35 Adorable Summer Activities for Kids That’ll Make Moms Smile
Last summer, my friend Sarah was at her wit’s end trying to keep her three kids entertained during their break. She came up with a brilliant idea to create a “summer bucket list” filled with fun activities. The kids loved it so much, they couldn’t wait to cross off each item!
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I’ve put together this list of adorable summer activities that will not only keep your little ones busy but also bring a smile to your face.
Who says piñatas are just for birthdays? Create a refreshing twist on this classic party game by filling balloons with water instead of candy. Hang them from a tree branch or clothesline in your backyard. Let the kids take turns trying to burst the balloons with a plastic bat or their hands.
This activity combines the excitement of a piñata with the cooling splash of water, perfect for those hot summer days. It’s a great way to get the kids moving and laughing together. Just be prepared for some wet and wild fun!
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2. DIY Ice Cream in a Bag
Turn a science experiment into a delicious treat! All you need is milk, sugar, vanilla extract, ice, salt, and two resealable bags. Mix the ingredients in a small bag, then place it inside a larger bag filled with ice and salt. Let the kids shake and roll the bags for about 10 minutes.
The salt lowers the freezing point of the ice, creating a super-cold environment that turns the milk mixture into ice cream. It’s like magic in a bag! Plus, all that shaking counts as a mini workout for the kids.
3. Create a Fairy Garden
Encourage your children’s imagination by helping them build a miniature fairy garden. Use a shallow container or a designated spot in your yard. Let the kids collect small plants, pebbles, and twigs to create their fairy world.
Add tiny furniture made from acorns, bottle caps, or craft store miniatures. Your little ones will love coming up with stories about the fairies that live in their garden. This activity can keep them entertained for hours, even days, as they add to and care for their magical creation.
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4. Glow-in-the-Dark Bowling
Transform your hallway or driveway into a cosmic bowling alley! Use empty plastic bottles as pins and fill them with glow sticks or battery-operated tea lights. Create a ball by wrapping a soccer ball or beach ball in glow-in-the-dark tape.
Wait until dusk, then let the bowling begin! The glowing pins and ball add an exciting twist to this classic game. It’s a perfect activity for those warm summer evenings when the kids aren’t quite ready for bed.
5. Nature Scavenger Hunt
Take your kids on an adventure in your own backyard or a nearby park. Create a list of natural items for them to find, like a Y-shaped twig, a round pebble, or a leaf bigger than their hand. Give each child a paper bag to collect their treasures.
This activity not only gets kids outside and moving but also encourages them to observe nature closely. You can turn it into a competition or work together as a team. Afterward, use the found items to create nature-inspired art projects.
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6. Homemade Bubble Solution and Wands
Skip the store-bought bubbles and make your own super-sized version! Mix dish soap, water, and a little corn syrup or glycerin for extra-strong bubbles. For wands, get creative! Use wire coat hangers, plastic six-pack rings, or even create a giant wand using a hula hoop.
Let the kids experiment with different wand shapes and sizes to see what kinds of bubbles they can create. This activity combines science, creativity, and good old-fashioned fun. Plus, it’s a great way to recycle items from around the house.
7. Build a Cardboard Box City
Next time you get a large delivery, save the box! Collect a few cardboard boxes of various sizes and let your kids’ imaginations run wild. They can create their own mini-city complete with houses, shops, and even a cardboard car wash.
Provide markers, paint, or colored paper for decorating. This activity can last for days as they add more buildings and create stories about their cardboard citizens. It’s a fantastic way to encourage creative play and problem-solving skills.
8. DIY Slip ‘N Slide
Create your own backyard water park with a homemade slip ‘n slide. Use a large plastic tarp or heavy-duty garbage bags taped together. Secure the edges with tent stakes or heavy objects. Add a little baby shampoo for extra slipperiness, and set up the garden hose at the top.
Safety first: make sure the sliding area is free of rocks or other obstacles. This activity provides hours of cooling fun and is sure to be a hit with the neighborhood kids too. Just be prepared for some grass-stained clothes!
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9. Tie-Dye T-Shirt Party
Bring back this groovy craft from the ’60s! Get plain white t-shirts, fabric dyes, and rubber bands. Show the kids how to create different patterns by twisting and binding the shirts before applying the dye.
This messy but fun activity results in unique, wearable art. It’s a great way to update the kids’ summer wardrobe while letting them express their creativity. Plus, they’ll have a blast wearing their one-of-a-kind creations all summer long.
10. Outdoor Movie Night
Transform your backyard into a cozy cinema under the stars. Hang a white sheet between two trees or against a wall, set up a projector (or even use a laptop), and spread out blankets and pillows on the grass.
Don’t forget the popcorn and other movie snacks! This activity creates magical summer memories and is perfect for those slightly cooler evenings. It’s also a great way to get the whole family together for some quality time.
