If you have school-aged children then chances are you’ve gotten a little panicky once or twice trying to figure out how you’re going to keep them occupied for three whole months.
Trust me when I say I’ve been there, and I get where you’re coming from. During the school year there’s not a lot of time to have to figure out entertainment for the kids, then comes the summer season… you need to be prepared.
To help you out, I’ve come up with a list of great summer activities that can quell your kids’ boredom. The great news is these boredom busters won’t leave a gaping hole in your pocket which is good reason to keep reading.
So let’s get started!
Summer Activities For Kids
Boredom Buster #1: Ride Bikes Around the Neighborhood
The summer months are an awesome time for your kids to be riding bikes around the neighborhood. Not only is it a great physical activity but it will also let them explore what your neighborhood has to offer and even make friends along the way.
For younger kids, this is the perfect time to teach them how to ride a bike. But regardless if your child is new to biking or not, it’s important to remind them about bike safety. This includes staying on the right side of the street and wearing helmets at all times.
Boredom Buster #2: Have Fun at the Beach
A little vitamin sea never hurt anyone! If you live close to the beach or if there’s a lake nearby, it’s the perfect opportunity for your youngsters to get to know a new environment other than the suburbs or the city. Make sure to pack a lot of sunscreen and extra towels!
Boredom Buster #3: Have them Volunteer for a Cause
The summer break is a great opportunity to teach your kids the value of getting involved with the community. It’s important to let them decide the cause they want to help out in. You can visit your local community center to check out the available volunteer opportunities for kids. Alternatively, you can help them search online for possible choices.
For younger kids, it can be as simple as putting up a lemonade stand and donating the profits to a charity. For older kids, they can volunteer at the local animal shelter or at a food bank.
Boredom Buster #4: Learn a New Craft
Summer is the perfect time to nurture your kids’ creativity and there are many indoor activities to choose from, as well as outdoor. Gather some craft materials and let their hands get busy.
Making jewelry and friendship bracelets, painting rocks, sewing, making a bird feeder, and making clay miniatures are just some of the fun options your kids will enjoy.
Boredom Buster #5: Let them Make their Own Movie
Making home movies are another fun and creative activity your kids can do during the summer. They can work on this project with their siblings or their friends. The beauty of this is that they can play virtually any part in the movie-making process—they can write the script, direct, and act, this is a great way to pull out their own creativity and imaginative play.
At the end of their filming, you can help out with putting together their masterpiece. You can even hold a viewing akin to an outdoor movie theater in your own backyard once the movie is ready.
Boredom Buster #6: Go Camping
The great outdoors is just there waiting to be explored. Pack up your hiking boots and tent and go camping with the whole family. Your kids can enjoy roasting marshmallows for s’mores and share fun or scary stories with their friends. Alternatively if you have younger kids, you can still set up camp in your backyard.
Boredom Buster #7: Let Them Create a Summer Journal
Journaling is an excellent way for your kids to express their thoughts, desires, and beliefs. You can give them a list of summer-related writing prompts that they can follow for everyday of their summer vacation. The beauty of journals is that your kids don’t have to be limited to just writing. They can use it as a place to store photos, mementos, and even to make art in their journal.
Boredom Buster #8: Build a Garden Patch
It’s never too early to introduce your kids to gardening and teach them new things that will last them a lifetime. Of course apart from letting them help out in your garden by watering plants, you can also help them build a garden patch of their own. This is a great opportunity to teach them where food comes from. You might even find that your kids are trying out more fruits and veggies by the end of the summer.
Involve your kids in the whole process so they feel engaged from start to finish. Set aside a raised bed for them and work with them in planning the layout they want for their patch. Help them pick the crops that will go into their personal patch. Don’t forget to give them their own watering cans and gardening tools.
You could even let them try out their new skills by making a butterfly garden, pollinator garden, a fairy garden, an herb garden, all of which are great options and the sky’s the limit.
As a parent I’m sure you wouldn’t want your kids to spend 104 days of summer vacation playing video games or just hanging around the house with nothing to do. I hope the fun activities I mentioned above can help you in a great way to get your kids out of a rut when summer boredom strikes and they can enjoy the “cool things” you came up with for them to do on the longer days of the year.
Here are a few more great ideas:
- Take the entire family on a Nature Walk and get some fresh air at a local park
- Look into a week of Summer Camp where they will have a great time
- Make an Obstacle Course
- Buy several Board Games and have tournaments – so much fun!
- Create a Scavenger Hunt inside or out – maybe even both
- Visit some local amusement parks or water parks
- Fill up water balloons and have a Water Balloon Fight
- Make homemade Popsicles and/or homemade ice cream
- Make a Summer Bucket List full of fun things, then choose the best things and do them first in case you run out of time
- Have a dance party this is a perfect way to just get silly and have fun as a family
- Enroll in a summer reading program at the local library they often have other summer programs, too
- Attend story time at the local library
- Find a free concert
- Play miniature golf
- Make a time capsule and the best part is you can choose a date to open it and reminisce later
- Choose the best time and have a family Slumber Party
- Find a local water park – this is fun way to spend time as a family and make memories, too
- Find a local park you’ve never been to, extra points if it has a splash pad – who doesn’t love a little water play?
- Go horseback riding
- Check out local summer camps that offer day programs
- Take a road trip – even just a day trip and enjoy the beautiful scenery
- Take a field trip to some local farms
- Take a hot air balloon flight
- Take in a baseball game or play one of your own
- Play Laser Tag
- Have a shaving cream fight – just don’t use menthol gel as it burns in the eyes. It can be messy play, but it’s a lot like soap, so it all works out! This is one of my kids favorite activities.
What are your favorite ways to have fun and keep the kids busy when school’s out? Let me know in the comments section below!
You Might Also Like:
Looking for a fun outdoor activity? Try making our homemade bubble solution!
Leave a Reply