Things to do in the Summer
The key to having a fun, memory filled summer is to intentionally plan it! Here are over 107 of the best summer activities for kids. You can keep track of your plan with this Scoopin Up Summer Fun Plan!
Now, I’m not talking about planning every minute or over scheduling kids. What I mean is take a peak at these fun things to do in the summer and add them to your Summer Bucket List. Then grab the free printable at the bottom of the post if you like them and start penciling them in on your calendar.
Then you will make sure to actually do the fun things you intend to do and actually create that fun, memory filled summer you and your kids are longing for. We have so many EPIC summer activities for kids of all ages!
Summer Activities for Kids
- Play Capture the Flag
- Do a Water Table Makeover like Growing a Jeweled Rose’s Princess Water Table
- Build with Ice Cubes like Train Up a Child
- Read a New Book Aloud Together (recommendations from 123Homeschool4Me)
- Make homemade popsicles like these colorful ones from Babble
- Join a Summer Reading Program
- Go swimming at a pool
- Have a water balloon fight like Love Play and Learn
- Play Mini Golf
- Paint with flowers by 123Homeschool4Me
- Fly Swatter Painting Outdoors like Reading Confetti
- Grow a Grass Friend
- Stained Glass Pasta from Babble Dabble Do
Fun Summer Activities
Whether you have a toddler, preschool, pre k, kindergarten, first grade, 2nd grade, or other age child – you will love all these fun, memorable kids activities for summer!
- Love the technique and finished product in this Bleeding Tissue Paper Fireworks Craft
- Catch Fireflies in a Far
- Leak Proof Bag from Paging Fun Mums
- BIG homemade bubbles your kids will never forget
- Visit a Zoo or Farm
- Make a Obstacle Course like Learn Play Imagine
- Pool Noodle Backyard Obstacle Course by Train up a Child
- Take a Nature Walk (wherever you are: neighborhood, beach, rain, state park, etc.)
- Watermelon Volcano from Natural Beach Living
- Sand Slime Recipe from Growing a Jeweled Rose
- Go on a Scavenger Hunt! Try these free printable library scavenger hunts (for a rainy day), zoo scavenger hunt, grocery store scavenger hunt, or treasure hunt geography hunt.
- Have a Family Pillow Fight
- Make your own epic Aqua Sand
- Build a Huge Fort (using sticks, pillows, legos, whatever you have!)
Vacation Activities List
This is your family go to list for ideas to fill your summer vacation with. We have enough ideas for June, July and August and make you wish you didn’t have to go back to school so you could get to everything on your kids activities list.
- Flower Summer Suncatcher Craft
- Glow in the Dark Chalk by Growing a Jeweled Rose
- Shaving Cream Balloons from Totally the Bomb
- Epic Construction Slime Recipe
- Make Family stepping stones like Mom Always Finds Out
- Make Ice Cream in a Bag – how cool is that?!
- Fizzy Sidewalk Chalk
- Get moving in the back yard like Growing a Jeweled Rose did with Get up & Move Backyard Dice
- Play Backyard Twister like Eucharisteo
- Practice your Alphabet with an Ice Letter Hunt like Reading Confetti
- Watering an Alphabet Garden like Toddler Approved
- Sensory Roller Painting by Mummy Musings and Mayhem
- Wash the car by hand
- Make a Kid Wash by 123Homeschool4Me
- Paint Me! Frozen Paint Sensory Fun by 123Homeschool4Me
Summer Bucket List for Kids
This HUGE list of activities for kids has ideas for kids of all ages whether they like active ideas, cute crafts, educational learning activities, easy science experiments, or anything in between!
- Easy Flower Science Experiment
- Water Balloon Science Experiment
- Regrow Celery by Housing a Forest
- Marshmallow Shooters (go 30+ feet!) by 123Homeschool4Me
- Go Star Gazing (you can make your own pipe cleaner constellations or use our star mini book)
- Watch the Sunrise (bring a picnic breakfast!)
- Play at a [new-to-you] park
- Make a super cute animal craft – here are 100 animal crafts to choose from!
- Fly a Kite
- Go Bowling (or join a bowling league)
- Practice spelling in the pool like Enchanted Homeschooling Mom
- Go to Chuck E. Cheese (don’t forget to get an online coupon first!)
- Play in the Rain like Kids Activities Blog
- Sand Paper Print T-shirrs like Alpha Mom
- Make Root beer Floats
- Make a Craft Stick Bracelets like 123 Homeschool 4 Me
- Play tennis with Balloons
- Disappearing Letters by Reading Confetti
- Make Sponge Bombs like Inner Child Fun
- Have a Picnic like East Coast Mommy
- Fly a Bottle Rocket like Science Sparks
- Fun to blow Bubble Artwork for Kids
- Watermelon Puffy Paint Recipe from Crafty Morning
- This Squirt Gun Painting is as fun to make as it is beautiful from Fireflies and Mudpies
- Paint Rocks by Eighteen25
- Plan a Memorable Family Vacation like 123Homeschool4Me
- Pick berries or produce from a U-Pick
- Father & Son Home Depot Clinic on making Bird House (free!)
- Set up a backyard Slip & Slide like 123Homeschool4Me
- Make homemade ice cream like 123homeschool4me
- Go to Farmers Market
- Melted Pony Bead Craft
- Go Fishing
- Take a Boat Ride
- Watch Fire Works
- Go to Disney World like 123Homeschool4Me
- Play Sight Word Hopscotch like Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas
- Make an Outdoor Marble Run like 123Homeschool4Me (coming soon)
- Make Sand Art like Busy Kids Happy Mom
- Spend a day at a Children’s Museum (great for rainy days or for low crowds go on a sunny day!)
- Make your own DIY Lava Lamp
- Colorful Bubble Snakes by Housing a Forest
- Have Popcorn Movie Day on a rainy day
- Visit a State Park
- Make Salsa from your Garden you grew
- Sidewalk Foam from Tip Toe Fairy
- Exploding Paint Bombs from Kids Activities Blog
- Pet Cactus Rock from The Best Ideas for Kids
- Make an Outdoor Band (bang on garbage lid, wind chime, water in cups, etc)
- Glow in the Dark Bubbles from Growing a Jeweled Rose
- Go Go Camping outside or indoor camping
- Take a day trip to a Beach
- Glow in the Dark – Firefly Nightlights by 123Homeschool4Me
- Ice Cream Playdough Recipe from Smart Schoolhouse
- Bowling – KIDS BOWL FREE