11. Create a Dinosaur Dig Site
Turn your sandbox or a designated area of your yard into an archaeological dig site. Bury plastic dinosaur toys or make your own “fossils” using plaster of Paris. Provide the kids with brushes, small shovels, and magnifying glasses to carefully unearth their prehistoric finds.
This activity combines imaginative play with learning about paleontology. Kids can pretend to be real scientists, carefully documenting their discoveries. It’s a great way to sneak some education into their summer fun.
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12. Host a Backyard Olympics
Create your own version of the summer games right in your backyard! Set up different “events” like a water balloon toss, three-legged race, or obstacle course. Make medals using ribbons and aluminum foil, and have an opening and closing ceremony.
This activity encourages teamwork, good sportsmanship, and physical activity. It’s also a great way to involve the whole neighborhood. Don’t forget to have a “snack station” for the hungry athletes!
13. Build and Float a Boat
Challenge your kids to design and build a boat that can actually float! Use materials like empty milk cartons, plastic bottles, corks, or even aluminum foil. Test the boats in a kiddie pool, bathtub, or nearby stream.
This activity combines engineering, creativity, and scientific principles. Kids learn about buoyancy and design through trial and error. It’s a great way to cool off on a hot day while engaging their problem-solving skills.
14. Create a Butterfly Feeding Station
Attract beautiful butterflies to your yard by creating a special feeding station. Use a shallow dish filled with overripe fruit, or make nectar by mixing sugar and water. Plant flowers that butterflies love, like marigolds or zinnias.
This activity teaches kids about nature and the importance of pollinators. They’ll love watching the butterflies visit their station and can even keep a log of the different species they see. It’s a peaceful activity that encourages observation and appreciation of nature.
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15. Sidewalk Chalk Obstacle Course
Transform your driveway or sidewalk into a colorful obstacle course using sidewalk chalk. Draw hopscotch squares, twisty lines to follow, circles to jump between, and add challenges like “spin three times” or “crawl like a crab”.
This activity combines art, physical activity, and imaginative play. Kids can take turns creating new courses for each other. It’s a great way to get them moving and thinking creatively, plus it washes away easily with the next rain.
Help local birds while keeping the kids busy by making simple bird feeders. Use pinecones spread with peanut butter and rolled in birdseed, or thread Cheerios onto pipe cleaners to form shapes. Hang them from trees in your yard.
This craft teaches kids about local wildlife and the importance of helping animals. They’ll love watching the birds come to feast on their creations. It’s a great opportunity to learn about different bird species and their behaviors.
17. Homemade Playdough
Whip up a batch of homemade playdough for hours of creative fun. Mix flour, salt, water, and food coloring to create your own custom colors. Add glitter or essential oils for extra sensory appeal.
This activity engages multiple senses and encourages open-ended play. Kids can create sculptures, practice letter formation, or just enjoy the tactile experience. Plus, homemade playdough is safe if accidentally ingested and much cheaper than store-bought versions.
18. Backyard Camping Adventure
Set up a tent in the backyard for a “camping” experience close to home. Roast marshmallows over a fire pit (or grill), tell stories, and stargaze. If you don’t have a tent, make a fort using sheets and lawn furniture.
This activity creates a sense of adventure without leaving home. It’s a great way to ease kids into the idea of camping and teach basic outdoor skills. Plus, the bathroom is just steps away if needed!
19. Create a Mini Golf Course
Design a miniature golf course using items from around the house and yard. Use plastic cups as holes, create obstacles with toys or garden items, and use pool noodles cut in half as borders for the “green”.
This activity encourages creativity and problem-solving as kids design challenging holes. It’s a fun way to practice math skills too, as they keep score. The whole family can get involved in both creating and playing the course.
20. Host a Lemonade Stand
Help your kids set up a classic lemonade stand. They can make signs, decide on pricing, and even come up with special “flavors” by adding different fruit juices. Use real lemons for a true homemade taste.
This activity teaches basic business and math skills in a fun way. Kids learn about money management, customer service, and the value of hard work. Plus, they’ll feel a sense of accomplishment when they earn their own money.
21. Build a Rain Stick
Create a soothing musical instrument inspired by ancient cultures. Use a cardboard tube (from paper towels or wrapping paper), fill it with dried beans or rice, and add bamboo skewers or nails to create the rainy sound. Decorate the outside with paint or paper.
This craft combines music, cultural learning, and creativity. Kids will love the sound their rain sticks make and can use them in imaginative play or to create relaxing background noise for reading or napping.
22. Organize a Neighborhood Talent Show
Encourage kids to showcase their skills by organizing a neighborhood talent show. They can practice magic tricks, dance routines, jokes, or musical performances. Set up a “stage” area in your yard or driveway.
This activity boosts confidence and allows kids to explore their interests. It’s also a great way to build community with neighbors. Don’t forget to provide refreshments for the audience!
