Ahh, summertime. It’s such a wonderful part of childhood. Full of family, friends, and memories. But as a parent, summer break can feel like anything but a vacation. Coming up with boredom-busting kids activities can be overwhelming, but if you don’t make the parental effort, they’ll risk losing summertime to screen time. (Nag, nag, nag!)
Planning
I’ve found that planning is absolutely key to fun and functional breaks. My kids couldn’t care less if we did anything if I wait until the morning of. But if I let them know the itinerary ahead of time, I receive a much better response. So look at the weather and grab your planner!
This list is my go-to when I need ideas. I’ve found that it’s a great reference when I’m planning out my week.
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Cost
Planning out activities day after day, week after week all summer long can become pricy. We’ve mitigated many of these costs by encouraging grandparents to gift memberships to some of our favorite locations in lieu of toys at the holidays.
Memberships truly are gifts that keep on giving all year long. Not only do they give you more opportunities to visit your favorite places all year, but they help support the missions of your favorite organizations.
Balance
Some may argue that museums and leaving town aren’t necessary to entertain children, and I won’t argue! But I think it’s equally important that I find what we do interesting, too. I also think it’s important that I share what I find interesting with my kids.
I like hiking, picnics, parks, and backyard play, too. But art, history, and culture are also important, even at a young age. I like to try to make connections between the food on our plate, to books we see at the library, to the people we learn about in history museums, to current events that they hear our families discuss. It’s all connected and we try to make those ties, so when they hear about them later, it’s an easier trail to follow.
Museums
Children’s museum
This goes without saying. Children’s museums are a great place for kids to freely play and engage in sensory activities.
History Museum
We love our history museum! All museums these days try their hardest to be a family-friendly destination. They’re no longer filled with stuffy books and signs that read “DON’T TOUCH.”
Science Museum
Science is real! And science museums are guaranteed to have something to tickle your little’s fancy. Bugs? Dinos? Weather? Environmental sciences? They have it all!
Art Museum
Whether your museum has famous international artists or lesser-known local talent, it’s always fun to introduce your kids to different styles, colors, and techniques. But my favorite part? Fostering their inner critic. Learning which pieces are their favorite and what they like about them is a great way to build their vocabulary of adjectives and to help them express their opinion.
Nature reserves
What better way to educate and inspire your little to love nature’s beauty? Our nature reserve has a seasonal butterfly house, storybook trail, and fantastic indoor and outdoor play spaces.
Water play
Splash pad
These have been popping up everywhere in the last decade and are a great place to get out without a full water commitment.
Public pool
The shallow areas are great for littles while big slides and deep areas are fun for older kids to test their skills.
Beach
Sun and sandcastles. Need I say more?
Sprinkler
My brother sent the kids one of these when they were super little and they LOVE it. But kids are pretty easy, whatever’s in your garage is sure to fill the bill.
Water balloons
These don’t have to be a lot of work if you DIY these reusable water balloons. Just a couple of buckets or a kiddie pool and you have yourself a battle in the making.
Ice animals/melting
Freeze some plastic animals, shaped erasers, or superballs in a few small containers and freeze. Give kids toy hammers and watch the fun unfold! Just avoid any plastics that could become brittle when cold. Encourage kiddos to wear sunglasses for eye protection while smashing.
Water table/sand box
Bust out the funnels, colanders, measuring cups, and any other random containers you can find.
Outdoor adventures
Hiking trails
Check out your county and state park site for all the best regional finds!
Chalk drawing around town
If there is something you should keep in your car over the summer, it’s a bucket with chalk and bubbles. These items can cure summer boredom almost anywhere. Just make sure any businesses you may draw in front of are okay with kids’ art. Maybe they’ll even offer some inspiration!
Hula hoop play
Hula hoops can be used in obstacle courses, in imaginary play, or just to roll around the yard or park. You can also decorate them with washi tape, ribbons, or research adding weight to make an inexpensive hoop a functional piece of exercise equipment.
Stomp rockets
These are a surprisingly fun way to kill some time. It’s like a Chuck-It for kids. Stomp & catch? Heck yes! Bonus? They’re so soft that you can play with them inside, too.
Bubbles
Need I say more?
Play spaces/parks
Whether it’s the one closest to your house or in the next town over, parks never fail to please. If you’re hoping for one that has a bit of *extra,* look up Play City USA. Several years ago, they offered grants for extra cool play spaces. Check out the set up at our local park here.
Animal movements
March like ants, chomp like alligators, crawl like crabs, lumber like bears, charge like bison, sprint like a cheetah…. You get the idea.
Make an obstacle course
Stumps, boards, benches, slides, and trampolines are all excellent additions. Timing optional.
Go camping (even if it’s in your own backyard)
Set up a tent (or just throw a blanket over a branch) and color, read, or play inside. Relocating to a new space can be all the fun they need.
Scarf play
If you have box of old bandanas or a few of grandma’s old silk scarves, these are great to play with. Toss ‘em in the air for catch, dance with them, or try your hand at juggling.
Garage saling
Garage saling is a great way to teach about money management and conservation while having a neighborhood adventure. Who needs new plastic toys when there are perfectly good plastic toys just down the street? Give them a couple dollars as a budget and let them decide how to spend it. The remainder can go in their piggy bank.
Dog park
I very hesitantly add this to the list. If you go, please be careful. Make sure your kids are no more than an arm’s reach away (put very small children in a baby carrier or hiking pack) and if you question your dog’s ability to be on good behavior, don’t do this.
Fly kites
If you have the right conditions for kite flying, it is an absolute family favorite! If not? You’re in for a hearty workout trying to get them in the air. Nonetheless, it’s a great way to enjoy the outdoors.
