Embracing a Gentle Preschool Summer in the Season of Wonder
Are you staring down the summer wondering what to do with your preschooler now that co-op is out and library storytime is on hold?
Summer with a preschooler can feel like a wide-open road… or a long list of “what do we do now?” The rhythm shifts. The outside world slows down—or sometimes disappears entirely. And you’re left holding this magical, untamed season in your hands, wondering how to fill it with meaning without overfilling your days.
Here’s the good news: a gentle preschool summer doesn’t require a rigid routine. It doesn’t need worksheets, tight schedules, or a school-at-home setup. What it does need is a posture of presence, a little intention, and the freedom to follow your child’s natural curiosity.
Simple Ways to Embrace a Gentle Preschool Summer
Whether or not you use a structured guide, these ideas can help you make the most of your time together in a way that feels life-giving for both of you.
1. Say yes to curiosity.
Sometimes we say no out of habit—because we’re in a hurry, or we don’t want to deal with the mess. But when we pause and say yes to the mud kitchen, the finger paints, the “can I help?” moments—we give our kids permission to explore, create, and grow. The mess can be cleaned. The memories stay.
2. Create simple invitations to learn.
Set out a tray with scoops and dry rice. Offer a basket of clean rocks with a few brushes and washable paints. Leave a stack of books near a cozy corner or place magnifying glasses and leaves near the window. These gentle invitations don’t require instructions—they invite imagination.
3. Step outside and slow your steps.
Take walks as often as the weather allows. Let your preschooler lead. Stop to watch a beetle cross the sidewalk. Feel the wind. Smell the rosemary. Ask, “What do you see?” The world is full of living lessons—no curriculum needed.
4. Weave learning into your day.
Count apples as you put them in the cart. Read labels out loud at the store. Clap syllables while setting the table. Spell your child’s name in sidewalk chalk. Real life is rich with literacy, math, science, and faith—when we choose to notice.
5. Embrace seasonal rhythm.
Summer has its own pulse—slower mornings, sun-soaked afternoons, drowsy evenings. Let your days breathe. Anchor them with small rituals: breakfast on the porch, afternoon quiet time, a walk after dinner. These rhythms form the framework for memory and security.
When You’re Ready for a Little Structure…
If you’re craving a little more intention but still want to keep things slow and soul-nourishing, I created something just for you.
God Made the World Around Me is a four-week summer resource designed for preschool-aged homeschoolers. Each week centers on a theme in God’s creation:
- Week One: God’s Creation is Amazing (released 5/19/25)
- Week Two: God’s Design Has Order (releasing 5/27/25)
- Week Three: God’s World in Motion (coming soon)
- Week Four: God’s World is Beautiful (coming soon)
You’ll find printable devotionals, hands-on nature-based activities, coloring pages, gentle learning prompts, and a flexible rhythm that works with your summer—not against it. Use it in any order, or just pull pieces that fit your week. It’s a guide, not a checklist.
A Final Word of Encouragement
However you choose to spend your summer—whether you follow a plan or follow the butterflies—I hope you find rest, wonder, and connection. Gentle preschooling isn’t about doing more. It’s about noticing more. Saying yes a little more often. Slowing down enough to really see.
You are already what your child needs most. Everything else is just icing.
Want to know when the others release?
This is just the beginning. I’ll be releasing the next three units in the God Made the World Around Me series soon—each one filled with simple, faith-filled ways to learn and explore together.
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