Colorful Ways to Enjoy Summer Days

Sensory play to embrace sunny days with spontaneity and creativity.

There’s something about summer, isn’t there?

When the days stretch out long and golden, everyone wants to linger in the light a little longer. Mornings carry that sweet scent when you can’t take a deep enough breath. The sounds of laughter and kids at play echo off the porches as neighbors soak up every moment. And then, when the day finally begins to wind down, the flicker of fireflies are the cherry on top.

Summer invites a new rhythm. Sometimes we ease into it, other times we crash headfirst, scrambling to find our footing without the structure of the school year. I’ve always believed summer was made for slower moments with space to breathe, wander, and notice.

That’s exactly what Fireworks by Matthew Burgess, illustrated by Catia Chien, captures so beautifully.

It’s a vibrant ode to summertime spontaneity with evocative text that fully immerses readers into the splendors of summer: a fire hydrant bursting open on a hot city block, watermelon juice running down sticky chins, and wide-eyed wonder at the night sky’s display. The illustrations are stunning. Bursting with energy and color, just like summer.

But while the idea of wide-open, unscheduled days is dreamy, I’ve found my children thrive with a little rhythm to guide them. Nothing too rigid…just enough structure to keep the days fulfilling but not frantic. The staple of our mornings is time outside after breakfast. Sometimes it’s structured with an activity, sometimes just curling up with a book, or simply being.

That same balance of ease and intention carries into the activities I’m sharing in this issue: hands-on sensory play that embraces the spirit of summer. Playful, simple, and colorful, with plenty of room for open-ended exploration.

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Here’s what’s in this edition:

• Invitation to Create — Bubble Painting 🫧

  A playful activity that turns ordinary bubbles into bursts of color.

• Invitation to Create — Chalk Paint 🎨

  Simple DIY sidewalk paint that my kids played with for hours.

• Invitation to Play — Frozen Treasures 🌼

  Cool down with a frosty twist on classic water play.

• Book Recommendations and Reviews 📚

  Handpicked picture books that celebrate the spirit of summer.

If any of the titles featured in this newsletter spark your interest, check out my book list on Bookshop.org called Warm Summer Reads. By purchasing through the link below, you help support this newsletter, and I earn a small commission. Thank you for your support!

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Invitation to Create - Bubble Painting

Just like the glow of Bright Lights and Summer Nights by Shauntay Grant and Zach Manbeck, this activity celebrates the wonder of summer through color and motion. As your child blows tinted bubbles, each pop leaves behind a burst of color.

Here’s what you need:

• Large bottle of bubbles

• Food coloring

• Bubble wand (or make your own with pipe cleaners)

• Canvas, or sturdy paper

• Several small bowls or containers for mixing

• Painting shirts (or aprons), optional but recommended

Here’s what you do:

1. Divide bubble solution into several containers — I poured about 1/2 cup in each.

2. Add food coloring to the bubble solution. Use about 15-20 drops for bold hues, or less for soft pastels.

3. Dip your wand and blow bubbles over sturdy paper or canvas. Watch as each burst leaves behind a splash of color

TIP: Avoid windy days unless you want surprise polka dots everywhere (we learned the colorful way!).

Inspire creativity for this activity with “I wonder” statements:

I wonder what kinds of patterns and colors the bubbles will make when they pop.

I wonder if my bubbles can paint a rainbow.

I wonder how the size of the bubbles will change the splatter shapes.

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Invitation to Create - DIY Chalk Paint

Chalk the Walk by Chelsea Tornetto, illustrated by Laurel Aylesworth is a vibrant story that celebrates the endless possibilities of chalk. It is a heartwarming story that inspires creativity and summertime fun, and brings back so many hopscotch memories with the neighborhood kids.

This activity takes 3 simple ingredients and turns it into sidewalk paint.

Here’s what you need:

• 1 cup cornstarch

• 1 cup water

• Food coloring

• Containers for paint

• Paint brushes

Here’s what you do…

1. Carefully mix equal parts cornstarch and water. I added 1/4 cup corn starch into four containers, then added 1/4 cup water to each. The combination of corn starch and water makes a funky thing called “oobleck” that you may remember from science class. It is thick and sticky at first, but once it breaks up, it will be pourable.

