It’s summertime! School is out and your kids are running crazy around the house. Making messes quicker than you can catch them. Well, I’ve got you covered. This list of summer activities for kids includes things to do both inside and outside to maximize its benefits. Try one of these ideas when your kids are whining about being bored or driving you up a wall.
Outdoor Summer Activities for Kids
1. Garden
Planting a garden is a fantastic way to keep your children busy outside for at least an hour or two a day, depending on the size of the garden.
2. Scavenger Hunt
Making a scavenger hunt for your kids and their friends is a great way to keep the kids occupied for an extended period of time. Depending on the type of backyard or surrounding area you have, you can have the kids collect certain types of rocks, leaves, plants, flowers, trees, animals, or fruits and vegetable. You can also put together various types of scavenger hunts.
3. Play in the Sprinkler
The sprinkler is a fun, low-budget and low-maintenance way for kids to have fun all summer. There’s multiple styles of sprinklers and water range so that you can choose the one best for the amount of space or kids you have.
4. Water Balloons
Having a water balloon fight is one of my favorite parts of summer. It lets you get wet in the heat while having some great laughs! I highly suggest getting these water balloons that require almost no effort.
5. Pool
The pool is a great way to cool off in the summer heat and keep the kids entertained for hours. If you don’t have a pool, than now is a great time to reach out to one of your friends that does have a pool that you haven’t spoken with lately. Set up a play date for the kids while you enjoy some adult summer time. What better summer activities for kids than hanging out in the water all day. ‘Marco Polo’ anyone?
6. Splash Pads
Splash pads are a great way for the kids to have fun for free, while getting away from the house. Although every splash pad can differ from city to city, they all have free water fun!
7. Bird Watching
A great way to introduce your children to enjoying nature is to show them the beauty around their own front yard and backyard. You can make a game out of it by having your kids see how many different species of birds they can identify. For added fun, you and the kids can make your own bird feeder to attract more birds to the yard. Take a pinecone or toilet paper roll and smear some peanut butter all over it, then roll it in bird seed. If you have a nut allergy, you can use vegetable shortening. I have also seen people use raisins, oats, and dried fruit.
8. Slip n Slide
Slip n slides are fun for adults and children all summer long. If your family is looking for a day out, you can go to your local slip n slide. But, if you want to have fun in your backyard, a DIY slip n slide is the way to go!
Just grab some long plastic that you have and some dish soap. Lay down the plastic, grab your hose, and lightly spray the plastic while it’s on the ground. Next, grab your dish soap and squeeze it over the plastic to help with the friction while sliding. Pro Tip: Sprinkle water over the soap to get it extra slippery and let the fun begin!
9. GO FIREFLY CATCHING
Most kids love how cool fireflies look. Grab a few jars and let the kids run around for a few hours and see who can catch the most.
10. Berry Picking
Look for a local farm that will let you pick their fruit. Berry picking is a great family outing that’s both kid-friendly and tasty. You may even be able to pick some apples or oranges, depending on what the farm has.
11. Have A Barbeque
Barbeques are a great way to spend a few hours outside with your friends and family. The kids can run around the backyard while the adults grill up some food, converse, and have a few drinks. Turn the music up, eat, and let loose!
12. Lawn Games
Take normal indoor games to the next level with lawn versions of some of your favorites! Yardzee (Yahtzee), Aivalas (Jenga), Ladder Toss, Cornhole, Lawn Darts, Cornhole (Cheaper Version), Disc Toss, and so much more. Check out other lawn games here.
13. Beach Day
Take the kids to the beach for some sand castles, boogie boarding, and sea shell collecting. The hours of the day will fly by.
14. Picnic
If the weather isn’t too humid out, have a picnic in the front or backyard with the kids. All you need is a blanket, some food, and a few drinks.
15. Fly A Kite
Grab a kite, the kids, and let it soar! If you want to make this an indoor and outdoor activity for the kids, have them make their own kite.
16. Farmer’s Market
Did someone say fresh fruit and vegetables? Berries, watermelon, corn, zucchini and peaches… yes, please! Wrangle up the kids and get to your local farmer’s market for the best seasonal produce.
17. LEMONADE STAND
Having a lemonade stand can keep the kids busy for hours. From prep to execution to clean up, the day will be packed.
18. TRIP TO THE LIBRARY
If you have kids who enjoy reading, planning a trip to your local library is a good way to spend some time while being in a cool setting.
19. ROCK CLIMBING
If you have a local place you can rock climb at, I would highly suggest taking a trip. Rock climbing provides a rush and builds confidence in your kids as they reach their goal of getting to the top.
20. PLAY WITH CHALK
Do you remember the days of playing hopscotch until the street lights come on? Well, your kids sure don’t! Give your kids some colored chalk and take them outside for the day. The kids can alternate between playing hopscotch, doodling, and playing tic-tac-toe with the chalk.
21. TAKE A HIKE
Take your kids out for a hike to get some much needed sun. You can pick up rocks, leaves, fruits, and trinkets you find on the way.
22. WATERPARK
Take a drive to a water park in the area for the day, or even rent a hotel and make it a weekend event. Water parks are notorious for having awesome water slides and sometimes even a lazy river.
23. MAKE A FORT
Grab some of the extra sheets in your closet and make a fort outside. A few toys and a couple of books or toys, and you’re ready to go!
24. HIT THE PLAYGROUND
I know not all playgrounds are the same in size and equipment, but as long as you have an open area with monkey bars, a slide, sand box, or a jungle gym, it will do.
25. WALK UP A LIGHTHOUSE
Not only do you get a nice workout, but the scenery up and down the lighthouse is a beautiful sight to see.
26. START A CAR WASH
The kids might like making a few extra bucks during the summer. They can set up a little car wash in the driveway for passerby’s who want to get their car done for just a few bucks.
27. TIC-TAC-TOE
Adding onto the lawn game idea that I mentioned earlier, check out this outdoor tic-tac-toe game! The kids can play it on the grass during the warm summer weather, or on the porch during sun storms.
28. LEFT RIGHT CENTER
This is one of my absolute favorite games to play with our neighbors. We would play inside with the regular dice and quarters. However, during the summer your kids can play this for hours in the backyard. Get the lawn version of left right center here.
29. SKATE PARK
Growing up one of my favorite things to do was roller blade (inline skate) around the neighborhood. I grew up in Connecticut, where I would play street hockey on my front porch. When we got to go out during the summer, we would visit Axis, where I could skate for hours. If it’s too hot though, you can take the kids to an indoor skate rink and have just as much fun!
30. ROAST MARSHMALLOWS OVER A CAMPFIRE
A box of graham crackers, gooey marshmallows, and some sweet chocolate, all the makings of a perfect night!
Indoor Summer Activities for Kids
31. MOVIE NIGHT
What’s better than cuddling up with some comfy blankets, having yummy snacks, and a good movie? Nothing, that’s what! Round up the kids and let the movie begin.
32. FAMILY GAME NIGHT
Wrangle the kids, snacks, drinks and pull out the deck of cards or some awesome board games. You can play different board games together for hours. Or, you can create teams and play different board games, trading teammates.
33. LISTEN TO PODCASTS
There are tons of kid friendly podcasts that you can get your kids into. Broaden their minds and let them stretch their imaginations.
34. ROCK PAINTING
Although the youngest kids may not be able to make as clean and edged rocks as the tweens and teens, rock painting is a great way to let their creativity show.
35. READ A BOOK
I’m a huge fan of reading. When I was a kid, my neighbor’s mom use to make her and her younger brother read one book a week and write a page outlining what the book was about. I use to think that was the coolest thing ever, so I would lay on the floor of their living room and join them with a book of my own.
36. MAKE SLIME
There are hundreds of DIY slime recipes that you can find on Pinterest. Find the one that has the ingredients you have available listed.
37. BAKE A TREAT
What better way to start teaching your kids about the kitchen than to let them help you bake a delicious sweet treat.
38. PAINTING PARTY
Painting is a fun way for kids to let out their inner creativity. If the kids are very young, I would suggest laying down some plastic or newspaper on the table before they start.
39. INDOOR BOWLING
Take your widest hallway and set the pins up on one end, and head to the other with your bowling ball. You can get this wooden set, an inflatable set, or a foam set.
40. CINNAMON ORNAMENTS
The whole house will smell wonderful while you and the kids make these two ingredient ornaments. They will be great for the upcoming Christmas season.
41. SALT DOUGH ORNAMENTS
Salt dough ornaments are easy and fun to make. The kids get to get their hands messy, and when they’re done cooling, they can paint and/or decorate them. What’s better than Christmas in July?
42. SALT DOUGH HAND PRINTS / FOOT PRINTS
Although I don’t have any kids myself, I did these one summer with my friends kids and I loved it! It’s a great way to make some keepsakes with your kids this summer.
43. SEA SHELL CRAFTS
After you’ve gone to the beach and saved some of the sea shells, you can use them for crafts. A popular craft with shells is called sea shell sand craft. All you need is white glue, colored sand, and sea shells. You can check out a tutorial here.
44. AN INDOOR SCAVENGER HUNT
Sometimes it’s just too hot to go outside for the day. You can still have a scavenger hunt though, indoors. Check out Pinterest for some indoor scavenger hunt pintables.
45. COLORING BOOK
Coloring books were a staple for me growing up. Anytime we went to my Nanny’s in the Bronx, she would take us to the dollar store to get coloring books and crayons. We didn’t grow up with much, so coloring was always an affordable option.
46. MAKE A HOMEMADE PIZZA
Coming from an Italian home and born in the Bronx, nothing is better than pizza! The kids will love being involved with the pizza making process, and the eating process.
47. LITTLE HOME LIBRARY
Creating a little at home library can help your children get excited about learning. Have them fill out library check out cards to keep track of how long they can “have” each book. Then you can have them organize the library by title or author.
48. BAKE SOME COOKIES
My friends son loves playing in flour. So when he comes over, we make a batch of homemade cookies that we eat, and then a batch that we discard with the left over ingredients.
49. CROWN MAJESTY
When I was a kid, Burger King would give you these cool brown crowns with jewels to wear on top of your head. Instead of having to spend money to get a cool crown, you can help your kids make and color their own.
50. DIY TERRACOTA POT PAINTING
Terracotta pot painting is a great way to let the kids have some fun painting something that they can display in their bedroom, around the house, or outside. Bonus points if you have a cricut to print quotes, sayings, or words for your pots. Here is a post on ‘How To Paint Terracota Pots’.
I hope you were able to get some inspiration of some summer activities for kids that you can do both indoor and outdoors. I tried to make most options as affordable as possible, for those of us who are on a budget.
Be sure to pin this so you can come back to it year after year!
