A pre-prepared list of Summer activities for kids is a great idea to have up your sleeve at the end of the school year! You can pin it onto the fridge and suggest an fun things to do when the kids get bored without having to think about it too much.
During the Summer break, lots of kids go to Summer camps but what about the time they spend at home? It can be hard to come up with great ideas for fun activities that your kids don’t dismiss straight away. The local museum might be fun for the first few visits but then they are looking for a different idea – something new.
Summer break is a magical time of year for kids; they’re off from school and can spend their time doing the activities they love most. However, it can be more challenging for moms to find ways to keep their kids occupied and active without losing their minds!
If you find yourself wondering how to pass the time this summer in ways that keep your child engaged and off their electronics, you’re not alone. We’ve compiled a list of some fun summer activities for kids you can easily do at home that will make this the best summer ever!
Go For A Hike
Hiking is an excellent way to pair exercise with fun Summer adventures. You and your kids can immerse yourselves in nature while getting tons of fresh air. There is so much to discover; you’re kids will have a blast spotting different wildlife and foliage and letting their imaginations run wild.
Summer is the perfect time to visit the national parks and cross off ‘seeing a waterfall’ from your Summer bucket list.
To get even more from your hike, make a list of items for your kids to find along the way. It can be a general list (think bird, flower, rock) or go into more depth (bald eagle, daisy, garter snake) depending on your child’s age and outdoor experience. To take it to the next level, make it a friendly competition and see who can find the most items on the list.
We’ve got some free Nature Bingo cards here so you don’t have to even make a list! Add these to your Summer activities for kids idea list when you are visiting your local park.
Do A Science Experiment
If you’re raising a budding scientist, why not try an at-home science experiment kit to engage their minds. There are many to choose from depending on their interests. You can try growing your own crystals or simulate different weather patterns.
If you prefer not to buy a premade kit, there are dozens of fun experiments you can try with items lying around the house.
It’s so important to keep your kid’s minds engaged and learning during the summer since inactivity can make them forget up to 34% of the information they learned the previous year. Science experiments are an excellent way to help them retain their knowledge while making learning a blast!
Baking And Cooking
We all have to eat, and now that the kids are home, it’s an excellent time to get them into the kitchen, helping to create their meals.
Baking and cooking are wonderful for promoting creativity and encouraging the use of math, problem-solving and critical thinking.
You’re teaching them life skills they will use forever and promoting healthy eating habits at the same time.
When kids are involved in the meal preparation process, they gain a deeper appreciation for where their food comes from and the work that goes into making every meal. Plus, it’s plain old fun!
We’ve got a great strawberry spoon cake recipe here which is perfect for Summer baking.
Gardening
Gardening has many benefits for you and your child, helping them to learn skills they will use in their daily lives. It teaches patience and commitment, as they tend to the garden daily, waiting for their plants to grow.
It also encourages hard work since they must till the soil, pick weeds, harvest their crops, and ensure they are watered properly.
As your kids watch the growing process, they will begin to appreciate the time and effort that goes into the foods they see in the grocery store.
Once they harvest their crop, they get to feel the accomplishment that comes from eating home-grown foods they grew themselves.
If you don’t have an outside space, try growing herbs in empty egg shells in a sunny spot indoors.
Go To The Beach
A day trip to the beach can be part of a fun staycation that the whole family will enjoy. Whether you live near the ocean or a lake, everyone loves spending the day along the sandy shore and jumping into the water to cool off.
You can bring a picnic lunch to extend your time and make it even more special then on a hot Summer day, buy an ice cream rather than taking a dessert. Make sure to you lather on plenty of sunscreen and bring proper floatation devices for kids who aren’t yet strong swimmers.
Your kids can make sandcastles or try their hand at wakeboarding or enjoy outdoor games with another family member.
Go To The Pool
If you don’t live near the beach, you can still enjoy a day in the water by going to the pool and cool down in the Summer heat. If you don’t have one of your own, you can visit a friend’s or go to the community pool. Try to pick one that has a splash pad if you can or even try a water park.
An added bonus of visiting your local community pool or YMCA is the chance for your kids to make new friends. Plus, they have lifeguards on duty, giving you an extra measure of security and peace of mind!
If you don’t have a pool nearby, other fun ideas would be water play in your backyard or visiting nearby water parks.
Start A Book Club
Reading is essential to brain growth, but less children than ever choose to spend their time immersed in a good book. A cheap way to introduce different books to your kids is to visit your local library. The librarian will be able to suggest popular books suitable for your age group. Non-fiction books can also encourage your kids to learn new skills or find out new facts.
You can help encourage a love of reading in your child by starting a book club in your home. It doesn’t have to have a lot of members, it may just be the members of your family, but a book club is a fun way to encourage more reading. Pick a book you will all read over a set amount of time. Set aside thirty minutes or more a day for everyone to take some downtime and read, and then gather together once you’re done to discuss the book.
You may be surprised at how passionate your conversations get as you discuss different characters and the book’s plot lines. Before you know it, you may have developed a love for reading your kids will carry with them for a lifetime and you will have escaped any Summer boredom!
Time Capsule
Older kids will enjoy making a time capsule that they can hide in the house or bury in your own backyard. This is a great way to record a ‘snapshot’ of your child’s life and what is important to them at the time. Try to use a waterproof container such as a Tupperware box or lidded jar. Add tracings of their hands and feet, a photo, a news report of the day, an art project, a small book or a list of their favorite things.
Summer is every kid’s favorite time of year since they can take time away from school. In the past, moms everywhere have worried about finding ways to pass the time to keep their kids entertained and engage their minds. If you are searching for fun free summer activities for kids, why not go for a hike, try baking or cooking, make a garden, go to the beach or pool, or start your own book club. Whatever activities you choose, you and your kids are sure to have a blast together, making memories that will last a lifetime!
Download a list of The 100 Best summer activities for kids
Get a list of inexpensive Summer activity ideas that don’t involve ‘screens’.
Print this off and stick up in your kitchen so that you have some ideas to hand to inspire you and your kids and enjoy your Summer!
Tick off the ones you decide to do so that you can see what worked and what you have left to consider for next year.
Struggling to get your kids to sleep with the light evenings – read this
Want some Summer Scavenger Hunt ideas – get them here
Omg yes the struggle is real 😂 I run out with ideas already for the kids activities this summer! Awesome post thanks for sharing
This is a beautiful list of summer activities for kids. These are all great screen-free ideas! We’ve tried gardening, cooking, and baking. We still have to get to the pool and go hiking, and we’re also thinking of planning a weekend trip to the beach.