2. Add your color. Add a few drops of food coloring to each container, adding more or less depending on how bright you want your colors to be.

3. Head outside and chalk your walk! The appearance when you first begin painting is admittedly deceiving, and quite watery. But it dries brilliantly! See how the fireworks my kiddos painted below dried:

   

Note: My kids insist I tell you this was their favorite activity we've done yet. While the paints didn’t stay in their containers for long, that only added to the fun. It turned into an afternoon of colorful chaos that kept them entertained for hours. Our patio looked like it was a route for The Color Run, but the rain easily washed everything away.

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Invitation to Play - Frozen Treasures

Frozen Treasures are a playful spin on classic water play — sensory-rich, refreshing, and perfect for warm days.

We gave it a go recently, and all of my kiddos were hooked. They made tea with the flowers, set up a pretend lemonade stand, and once the ice melted, turned the petals into colorful potions. So much imagination packed into one simple setup!

Here’s what you need:

• Small treasures like flowers, nature finds, or mini toys

• Water

• Freezer-safe containers (muffin tins, silicone molds, or plastic cups work great)

Here’s what you do:

1. Freeze your treasures. Divide your treasures among your containers. Fill with water until treasures are fully submerged. Freeze for at least 8 hours or overnight.

2. When you're ready to play, let the frozen treasures sit for about 5 minutes to loosen them from the mold.

3. Time to play! Add them to a water table, bin, or bowl and let their imaginations take over.

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Book Recommendations + Reviews

☀️ Titles featured in activities above

And Then Comes Summer by Tom Brenner, Art by Jaime Kim is a heartwarming glimpse into the sun-drenched, carefree days of childhood, perfectly capturing the essence of a season where time seems to slow and the world feels full of promise.

☀️ Bright Lights and Summer Nights by Shauntay Grant and Zach Manbeck is a gentle, lyrical picture book that captures the magic of summer through the eyes of a restless baby. The poetic text of this story complements the soothing pace of the story, making it an ideal choice for bedtime.

Goodbye Spring, Hello Summer by Kenard Pak is the latest installment in an evocative seasonal picture book series. With his signature artistry and thoughtful pacing, Pak captures the quiet magic of seasonal change through the eyes of a young girl exploring the world around her.

When Summer Comes: Exploring Nature in Our Warmest Season by Aimee M. Bissonette, Art by Erin Hourigan is a celebration of nature’s vibrancy during the warmest season, inviting readers into forests and ocean shores, where the natural world awakens with movement, and there are endless opportunities for discovery.

☀️ Chalk the Walk by Chelsea Tornetto, Art by Laurel Aylesworth is a joyful, rhythmic celebration of creativity, bursting with playful rhyme and the endless possibilities of chalk. A heartwarming story that inspires community and creativity.

If You Spot a Shell by Aimee Sicuro is an imaginative exploration of possibilities hidden in plain sight, inviting readers to see a simple shell not just as an object, but as a world of possibility, like a swimming cap, a tutu, a shelter, or even a raft waiting to set sail.

It Began with Lemonade by Gideon Sterer, Art by Lian Cho is a delightful celebration of summer and the unexpected joys that come from venturing off the beaten path. This picture book captures the spirit of resilience and imagination with humor and heart, and lots of lemonade!

Hot Dog by Doug Salati is a charming and beautifully illustrated story that captures the highs and lows of a sweltering summer day in the city, and the joy of escape. Told through the eyes of an overheated dog and their owner, the story follows a spontaneous journey from the city to the seaside.

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A Quick Note

There will be a small shift in this newsletter’s rhythm. With all the kiddos home from school, vacations, and a focus on writing and submitting my own manuscripts in the margins of motherhood, the Parent/Caregiver Edition will now arrive once a month. Each issue will still be filled with rich, meaningful activities, and likely a surprise or two in between.

Look for the next edition in your inbox toward the end of July, where we’ll dive into our next theme: Communication. Through storytelling, pretend play, and even a touch of camping, we’ll explore how young children can find and share their voices with confidence.

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