The best sidewalk chalk activities are colorful, fun, and invite creative thinking. 

Grab a few pieces, put them in a plastic bag, and tuck them in your purse for fun on-the-go learning. Try one or all of these playful learning chalk activities for kids.

Disclosure: Affiliate links are used in this post.

The BEST Sidewalk Chalk Activities for Kids

Of course, there is no limitation to what you can do with sidewalk chalk (this is our favorite brand), but I hope these activities will inspire some new ways to play and learn outside this summer.

Click the highlighted words to be taken to step-by-step directions or more information on the products we use.

LITERACY Themed Sidewalk Chalk Activities for Kids

Draw a letter carrot and hop to find the matching letter in this super cute Sidewalk Chalk Bunny Alphabet Game.

Grab 5-10 sight words that you want to practice and try this Sidewalk Chalk Sight Word Game.

Make a batch of cookies, then head outside to learn your alphabet with this Sidewalk Chalk Alphabet  Cookie Themed Game

Learn and Zoom the ABC’s Outside.  Try this easy sidewalk chalk activity to practice the alphabet with kids.

You can even have fun with some of your favorite book characters like this Pete the Cat sidewalk chalk game.

Skip the pre-made worksheets. Make Letter Matching Roads in the middle of your driveway.  Great for learning the letters, fine motor, and hand-eye coordination.

More letter love! Who doesn’t love monsters? Make and stomp Chalk Monsters.

Math Themed Sidewalk Chalk Activities for Kids

When all the leaves come falling down, grab a bucketful and head to the driveway for this Chalk Numbers with Leaves Math Game for Kids.

Make the classic sidewalk chalk hop-scotch. Toss the rock, hop and count.

Draw a number line with the sidewalk chalk. Call out the number and let kids jump from 0 to that number.

Working on addition and subtraction? Try the number line again, this time read or show the math problem, let the child jump forward or backwards to solve.

Choo, choo! Draw and learn numbers with this fun Counting Chalk Trains  *This is a great game to use with a transportation learning theme.

Throw a few colored circles on your driveway and let your kiddos sort their cars with this car color sort math activity.

Make a giant sidewalk chalk clock. Use 2 toys or sticks as the clocks hands. Practice telling time!

You can explore more math ideas with these sidewalk chalk math games.

SCIENCE and GLOBAL LEARNING Sidewalk Chalk Activities for Kids

Get children excited about famous landmarks around the world with this Landmarks and Math Sidewalk Chalk activity for older kids.

Learn about the Earth with this sidewalk chalk activity for kids.

Who are the people in your neighborhood? Explore your community, then make a model of your town out of chalk.

Head into the changes of season with this colorful fall leaf sidewalk chalk game that even works on eye hand coordination.

Draw the planets in order.  Want a challenge? Figure out how to draw the planets distance between each other to scale. Glitter Chalk, like this one on Amazon, makes this whole project sparkle like the stars!

“Sidewalk chalk is great because we can make roads for our bikes in the driveway.” ~ Nicholas, 7 year old

Even more Chalk Games for Kids

Put a twist on the classic chalk activities, try  Sidewalk Painting with Siblings. This sidewalk chalk paint is a whole other level of fun!  

Try wet chalk drawings – dip the sidewalk chalk into a shallow dish with water and then draw.

Trace around the kids. Let them decorate their “chalk selves.”

And the best sidewalk chalk activity for kids of all times – just let them create!

What is your favorite way for kids playing with chalk?

You may also enjoy these activities…

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Let the games begin!

Watching the Olympics with your child can be such a special treat on so many levels. From watching the world’s best athletes to learning more about tradition and culture from all the countries participants, all found in one location.

We’ve put together a plan for you to celebrate this special time with your child this summer.

Here’s a quick overview of all the super fun activities and crafts that you can do with your child as they watch and learn about the Summer Olympics!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Summer Olympics Activities for Kids

Explore this collection of Olympics Activities to create a special keepsake inspired by the iconic symbols of the Olympics from the Olympic rings, Olympic torch and Olympic medals.

• Olympic Rings Activities
• Host Your Own Summer Olympic Games Party
• Olympic Games with Cups and Straws
• Painting Olympics Rings with Cups
• Summer Olympics Coloring Book
• Olympic Rings Art Project
• Olympic Torch Craft Ideas
• World Flags Banner
• Learning About the World During the Olympics

While you’re having fun you can use these Olympics trivia questions for kids too!

Summer Olympics Games for Kids

Get moving with these fun Olympic inspired movement games.

