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Summer’s just around the corner and we LOVE summer vacation, but we get a little worried about entertaining kids for all hours of the day. We want to encourage our kids to unplug and go enjoy outdoor activities while the weather is so nice. I remember throwing water balloons back and forth as a kid with my whole family.
Just that simple time together was a great way to take advantage of the beautiful summer days at the local park. I also used to have so much fun at the water park, summer camp, going on nature trails, playing at the local playground, and even making mud pies in my own backyard.
To help you avoid that summer burnout (and us, too!), we rounded up 50 Outdoor Summer Activities just for kids that would be perfect to chase the bored blues away and keep the kids from turning into couch potatoes over the summer. The summer months can be hard, especially on a hot day.
These creative ideas are a fun way to encourage your older kids to spend time with the younger kids and keeps the entire family together during the summer break to have some outdoor fun.
Most of these fun summer activities can be done for free (or for pretty cheap). Just help the kids get set up with these activities and then let their imaginations run wild.
You could even turn this list into a family summer bucket list and check off activities as you do them. If you did one activity a day, it might get you through the middle of July.
After that, you are on your own! 🙂 This is the perfect way to keep kids of all ages entertaining and the best part is it gives the parents a break.
Follow these great ideas to keep your young kids enjoying their favorite summer activities all summer!
Paint with frozen Paint(This is my son’s new favorite!)
Have a neighborhood parade. Dress up like princesses or firemen, decorate your bikes and wagons, even throw candy if you want! Invite all the neighbors to come and watch (This one’s great for social distancing!)
Buy some spray bottles and fill them with water for a water fight or add some washable paint to the bottles and spray large poster boards to make awesome art!
Wrap a piece of masking tape around each child’s wrist with the sticky side facing out. Go on a “Nature Walk” and collect items from nature (leaves, grass, small rocks, flowers, etc) and stick them on your masking tape “bracelet”. Come home and compare bracelets!
Start a garden and let the kids do the planting, watering, and weeding.
Do you have any other fun or cheap summer activities for kids? Leave a comment below, we’d love to keep growing this list and give everyone more ideas.
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).
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.
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.
Walking, hiking and going to the beach among top three
A recent online survey conducted by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) found that Americans favor going for a walk/hike, going to the beach and having a picnic/barbeque over other common summer activities.
Plan an outdoor adventure (like camping in the backyard or seeing a drive-in movie), and squeeze in some extra time together by enlisting everyone in the creation of a delicious summer treat, or picking fresh fruits and vegetables.
Some amount of boredom and downtime time isn't just good for kids, it's recommended by experts. “Kids can benefit from this unstructured time to support independence, creativity, and self-agency,” says Dr. Kim.
Entertain our children every minute of the day? No. The fact is, when we make it our mission in life to make sure that our children are entertained and having fun, we are teaching them that life is all about them!
Introduction: My name is Melvina Ondricka, I am a helpful, fancy, friendly, innocent, outstanding, courageous, thoughtful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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