Finally, school’s out, and summer’s here! Our little ones are always looking forward to this time of the year when they get to enjoy a break from their studies and dive into exciting summer activities for kids. What’s more, they can now have some fun under the sun.
Of course, we parents want to make our kids’ summers memorable and enjoyable. However, there are just too many options out there, so it’s hard to choose which to include in our bucket list.
We know the struggle, so we’ve come up with the ultimate summer activities for kids that will surely keep them entertained all season long. And to make it even easier, we’ve also included a printable bucket lists for you to download and print out at home! So pin, save, or share this image below and start planning your kids’ best summer yet.
25 Outdoor Summer Activities for Kids
Summer is the perfect time to get our kids outdoors and let them enjoy some fresh air. There are plenty of outdoor activities that both parents and kids can enjoy together, such as:
- Have a picnic in the park
- Enjoy backyard camping and stargazing
- Have a water balloon fight
- Organize a neighborhood scavenger hunt
- Go on a nature walk
- Start a barbeque for a family cookout
- Play mini-golf or frisbee
- Host a lemonade stand
- Visit a local farmer’s market
- Ride a bike around the neighborhood
- Ride a bike around a nearby trail
- Build a DIY obstacle course
- Go on a bug hunt
- Make bubbles with soap and water
- Fly a kite
- Start a small garden
- Go bird-watching
- Go fishing at a local lake or pond
- Try a kid-friendly yoga
- Have a water gunfight
- Have a water balloon fight
- Visit an outdoor zoo
- Play mini-soccer or basketball in the backyard
- Create art with sidewalk chalk
- Have a bonfire and make s’mores
25 Indoor Activities
Summers can get too hot. And if you live in an area with extreme heat like me, staying indoors may be the best option for some days. That’s why it’s always good to have some indoor activities lined up. Here are some fun ideas to try with the tots:
- Have a movie marathon
- Bake and decorate cupcakes
- Create DIY sensory bins with beans
- Make homemade ice cream
- Try origami or paper crafting
- Build a fort with blankets and pillows
- Play an indoor scavenger hunt
- Have a family game night
- Do some science experiments
- Have a dance party
- Make homemade playdough
- Create an indoor obstacle course
- Enjoy a fashion show
- Perform on a talent show
- Have a karaoke session
- Write and act out a play
- Have an indoor picnic
- Paint or draw with watercolors
- Make paper airplanes and have a flying contest
- Create puppets and put on a puppet show
- Play board games or cards
- Host a tea party or cooking class
- Play this or that questions
- Organize your cabinet
- Have a spa day
35 Creative + Arts & Crafts Activities
Creative juices flow during summertime. Therefore, summertime is the perfect opportunity to let their imagination soar. Let them try these creative activities to enhance their artistic side:
- Create a scrapbook or photo album
- Make a time capsule
- Build a birdhouse or feeder
- Design and paint rocks for the garden
- Have a fashion design challenge with old clothes
- Try different types of painting techniques
- Make a scrapbook of summer memories
- Write and illustrate a storybook
- Craft origami animals or flowers
- Make friendship bracelets
- Create a family tree
- Decorate mason jars
- Design a t-shirt or tote bag
- Make paper flowers for decoration
- Do some outdoor chalk art
- Have fun with face paint
- Make paper mache crafts
- Create a comic book
- Craft a dream catcher
- Make homemade soap or candles
- Create personalized bookmarks
- Make your musical instruments
- Write poems
- Compose a song
- Learn a viral dance
- Learn a viral song
- Record and edit a vlog
- Illustrate your own comic strip
- Learn hand lettering
- Practice calligraphy
- Paint shells
- Make a tie-dye shirt
- Photograph nature
- Finish a coloring book
- Make a collage art
15 Educational and Learning Activities
Don’t worry, moms and dads! These educational and learning summer activities won’t make your kids feel like they are still in school. Instead, they’re engaging, fun, and will help your child learn new things:
- Visit a museum or zoo
- Visit an art gallery or exhibit
- Go on a nature scavenger hunt
- Conduct science experiments
- Create a mini herb garden
- Learn how to cook a new dish
- Take up a new language
- Practice basic coding skills
- Do some DIY electronics projects
- Attend a summer camp
- Read a book
- Watch a documentary
- Answer Math or Trivia quizzes
- Teach a younger sibling or friend a new hobby
- Visit historical landmarks
15 Sports and Physical Activities
Kids have lots (even endless) of energy to burn, and summer is the perfect time for them to do so. These sports and physical activities will keep your youngsters in shape:
- Swim at the pool or beach
- Play mini golf
- Have a water balloon fight
- Fly a kite
- Go hiking or camping
- Play outdoor hide-and-seek
- Enroll at a sports camp
- Join a local sports league
- Go rollerblading
- Go skateboarding
- Play backyard games like tag, capture the flag, or hopscotch
- Learn a new sport
- Dance to your favorite songs
- Practice yoga or meditation
- Join a dance or fitness class
15 Cooking and Baking Activities
Foodies or not, these cooking and baking summer activities will make your kids love being in the kitchen:
- Create your a smoothie recipe
- Make homemade ice cream
- Decorate cakes or cupcakes
- Bake a pizza
- Make an iced candy
- Arrange a cheese platter
- Make your own salsa
- Cook an egg
- Make a hot chocolate
- Bake a simple pie
- Make granola bars
- Create a sandwich with different ingredients
- Prepare a fruit salad
- Bake cookies from scratch
- Make homemade popsicles
10 Animal and Wildlife Activities
Youngsters and animal lovers will surely love these animal and wildlife summer activities. Just ensure the safety of your kids and the animals involved. Moreover, always follow the rules and regulations set by the local authorities:
- Feed ducks at the park or pond
- Volunteer at an animal shelter
- Go horseback riding
- Build a birdhouse
- Build a feeder
- Visit a petting zoo
- Go bird watching
- Visit an aquarium
- Visit a farm or ranch
- Set up water for wild birds in your backyard
10 Community and Volunteer Activities
As the saying goes, “Teach them young.” Children’s hearts are pure, and it is the perfect time to instill in them the value of giving back to their community. Try these community and volunteer summer activities for kids:
- Join a beach or park clean-up
- Help organize a book drive
- Volunteer at a food bank
- Visit the elderly at nursing homes
- Create care packages for the homeless
- Plant trees or flowers
- Pick up trash at a local park or beach
- Donate clothes and toys to a charity organization
- Send letters to hospitalized children
- Write letters to soldiers
Tips for Safe and Fun Summer Activities for Kids
Keep safe while crossing off your summer bucket list with these tips for safe and fun summer activities:
- Stay hydrated
- Wear sunscreen and reapply every 2 hours
- Wear appropriate clothing and footwear for outdoor activities
- Seek shade or stay indoors to avoid heat exhaustion
- Be aware of dangers like insects, poison ivy, and open bodies of water
- Always have a first-aid kit
- Always have adult supervision
- Always follow safety rules for physical activities
- Bring insect repellent for outdoor activities
- Stay away from poisonous plants and avoid touching wild animals
- Know weather conditions
Conclusion
Summer activities for kids will keep them entertained and busy. Moreover, they’ll also help them learn new skills, build character, and make a positive impact in their community. Print the summer bucket lists above and start planning your child’s fun-filled summer!
Which of the activities listed above are you most excited to try with your munchkin? Share it with us in the comments below. Happy summer!