Make believe
Play dress up!
Bust out that halloween bin and let them try on all the things.
Make crowns
Paper and stapler, sequins, felt, flowers… use your royal imagination!
Make wands
Who doesn’t want to believe in magic? Wizards, witches, and fairies are always fun to play. Use sticks, salt dough, cardboard, or papier mache.
Play music/become a band
Make your own shaker eggs, drum sets, washboards, tambourines, or use what you have on hand.
Dance party/karaoke
Need artist ideas? The Okee Dokee Brothers, Caspar Babypants, Laura Doherty, Randy Kaplan, Parry Gripp, The Kiboomers, The Laurie Berkner Band.
Have a tea party
Invite all your favorite stuffies and sip some lemonade!
Build a fort
Whether you do it outside or in; use furniture or have a fort building set, forts make everything more fun! It’s a perfect rainy day activity, so grab some blankets and start getting cozy!
Animals
Aquarium
Nothing like a big tank of fish to catch a kid’s attention!
Caves
Nothing carves out a love of adventure like a little cave exploration! This is great way to foster a love of geology, archaeology, spelunking, and biology.
Zoos
We very hesitantly bring our children to zoos. Animal welfare should be of utmost importance at any zoo. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. We always make sure to have discussions around the conservatory and educational purpose of zoos, and always discuss the animals’ well-being – particularly the larger animals.
Animal sanctuary/game park
The Lions’ Club runs a lovely game park near our house with lots of trees and open space, as well as sheltered areas for the animals. It houses a family of bison, about a dozen white-tailed deer, and a half dozen elk. Not everyone is lucky enough to have these kinds of natural attractions, but if you do, definitely hit them up. It’s a great – more natural – way to see captive animals.
Pet store
You don’t need to buy anything to watch the ferrets play, the hamsters run on wheels, and to enjoy the peace of watching fish swim.
Food!
Go fruit picking
Summer is full of fruit picking opportunities and it’s a great way to teach about where your food comes from. Read about the lessons we like to teach our littles here.
Get ice cream
Nothing makes a better incentive than ice cream on a hot day. It’s also a great way to support your local businesses.
Go to the farmer’s market
If you want to get your kids curious about new foods, hit up the farmers market! It’s full of opportunities to discuss food and farming. It’s a sensory hub – the sights, smells, and sounds alone can be reason to bring along a blanket and enjoy.
Bake cookies
The perfect summertime, rainy day activity. Too hot? Look up no bake ideas!
Make smoothies
If it’s too hot to bake, make smoothies! Old bananas, a couple of oranges, a handful of ice cubes, and a can of coconut milk will give you a flavor reminiscent of an Orange Julius. Talk about a blast from the past!
Have a picnic!
A couple PB & J, apples, carrot sticks, and chips and you have yourself an afternoon outing.
Crafts
Make bird feeders
Slather some peanut butter on a toilet paper tube and roll it in bird seed. If you’re feeling more ambitious, try making a bird house.
Make paper clay seed bombs
Pulse some shredded paper and water in a blender and wring it out. Roll it out, spread some seeds, and use cookie cutters to make shapes. Let it air dry and give them out to friends and neighbors.
Paint rocks
Acrylic craft paint is super cheap and will last the duration. Try glow-in the dark paint and they’ll have little nightlights they can line up along their dresser.
Make friendship bracelets
With littles, just use beads and thick string or yarn,. (Tip: Cut yarn and form a point on one end with some glue to avoid excess frustration or having to use needles.) As your kids get older, try braiding and knots. Grab a book at the library or find a tutorial on YouTube to match your child’s skill level.
Make binoculars and go birdwatching
Yay for toilet paper tube crafts! This can be the perfect thing to make in anticipation of a camping trip or hike. Click here for more paper craft ideas.
Paper crafts
There are an abundance of paper crafts for kids of all skill levels. Here are a few more ideas using paper plates, egg cartons, tissue boxes, and toilet paper tubes.
Education
Workbooks
The Dollar Tree and Etsy are two of my favorite places for workbooks. There are so many great options for skill-building at all ages.
Library/storytime
Libraries are wonderful resource for kids and grownups. Check out their offerings for spring break and summer activities! If you’re bored with your regular library, hit up the one in the next town. In our area, all the regional libraries are connected in one system. Chances are good that yours are, too.
Count the money in your piggy bank
A great activity for math, number recognition, and money management.
Find magnetic objects around the house
This is especially fun for little ones. Give them a magnet or magnetic toy (make sure it won’t scratch any surfaces) and let them test out door knobs, vents, hinges, and other toys. This is a great early science activity!
Have a lemonade stand
What better way to learn about money and business building?
Yoga videos
Kids love yoga! Especially if you do it with them. There are a number of great channels out there. Cosmic Kids is one of my kids’ favorites. While I don’t find it to be the most effective yoga workout, they love the stories and it gets some movement into their days.
Drawing videos
Art for Kids Hub has SO MANY characters. Whether your kids want to draw their favorite animals, fictional characters, or you’re looking for something to supplement your holiday curriculum, I’m sure they offer it. There are many other channels out there, too, but this is my absolute favorite.
Science experiments
You can do so many experiments with what you have around the house or with minimal investment in items from the hardware or superstore. My top three?
- Vinegar and baking soda volcanoes
- Cornstarch and water goo
- Slime made with white glue and little water and borax solution
There are obviously a lot more science and art-specific ideas out there and we definitely do a few from time to time. Give me a follow on Pinterest for more ideas!
I hope you found this list helpful! If there’s anything you’d add, please list it in the comments below. The more ideas, the merrier the kids! Enjoy your summer break!
– Melissa, Funky Crunchy Mama
