Summer is officially here, and if you’re already hearing the dreaded “I’m booooored” on repeat, I feel your pain. It usually hits about 48 hours after the last day of school, right when you’re trying to answer just one work email or, I don’t know, drink a coffee while it’s still hot.
You’ve got two options: hide under the covers until September, or arm yourself with a massive list of fun stuff to do. I’m all for option two. I’ve put together a list of 30 summer activities that range from “get-the-wiggles-out” chaotic to “please-let-them-be-calm-for-10-minutes” quiet. I’ve tested most of these with my own wild ones, so I can tell you firsthand which ones are genius and which ones might ruin your lawn (sorry about that, honey).
Let’s get this summer show on the road!
Water Works: Splash into Summer Fun
If the temperature is hitting triple digits, you need water. But you don’t always need a pool membership to cool off. Here are some of our favorite ways to get soaked without draining your bank account.
1. The Backyard Sprinkler Shindig
This is the classic for a reason. There’s something about running through a sprinkler that turns kids into maniacs (in the best way). We recently discovered that attaching a few empty 2-liter bottles with holes poked in them to a plank of wood creates a “crazy sprinkler roller” that the kids can push around. FYI, it also waters the lawn, so it’s basically a win-win.
2. DIY Sponge Bombs
Forget the water balloons that leave a million tiny plastic pieces all over your yard. Grab a bag of sponges from the dollar store, cut them into strips, and tie them together in the middle to form a “bomb.” They soak up tons of water, they’re reusable, and they don’t hurt when they hit you in the butt. I speak from experience.
3. Slip ‘N Slide DIY Style
Buying a fancy slip-and-slide is cool, but laying a heavy-duty tarp down on a gentle slope, adding a little dish soap, and spraying it with a hose is peak parenting. Just make sure the landing zone is clear of sticks and rocks. Emergency room visits are not on my summer bucket list.
4. Kiddie Pool Spa Day
Never underestimate the power of a tiny plastic pool. Add some bubbles, a few plastic cups for “tea,” and let them go to town. It’s amazing how long they’ll sit there pouring water from one cup to another. IMO, this is the closest thing to a meditation retreat that a toddler will ever experience.
5. Car Wash (The Toy Version)
Line up their tricycles, scooters, and wagons. Give them a bucket of soapy water and some old rags, and let them go to town. It keeps them busy, and your sidewalk art gets a wash. 🙂
Creative Chaos: Arts & Crafts
Summer is the perfect time to let the creative juices flow, even if it means a massive mess. Embrace the glitter. You can clean it up in December.
6. Sidewalk Chalk Obstacle Course
Skip the standard hopscotch. Draw a huge obstacle course on your driveway. Tell them to spin in a circle on the blue dot, jump like a frog to the green square, and crawl to the red line. It’s like American Ninja Warrior for kids, and it wears them out. Major parenting win.
7. Rock Painting Extravaganza
Find some smooth rocks, wash them off, and break out the paint. You can make a “kindness rock” garden to hide in your neighborhood for others to find. My kid once painted a rock that looked like a potato with googly eyes. We named him Spud. Spud now lives on our bookshelf.
8. Tie-Dye Everything
Grab a cheap tie-dye kit and a pack of white t-shirts, socks, or pillowcases. This activity looks complicated, but it’s actually foolproof. The kids get to wear their art, and you get that cool 90s vibe going. Just do it outside. The kitchen floor does not need to be tie-dyed.
9. Nature Collages
Go on a walk to collect leaves, small sticks, and flowers. When you get home, grab some paper and glue. Let them arrange their findings into a masterpiece. It’s a great way to sneak in a little appreciation for nature without them realizing they’re learning.
10. Giant Bubble Wands
Mix 6 cups of water, 1/2 cup of dish soap, and 1/2 cup of cornstarch. Let it sit for an hour. Then, use two straws and a piece of string tied between them to make a giant wand. The bubbles are massive and almost un-poppable. Warning: they will chase you with them.
Outdoor Adventures: Sun, Sweat & Smiles
Time to explore the great outdoors. Get those sneakers dirty and see what’s beyond the backyard fence.
11. Go on a Color Hunt
Give each kid a piece of paper with different colored squares taped to it (like a paint swatch). Send them into the yard or park to find things that match each color exactly. It’s a fun twist on a scavenger hunt that gets them looking at the tiny details.
12. Build the Ultimate Fort
Whether it’s with sticks in the woods or blankets in the living room, forts are essential. If you’re brave, let them use your good sheets. The look on their face when they successfully balance the “roof” is worth the wrinkles.
13. Bike Wash & Parade
First, let them decorate their bikes with streamers and old playing cards in the spokes. Then, hose them down for a “bike wash.” Finally, parade around the block. It turns a chore into a celebration.
