8 Summer Small World Play Ideas for Toddlers & Preschoolers
Posted by EYR Team on 2nd Aug 2026
read moreLooking for fun and engaging small world play ideas to keep little ones entertained this summer? Whether you're setting up a tuff tray in the garden, creating a sensory scene indoors or encouraging imaginative storytelling, small world play is a fantastic way for children to explore, create and learn through play. It helps to develop communication, creativity, problem-solving and an understanding of the world, all while having lots of fun.
From muddy farm adventures and football matches to ocean rescue missions and erupting volcanoes, we've rounded up 10 summer small world play ideas that are perfect for toddlers and preschoolers. These easy-to-set-up activities are ideal for nurseries, preschools and home learning, making the most of the warmer weather while inspiring hours of imaginative play.
1. Football Tuff Tray
Mini football fans will love creating their own mini match with this exciting small world tuff tray. Using toy footballers, goals and a grass-style play surface, children can invent tournaments, practise scoring goals and even become the match commentator! It's a fantastic activity for encouraging imaginative play while making the most of the summer weather.
You will need:
- Tuff tray
- Grass mat
- Construction resources to make a goal
- Small football
- Masking tape to create lines
Learning Benefits: Communication & Language, Fine Motor Skills, Imaginative Play, Turn Taking
2. Muddy Farm Exploration Table
Bring the farm to life with a muddy sensory adventure! Fill your tray with different textures like oobleck, water, grass and sticks before adding farm animals, tractors and buildings. Children can create muddy pig pens, clean the animals and explore the different textures whilst inventing their own farmyard stories.
You will need:
- Exploration table
- Cornflour
- Farm figures
- Sticks, stones and grass
- Water
Learning Benefits: Understanding the World, Sensory Play, Communication & Language, Creative Thinking
3. Dinosaur Volcano Small World
Create an exciting prehistoric landscape complete with dinosaurs and an erupting volcano. Children can explore the dinosaur world before watching the volcano erupt using a simple baking soda and vinegar experiment (with adult supervision).
You will need:
- Playdough volcano or recycled bottle
- Dinosaur figures
- Rocks
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
- Red food colouring (optional)
Learning Benefits: Early Science, Understanding the World, Communication & Language, Imaginative Play
4. Cork Boats & Waterways
Put children's engineering skills to the test by creating a flowing water run for homemade cork boats! Simply build a series of channels using guttering and water channel stands at different heights, then launch the boats and watch them race from top to bottom. Children can experiment with different slopes, adjust the layout and see how changing the height or direction affects the speed of their boats. It's a brilliant outdoor activity for warm summer days that combines water play with creative problem-solving. The guttering systems can be arranged at different heights and angles, encouraging children to experiment with water flow and gravity.
You will need:
- Corks
- Cocktail sticks or wooden skewers (adult supervision required)
- Paper or foam sails
- Shallow tray or bucket of water
- Gutters
- Water channel stands
- Jug or watering can
Learning Benefits: STEM Learning, Problem Solving, Understanding the World, Fine Motor Skills
5. Construction Site Small World
Create a busy building site full of diggers, dump trucks and building materials. Children can transport sand, stack blocks and build their own roads, bridges and houses. This open-ended activity encourages problem-solving while inspiring imaginative construction play.
You will need:
- Sand or gravel
- Construction vehicles
- Wooden blocks
- Mini bricks
- Pebbles
- Toy workers
Learning Benefits: Problem Solving, Fine Motor Development, Understanding the World, Imaginative Play
6. We're Going on a Bear Hunt Small World
Bring the classic story We're Going on a Bear Hunt to life with a messy, sensory small world tray. Create the famous squelchy mud using oobleck or mud, then invite children to guide the family through the different landscapes as they retell the story. They can splash through the river, squelch through the mud and carefully make their way to the bear's cave, bringing the much-loved book to life through imaginative play. This is a brilliant way to encourage storytelling while adding a sensory twist to a favourite tale.
You will need:
- Tuff tray
- Oobleck or mud
- Grass or moss
- We're Going on a Bear Hunt characters
- Natural loose parts
Learning Benefits: Literacy, Communication & Language, Sensory Play, Imaginative Play
7. Ocean Pollution Small World
Help children become little environmental heroes with this ocean pollution small world activity. Fill a tray with blue-coloured water, add sea creatures and scatter recyclable materials to represent pollution. Children can use nets, sponges or scoops to rescue the animals and clean up the ocean while discussing why it's important to protect marine habitats. This hands-on activity encourages meaningful conversations about caring for our environment through imaginative small world play.
You will need:
- Water tray
- Water
- Blue food colouring (optional)
- Toy sea animals
- Clean recyclable materials
- Nets, scoops or sponges
Learning Benefits: Understanding the World, Environmental Awareness, Problem Solving, Imaginative Play
8. Upside-Down Tuff Tray Zoo
Turn an upside-down tuff tray into an exciting zoo adventure! Transform the tray into a safari landscape using artificial grass, camouflage netting and toy animals to create different habitats for each species. Children can take on the role of zookeepers, care for the animals or invent their own exciting zoo stories. This imaginative small world activity is perfect for encouraging role play while learning about wildlife and the different environments animals live in.
You will need:
- Tuff tray & stand
- Artificial grass mat
- Camouflage netting or fabric
- Toy zoo animals
- Trees, logs or natural loose parts
- Small world people (optional)
Learning Benefits: Understanding the World, Communication & Language, Imaginative Play, Creative Thinking