Beat the Heat with these 50 Summer Activities for Kids
Summer activities for kids and toddlers
This post may contain affiliate links. This means that, at no extra cost to you, we may gain a small commission should you make a purchase. Please see our Disclaimer for more information.
Summer is a beautiful season in the life of a mom. It means that your kids are no longer cooped up inside the house. You can set them loose outside and enjoy the fresh air and warm sun on your face. It means that there’s less mess inside for you to clean up at the end of the day. You can watch your kids make a mess of the outdoors and really, who cares? Let them be as messy as they want! All the clean up you’ll have to do is throwing your dirty little ones into a nice warm bath. When we can go outside like this, we just feel better. Our kids are happier, and so are we. Here are some kid-favorite summer activities to make your summer that much better!
Picnic
Kids love picnics. Mine do anyway. When the weather is nice, we have lunch outside nearly everyday. You can put a blanket down on the grass or even the front porch, and suddenly, lunch time is magical. This one is beautifully simple and keeps the lunch mess off of your kitchen floor. I’ll do anything to avoid having to clean my kitchen yet another time.
Water Table Play
Kids’ Summer Activity: Water Table
The water table. If you don’t have one, I strongly recommend getting one. The kids are entertained by this for at least 30 minutes. Pull up a chair and pull out your favorite book (or scroll your favorite blog…)
Our girl’s play with this water table all summer long. We have had it for two and a half years and it is holding up well! We definitely recommend the Step 2 Water Table.
Sprinkler Run
On a particularly hot summer day, you might find yourself cussing out everyone who is fortunate to own a pool. However, there are ways for those of us who are too financially challenged for a pool to cool off in the summer. Hook up the sprinkler and let your kids loose in the yard. Heck it’s so hot you can feel the sweat dripping from every pore on your body, you should run in there too!
Chalk
Kids’ Summer Activity: Chalk Art
I still love chalk! The girls and I can easily spend a good chunk of the morning decorating our driveway.
Scavenger Hunt
I think planning a scavenger hunt is even more fun that participating in one. Make up a summer themed scavenger hunt list, and send your kids outside to find everything on their lists. You might include pinecones, berries, acorns, tree bark, mushrooms, dandelions, etc. Don’t forget to come up with some kind of reward for successfully checking off each item on the list. Personally, I love fresh-baked cookies for this, but be creative!
Your Local Splash Pad
Kids’ Summer Activity: Splash Pad
Whoever invented free public splash pads was a genius. Help your kids cool off and have a blast without paying a dime? We are so in.
Kite Flying
I have actually never been good at kite flying. I’m going to have to recruit someone to teach my poor children how to properly keep a kite in the sky. However, if you happen to have mastered this skill, pass it on to your kids! And please pass it on to sad bloggers who don’t get out enough.
Go for a Hike
Kids’ Summer Activity: Hiking Through the Forest
Let your kiddos walk alongside you or strap them into a backpack carrier. Either way, a hike is a great way to get some fresh air and move your bodies!
Obstacle Course
An obstacle course does two things. First, it keeps your kids busy as they go around and around, never getting bored. Then, you guessed it, they completely ware themselves out. This is a great option for kids who have a lot of pent up energy from being inside. Set up an obstacle course with whatever you have on hand, and let them burn some of that energy off. We have used a balance beam, a mini slide, a mini trampoline, and miscellaneous toys from around the house to create super fun courses.
Berry Picking
Kids’ Summer Activity: Blackberry Picking
Berry picking is like magic to kids. They get to learn a bit about where food comes from (It doesn’t just spawn in the grocery store!)
Bubbles
Bubbles, more magic. Get yourself some kind of bubble machine, sit back, and watch your kids chase bubbles around your yard all afternoon.
PJ Walk
I love a stroll around the block in the evening. Give your little ones a bath, get them cozy in their PJs, and enjoy the evening air as you walk the neighborhood before bed. You can also do a PJ walk early in the morning before getting your kiddos dressed for the day.
Find a Pool
Kids’ Summer Activity: Pool Day
If you own a pool, you obviously don’t have to find one. For those of us who are not God’s favored, we have to hunt for one. It is totally worth the search though!
