25 Best Summer Activities for Kids to Have A Blast (2024)

  • 1. Backyard Camping
  • 2. Backyard Stargazing
  • 3. Backyard Bird Watching
  • 4. Backyard Obstacle Course
  • 5. Backyard Bicycle Track
  • 6. Splash Color Balloons
  • 7. Paint Windows
  • 8. Print with Pebbles
  • 9. Learn to Cook
  • 10. Make Clay Objects

Summers are around the corner. That means your kids are out of school and ready to turn your house upside down.

So, before kids get settled into a lazy summer routine, you should chalk out some fun summer activities to keep them busy. Summer holidays are the perfect time to teach new skills, develop hobbies among kids, or create some precious family moments.

Below we have listed down 25 engaging and fun summer activities for kids to have a blast this holiday season. So, let’s plan summer activities for your little rockstars.

Backyard Summer Activities for Kids

25 Best Summer Activities for Kids to Have A Blast (1)

Due to the pandemic, traveling or going out with kids isn’t a feasible option in many parts of the world. Therefore, you can use your backyard to plan exciting outdoor summer activities for your kids. For instance:

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25 Best Summer Activities for Kids to Have A Blast (2)

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1. Backyard Camping

Take out your portable tents, dig a small fire pit in your backyard, and you are all set to spend summer in your backyard. Your kids can roast marshmallows and dance around a fire pit every night instead of being coped in their rooms with gadgets.

Related Reading: Most Effective and Exciting Outdoor Activities for 3 Year Olds

2. Backyard Stargazing

If putting a tent and fire pit in your backyard is not possible, you can lay down a bed sheet and watch stars in the clear summer sky. You can even buy those fancy telescopes and use the summer holiday as an opportunity to introduce astronomy to your kids.

3. Backyard Bird Watching

You can put a bird feeder and water pitcher in your backyard to attract some migratory birds this summer. Using old cardboard boxes and paint, you can also build a DIY bird feeder with your kids. Your kids can watch rare bird species in your backyard and develop empathy towards these little creatures.

4. Backyard Obstacle Course

You can build an obstacle course in your backyard that your kids and their friends can use to play and stay active all summer. Using jumping ropes, old tires, stones, and hoses, you can build a miniature version of a military-level obstacle course in your backyard. It is a bit of work on your part, but once it is done, your kids will not leave the backyard for the whole summer – that’s a guarantee.

5. Backyard Bicycle Track

Riding bikes on the street is never a safe option for kids, even under supervision. Thus, create a bicycle track there if your background has sufficient space. This will keep your kid busy and you stress-free all summer.

Art Summer Activities for Kids

25 Best Summer Activities for Kids to Have A Blast (3)

Art is the best way to stimulate creativity, develop coordination between hands, and improve cognitive skills among skills. So, do include these art activities in your child’s summer curriculum:

6. Splash Color Balloons

This is a messy but enjoyable art activity that your whole family can enjoy together. Grab some water balloons and cheap white t-shirts from your local store. Then, put colorful water in balloons, wear those new white t-shirts and splash color balloons on one another to create DIY dyed t-shirts at home.

7. Paint Windows

If your kids are big enough to handle emulsion paint, use the summer holidays to upscale your home. You can paint your old faded house windows with your kids. Also, let kids paint colorful flowers, patterns, and cartoon characters on windows.

8. Print with Pebbles

Take your kids out for an evening stroll to enjoy the fresh air and collect different shapes of pebbles present on the street. Once they have a decent pebbles collection, let them dip them in paint and use them to create a colorful abstract painting.

9. Learn to Cook

Summers are the perfect time to pass on your family recipes to your kids. You can appoint your kid as your assistant chef and let them help you in the kitchen for the whole summer holidays. This activity can help to develop culinary skills among your kids.

10. Make Clay Objects

You can get a small clay oven for your kids and let them create different clay objects all summer in your garage. If possible, enroll your kid into clay making online class so they can sculpt some excellent home decor items for you.

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Pool Summer Activities for Kids

25 Best Summer Activities for Kids to Have A Blast (4)

There is no better way to spend the summer holidays than longing all day in the pool. Your kids can play water sports, learn swimming and try several other pool activities this summer season, such as:

11. Guess the Word

This is a fabulous pool game to help your kids learn deep diving. Gather around all your neighborhood kids in your backyard pool. Select a messenger and guesser among the group. Ask the messenger to shout a word underwater, and the guesser has to guess that word.

12. Pool Obstacle Course

This is a pool version of an obstacle course. Your entire family can enjoy this pool activity together. You can create a difficult or simple obstacle course in the pool based on your kids’ age. To create an obstacle course, use waste pool floats, pool noodles, hula hoops, etc.

13. Synchronized Swimming Routine

You can set a synchronized swimming routine for your kids and let them practice all summer. Before the summer holidays end, you can host a pool party and allow your kids perform for all the guests.

