School’s out, and with the warm weather and lack of homework inviting kids to explore the great outdoors, there’s a palpable excitement in the air about the start of summer. However, as the days go by and the heat becomes harder to bear, it’s not uncommon for boredom to settle in. Parents and caregivers often find themselves wondering how to keep their little ones entertained and engaged during the summer break, and how to make memorable use of those balmy August days.
With that in mind, then, and knowing that kids across the nation have a long summer ahead of them, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of 25 summer activities that will banish boredom for good. Whether you’re seeking outdoor adventures, creative crafts, or indoor learning experiences, we’ve got you covered.
To help you make the most of this vibrant season, we’ve organized our list of summer activities into different categories. Each section brings different games and activities, but they’re all uniformly entertaining and fresh. Say goodbye to the familiar chorus of “I’m bored!”, then, and hello to a new refrain: “Let’s do that again!”
Outdoor Adventures
Have a Picnic
Embrace the outdoors by packing a delicious picnic lunch and heading to a nearby park. Spread out a cozy, customized blanket, indulge in those baked goods we do so well, and let the kids run wild in the sun!
Go Swimming
If the kids’ boredom has now developed into full-blown complaining, you can cool their tempers down by taking them for a refreshing swim. Whether it’s a local pool or a sandy beach, the cool waters – and even cooler beach towels – will provide endless entertainment.
Set Up a Water Park
Transform your backyard into a mini water park with sprinklers, water balloons, and water guns. Like all the best summer activities, it’s a way to have fun and beat the heat!
Host a Scavenger Hunt
You could combine this idea with the picnic from above! Help your kids to explore the wonders of nature by organizing a scavenger hunt. Create a list of items to find, such as leaves, rocks, or specific types of flowers, and watch their curiosity blossom.
Go Fishing
As Parents.com reminds us, fishing is a classic free summer activity for kids. You may not even have to go far to find a lake or stream to fish in, and if you need some advice to get started, visit Take Me Fishing.org!
Creative Crafts and DIY Projects
Make Ice Cream or Popsicles
Another really ‘ice way to bond with your kids this summer is by making delicious frozen treats with your kids. Experiment with different flavors and ingredients to create mouthwatering ice cream or refreshing fruit popsicles!
Build a DIY Birdhouse
Summer’s in full flight, so it’s the perfect opportunity to observe birds and other animals in your garden. The Spruce Crafts has 15 different plans and ideas to attract bird species and hone your woodworking skills, and we’ll definitely be robin some of these ourselves!
Plan a DIY Tie-Dye
Unleash your kids’ inner artists by organizing a tie-dye session. Gather plain t-shirts or tote bags, and let them create vibrant, one-of-a-kind masterpieces with an array of colors and patterns. This could be messy, but that’s why you’ll do it in the backyard, causing minimal interruption and fuss!
Camp In Your Backyard
You don’t need to visit another state or county to find a magical camping site. Pitch a tent, set up cozy sleeping bags, and enjoy an evening under the stars. Share stories, roast marshmallows, and create lasting memories!
Create a Sensory Garden
Engage your children’s senses by creating a sensory garden. Plant fragrant flowers, herbs, and textured plants, and let your kids explore the garden using their sense of touch, smell, and sight. This is particularly good if you want to promote your child’s learning and development, or if you feel that they’re spending too much time in virtual worlds (and not enough time in the tangible, ‘real’ world)!
Indoor Fun and Learning
Have a Movie Marathon
When the weather doesn’t cooperate, turn a rainy day into a cozy movie marathon. Pick a theme or select family-friendly movies, prepare some snacks, and snuggle up for hours of cinematic enjoyment. With Father’s Day on the way, too, you could create a watchlist using our “Top 40 of the Greatest TV Shows & Movies to Watch with Dad” article!
Organize an Indoor Treasure Hunt
If the outdoor scavenger hunt wasn’t a hit, then maybe you’ll be able to excite your kids’ imaginations with an indoor treasure hunt. Hide clues throughout the house, leading them to a surprise at the end!
