their alphabet all summer long. Be sure to read the post thoroughly, as it includes five different ways to practice letter matching and letter identification with just this one printable!
Summer is a great time to transition preschool literacy knowledge from letter identification and letter sounds to more beginning sound work. These free Beginning Sound Popsicle Puzzles are brightly colored, have inviting pictures, and teach beginning sounds in a fun way perfect for any summer theme.
This free Watermelon ABC Printable can be used with play dough and other loose parts so kids can practice building letters. These mats are designed one to a page, which gives you lots of flexibility when printing.
These Beach Themed Color By Letter Printables help children with their letter recognition skills while having fun in the process. This activity is also helping children to follow a guide, follow directions, and build hand muscles and pencil grip.
This Pool and Beach Ball Alphabet Match Game is a fun way to work with uppercase and lowercase letters. This activity can easily be modified to meet the needs of your students.
Know any kids who like to look for bugs while they’re outside playing all summer? Then they’ll probably enjoy this versatile Bug Alphabet Scavenger Hunt, which can be used for uppercase recognition, lowercase recognition, or work on matching the upper and lowercase letters.
This Sand Pail and Shovel ABC Match is another fun way to work on matching uppercase and lowercase letters. You could also print off double copies of the activity and have students match like letters.
Picture Books I Love for a Summer Theme
With all these sun summer printables for preschoolers, you need some picture books to pair with them! These are some of my favorites.
Pre-Writing Based Summer Printables for Preschoolers
These free Beach Theme Cards can be used in several different way to help your preschoolers with their pre-writing practice. They’re most commonly used for tracing practice but can be easily modified to accommodate learners who aren’t ready for tracing.
These Summer Handwriting Worksheets are a great way for preschool and kindergarten kids to practice writing uppercase letters. They’re low-prep and so cute for a summer theme.
These Alphabet Tracing Popsicles are great for both preschoolers and kindergarteners. This free printable works on both uppercase and lowercase letters.
These Fun Summer Cutting Cards were designed for scissor practice, but could also be used as an easy tracing activity. Either way, these are a great way to build fine motor skills as preparation for writing skills down the road.
Who doesn’t love ice cream? This free Ice Cream Cone Alphabet Tracing activity is another fun way for preschoolers and kindergarteners to practice writing uppercase and lowercase letters with a summer theme.
Looking for Easy Prep Summer Preschool Printables?
These activity packs make the best preschool math centers for summer.
I’m Sarah, an educator turned stay-at-home-mama of five! I’m the owner and creator of Stay At Home Educator, a website about intentional teaching and purposeful learning in the early childhood years. I’ve taught a range of levels, from preschool to college and a little bit of everything in between. Right now my focus is teaching my children and running a preschool from my home. Credentials include: Bachelors in Art, Masters in Curriculum and Instruction.