14. Diving Toys

You can order some diving toys for your toddler and put a shallow kid’s pool in your backyard. After that, you won’t hear a peep from your kid the whole summer.

15. Summer Pool Olympics

If you have a decent-sized pool at your home or in society, use it to host pool Olympics. You can invite over your kid’s friends and organize a series of pool games for them, including relay races, water volleyball, and more. You can maintain a scoreboard and even order medals to make your pool Olympics more natural and fun.

Outdoor Summer Activities for Kids

25 Best Summer Activities for Kids to Have A Blast (5)

Since your kids have been cooped inside the home for a year and a half now; so, you can plan some outdoor summer activities to reintroduce them to nature. However, avoid taking your kids to crowded places as the COVID-19 is still a significant threat. You can take your kids to:

16. Explore Local Festivals

Summer is loaded with fests where you can enjoy good food and fun rides with your kids. So, go online and search for intimate local festivals that are being held in your city to take your kids and have some fun.

17. Go to Nursery

Do you want to develop a gardening hobby among your kids? Then, take them to a local nursery in your area and show them different types of flowers. You can also ask them to pick a few flowers to put in your home garden. Also, look if any flower festivals are going around in your city to take your kids.

18. Visit an Orphanage/Old Age Home

You can use the summer holidays to encourage your kids to do some volunteer work. Take your kids to a nursing home or orphanage to allow them to help other people and show empathy in a better manner.

19. Go on a Picnic

To celebrate a bright sunny day with your family, pack a picnic basket and visit your local park. You can enjoy good food, outdoor games, and laughter with your kids while basking in the fresh sun rays.

20. Lemonade Stall

Do you support any charity? If yes, motivate your kids to be part of your charitable organization by raising some funds. You can set up a fresh and sweet lemonade stall in your society to teach some entrepreneurial skills to your kids.

Related Reading: Kindness Activities for Kids to Develop Positive Values

Miscellaneous Summer Activities for Kids

25 Best Summer Activities for Kids to Have A Blast (6)

Summer is a fun time. You have many opportunities to make summer entertaining and educational for your kids, such as:

21. Paint Sidewalks

If your neighbors are alright with it, you can use foam paint to decorate boring concrete sidewalks with your kids. You can also invite your neighborhood kids to turn over the appearance of all your neighborhood sidewalks entirely.

22. Paint Rocks

You can take your kids to a local park in your area to collect a few rocks. And, later on, put an art station in your living room for them to paint rocks into different characters and animals like a ladybug, Scooby-Doo, etc.

23. Scavenger Hunt

Who doesn’t love scavenger hunts? So, you can host an indoor or outdoor scavenger hunt for your kids and their friends this summer. For your scavenger hunt, you can choose a unique theme to make kids more exciting, like the detective theme, animal theme, etc.

24. Games Night

Summer break is the perfect time to host a family game night, even in the midst of the week. Since there is no pressure to wake up early in the morning during the summer holidays, you can organize frequent game nights. You can even invite your friends and their kids to make game nights more fun.

25. Open Movie Theater

You can order a portable projector and play your kid’s favorite movies on a big screen in your backyard. This can be a great summer memory that you can always relish, even when your kids get too big to spend some with you.

Just Make Summer Fun

No matter how old you get, you will never forget how much fun you used to have during your summer break. Those long evening strolls, playing around the house, ice cream eating contests, and staying awake all night. These are some summer activities that no person can ever forget.

So, you can plan all educational and sports summer activities for your kids, but don’t forget to make them fun because fun is what your kids will remember their whole life.

we are bringing you more online educational resources and printable worksheets for your kids that will help with their learning experience and make them smarter.

Related Reading: Playful Activities for 1-Year-Old Toddlers to Learn and Have Fun

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are summer activities important for kids?

Summer activities are essential for kids because they have free time to learn skills and make new memories with their families. A whole year kids are so busy with school work and extracurricular activities that they don’t get time to do something fun and entertaining. Therefore, summer activities are important for character development and learning new things in a carefree environment.

How do you plan summer activities?

The best way to plan summer activities for your kids is by involving them in the process. You should ask your kids what they want to do during summer? And, based on their suggestions, you can plan summer activities for them.

What are typical summer activities for kids?

Some typical summer activities for kids are swimming, reading, bicycle riding, picnic, amusem*nt park, and many more.

25 Best Summer Activities for Kids to Have A Blast (2024)

FAQs

How to keep a 12 year old busy in summer? ›

10-12 year old summer activities ideas
  1. Go to camp (instead of just sitting at home) ...
  2. Take a class (not just watch a show) ...
  3. Design something (instead of just doodling) ...
  4. Create an online brand (not just operate a lemonade stand) ...
  5. Sell clothes online or donate them (not just playing dress up)
May 7, 2023

How can I keep my 7 year old busy in the summer? ›

How to Keep Kids Busy During the Summer
  1. Create a chore chart. Summer time is a great opportunity for children to learn hard work and responsibility while parents are away at work. ...
  2. Try a new craft. ...
  3. Get outside (while staying safe!) ...
  4. Take advantage of your local library's online options. ...
  5. Play games together.

