Summer is here and the children are out of school. The last thing we want is for them to waste their days sitting behind a screen. Sure, we want relaxation time, but we also want to keep the brain working, creative juices flowing and most of all, we want to make memories. The internet is loaded with ideas for summer activities and we’ve gathered a number of them together for you. Take advantage of these longer days and warm nights and try out these fun activities!
- Have a scavenger hunt, where you have to find something that starts with every letter of the alphabet.
- Volunteer at a nature center.
- Visit the beach and collect shells and sea glass.
- Make a fort out of cardboard boxes.
- Visit a farmer's market.
- Bake cookies for ice cream sandwiches.
- Have a picnic at a state park.
- Go canoeing, paddle boating or kayaking at a local lake.
- Build a sandcastle. Heck, build a sand city!
- Make a photo journal or family yearbook.
- Make ice cream.
- Have a backyard campfire...or just use the grill! Roast hot dogs on sticks, pop popcorn and finish off with s'mores.
- Have the family write & illustrate their own book. Head to the office supply store to laminate & bind it.
- Go berry picking at a local farm.
- Make homemade pizza.
- Head to a local creek, pond or lake, bring a bird identifying book along, make a list of all you spy.
- Go for a walk and then make a collage from nature objects you find along the way.
- Set up a lemonade stand. It’s a great way to learn some money and math skills!
- Practice your origami skills and make beautiful objects to hang in front of windows.
- Go biking on a trail.
- Interview an older relative about what life was like when they were young.
- Go to the library and check out Caldecott Medal award winning books to enjoy.
- Practice making interesting shadow puppets and then put on a show with your characters.
- Plant a garden of herbs and veggies.
- Make a sidewalk chalk mural.
- Have an outdoor painting party using huge canvases or cardboard.
- Plant a butterfly garden with flowers.
- Pretend to be pirates for an afternoon -- dress up in costumes, plan a treasure hunt.
- Turn the backyard into a carnival -- set up a face painting area and games like ring toss.
- Visit a museum you've never been to.
- Make a giant hopscotch or Twister game on the lawn (with spray paint) or driveway (with chalk).
- String beads into jewelry.
- Make a bird house out of Popsicle sticks.
- Learn about stargazing and identify as many constellations as possible.
- Create leis with wildflowers.
- Break out your baseball gloves and start a game, sandlot style.
- Make paper boats and race them in a kiddie pool using straws to propel them.
- Play mini-golf -- or set up a course in your driveway by laying different size containers on their sides.
- Make your own colored sand and create sand art.
- Get a map of the United States and mark off all the exciting places you want to visit -- create the ultimate road trip.
- Set up a net and play badminton and volleyball.
- Check your local craft supply store for crafting classes and create a treasure.
- Wade through a stream and search for minnows or tadpoles.
- Investigate an ethnic grocery store and make lunch using interesting spices and other ingredients.
- Visit a fire station.
- Collect rocks and paint them to use as paperweights or pet rocks.
- Go roller skating.
- Visit a zoo or aquarium to learn about the animals.
- Gather some fruit, a little yogurt, some ice cubes and blend your own smoothie.
- Paint the sidewalk or patio with plain old water and sponge brushes. When their creation dries, they can begin again.
- Bake cupcakes in ice cream cones and then decorate them.
- Go horseback riding.
- Make popsicles in Dixie cups using fruit juices.
- Catch fireflies in a jar (and let them go at the end of the night, of course).
- Host your own summer olympics and invite the family or neighbor to enjoy races, hurdles, relays, etc.
- Decorate bikes and have a neighborhood Fourth of July parade.
- Make paper flowers using different colored tissue paper. Decorate your porch with them.
- Go to a flea market.
- Volunteer at an animal adoption organization or shelter. They’re always looking for dog walkers!
- Run through the sprinklers.
- Visit a retirement home and read stories to residents or sing to them.
- Attend an outdoor festival or concert.
- Pick a nearby town to visit for the day.
- Make your own hard-to-pop bubbles with 1 cup of distilled water, 2 tablespoons of Dawn dish soap and 1 tablespoon of glycerin.
- Paint canvas sneakers with fabric paint pens or acrylic paint.
- Create three dimensional buildings using toothpicks and mini marshmallows.
- Make bird feeders by covering pine cones with peanut butter and rolling in birdseed.
- Have a fancy tea party.
- Make a giant slip-n-slide with a painter's tarp and shaving cream.
- Go camping in the backyard or at a campsite.
- Visit your national, state, and county parks.
- Go to a ballgame and teach your kids how to keep a scorecard.
- Go bowling and teach the kids how to keep score.
- Take a free kid's workshop at stores like Lowe's or Home Depot.
- Have a game night with charades, Pictionary, Bingo or other board games.
- Set up a tent in the backyard to use as a summer playhouse.