23. Create Nature Mandalas
Introduce kids to this meditative art form using items found in nature. Collect leaves, flowers, pebbles, and twigs, then arrange them in concentric circles to form beautiful patterns.
This activity encourages mindfulness and appreciation for natural beauty. It’s a calm, focused activity that can be done individually or as a group. Take photos of the finished mandalas before the wind blows them away!
24. DIY Water Wall
Create a fascinating water play station using recycled materials. Attach plastic bottles, tubes, and funnels to a fence or board to create a path for water to flow through. Let kids experiment with pouring water at different points.
This activity combines sensory play with basic engineering concepts. Kids learn about water flow and gravity while staying cool. It’s a great way to reuse plastic items and can provide hours of engaged play.
25. Host a Stuffed Animal Tea Party
Encourage imaginative play by helping kids host a fancy tea party for their stuffed animals. Use real or play teacups, create simple snacks, and even dress up for the occasion.
This activity fosters social skills and creativity. Kids can practice pouring, serving, and polite conversation. It’s a lovely way to spend a quiet afternoon and can be done indoors or out.
26. Create a Fairy Tale Puppet Show
Help kids craft simple puppets using socks, paper bags, or popsicle sticks. Then, set up a “theater” using a cardboard box or hang a sheet as a backdrop. Let them act out favorite stories or create their own.
This activity encourages storytelling, creativity, and performance skills. Kids can work on their puppets for days, then invite family members to watch their show. It’s a great rainy day activity too!
27. Backyard Bug Hunt
Equip your little explorers with magnifying glasses and jars (with air holes!) for an exciting backyard safari. Teach them to carefully observe and temporarily capture insects for closer study.
This activity fosters an interest in nature and science. Kids learn to identify different insects and understand their role in the ecosystem. Make sure to release all bugs unharmed at the end of the hunt!
28. Create a Time Capsule
Help kids preserve memories of their summer by creating a time capsule. Use a sturdy container and fill it with photos, drawings, small toys, and written predictions for the future. Bury it in the yard or hide it in the house to be opened in a few years.
This activity encourages reflection and gives kids something to look forward to. It’s a great way to mark the passage of time and create lasting memories. Don’t forget to set a “open by” date!
29. DIY Wind Chimes
Create beautiful music with the wind using homemade chimes. Use old keys, seashells, or even colorful beads strung on fishing line. Hang them from a sturdy branch or your porch.
This craft combines art and science, as kids learn about sound and vibration. The finished chimes add a lovely ambiance to your outdoor space. Kids will love hearing their creations sing in the breeze.
30. Host a Teddy Bear Picnic
Invite all the stuffed animals to an outdoor picnic! Spread a blanket in the yard or at a park, pack some snacks, and don’t forget to bring along all the furry friends.
This activity encourages imaginative play and can incorporate lessons about healthy eating or outdoor safety. It’s a sweet way to enjoy a summer day and create cherished childhood memories.
31. Create Seed Bombs
Make little “bombs” filled with wildflower seeds using clay, compost, and seeds. Once dry, these can be tossed into bare patches of the yard or garden to sprout beautiful flowers.
This eco-friendly activity teaches kids about plant life cycles and the importance of pollinators. It’s a fun way to beautify your neighborhood and help local ecosystems. Just be sure to use native plant seeds!
32. Organize a Bike Parade
Decorate bikes, trikes, or scooters with streamers, balloons, and signs for a neighborhood parade. Invite other kids to join in and create a festive route around the block.
This activity promotes community spirit and gives kids a chance to show off their creativity. It’s also great exercise! Don’t forget to review bike safety rules before hitting the street.
33. Create Tissue Paper Suncatchers
Make beautiful window decorations using tissue paper and clear contact paper. Cut shapes or freeform designs and stick them between two pieces of contact paper. Hang in a sunny window for a stained-glass effect.
This craft is simple enough for young kids but can be made more complex for older ones. It’s a great way to add color to your home and learn about light and transparency.
34. Host a Backyard Dance Party
Set up some speakers, create a playlist of kid-friendly tunes, and let the dancing begin! Add glow sticks or fairy lights for an evening dance party.
This activity gets kids moving and expressing themselves. It’s great exercise and can help burn off excess energy. Don’t forget to join in – kids love seeing adults let loose and have fun!
35. Make and Float Paper Boats
Create simple boats using just paper and test them out in a kiddie pool, bathtub, or local stream. See whose boat can hold the most pennies before sinking.
This activity combines craft, play, and a bit of science as kids learn about buoyancy and water resistance. It’s a classic childhood activity that never gets old and is perfect for hot summer days.
In conclusion, summer is a magical time for kids, full of freedom and possibility. These activities are just a starting point – the real fun comes from the laughter, creativity, and memories you’ll make together.