What is the most popular activity in summer? ›

40 percent overall indicated that going to the beach was a favorite. Other activities selected included exploring nature (36 percent); attending festivals (30 percent); going to the pool (28 percent); camping (20 percent); working out (16 percent); boating/water activities (16 percent); and playing sports (11 percent).

What can a 13 year old do over the summer? ›

DIY projects: Hands-on projects are a fantastic way to keep your teens busy. Trying their hand at woodworking, gardening or upcycling old furniture keeps them engaged while teaching them new skills. Outdoor adventure: Summer is the perfect time to engage in outdoor activities. Plan hikes, bike rides or camping trips.

What are 12 and 13 year olds interested in? ›

Young teens begin leaning into their peer groups and connecting over the things they enjoy, like hobbies or sports. Interests vary widely among 13-year-olds, from sports and outdoor games to arts, crafting, baking, and everything in between.

How to entertain your kids all summer? ›

Here are 10 creative activities to keep your kids entertained over the summer.
  1. Neighborhood Nature Walk.
  2. Go on a Local Adventure.
  3. Summer Reading.
  4. Plant a Seed.
  5. A Night Under the Stars.
  6. Family Game Night.
  7. Creative Writing.
  8. Picnic.

What time should a 7 year old go to bed in the summer? ›

What time should a 7-year-old go to bed? According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), a seven-year-old needs 9 to 11 hours of sleep every night. If your child needs to be awake for school at, say, 6:30 am, the reasonable hour for bedtime can be between 7:15 pm latest, 7:45 pm.

How do you cure boredom in the summer? ›

Boredom Busters
  1. Swim, play tag, toss a ball, dance or jump rope.
  2. Go on a bike ride, walk the dog, go to the park or go on a jog.
  3. Make your celebrations active by going on a hike, playing Frisbee or organizing a volleyball or soccer game.

How can I make summer more fun? ›

Spend as much time outside as possible
  1. Plan elaborate park picnics.
  2. Go to an outdoor concert.
  3. Catch a movie at the drive-in.
  4. Host a backyard barbecue.
  5. Wear sunscreen everyday.
  6. Seek out the country's best swimming holes.
  7. Get into bird watching.
Jun 7, 2022

What is American's favorite summer food? ›

So much so that ice cream was recently picked as our favorite summer food, beating out burgers, corn on the cob, and even ribs. In a survey conducted by Harris Poll in June, two out of three Americans say the frozen treat is their top pick for summer snacking and we are twice as likely to choose it over pie.

What is the most popular activity? ›

The most popular entertainment activity is to listen to music (whether via streaming, radio, records, etc.), with 88% of adults surveyed having done so in the past month, according to research [pdf] from Ipsos.

What are healthy summer activities? ›

Check for free or low-cost sports camps at their school or the local rec center—or get active by walking, biking, or roller skating as a family during your summer vacation. Play fitness bingo or other creative games when you're with a group of friends for fun ways to pass time while also getting your bodies moving.

What should I do all summer? ›

24 Fun Activities to Add to Your Bucket List for Summer
  • See a Drive-In Movie. Drive-in movie theaters are seeing a resurgence. ...
  • Learn to Sew. Some days it's just too hot to venture outside, so summer is the perfect time to pick up a new hobby. ...
  • Grill Out. ...
  • Plant Vegetables. ...
  • Volunteer. ...
  • Make Tie-Dye Shirts. ...
  • Make S'mores.
Sep 3, 2022

What is the trick to stay cool? ›

Place a cold washrag or ice bags (packs) on your wrists or drape it around your neck to cool your body. These pulse points are areas where blood vessels are close to the skin, so you'll cool down more quickly.

How much time should a 12 year old spend outside? ›

Pediatric occupational therapist Angela Hanscom calls active free play outdoors, “the most beneficial gift we as parents…can bestow on our children.” Hanscom says ideally kids should be playing outside 3 hours each day, and that doesn't include organized sports.

How can I keep my child active in the summer? ›

Set up a routine that gets them moving. This may involve going to summer camp, taking walks, going to swim lessons, or just having a standing playdate with friends. Also going to bed at a similar time during the summer as during the school year will help your child to be rested and active the next day.

How to keep 13 year olds busy? ›

Tips for keeping teens busy and creative
  1. Tip #1: Follow in the footsteps of their favourite celebrities. ...
  2. Tip #2: Become a budding entrepreneur. ...
  3. Tip #3: Learn a new language. ...
  4. Tip #4: Take the MasterChef challenge. ...
  5. Tip #5: Community support. ...
  6. Tip #6: Have a clear out. ...
  7. Tip #7: Revisit an old hobby. ...
  8. Tip #8: …Or take up a new one.

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