• Fun and Silly Backyard Olympics Games
• Olympics Rings Outdoor Game
• Living Room Olympics: Choose a movement challenge and compete!

Summer Olympics Books for Kids

Here are a collection of books that are themed around the sports and athletes that inspired us for the summer Olympics. They’ve been hand-selected for younger children so they took can learn about this important event in our world. Hopefully, these children’s books will inspire our future Olympians to compete!

Here’s our full book list of Summer Olympic Games…

What Are the Summer Olympics by Gail Herman

She Persisted in Sports: American Olympians Who Changed the Game From Chelsea Clinton

G is for Gold Medal: An Olympics Alphabet by Brad Herzog

Curious George and the Summer Games by H.A. Rey

She’s Got This by Laurie Hernandez

Olympig by Victoria Jamieson

How to Train with a T. Rex and Win 8 Gold Medals by Michael Phelps

The Golden Girls of Rio by Nikkolas Smith

Unbeatable Betty: Betty Robinson, the First Female Olympic Track & Field Gold Medalist

All About the Olympic Games (Around the World by Magic Spells for Teachers)

The Frog Olympics

DK Eyewitness Books: Olympics

How Do You Become an Olympian? by Madeleine Kelly

Explore these Winter Olympic Themed Books too!

Summer Olympics Medal Crafts and Activities

One symbol of the Olympics that we all want to track are who wins the gold medal! Make your own with these fun gold medal crafts. PLUS add a little math fun with a medal tracker!

• DIY Olympic Gold Medals
• DIY Olympic Medal Craft for Kids
• Track the medal count here
• Learn more about the 2020 Olympics Medal Designs

Looking for a more structured lesson about the Olympics? Take a look at these summer games art lessons and sign up today!

Summer Games Video Art Lessons

• diving
• Games coliseum
• archery
• gymnastics
• laurel wreath
• sailing
• The Games – basketball, volleyball, soccer, tennis, golf, hockey

Bonus!

• Opening ceremonies video art lesson

Highlights Olympic Viewing Guide and Event Schedule

If your child is interested in watching specific summer sports or want to track how the athletes do, below is a quick look at the Summer Olympics schedule.  Paris Opening Ceremony is July 24th !

• Archery: July 25 – August 4
• Athletics: July 25- August 4
• Badminton: July 27 – August 5
• Basketball: July 27 – August 11
• Boxing: July 27 – August 10
• Canoeing: July 27 – July 10
• Cycling: July 27- August 11
• Diving: July 27 – August 10
• Equestrian: July 27 – August 6
• Fencing: July 27 – August 4
• Hockey: July 27 – 9
• Golf: August 1 – August 10
• Gymnastics: July 27 – August 5
• Handball: July 25 – August 11
• Judo: July 27 – August 3
• Rowing: July 27 – August 3
• Rugby: July 24 – July 30
• Sailing: July 28 – August 8
• Shooting: July 27 – August 5
• Surfing: July 27 – August 4
• Swimming: July 27 – August 4
• Table Tennis: July 27 – August 10
• Taekwondo: August 7 – 10
• Tennis: July 27 – August 4
• Track and Field: July 30 – August 8
• Triathlon: July 20 – August 5
• Volleyball: July 27 – August 11
• Water Polo: July 27 – August 11
• Weightlifting: August 7 – 11
• Wrestling: August 5 – 11

(The dates of events are subject to change.)

Here’s the FULL SCHEDULE of the SUMMER OLYMPICS GAMES IN PARIS

The Olympic games have the ability to bring our world together like no other event in our lives. Especially after this recent year and all that we’ve had to do help our children cope with the impact Covid-19 in our daily lives.

My hope is that this special time will be a chance for us to collectively come together for a time of healing and through sportmanship as we discover how small this world truly is. This quote is one of my favorites.

Summer Games Activities for Kids

There are so many fun ways to focus on the Olympics this Summer with your child. Which sports do you think they will want to watch the most? Do you have a favorite athlete you’re cheering on?

Get Ready for the Summer Olympics with Fun and Exciting Activities!

Get ready for the most exciting sporting event of the year – the Summer Olympics! The 2024 Olympic games are going to be held in Paris, France, and we can’t wait for all the fun and excitement.

In this blog post, we’ve created a list of Olympic-themed games and activities that you and your kids can enjoy at home. From creating your team pendant to picking a mascot, designing gold medals, and participating in mascot relay races, mascot toss, and mascot obstacle courses, we have something for everyone.

