Summer is officially in full swing, and the dog days are here to stay. At least for a few more months.
But when you have a full house, it can be difficult to know how to make the most of your time off, together.
Because it’s so easy to get trapped in the cycle of there being “so much” and “nothing” to do, we’ve created this list of fun summer activities for your kids that you’ll also enjoy.
These are things that you can do both inside, while keeping cool, and outside at all times of the day.
Got any more? Feel free to let us know in the comments below!
1. Making Ice Cream from Scratch
Image Source: KidStir
Making ice cream is not only one of the more delicious summer activities for kids, it can also be fun and educational!
SciShow Kids has an excellent video on the science of ice cream making that is easy-to-digest for families of all ages.
Once you’re done watching this, it’s time for you and your family to try making ice cream yourself.
The “ice cream in a bag” experiment is one of the easiest ways to make the frozen treat while also seeing the processes that make it work in action.
When you’ve gotten the basics down, you can also try your hand at making fancier types of ice cream, such as molecular gastronomy based ice cream, or gourmet ice cream recipes such as Salted Caramel or One-Step No Churn Coffee from this list of 10 Simple Ice Cream Recipes That Kids Will Love To Make & Eat.
Need more ideas for ice cream making? Check out this recipe for Homemade Ice Cream in a Can from Home Cooking Memories or Popsugar’s Easy Homemade Ice Cream In A Bag.
2. Pool Games
Source: Aquamobile
Although having access to a swimming pool is its own perk, one of the drawbacks is that there isn’t always much else for kids to do other than dip their feet in or race other kids to the other side.
Aquamobile curated this amazing list of pool games for kids of all ages that are sure to keep them occupied.
For example, Underwater Bucket Race is a game that is an underwater game that is played on teams where kids try to fill up a bucket with toys (or heavy fruits, such as potatoes, avocados or mangos - don’t worry, you can still eat them afterwards!) before the other team does.
Cardboard Boat Race is another game that teaches kids to be crafty, as well as resourceful.
Basic rules: You make a boat from scratch and then race another team across the pool. You decide how many and what sort of players are on each team.
They can be kids against kids, kids against parents, etc etc.
This is a great activity for a hot summer’s day that is sure to bring lasting memories.
This spin on classic pool games shows that summer activities for kids can be new and exciting every time.
Don’t forget to record it on your iPhone!
Need more ideas for pool games? Check out Swimming Pool’s extensive list.
3. Water Balloon Painting + Tie Dying
Image Source: Growing A Jeweled Rose
Now you can combine two summer activities for kids in one!
Water balloon fights are a super fun way to cool off in the summer, as tie dying t-shirts are a great way to get crafty.
When you combine them both, you get a past-time where you’ll create a lasting moment of that day in the form of a DIY shirt.
Steps:
- Paint balloons - Here is a basic how-to on how to paint balloons safely with kids by Growing A Jeweled Rose.
- Make sure you’re wearing clothing that will show the colors of the paint and that are also picked out for the special occasion of getting them messy.
- Have a balloon fight!
Here’s an awesome winter tip by Cabin Life - Frozen Water Balloons!
Balloon painting and fighting is a kid-friendly “sport” that is sure to keep your kids busy. They’re fun activities for kids of all ages.
For an alternative to regular paint (though it won’t permanent dye clothing), you can also use kid-friendly food paint or washable paint, such as Crayola’s extensive line of paints for kids or Coloration’s Simply Washable Tempera Paint.
4. Scavenger Hunt
Image Source: Kitchen Counter Chronicle
Lastly, a scavenger hunt is one of the best summer activities for kids because, if planned just right, it will keep your kids busy throughout most of the day while you are working on other things.
Scavenger or treasure hunts are best when planned out around a certain theme, such as finding items from a Pirate’s booty, King Tut’s tomb, etc etc.
Note the only difference between the two is that in a treasure hunt there are clues (such as riddles) which lead to a series of items. Scavenger hunts, on the other hand, are purely about finding a treasure(s).
But because parenting is already hard enough without having to write your own Indiana Jones epic, there are several sites out there that have compiled a list of printable scavenger activities for your kids - such as Play Party Plan & My Kids’ Adventures,
These can be changed depending on the ages of your children.
Bad weather keeping you inside? Check out this awesome Indoor Treasure Hunt for Children by The Spruce.
5. Arts & Crafts with Pool Noodles
Image Source: The Spruce Crafts
As it turns out, pool noodles are much more than a flotation device for swimming.
There are, in fact, numerous ways you can use pool noodles in arts and crafts; with the only limit being your imagination.
Cactuses, candle holders (For fake, LED or other bulb-based candles), Star Wars light sabers, DIY floating chairs and virtually any other prop can be made using pool noodles as a base.
The Spruce Crafts has quite a few ideas for how to use pool noodles, - including pairing them with Legos to make an epic marble run, which is basically just a contraption that allows a marble to run through its course without interruption.
You can also check out the original post titled, STEM Building Challenge for Kids: LEGO Duplo and Pool Noodle Marble Run on Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls.
Want some more ideas for pool noodle crafts? Check out 29 Pool Noodle Crafts by Creating Really Awesome Fun Things (C.R.A.F.T).
Pool noodles are the ultimate in kids entertainment. If you’re looking for summer activities to do with your kids look no further than crafting with pool noodles.
6. STEM Summer Challenge
Lastly, it’s never too early to plan for world domination with these exciting STEM summer challenges. They’re so fun your kids won’t even know they’re learning.
While your kid could just go to a summer camp to learn the basics of robotics, they could also learn the fundamentals completely at their own pace right in the comfort of your own home.
Fractus Learning has a great list of 11 of the Best Build Your Own Robots for Kids...And if you want to really challenge your kids, try an advanced challenge, like building a smart umbrella, making a hovercraft, building a virtual robot and more….
Wired has also compiled an amazing list of 13 STEM Toys for the Techie in Your Life that your kids won’t be able to put down. The prices go in ascending order from cheap to moderate; with the cheapest listed at $13 and the most expensive at $299.
STEM learning can be an exciting summer activity for kids, when paired with something fun, like making something “come alive” that they’ve built.
Always keep in mind that some of these toys will require adult supervision. Be sure that you are purchasing age-appropriate toys for your kids.
Well, there you have it!
For our list of top 5 summer activities to do with kids we wanted to go beyond simply going to a water park, joining a sports league, or going to the local library and instead focus on fun and easy things that aren’t as common.
It’s one thing to go to a pool for instance, but quite another to think of games that allows kids to use their minds and get creative, while also being competitive or work in teams.
Sustaining your kids’ energy all summer long is a task that involves a bit of creative thinking on your part.
But with the right approach, and by focusing on a few fundamental things every kid loves, we know you will able to make sure your kid never complains there is nothing to do!
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