Set up a Volley Ball Net
Turn your yard into a Volley Ball court! Your kids don’t need to play it properly, they just need to have fun and get some energy out. Get an extra big ball to make the game even more thrilling for younger kids. This also makes it a little bit easier for children with less developed gross motor skills.
Beach Trip
Kids’ Summer Activity: Beach Trip
Whether it be the lake or the ocean, a beach day never fails to tire out active littles. Don’t forget to pack a lunch and picnic by the water! Swimming works up an appetite in toddlers... And parents!
Outdoor Painting
Summer is so great because you can bring all those messy activities outside and your clean up is minimal. I’m all for working smarter not harder. As you can probably tell by how many times in this post I mention that I love bringing the mess outside. This is another easy activity that will keep your kiddos occupied for a good chunk of your afternoon. Have your kids help you lug out the art supplies and you are good to get creative!
Garden
Kids’ Summer Activity: Gardening
Give your toddler some gardening tools and she is going to work outside longer than you ever dreamed. They are so entertained by this. Sometimes they are truly helpful in the garden. My youngest loves pulling weeds, which is great for me because I hate it.
Water Balloon Fight
Have a good, old fashioned water balloon fight. Everybody loves to whip a squishy water balloon, and kids are especially thrilled by this. Enjoy watching them shriek with glee as the balloons explode.
Squirt Gun Fight
Kids’ Summer Activity: Squirt Gun Fight
Another classic, the squirt gun is endless outdoor fun. Depending on the age of your children, they may strategize and have an actual squirt gun fight in the yard, or they may simply walk around squirting your plants. Either way, it’s a win.
DIY Bird Feeder
Make your own bird feeder! There are so many different ways to make a bird feeder. Just search it on Google and you are met with a million options. This is because it is an easy and educational activity for your kids. They can smear peanut putter on a toilet paper roll, roll it in bird seed, hand it outside and watch all the different species of birds that visit their creation. They will be thrilled to watch the birds and so proud that they made something to help feed them. You can even let your kids take pictures of all the different birds they spot at their bird feeder.
Find a Bike Trail
Kids’ Summer Activity: Bike Trail Ride
Who doesn’t love a scenic bike ride? Kids are no exception. Hook up the bike trailer and let your kids enjoy the beauty of the world around them.
Don’t have a bike trailer yet? We highly recommend getting one. Especially if you have two toddlers. The girls love riding together in their Schwinn Bike Trailer.
Hide and Seek in the Dark
Put a twist on a classic favorite: hide and seek! Get out some flashlights and play hide and seek in the dark. If your kids aren’t old enough to be awake after dark, simply turn off the lights and close the shades in the house. They’re going to love using their flashlights to find and be found!
Visit the Zoo
Kids’ Summer Activity: Visit the Zoo
If you’ve got a little cash to spend, or better yet, a zoo membership, take those kids to the zoo! Not only will this easily fill up your morning, your kids will nap like champions afterwards.
Visit the Aquarium
If you’re willing to spend a little money, go to the aquarium! Kids under 2 usually get in free. The aquarium has the same benefits of the zoo only you are obviously seeing more aquatic life than lions, tigers, and bears.
Rock Painting
Kids’ Summer Activity: Rock Painting
Rock painting is simple and affordable. My daughter begs me to paint rocks and will spend a considerable amount of time doing it. Go outside and find some perfect painting rocks and get out the brushes!
Bug Catching (And Releasing)
I used to love doing this as a kid! (Not so much anymore.) However, I’m happy to let my kids do it. The rule is, you have to be gentle and always set the insect free. Bugs are living creatures who deserve to live their lives. This is a great opportunity to teach your children to care for all of God’s creatures— even the creepy, crawly kind.
Shaving Cream ABCs
Kids’ Summer Activity: Shaving Cream Writing
Or “Fluffy Cream” as my daughter calls it. Doing this in the summer is great because you can keep the mess outdoors. It can be educational, such as practicing ABC’s. However, you can also just let your kids draw and otherwise have a fun sensory experience.
Enroll In Swimming Lessons
Swim classes can get pricey, however this is a great summer activity that you can build into your weekly schedule. Learning to swim is life-saving so it is definitely worth investing in this skill for your child. Not to mention, kids love pools and will have loads of fun going to swim class with you each week.
