Summer is a wonderful time for children to slow down, explore, and learn through everyday experiences. The good news is that skill-building activities don’t need to be expensive, complicated, or require hours of preparation.

Some of the best activities for developing fine motor skills, visual perception, problem-solving, language, and sensory exploration can be found right in your backyard, neighborhood, or home.

As an occupational therapy practitioner, I often remind parents and teachers that children learn best when they’re having fun. Here are some of my favorite low-cost summer activities that help build important developmental skills while keeping kids active and engaged.

Occupational therapy supports more than academic skills. For neurodivergent students, including students with autism, identifying hobbies and leisure interests is an important part of communication, self-regulation, autonomy, and participation—making January’s National Hobby Month a meaningful time for reflection.