So gather your family and friends, get creative, and have a blast celebrating the Summer Olympics!

Olympic Party Game Ideas and Activities:

The Summer Olympics is just around the corner, and we’re getting excited! To help you and your family get in the Olympic spirit, we’ve put together a list of fun and engaging activities that will have you cheering for your Team in no time.

These ideas are ideal for summer Olympic activities for elementary students and preschoolers!

Make Your Team Pendant

Pre-cut pendant from large pieces of construction paper. Invite your Olympic competitors to use crayons or markers to design their team pendants for the Opening Ceremony. Provide tape and a wooden dowl to attach to the pendant so you can hold it proudly as you march.

Pick A Mascot

Every team needs a mascot! Invite your guests to bring a special stuffed animal to join them in the Olympic Games. Have a few extra to choose from if your guest forgets. To make it even more special they can create a team button for their mascot to wear along with each guest.

Decorate a Gold Medal

Here’s a fun keepsake from the party, create your own gold medal. Using Gold Cardstock, Ribbon and foam stickers each child can create a personalized gold medal with their name.

Mascot Relay Races

Imagine a simplified game of Simon Says. Ask Olympic competitors to take the challenge of racing from the start line to the finish line completing a variety of tasks.

Hold your mascots on your shoulders and then…

• Run
• Hop
• Gallop
• Hop on one foot

you get the picture….

Mascot Toss

Grab a large bucket and create a tossing line. Each competitor gets to toss their mascot with 3 attempts of making a basket into the large bucket.

Chalk Olympic Rings Simon Says

Draw several large circles on your driveway for this Olympic challenge. Then ask your Olympic competitors a variety of challenges with their mascots. For example…

• Jump
• One foot jump
• Tip Toe
• Gallop
• Frog jump

So many fun ways to get kids moving and having fun.

Mascot Obstacle Course

Create your own backyard Obstacle course for your child and their team mascot to race against the clock and compete with other contestants. Cones, tunnels, pool noodles, and hula hoops are helpful to use to create the course.

Olympic Themed Snacks

• Olympic Snack Board of Champions
• Olympic Treats
• Olympic Rings Rice Krispy Treats
• Gold Medal Cookies

Local Events for the Olympics

Take a look into your community to see if there are any former Olympic athletes or events you can attend during the Summer 2024 Olympics too.

Here’s an opportunity from my local community years ago… I got to hold a gold medal!!!!

This gold medal was earned in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics winner Rowdy Gaines. He’s a 3-time Olympic Gold Medalist and NBC Commentator.

My daughters also had the opportunity to have an art lessons from Becky Lancer, 1996 Olympic Gold Synchronized Swimming. She was their local art teacher, you never know who’s around us in your community.

Our local hospital UF Health is also one of the Health Care Providers for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Medical Network. It’s been fun seeing the photos shared on their facebook page of our doctors and their experience.

Decorate for your Olympic Party

Here are my top picks on Amazon for decorating for hosting your Summer Olympics Party with kids!

The Ultimate Summer Olympics Guide for Kids

Grab your family, friends, or co-workers, and get ready to experience the thrill of the Summer Olympics like never before. Let’s dive into the fun and excitement together!

Have you brought glue and paper outside to the sandbox yet for some fun sand art? If not, today is the day to have some outdoor fun and learning!

Sand Art | Outdoor Fun and Learning

Materials needed:

• Sand
• Paper or Card Stock
• School Glue

It’s craft projects like these where it may be beneficial in investing in the refill 1 Gallon Jug of glue.

Directions

1. Bring the paper and glue outside.

2. Let the kids make any design or image they want to with the glue. * Squeezing the glue is a great fine motor strengthening activity.

3. Lightly poor sand on the top of the glue image.

4. Gently shake off.

5. Set on a table to dry. If it’s a windy day, use rocks to hold it down.

6. Repeat as many times as desired.

Literacy Connections

While your projects are drying, connect this Sand Art activity with a cute book about Sand:

Llama Llama Sand and Sun

Sand Cake (A Frank Asch Bear Book)

The Sand Castle Contest

If you enjoyed this Sand Art Activity you may also enjoy these….

My daughter is getting VERY excited about her upcoming week at science camp! In preparation for this amazing week-long summer camp, we are trying to get into the habit of “thinking like a scientist!”  

This week, we focused on solar science experiments and creative problem-solving.

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Solar Science Experiments for Kids

A collection of solar science experiments to try with your child in the backyard to encourage them to “think like a scientist!”

Converting Sunlight into Heat.

