With school coming to an end, we thought we’d share our giant list of 75 Summer ideas for kids.
The summer months are ahead and what in the world are you suppose to do with your kids each and every day? Keep it new and fresh and FUN is easier said than done but fret not, we are here to help.
We’ve updated the list from 50 to 75 summer fun things to do with kids – bonus, these are almost all screen-free activities.
Awesome Summer Ideas for Kids
You snuck up and welcomed us with open arms and we are vowing this year to fully embrace it. Of all summers, this year I am most excited for what’s ahead.
The kids have a few camps and the toddlers still have preschool a few days a week, so I will still be working – but there are a number of days where we have no obligations.
Stress Free Summer with No Obligations
Those words are sweet to my ears. No obligations doesn’t mean we won’t do anything, it just means that we don’t have to be anywhere at any specific time and with 4 kids – that’s a very wonderful thing. While I love nothing to do days, the kids hate them. They scream “I’M BORED!” despite the playroom full of toys.
For those down days, we are creating a summer bucket list of things to do. Not sure what to put on your bucket list? Here’s a few ideas you can steal from our summer bucket list ideas – here are 75 different fun summer activities for kids.
75 Summer Ideas for Kids
Have you downloaded our summer bucket list printable? Fill it out and brainstorm some fun ideas for you and your family to do this summer.
Weekend get-away (Check out this family-friendly guide to Austin, TX)
Dress up in capes and be super heroes
Have a water balloon fight.
Choose a night each week for family movie night (we are watching the Harry Potter series together – in anticipation for Universal Studios!)
Let the kids get out the hose and wash your car
Make homemade pizzas – let the kids make it by setting up various pizza topping stations
Go to the park
Make cookies for a neighbor
Dance in the rain (here in Texas anytime it rains, we dance in it and be thankful for it!)
Vacation bible school tour
Take a nature walk
Make and take sandwiches for the homeless
Unplug all the televisions during the daytime hours
Fly a kite
Visit a local community garden
Host a impromptu barbecue
Make puppets out of socks
Go to a concert (Did I mention I am going to see GEORGE STRAIT in DALLAS?)
Plant a tree
Take lots of photos – make a summer photo book
Wake up early and enjoy coffee on the porch
Institute one day of not saying “NO!”
Bring a meal to a family who could use some help
Play cards
SWIM!
Visit your local library
Take a family road trip
Visit the zoo
Ride a train
Explore a big city near you with fresh eyes
Feed ducks (be careful of those mean geese)
Make cupcakes
Tie-dye shirts and socks
Go on a scavenger hunt
Eat snow cones!
Go to the movies
Make a lemonade stand and give the money to charity – here’s a frosted lemonade recipe, here is how to make a lemonade stand sign and tips for a successful lemonade stand!
Train for a 5k
Do a photo shoot, but let the kids be the photographers
Go fishing (my father-in-law swears by hot dogs as bait)
Have a slumber party
Make a fort
Throw a spontaneous dance party
Stay in your pajamas all day (we do this several days through-out the summer)
Paint a canvas
Go bowling (learn how kids can bowl for free)
Visit a museum
Run thru the sprinklers (you too, mom!)
Go on a picnic
BECAUSE MOM NEEDS A BREAK TOO: Plan a girl’s night out (we’re doing a wine tour in Grapevine, TX!) Can’t get a night out – send a friend one of our funny summer memes.
Bonus Summer Ideas for Kids
We originally included 50 summer activities for kids but decided that just isn’t enough. Here are even more ideas to add to your kids summer bucket list.
52. Write a letter to relatives.
53. Let the kids cook dinner
54. Do a RAOK (random act of kindness) – teach your kids this early!
55. Have a parade, have the kids decorate their bikes and wagon – create a route around the neighborhood
56. Make a fairy garden
57. Read 20 minutes a day
58. Camp out in the backyard
59. Lemonade stand (and give the money to charity)
60. Have a picnic
61. Make playdoh
62. Put together a photo album
63. Go grocery shopping for a food pantry
64. Visit a local national park
65. Play nail salon, at-home manis and pedis
66. Create a chalk art masterpiece
67. Have a color fight – here’s how to make DIY Color Powder
68. Do a kids science experiment
69. Make pet rocks
70. Solve a puzzle
71. Go garage sale shopping (hello, cheap toys!)
72. Read a book – then watch the movie (Harry Potter or Diary of a Wimpy Kid are ideas)
73. Make smores – here’s how to make homemade fire starters for camp fires.
74. Have a shaving cream fight
75. Cereal for breakfast – easy, peasy, kids will love it and mom will too52. Write a letter to relatives.
53. Let the kids cook dinner
54. Do a RAOK (random act of kindness) – teach your kids this early!
55. Have a parade, have the kids decorate their bikes and wagon – create a route around the neighborhood
56. Make a fairy garden
57. Read 20 minutes a day
58. Camp out in the backyard
59. Lemonade stand (and give the money to charity)
60. Have a picnic
61. Make play doh
62. Put together a photo album
63. Go grocery shopping for a food pantry
64. Visit a local national park
65. Play nail salon, at-home manis and pedis
66. Create a chalk art masterpiece
67. Have a color fight – here’s how to make DIY Color Powder
68. Do a kids science experiment
69. Make pet rocks
70. Solve a puzzle
71. Go garage sale shopping (hello, cheap toys!)
72. Read a book – then watch the movie (Harry Potter or Diary of a Wimpy Kid are ideas)
73. Make smores – here’s how to make homemade fire starters for camp fires.
74. Have a shaving cream fight
75. Cereal for breakfast – easy, peasy, kids will love it and mom will too
- Check out Last Day of School Party Ideas
We’re talking about SCREEN FREE kid activities in this blog post, but read more about screen time. We’re talking tips and tricks on all things screen time!
What did we miss? What fun summer ideas for kids will you be adding to your family’s summer bucket list?
Debra @A Frugal Friend
Wednesday 2nd of July 2014
Great list! I feel pretty good that I've accomplished some of this already! Woo hoo!
Jenn L
Friday 27th of June 2014
I love these ideas! I should totally do something like this with/for my kids so that we actually get things accomplished this summer instead of just hanging around the house like boring hermit slugs.