14. Stargazing Campout
Wait for a clear night, grab some sleeping bags, and lie in the backyard. Use a free app to identify the constellations. You get to relax, and they get to feel like tiny astronauts. Bring marshmallows for the full effect.
15. Go on a “Sound” Safari
This is a great one for quieting them down for a bit. Give them a mission: sit still for five minutes and list every sound they hear. A bird? A plane? The neighbor’s dog? The ice cream truck in the distance? It’s amazing what you notice when you just shut up and listen.
Indoor Escapes: Beat the Heat
Sometimes the sun is just too much. Or maybe you just need to hide from it for a while. Here’s your permission slip to stay inside.
16. Pillow Fort Cinema
Pull all the cushions off the couch, drape a sheet over the dining room chairs, and push the coffee table out of the way. Set up a laptop or tablet and watch a movie from inside the fort. It’s cozier than a real theater, and the snacks are cheaper.
17. Kinetic Sand Dig
If you haven’t bought kinetic sand yet, what are you waiting for? Throw it in a plastic tub with some digging toys and trucks. It sticks to itself and not to the carpet. It’s basically magic. Throw some cookie cutters in there for “sandcastle” shapes.
18. Bake Cookies (At 8 AM)
Summer schedule means nothing. If they wake up craving cookies at 8 AM, bake them at 8 AM. Who cares? It’s a learning activity (math!), a science experiment (chemistry!), and a tasty treat. Just don’t tell their pediatrician I said that.
19. DIY Play-Doh Factory
Make a batch of homemade play-doh (it’s just flour, salt, water, and cream of tartar). Split it into balls and let them add food coloring and glitter. It’s soft, smells better than the store-bought stuff, and keeps them busy for hours. Until it dries out. Then you cry a little.
20. Board Game Tournament
Dig out all the board games. From Candy Land for the littles to Monopoly for the big kids. Run a whole tournament with a bracket and everything. The winner gets to choose what’s for dinner. Suddenly, they care a lot about winning.
Fun in the Sun (and Dirt)
For the days when you just want to point them toward the backyard and hope for the best.
21. Mud Kitchen Masterpiece
If you have a dirt patch, set out some old pots, pans, and spoons. Add water. Let them make “mud soup.” It’s disgusting and glorious. Hose them off before they come inside.
22. Plant Something (Anything)
Let them pick out a packet of seeds (sunflowers are great because they grow fast and tall) and plant them. Watering them every day becomes their job. It teaches responsibility, and they get so excited when the first green shoot pops up.
23. Wash the Car (For Real)
Hand them a bucket of soapy water and a sponge and let them go to town on the family car. Will it be spotless? Absolutely not. Will there be soap in places soap should never be? You bet. But they’ll have a blast, and you can sneak in and fix the spots later.
24. Obstacle Course Mania
Use lawn chairs to crawl under, hula hoops to jump through, and a rope to walk like a tightrope. Time them and see if they can beat their own record. It’s cheap entertainment, and it knocks them out for naptime.
25. Fly a Kite
Pick a windy day, head to an open field, and fly a kite. It’s harder than it looks! The look of triumph on their face when that thing finally catches the wind is pure gold. Just be prepared to untangle about a million knots. :/
Evening Wind-Down: Sunset & Stories
As the sun goes down, you need activities that are calming but still fun, easing the transition to bedtime.
26. Glow Stick Bath
Throw a bunch of glow sticks in the tub during their evening bath. Turn off the lights. It’s a disco party in there. They’ll be so mesmerized they might actually sit still while you wash their hair.
27. Shadow Puppets
When it gets dark, grab a flashlight and use your hands to make shadow puppets on the wall. Challenge them to make their own creatures. It’s a screen-free way to end the day that sparks the imagination.
28. Catch Fireflies
This is a quintessential summer activity. Grab a jar with a lid (punch some air holes in it!), and head out at dusk. Watch them run around trying to catch those little blinking bugs. Remember to let them go when you’re done.
29. Read-Aloud Under the Stars
Take a blanket and a stack of books outside. Lie down and read to them as the sky gets dark. It’s so peaceful, and you might even catch a falling star. This is my favorite way to end a chaotic day.
30. Make Summer Bucket Lists Together
Grab a piece of paper and write down everything they want to do before summer ends. It might be “go to the beach,” “eat 100 popsicles,” or “stay up until midnight.” You’ve already got 30 ideas to get them started!
So there you have it. Thirty ways to keep the tiny humans entertained. You don’t need a fancy vacation or expensive gear. You just need a little creativity and a willingness to get a little dirty (and maybe a lot tired). Now go make some memories, and don’t forget the sunscreen!