We bought this great little kid pool for our backyard and filled it up with cold water right from the faucet. Our baby put his finger in and announced, “COLD pool” and refused to get in. Without filling the pool with water from our home heater, I posed the question:

How can we heat up water the fastest?

This is the solar experiment we decided would best help us answer this question.

Materials Needed:

• 3 identical cups,
• 2 sheets of white paper
• 1 sheet of black.
• 1 plastic lining or plastic bag to cover one cup
• thermometer

Directions.

1. Fill each cup with the same amount of liquid of the same cool temperature.
2. Measure the water temperature and set one cup on each paper. Cover one of the glasses on white paper with plastic.
3. Have a discussion and make predictions about what you think will happen to the water in each glass.
4. Measure
5. Let the water sit in a sunny place for one hour.
6. Remeasure and discuss the results.

What do you think my kids should do to heat up the water in their pool faster?

* Parent tips:

A black background absorbs more heat than a light background.

Covering the cup slows or stops evaporation. The plastic covering may also absorb some of the suns’ rays.

Absorbing and Reflecting Heat: Solar Oven

The kids were fascinated with warming the liquid with the sun and asked, “If the sun can heat up water, what else can it heat up?”  They got to work building their own SOLAR oven using recycled materials.

Materials Needed: (use recycled materials when possible!)

• cardboard box
• black paper
• tinfoil
• saran wrap
• tortilla chips
• shredded cheese

Directions

1. Let your child build their own oven.
   
   My second grader found some black paper (the back was colored on) and started gluing it inside the box.
   
   She then added in some tinfoil, predicting that the foil would reflect the suns rays and heat up her cheese better.
   
   She covered the top with saran wrap in hopes it would heat the nachos faster.
   
2. Set the solar oven in a sunny spot.
3. Add the chips and top with shredded cheese.
4. Set a timer for 5 minutes. Record your results.
5. Once the cheese has melted, eat!
6. Then, if you choose, try to build another model of a solar oven. Make some changes and compare your results.
   
   * THINK like a scientist!!!!*
   
   A scientist will perform experiments over and over again to collect data and to figure out better and more efficient ways of doing things.

* Parent tips:

Some people have tried cooking hot-dogs, nachos are WAY easier!

Keeping a science journal is a great way to connect literacy to science!

Solar Heater: Sun Tea

Now my kids were on a solar experiment role. “Hey, MOM, do you think we could make your tea with energy from the sun instead of wasting electricity to heat your water inside?” Sure kiddos, what will we need to do?

I love that they were thinking creatively, asking questions, and applying what they have learned.

Materials Needed:

• Large glass jar
• Water
• 2 Bags of Tea

Directions.

1. Fill the jar with water.
2. Add 2 tea bags
3. Place in a sunny place
4. Gently shake every once in a while (per the kids instructions)
5. Wait HOURS (they learned the sun is powerful, but does take time to harness the energy)
6. Serve warm OR pour over ice cubes for iced tea!

Solar Prints

You could talk to your kids about the sun and have them make sun-prints. We used the solar sun print kit, but should have just bought the re-fill package ($5.99 vs $10.49) as we just used the paper.

Here’s the directions for How to Make Solar Prints with Kids.

More Ideas for Solar FUN :

• Solar Power STEM Camp Activities
• Studying the effects of the sun and the importance of sun screen at the beach
• Solar Eclipse Videos and Activities for Kids
• Sunshine and Solar Energy Activities for Kids

Solar Energy Books for Kids

• Running on Sunshine: How Does Solar Energy Work? by Carolyn Cinami DeCristofano
• Solar Power: Capturing the Sun’s Energy by Laurie Brearley
• Solar Story: How One Community Lives Alongside the World’s Biggest Solar Plant by Allan Drummond
• Time to Shine! by Catherine Daly

You can explore more sun and solar energy books here in our Summer Books for Kids Book List.

Solar Cars

Now we are going to work on keeping our “science caps” for the rest of the month (we are stopping at a thrift store tomorrow to pick up our take-apart to be used during the camp week.

We are going to be on the lookout for electronics powered by the sun – maybe a calculator with a solar panel?

Whatever it is, I’m sure it will be fun to disassemble and tinker with. I’m thinking we won’t be able to wait until camp and may have to find a couple of items for home too! I’m not sure who is more excited about a whole week of science and inventing – her or me!

Looking for more science activities for your child? Try these…

Disclosure: This post contains amazon affiliate links.

Alphabetical Order Obstacle Course

Learning Objective: Say the alphabet letter names in order.

Materials Needed

• ABC Pool Noodle Beads
• Craft Sticks

Click here for directions on how to make the ABC Beads.

How to Play Alphabetical Order Obstacle Course:

1. Turn the abc pool noodle bead upside down.

2. Shove a craft stick into one side.

3. Place the stick into the ground spaced 3-5 feet apart from each other.

4. Let the kids run around the obstacle course in alphabetical order.

Option 1: (Easiest) Put the alphabet pool noodle beads in the ground in abc order and let the children run through the course and say the letter names out loud.

Option 2: Call out a letter name, have the child run through the obstacle course to that letter then turn around.

Option 3: (most challenging) Set the pool noodle alphabet beads out in a mixed up order. Have the children run the obstacle course from a-z.

Teacher tip: This activity works best in an open area with lots of space. Encourage children to take their time and not bump into the letter beads or each other.

We like to space kids out in the obstacle course every 5 seconds.

Pool Noodle Learning Activities for Kids

We have several Pool Noodle Learning Activities that you might also enjoy.

• Build a Word Tower with Pool Noodles 
• Pool Noodle Sight Word Boat Races 
• 15 Pool Noodle Activities for Kids 
• Giant ABC Beads with Pool Noodles 
• Pool Noodle Boat Matching Game 
• Pool Noodle ABC Basket 
• Base Ten Basket with Pool Noodles 
• Pool Noodle Alphabet Order Obstacle Course (You’re HERE)

Click on the images below to see how to make and play these pool noodle learning activities!

Which Pool Noodle Learning Activity will you try first this summer?

Most of the time, our play includes WATER! Learn how to play this outdoor water game with kids for tons of our fun.

This gross motor game is a spin off the classic Duck, Duck, Grey Duck (or Goose!), but with a cup of water. I can’t take credit for creating the game as it was shared with me by a fellow camp counselor 20 years ago! It was a summer camp hit then and still is today.

Grab a bucket of water and a cup and try it with your kids this afternoon!

Affiliate links are included in this article.

Drip, Drip, Drop | Outdoor Water Game for Kids

Learning objective: The children will learn to follow directions, take turns, and run!

*This game is best played in a group of 3 or more children.

Materials Needed:

• Bucket
• Plastic Cups

How to Play Drip, Drip, Drop Game

1. Children sit in a circle. One child is “it.”  They scoop a 1/2 cup of water from the bucket.

2. Starting where they were sitting, they dip their fingers in the cup and sprinkle a drip of water on the next child’s head and say, “DRIP.”

3. Play continues with drips until the child DROPS the rest of the water on someone’s head and says, “DROP.”

4. That person then chases the child who is it around the circle, trying to beat them back to their original space.

5. The player that sits last (or is still standing) scoops a 1/2 cup of water and goes around the circle again.

6. The game ends when all children have had a chance to be it or your water runs out!

* Paper cups will work, but they get soggy fast and you need a lot of them. The plastic disposable cups are a little better, but crack easily. If you have a plastic re-usable cup, they tend to hold up the best!

** Drip Drip Drop Rules: We always had a few kids who did not want to get wet. We had a signal that if they did not want to get wet, they would put their legs straight out and the child who was “it” would drip on their legs, not their head, and for the “drop” just pour it gently on their legs.

You may, of course, adapt the game to meet the needs and wants of your kids.

Water Activities from the #PlayfulPreschool Team:

• Alphabet Activities: Washing the Letter Dishes by Growing Book by Book
• Alphabet Hunt in a Water Sprinkler by Mom Inspired Life
• Turn Your Water Bottles into Musical Instruments by Life Over C’s
• Pie Tin Boats – an engineering challenge for the whole family by Rainy Day Mum
• Making a Solar Still-a Water Desalination Experiment by Capri + 3
• Water Displacement Experiment by Fun-A-Day
• Drip, Drip, Drop | Outdoor Water Game for Kids by The Educators’ Spin On It

Here’s our entire collection of super fun and easy water activities for kids!

Get your kids splashing around outside with Drip, Drip, Drop game, then dry off and come inside for some quiet reading time.

This level 3 reader from National Geographic provides a great introduction to the science of water. With high color photographs and detailed explanations of concepts and terms, children will learn about water cycles, flow, and evaporation.

National Geographic Readers: Water

Geared for more advanced beginning readers ages 6-9 to read independently. My little guys LOVE this book read to them. Here are some more Water Books for Kids!

Here are a few more fun ideas for outdoor water games!