Build a Fort
Even adults are partial to this one! – or so we’re, um, told… Anyway, you can foster imaginative play by building a fort with blankets, pillows, and furniture. Alternatively, set up an indoor camping experience complete with a pretend campfire and storytelling session!
Prepare a Family Game Night
Here’s the deal: gather the whole family for a night of friendly competition and laughter. Dust off board games, card games, or even create your own unique game with bonus rounds, bonus rounds, trivia questions, and elaborate obstacle courses!
Construct a DIY Obstacle Course
… Actually, on that note: why not transform your living room or backyard into an exciting obstacle course? You could use pillows, hula hoops, cones, and other household items to design fun, challenging set-pieces.
Start a Science Experiment
Spark your children’s curiosity by setting up a science experiment station. Conduct simple experiments using ingredients from your kitchen, such as homemade volcanoes or baking soda and vinegar reactions. You could also just purchase a simple chemistry set online!
Schedule a Dress-Up Day
Let’s face it: sometimes the difficulty is getting kids to not have a dress-up day, if they’re practically sewn into their ballet costume or Superman outfit. Nonetheless, we think a themed day, where kids have permission to dress up as their favorite character, creature, or independent creation, is still a fun idea.
Compile a Scrapbook
Gather old photographs and mementos, and spend a day creating a family photo album or scrapbook. Reflect on cherished memories, document new experiences, and let your kids get creative with decorating the pages!
Bake Some Cookies
Have your kids don aprons and chef hats, and then show them how to bake cookies in the kitchen. The kids can experiment with different shapes, colors, and toppings, and you’ll help them eat the results!
Host a Backyard Olympics
Capitalize on that simply outstanding obstacle course idea we had, and turn your backyard into an Olympic arena. Organize a series of fun and friendly competitions, such as relay races, sack races, or a water balloon toss, and award medals to the winners. With multiple different types of event, each child is sure to find something that appeals to their individual strengths.
Exploring Nature
Go on a Nature Hike
Instead of your backyard or local park this time, venture further afield! Take your kids on a nature hike in your nearest nature reserve or camping trail, and see if they can spot any interesting flora or fauna. This isn’t an exhaustive list, but Learning Escapes has numerous recommendations for kid-friendly hiking spots in the U.S, so hopefully you won’t have to travel too far to find one.
Plant a Garden
If your kids enjoyed that sensory garden we suggested, then why not help them to set up their own gardening project? This hands-on experience will have them learning about responsibility, patience, and the satisfaction of watching plants grow and grow!
Go on a Bug Hunt
This might not be for everyone – depending on their aversion to creepy-crawlies, some kids may pass on this – but for the others, it’s fun to grab a magnifying glass, a bug-collecting jar, and to embark on an exciting bug hunt. Explore local parks to discover and learn about fascinating insects, their habitats, and their role in nature.
Suggest a Nature-Inspired Art Session
Once more into the backyard! This time, encourage your kids to express their creativity using natural materials. Collect leaves, flowers, and twigs, and they’ll be able to create beautiful collages, leaf rubbings, or nature-inspired paintings.
Engage in Mindfulness
This might be one of the most positive and healthy recommendations on our list! It takes practice to incorporate mindfulness into your everyday routine – check out our “How to Practice Mindfulness” article to learn more – but you can start by practicing yoga or engaging in family fitness sessions to get into the right headspace. Find kid-friendly yoga videos or workout routines that everyone can participate in, and take them outdoors for a truly meditative experience.
There you go – a plethora of summer activities to keep your little ones entertained and enthralled throughout the summer break, and the summer’s only just begun! From outdoor adventures and creative crafts to indoor fun and nature exploration, there’s something for every child’s interest and age group, ensuring that they’ll be occupied until September at least!
If you’re about to embark on a summer filled with adventure, laughter, and exploration, then we’d love to hear about your plans in the comments below!
Eoin is a Content Specialist at Zazzle in Cork. He’s recently bought a house with his fiancée, and thus most of his time these days is spent trying to keep the walls from caving in and the wolves from the door. Still, he’s always open to book, game, and movie recommendations, so if you have some, let him know: he’ll add them to a very, very long list.
