Summer Club 2026
Week 1: Summer Club Has Been a Whirlwind of Wonder!
Summer Club is officially in full swing, and what a first week it's been!
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Between the giggles, the glitter, and the (very serious) Albion Mile championships, our little explorers have been busy learning, creating, and growing in ways that might surprise you. Because here at Summer Club, every activity is chosen with a purpose, play is how children learn best!
Here's a look at everything we got up to in Week 1 so far, and why each activity earns its place on the timetable.
Getting Started: Bodies in Motion
We always kick things off by getting hearts pumping and bodies moving.
Warm-up exercises and the Albion Mile races got everyone energised, awake, and ready for the day ahead. Beyond the fun of a friendly race, this builds gross motor skills, coordination, and stamina; plus it teaches children about teamwork, fair play, and celebrating effort over winning.
Dive In: Our Under-the-Sea Creative Trail
This week's creative thread had a distinctly nautical theme, giving children the chance to explore an entire world through art.
Painting and creating our own aquariums let children experiment with colour, texture, and composition while learning about ocean habitats and the creatures who live there.
Arts and crafts colouring and making our own sea life creatures built fine motor control and scissor skills, while sparking imagination about the underwater world.
A little fish on a rod craft added a playful, tactile element, reinforcing hand-eye coordination as children "reeled in" their creations.
Natural bracelet making brought nature into the mix, encouraging children to notice, collect, and arrange natural materials, a lovely lesson in patience and design.
Together, this trail shows children how one theme can be explored through many different art forms, a genuinely valuable creative thinking skill.
Hands-On Sensory Discovery
Sensory play is where some of the deepest learning quietly happens.
Sensory ice excavation had children chipping, melting, and exploring to "rescue" hidden treasures, brilliant for problem-solving, cause-and-effect understanding, and sensory regulation.
Water play offered open-ended, calming exploration of pouring, splashing, and measuring (early science in action).
Play-Doh creations rounded off our sensory offerings, strengthening the hand muscles children will later need for writing, all while inviting free-form imaginative expression.
Building Brains: Construction & Logic
Nothing beats a good building session for developing spatial awareness and problem-solving.
Stickle-bricks fun introduced early engineering concepts: balance, connection, and structure (in a wonderfully simple format).
Lego building and creating took this further, encouraging planning, perseverance, and creative design as children brought their own ideas to life brick by brick.
Imagination Station: Role Play & Social Play
Some of the most important skills children develop are social and emotional; and imaginative play is where they practise them.
Role-playing, dress-up, and pretend play let children step into different characters and scenarios, building empathy, communication, and confidence.
Dolls and teddy bear picnic brought a gentle, nurturing form of play, encouraging kindness, sharing, and social conversation over a "cup of tea" with friends.
Winding Down: Games & Strategy
We closed out our activity list with something a little more low-key but just as valuable.
Rabbit Hole and other board games gave children the chance to practise turn-taking, following rules, patience, and light strategic thinking; essential social skills wrapped up in a fun, low-pressure format.
Why It All Matters
At Summer Club, we don't just fill the day, we design it. Every paintbrush, every Lego brick, every board game turn is a small building block in a child's development, wrapped up in laughter, friendship, and unforgettable summer memories.
Stay tuned for what else happened in Week 1. The fun is only just getting started!
APS Summer Club.
