Summer Activities for Infants

Don't make yourself stir crazy thinking you have to stay inside the house with an infant during the hot summer months. Take your baby out and experience the sights and sounds of the season, exploring the colors and smells of summer. Activities can be tailored to your individual infant's age, size and developmental stage so there's always something fun to do during the summer with your infant.

  1. Go Swinging

    • Visit local parks and discover what equipment they have for babies. Infant swings are perfect on a sunny afternoon. Be sure the swings are equipped with the proper straps so your baby is secure and safe. Avoid nap and feeding times as the infant may become very cranky, making the trip stressful. Fresh air and sunshine are good for a baby, but be sure to apply proper sunscreen or a light hat to avoid sunburn. Swing your baby lightly to start so she's not scared of the movements.

    Smell the Flowers

    • Bringing your infant outside in the summer will introduce her to a variety of different colors and smells. Walk around the yard or park and show her all the different types of flowers. Place her at eye level with the different colors and allow her to smell each type while they are in bloom. Colors attract an infant's attention and the smells will get her sensory skills working. Gently brush a flower against the baby's skin in a small area so she can feel the texture.

    Go on a Picnic

    • Spend a sunny afternoon taking your infant on a picnic. Pack a lunch, bring along your infant's feeding supplies and spend the afternoon lounging on a soft blanket in the fresh air. Play games, like peek-a-boo, with your baby. Sing songs, make funny faces or read a story to the baby. Bring along a bag of colorful learning toys for older infants to play with. Be sure to carefully watch the baby so she does not roll off the blanket. Watch for bugs near your picnic area and pick up any food from the ground that might attract insects.

    Go to the Zoo

    • Visit a zoo with your infant. Show her the different colors and sizes of the various animals that you have shown her in picture books. Carry the baby to each exhibit so she can get the best view of everything there is to see and experience. Exposing infants to the different types of animals will teach her to be curious, help build vocabulary, promote visual and sensory development and make use of her listening and visual skills. Exposure to new things and situations will promote learning and encourage socialization skills.

    Go Swimming

    • Check out local newspapers or organizations such as the YMCA and sign up for infant swim classes. Families with swimming pools in the backyard can participate in infant swim lessons and instructions taught by a certified swim instructor. Since each infant is different, instructors can work with each infant based on her reaction to the water. Infants participating in ISR (Infant Swimming Resource lessons) will be taught how to hold their breathe under the water, how to roll onto their back and how to float on the water unassisted.

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