Water Activities for Summer Fun

There’s just something that is ever so magical about playing with water with kids! Here are a few fun water activities that your child will LOVE plus they sneak in some learning too.

Why Water Play is Important for Kids

Water play is a fun and refreshing way for kids to cool off on a hot day, but it’s also good for their physical, cognitive, and social development.

Here are just a few of the benefits of water play for kids:

• Water play helps kids stay cool and hydrated. When kids play in water, they sweat, which helps them cool down and stay hydrated. This is especially important during hot weather, when kids are more likely to become dehydrated.
• Water play helps kids develop gross motor skills. Water play activities like splashing, jumping, and running help kids develop their gross motor skills. These skills are important for activities like running, jumping, and playing sports.
• Water play helps kids develop fine motor skills. Water play activities like filling and dumping buckets, using water toys, and painting with water help kids develop their fine motor skills. These skills are important for activities like writing, drawing, and using tools.
• Water play helps kids learn about cause and effect. When kids play in the water, they can experiment with different ways to make the water move. This helps them learn about cause and effect, which is an important cognitive skill.
• Water play helps kids develop problem-solving skills. When kids play in the water, they often encounter challenges like how to get a water toy to float or how to build a dam. This helps them develop problem-solving skills, which are important for everyday life.
• Water play helps kids socialize. Water play is a great way for kids to socialize with other kids. They can play together in the water, share water toys, and help each other with water activities. This helps them develop social skills like cooperation, sharing, and taking turns.

So next time it’s a hot day, take your kids to the pool, the beach, or even just the backyard sprinkler. They’ll have fun, and they’ll also be getting a lot of benefits for their physical, cognitive, and social development.

25+ Water Activities for Kids

Here are our favorite Water Activities for Kids…

• Water Table Themes and Activities
• Rainbow Sea Shells
• The Best Collection of Water Books for Kids
• Learning About Land and Water with Maps
• Pool Noodle Boat Races
• Dory Letter Sensory Bag
• Finding Dory Sight Word Sensory Bag

• A  House for Hermit Crab Water Coloring 
• 30+ Ocean Themed Activities
• Water Math and Science Fun
• Shark Teeth Hunting
• Water Play Alphabet Activities
• Alphabet Slap Water Game
• Alphabet Soup Sensory Play

• Boat Dot Art Painting
• Water Week for Tot School
• Using Water Beads to Build Imagination
• Water Beads on Ice Science Fun
• Skip Counting with Water Beads
• Number Match Sensory Play
• Number Spray and Water Dump
• Water Balloon Math Game

• Painting with Ice Art Project
• Wet Chalk Painting with Siblings
• Water Balloon Painting
• Alphabet Fish Bowl Game with Water
• Learning How to Water the Garden
• DIY Thermometer with Water

• Water Virtual Field Trips for Kids
• Glass Bottom Boat Ride
• Visiting an Aquarium with Kids
• Water Activities at Science Museum
• Learning How to Do Paddleboarding
• Taking Kids to a Water Park

How will you explore the water with your child this week? 

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon Affiliate links.

Water Books for Kids

Kids and water are like magnets. Here are some fun children’s books that are all about water and swimming. For more water books, check out this collection of water books for kids!

Are you ready to dive into summer reading?

• Hey, Water! by Antoinette Portis
• Water by Frank Asch
• Drop: An Adventure through the Water Cycle by Emily Kate Moon
• I Am Water (Scholastic Reader, Level 1) by Jean Marzollo
• Bubbles . . . UP! by Jacqueline Davies
• The Great Big Water Cycle Adventure by Kay Barnham

• All the Water in the World by George Ella Lyon
• Water! Water! Water! by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace
• Leo Can Swim by Anna McQuinn
• Pool Party by Amy Duchêne
• Llama Llama Learns to Swim by Anna Dewdney
• Daniel Learns to Swim (Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood) by Alexandra Cassel Schwartz
• Froggy Learns to Swim by Jonathan London
• Maisy Learns to Swim by Lucy Cousins
• Peppa Goes Swimming by Scholastic

• Curious George Goes Swimming by H. A. Rey
• Dino-Swimming by Lisa Wheeler
• Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall
• Rosie the Dragon and Charlie Make Waves by Lauren H. Kerstein
• 1, 2, 3, Jump! by Lisl H. Detlefsen
• Cannonball by Sacha Cotter
• Together We Swim by Valerie Bolling

• Summer Vacation, Here I Come! by D.J. Steinberg
• I See Summer by Charles Ghigna
• Mouse’s First Summer by Lauren Thompson
• Over and Under the Waves by Kate Messner
• Commotion in the Ocean by Giles Andreae
• Ocean! Waves for All by Stacy McAnulty
• Earth’s Incredible Oceans by Jess French

Water Toys for Kids on Amazon

I’ve found my favorite water toys for kids on Amazon for easy shopping for these warm months ahead. Take a look here at my storefront on Amazon.

