If you’re looking for some great summer activities for kids, here are 112 ideas!
24 PLACES TO GO:
*go to the pool
*go to a park
*visit the zoo
*visit a planetarium
*visit an aquarium
*visit the beach or a lake
*visit the mountains
*go canoeing or kayaking
*go fishing
*go bowling
*go see a movie in the afternoon. Watch for summer matinee features.
*check out all of the state or national parks in your area
*check out nearby historical sites, especially those that offer special tours or activities for kids
*visit a farmer’s market
*play putt-putt golf
*pick fruit at a local farm
*go to a baseball game
*visit story time at a local library or bookstore
*visit an amusement park
*visit a water park
*get ice cream at a fun local shop
*go on a family hike
*visit a museum or a museum exhibition that your kids would enjoy
*try a different playground in your town or in a nearby town
22 ARTS & CRAFTS ACTIVITIES:
*paint with watercolors
*do some chalk drawings
*paint rocks
*dry some flowers & create art or homemade note cards with them
*make goop or homemade play-dough or homemade slime
*or get good old-fashioned play-doh!
*buy coloring books and new crayons!
*try out some new crafts, like origami, string art, friendship bracelets, or crochet!
*other fun craft options can be found here and here
*buy disposable cameras and take photos of your summer adventures
*create a scrapbook with the photos you take and any souvenirs. Have your child write about the activity. This will make a great memory book later!
*take a course at a crafts store
*create some art to decorate the walls of a local nursing home or convalescent center
*play with sidewalk chalk
*remember Lite-Bright and Spirograph? They’re still just as fun as you remember!
18 FREE (OR NEARLY FREE) ACTIVITIES:
*play at a local park
*visit the library and read there
*visit a bookstore and read there
*feed the ducks at a local park
*go for evening walks
*check on volunteer opportunities in your area. Could you volunteer at the local animal shelter? Visit a convalescent center? Clean up a park?
*learn some mindfulness techniques and do them together
*watch the sunset
*get up early and watch the sunrise
*catch fireflies (be sure to let them fly away home at bedtime)
*sit outside at night and look at the stars and just chat
*camp out in your backyard
*watch fireworks on July 4th
*ride bikes
*run through the sprinkler!
*pack a picnic lunch and eat outside somewhere
*blow bubbles
*learn about summer constellations. Spend time outside at night and locate as many constellations as possible.
14 FUN FOOD IDEAS:
*eat popsicles, fudgesicles or orange sherbet push-ups
*set up a baked potato bar for dinner
*make homemade pizza
*eat watermelon
*make an ice cream sundae
*have a cupcake war competition!
*make sand pail pudding
*make s’mores
*plan menus and choose fun new recipes to try together
*plant a garden! Grow flowers, vegetables, herbs, whatever your family enjoys.
*have a cookout and invite friends or family
*grill your food and eat outside
*bake cookies and make your own ice cream sandwiches
*eat breakfast outside
13 FUN LEARNING ACTIVITIES
*try some easy science experiments with this book!
*make homemade bubbles with this recipe
*read a Harry Potter book and then watch the movie together
*other fun books that have movie options: Charlotte’s Web, Babe, Because of Winn-Dixie, Matilda, and Wonder.
*have your child spend 5 minutes every day writing in a journal about whatever they want to write
*help your child make their own tutorial videos with something they are learning to do! (cooking, origami, a craft, a sport)
*keep a summertime journal – have your kids write entries and include photos and drawings
*buy a book about making paper airplanes and try out some new designs. Measure how far your planes fly!
*create a script of a favorite picture book and act out the parts.
*encourage your kids to read these books & start their own business: Better Than a Lemonade Stand!: Small Business Ideas for Kids and Business for Kids: A Guide for Kids & Teens to Starting a Profitable Business, in the Words of an 11-Year-Old Entrepreneur
*make a reading chart and track all of the books your kids read this summer
*read several of the Newbery or Caldecott or Coretta Scott King award winning books
*encourage your kids to learn coding with Coding Games in Scratch, Coding for Kids or on the website Code.org!
*check out iGameMom’s Nature Science Summer Camp at Home! There are some great activities here.
8 GAMES TO PLAY:
*play tag
*play hide and seek
*play summer games like badminton, hopscotch, croquet, and bocce ball.
*play water balloon toss
6 PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES:
*jump rope
*hula hoops!
*play a family game of soccer, kickball or frisbee
*start an exercise program using this book or these activities
4 GAMES, PUZZLES & BUILDING IDEAS:
*play board games! Some favorites: Jenga, Guess Who?, Hedbanz, Trouble, Sorry, Mouse Trap, Twister, Clue, Battleship, Life, Yahtzee, Mancala, and Monopoly.
*work on a jigsaw puzzle together
*build a fort out of cardboard boxes
*have a Lego or K’nex challenge
3 RANDOM ACTIVITIES TO DO AT HOME:
*clean out closets — you never know what treasures you might find!
*clean out clothes closets and toy storage. Consider donating unused or outgrown items to your local thrift shop or Goodwill.
*check out the books 150+ Screen-Free Activities for Kids and 50 Things to Do Before You’re 11-3/4.
Have a wonderful summer of making memories with your kids!
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