Porch Puzzles
Kids’ Summer Activity: Porch Puzzles
What’s better than a puzzle in the playroom? A puzzle on the porch! Get some sun and fresh air by moving the puzzle party to the porch.
Backyard Camping
Backyard camping is a great way to test out how a future camping trip might go with your little ones! Find out if your kids have what it takes to rough it through the night before you find yourself stranded at a campground miles from home. Give it a try and see how it goes!
Campfire and S’mores
Kids’ Summer Activity: Campfire and S’mores
What child can resist the delicious combination of melty chocolate, gooey marshmallows, and crunchy graham cracker? Mine can’t! Frankly, neither can I. Get yourself some marshmallow sticks and get roasting. Don’t forget the extra chocolate for when your kids inevitably sneak some off of the s’mores tray.
Make Ice Cream
I scream, you scream, my kids freak-the-heck-out and scream for ice cream! Making ice cream will absolutely blow your kiddos minds. There are so many ways to make ice cream. You can get an ice cream maker or you can simply make ice cream in a bag. It’s extremely easy and equally delicious!
Outdoor Movie Night
Kids’ Summer Activity: Outdoor Movie Night
We combined our outdoor movie night with some pool time! This was a great way to switch up movie night. Movies are awesome, but somehow they are even better outside.
Go Bowling
Go bowling! Some areas even have kids bowl free programs during the summer. This is totally worth looking into, especially if you have a lot of kids and like to bowl often. This is a good activity for when it is just too hot out to do anything outdoors.
Outdoor Story Time
Kids’ Summer Activity: Outdoor Story Time
Simple and peaceful, outdoor story time is a must. This is a zero prep activity. Just grab a book and head outside! Reading is so, so important for kids of all ages. Equally important is good old fresh air and Vitamin D. Make your lazy day at home extra special by reading outside in the gorgeous summer weather.
Home Sports Tournament
Get out every piece of sport equipment you have and scatter it around your yard in a center format. Each sport is its own center. One part of the yard is soccer, another golf, another croquet, etc. Let your kids go around to each sports center and have themselves a little tournament. Feel free to join in the fun! Getting your exercise in and making quality memories with your kids? *Chef’s Kiss*
Sandbox Sensory Play
Kids’ Summer Activity: Sandbox Sensory Play
Another easy one, head out to the sandbox. Be prepared to have to remind your toddler not to eat or throw the sand. I’m speaking from experience. For whatever reason, all kids are tempted to lick up some sand. Personally, I can’t imagine anything more awful! Bleh! Don’t get me started on sand in the eyes!
We love our Little Tikes Turtle Sandbox. We have an old model from when I was a kid, but we have linked the new model below.
Join Library Story Hour
Libraries are a mom’s secret weapon. Free access to books, educational resources, and all kinds of kids activities. Most libraries have a weekly story hour. These are totally free and readily at your disposal. Take advantage of what your libraries have to offer!
Roller Skate
Kids’ Summer Activity: Paw Patrol Roller Skating
I used to roller skate at my grandparents’ house every summer. It was one of my favorite summer activities. I still like to roller skate when the opportunity presents itself. Get your kiddos some roller skates and teach them how to stay upright. Once they get the hang of it, they are going to love the feeling of gliding smoothly and quickly across the pavement. This is such a fun activity! Don’t forget helmets, elbow pads, and knee pads!
We have the PlayWheels brand roller skates. They don’t have the Paw Patrol skates anymore, but these Toy Story Skates are similar!
Go Fishing
Get yourself a fishing license or look up when your area has their free fishing day. Kids are always excited to try their hand at fishing. Some really get into while others get bored when they realize that fish are not biting left and right. Growing up, I was the latter. No matter which child you have, you are bound to make some memories!
Playground Hop
Kids’ Summer Activity: Playground Hop
Make a summer bucket list of all the playgrounds within 30 minutes of your home. My husband and I are obsessed with finding new, exciting playgrounds to unleash our girls on. They are always amazed when we introduce them to a new playground. Eventually they come up with their favorites and begin to request that we visit specific playgrounds. This gives variety too, so you don’t wind up bored of seeing the same slide every week.
Nature Observer Kits
Nature observer kits are exactly that, and they are easy to put together. