☀️ Too Hot to Play Outside? Indoor Summer Fun for Every Age!

ByMonica Healer

Hey Reader!

At ECCN, we LOVE to play outside no matter the weather! But some days…when the summer heat (and humidity in some areas) is just too much…it’s easy to feel stuck doing the “same ole thing”. Today, we’re including just a couple of activities for each age group to do INSIDE that still bring all the joy, movement, and exploration of summer play.

Infants (0–12 months)
​ Sensory discovery with a summer twist

  • Beach Ball Tummy Time: Gently hold a baby steady as you roll a beach ball under him/her during tummy time for core strength and visual stimulation.
  • Light & Shadow Play: Dim the lights and use flashlights with colorful scarves for visual tracking fun.
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Toddlers (12–24 months)
​ Move, explore, repeat!

  • Indoor “Pool” Party: Fill a shallow bin with balls or crinkly paper. Add scoops and cups for pretend water play.
  • Bubble Dance: Blow bubbles inside and encourage jumping, clapping, and catching. Naptime is easier afterward too!
  • Ice Excavation: Freeze plastic animals in muffin tins. Let toddlers use warm water and droppers to rescue them!
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2-Year-Olds
​ Hands-on fun with summer themes

  • Popsicle Painting: Freeze watered-down paint in ice cube trays with craft stick handles. Paint on big sheets of paper.
  • Nature Sorting Indoors: Gather leaves, pinecones, shells (real or pretend). Let kids sort by size, color, or texture.
  • Mini Beach Setup: Use a tray of kinetic sand with toy people, umbrellas, and cups for scooping and pretend play.
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3-Year-Olds
​ Imaginative and sensory play

  • Fruit Stand Dramatic Play: Set up a pretend fruit stand using plastic fruit, baskets, and play money.
  • Storytime Tent: Use sheets (or butcher paper) to build a cozy indoor “campground” for books and songs about summer adventures.
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4-Year-Olds
​ Creative, active, and full of questions!

  • Build a Rainforest: Use green streamers, paper vines, and toy animals to turn your room into a jungle!
  • Summer STEM: Build boats from foil or sponges (or small bowls or cups or…you can come up with lots of ideas) and test them in tubs of water. You could even race them along a sweater tub filled with water as children blow their boats along with straws.

Hopefully, these suggestions have jump-started your own creative ideas for having some indoor fun this summer when the outdoor temps are just too much! Reply to this email with YOUR great ideas. We’d love to hear about them!

Cheering you on this week!

-Your ECCN team

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REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR ALL SUMMER/FALL 2025 EVENTS!

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​North Conference – Aug 7-8, 2025 – Limited tickets available. Last Day to Register is July 31st

​East Texas (Tyler) – September 6, 2025 Early Bird Ends on July 25th!​
​West Texas (Lubbock) – October 18, 2025
​Bryan/College Station – November 8, 2025
​Houston (Pasadena) – January 24, 2026 (registration opens 10/1)

San Antonio – February 7, 2026 (registration opens 10/1)

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P.S. Are you new to early childhood ministry and education? Do you just need a reset to get back to the basics? Join Monica and Pastor Josh Zello as we embark on a 4-week journey of getting back to the basics of early childhood this September.

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