Here are a few tips for making water play safe for kids:

• Always supervise kids when they are playing in water.
• Never leave a child unattended in a bathtub or swimming pool.
• Make sure kids wear sunscreen when they are playing in the sun.
• Teach kids water safety rules, such as how to swim and how to avoid drowning.
• Have fun!

Here’s why we recommend that every child should take swimming lessons for water safety!

Your child may also enjoy these activities…

We had so much fun making these planters and picking out our flowers. They look amazing on our balcony and bring in some much needed color after all of the cold winter weather.

This is a great project for kids of all ages, but because the cinder blocks are quite heavy kids will need some help moving the blocks around. We used outdoor patio paint to ensure that the planters would be weatherproof and able to stay outdoors. I am choosing to keep our planters on our covered balcony just to keep the colors nice and bright.

Make your own painted cinder blocks

Disclosure: Amazon affiliate links included

Supplies for painting your cinder blocks

• Cinder blocks
• Weatherproof outdoor paint. I found DecoArt outdoor patio paint at our local craft store. It is weatherproof and self-sealing so no sealer is needed plus it comes in lots of fun bright colors.
• Painters tape
• Foam brushes
• Plastic lids or containers to use as paint palettes

Instructions for painting your cinder blocks

1. Lay down newspaper or a drop cloth before starting. If your cinder blocks are dirty, make sure to wipe them down and let them completely dry before painting. Place your cinder blocks on top of the newspaper and get your paint and brushes ready. I found that foam brushes work best with this project, they spread the paint nicely and are easy for kids to use.

Related: Mini Plant Pots – an Easy Upcycle Craft for Kids

2. Using painters tape, create your designs on the cinder blocks. We went super simple and stuck with geometric lines. My 7-year-old daughter did this step on her own while my 5-year-old needed a bit of help. Depending on where your planters will be, you can choose to do all sides or just the sides that will be showing. Make sure to press the tape down really well so the paint doesn’t bleed through.

Don’t worry about measuring or making sure that their lines are straight, they will look amazing! My son only wanted to use tape on a couple of sides and his planter still looks great.

3. Once everyone is done creating their patterns out of tape, using one color at a time, let the kids paint in their designs. This part is fun! My kids loved choosing their colors and painting their cinder blocks.

After they have finished painting, you need to let the paint dry completely. The instructions on our paint were to let everything dry for 72 hours. You can take the tape off after a couple of hours or wait, I found it didn’t make a difference.

Supplies for creating your painted cinder block planters

• Landscape fabric
• Scissors
• Rocks
• Decorative rocks (optional)
• Flowers
• Extra dirt
• Small shovel

Instructions for creating your painted cinder block planters

1. Choose the flowers or type of plant you want to use. We chose primulas and had fun picking our own color of plant out. I am hoping to plant marigolds in them in June or July to last into the early fall. Succulents would also look great, it really depends on where you live and what kind of light/direction your planters will be facing.

Related: Handmade Coasters with Pressed Flowers and Washi Tape

2. Because there is such a big hole at the bottom of the cinder blocks, you will need to use some landscape fabric. Cut out your fabric, this step is best done by an adult, and place the fabric into your cinder blocks. Fold down or cut the top of the fabric so it will not show after you have planted your flowers. Cut a second piece of landscape fabric, fold into a square and place at the bottom for extra support.

3. Add in a couple handfuls of rocks to help with drainage. Add in your dirt, just enough to cover the rocks, you can always add more dirt after.

4. Plant your flowers! Take them out of the pots, loosen the roots and dirt and place them into the cinder blocks. Add more dirt on top and on the sides if needed. This will be messy, your kids might want to wear gardening gloves like my daughter did.

5. This step is optional but I think looks really great! You can add decorative rocks on top of the dirt to finish it off. We choose white rocks, but any color would work.

We had so much fun with this garden project, my kids loved creating their designs on their cinder blocks and picking out and planting their flowers. Our painted cinder blocks brighten up our balcony and were such a fun spring activity for us to do as a family.

