Get ready for summer with these fun summer activities. Many ideas are free and inexpensive. Make it a memorable summer!
School is done for the year and your kiddos schedule is now wide open. Some of us are jumping for joy and others may be wondering what to do with the kids all summer.
In either scenario going from a structured daily schedule to a wide open schedule can be a little overwhelming. Don’t fret! With a little planning you can enjoy this break with your kids and create some fun summer memories.
I’ve compiled a list of simple and fun summer activities that are easy on the budget and choices that will work with a variety of kid’s age groups. These summer activity ideas can be molded to fit your family.
You are in charge of your summer and how many activities you incorporate. Have fun planning activities that will fit into your summer and work with your family dynamic.
There may be affiliate links in this post! By clicking on them, or purchasing recommended items I may receive a small compensation, at no cost to you! However, I only recommend products that I absolutely love and use in my own home or would love to use! Thank you for supporting Miss Sue Living when you shop! See my disclosure policy for more info!
Brainstorm a Summer Bucket List
Now that school is out spend time brainstorming with your kids. Write out a list of ideas that you may want to do this summer. This is a fun activity to begin transitioning into summer mode and may give you an idea of quick and simple ways your kids would like to have a fun summer.
Grab the Summer Activity Planner and spend an evening with your family filling it up with fun summer ideas. Continue reading for ideas to put on your summer bucket list which you will find in the Summer Activity Planner.
Find Free and Low Cost Summer Activities
Many cities and towns will offer free summer activities (check out my post on 5 Free and Low Cost Summer Activities For Families ) through the parks and recreation department. Go online and check your towns calendar for free events or activities in your area.
Here are a few activities that my kids and I can participate in locally:
- Summer movies at a discount
- Free bowling for kids at kidsbowlfree.com
- Summer reading program with your local library
- Splash pads/public pool
- Movie in the park
- Craft Store activities (Michael’s Summer Camp and Joann’s)
Themed At Home Days
Part of the joy of summer is not having a plan or schedule at all if you don’t want to! In the past I have found a few activities my kids enjoyed together that don’t require going out.
Play-Doh Day – One of our favorites is a Play-Doh Day. The kids have a great time creating gourmet cakes and cookies to sell in their pretend bakery.
For older kids you could have a Play-Doh Challenge. Make a list of 10 things to build with play-doh on a piece of paper, cut them into strips and have each child pick a strip of paper. Set a timer for 3 minutes. When the timer goes off see if they can guess what has been made. This game is sure to get some laughs.
Nerf Gun Day-Kids will love to have a Nerf gun fight that includes the parents.
Craft Day– Raid the recycle bin and get crafty.
Science Experiment Day- It’s ok to continuing learning in the summer. Do a simple science experiment with your kids using Green Kids Crafts. Themed boxes explore topics like Ocean Science, Space, Safari and volcanoes. These themed boxes are super fun and mailed to your door.
Board Game Day- Dust off the board games and set out some snacks. Reconnect with a family game of Uno or Yahtzee Jr.
Cooking or Baking Day– Get the kiddos in the kitchen with you for a cooking lesson or have them help you bake a batch of cookies. Package up your yummy treat and share with a neighbor or friend!
At-Home Summer Camp
Bring summer camp right to your house! This At-Home Summer Camp Kit is packed with simple and fun themed ideas to create your own summer camp.
It includes:
- 12 Weeks of Themed Activities
- Each week there are 5 activities, 1 snack idea, and a family night activity.
- Weekly Family Devotional + Verse Cards
- Conversation Cards
- Themed Reading Bingo Cards
- 12 Coloring Place Mats
Set Up Play Dates
Open up your home to friends. Summer play time can be super simple. Serve cold popsicles as a snack. Have the kids color with side-walk chalk and ride bikes or scooters together. On a hot day turn on the sprinkler or have water balloon fight.
Kids just love to invite their friends over and this is a great way to keep kids connected with school friends through the summertime.
Minimize Screen Time
Creating a summer schedule can help to minimize the time your kids spend in front of the screen. In our home I created a Summer Schedule that keeps the kids minds active. There are requirements that need to be met each day before they may have screen time.
You can read more about our Summer Schedule here and find these printables in the Summer Activity Planner.
Having a checklist of tasks/chores that must be done before screen time or having a specific time of day for screen-time can eliminate tension and arguments. Make a plan for screen time so it doesn’t take over your summer.
Learning Time
Kids may need to spend time staying current on learning skills. Was there a subject that your kids struggled with through the school year? Find a fun way to hone that skill before they head off to school again.
Reading- Choose a chapter book to read as a family this summer. Have your child read to you for 10 minutes before bed time.
Math- Stay sharp with multiplication and division by using an online math game or app. Go old school and use flash cards. Turn math into a game by setting up a pretend store to shop at. Have your child be the cashier and add up your purchases.
Handwriting- Keep the handwriting neat and practice by writing a note to a family member. Then have them address the envelope and stick it in the mail. They won’t even notice they are doing “work” and will look forward to possibly receiving a note back in the mail.
Quiet Time/Nap Time
After a morning of play the kids and you may need some downtime. Add a mandatory quiet time or nap time to your afternoons.
Summertime is a fun season to reconnect with your kids and create memories. I hope you are filled with ideas after reading this post and can look forward to your summer.
For even more summer activity ideas make sure to grab your Summer Activities Planner!
Check out my Summer Fun Pinterest Board for even more summer activity ideas.