Pin this project for later

You can find Angela at Projects with Kids where she shares fun and creative art and craft projects for kids of all ages. She lives on the west coast of Canada and is a mom to two very energetic and creative kids who love doing projects of all kinds and getting their hands messy. With a background in teaching, visual arts, and graphic design, Angela loves creating and having fun with art and sharing her ideas with her readers.

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Here at The Educators’ Spin On It, we strongly urge parents and teachers to PLANT A SEED with your child and watch them grow.

Kids in the Garden – Learning and Growing

Kids in the Garden – Learning and Growing, is a collection of articles all geared to help parents and teachers interact with their children in the garden. 

We hope to provide you with tips on which plants to choose, how to incorporate academics into your gardening, and give you some ideas on how to make your garden more “global.”

Gardening Activities with Kids

We invited our favorite bloggers to share their fun ideas for kids in the garden. Here’s is a collection of all the garden activities they shared with us.

• Growing Romaine Lettuce from Kitchen Scraps by Betsy
• Best Vegetables to Grow with Kids by Becky
• Best Flowers to Grow with Kids by Jen
• 50+ Seed Activities for Kids by Kim

• Best Herbs to Grow with Kids by Victoria
• Herb Painting by Melissa
• Creating Edible Sensory Garden with Herbs by Amanda
• Garden Photography with Kids by Kim
• Container Gardening with Kids by Carly

• Preschool Gardens by Dayna
• DIY Painted Cinder Blocks Planters by Angela
• Preschool Gardening – Watering by Katie
• Cultivating Enthusiasm for Gardening All Season Long by Matthew

• Getting Started in 3 Easy Steps by Birute
• Giving Kids Ownership in the Planning Phases of Gardening by MaryAnne
• Backyard Tips for Gardening with Kids by Kim
• Bonsai Gardening by Lisa Lewis
• Best Tips for First Time Gardeners by Amanda

• Garden Science SOIL: Common Core Connection by Amanda
• Measurement in the Garden by Amanda
• Counting in the Garden  by The Fairy and The Frog
• Gardening in Extreme Weather Conditions by Kara
• Living vs Non-Living Garden Walk by Amanda

• Worms and Composing by Sandi Purdel Lewis
• Experimenting with Propagation by Gailina
• Learning about Bees by Helen
• Grow a Musical Instrument by Daria
• South African Cycads By Teach Me Mommy

• Starting Seeds Indoors by Amanda
• Seeds vs. Transplants with Kids by Amanda
• Indoor Planting with Kids by Amanda
• Gardening with Kids in Small Spaces by Amanda
• Ethiopia Inspired Tef Garden by Julie

• Community Gardens by Amandine
• Which Flowers to Plant to Attract Butterflies by Kim
• Homesteading by Vanessa
• Raising Chickens by La Famille Brown
• Gardening with the Whole Family by Anna

• Fun Ways to Teach Your Child About Seeds by Kim
• Building a Garden Book Collection by Amanda
• Simple Garden Label for Kids by Kim
• Printable Seed Activities Inspired by The Tiny Seed by Kim
• Alphabet Garden Hunt by Jodie

• Best Flowers to Grow with Kids by Amanda
• Painting with Flowers by Nicolette
• Flower Books for Kids by Kim
• An Invitation to Read by Kimberly
• Reading Activities in the Garden by Jacquie
• Kid-Made Garden Signs by Lauren

Take a moment to learn more about our Garden Ambassadors who created each of these garden activities for your child.

Plant Units with Kids

• Growing Carrots
• Growing Peas
• Growing Zucchini
• Growing Potatoes
• Growing Strawberries
• Growing Kale

Kids Gardening Activities

Printable Lesson Plans from the Garden

• Fruit Group Lesson Plan
• Living and Non Living –Printable
• Vegetable Group Lesson Plan

Academics in the Garden

• Nature Math Connections
• Gardening Books for Kids

Cooking from the Garden

• 30 Ways to Eat Blueberries
• Zucchini Muffins
• Making Vegetable Soup
• 10 Things to Make with Oranges
• Strawberry Jam Muffins
• Making Jam with Kids
• Jam Thumbprint Cookies
• Kale Pizza
• Kale Basi Tomato Orzo Salad
• Potato Salad
• Salad Olivier
• Strawberry Popsicles
• Blueberry Smoothie
• Coriander and Mint Chutney
• Meatballs with Garden Vegetables
• Garden Fruit Parfait

Want a quick Garden Lesson Plan? Download our Plant and Seed Unit for just $3.99.

Let’s inspire more parents and teachers to garden with their children! #plantaseed

What will you GROW in your GARDEN???Save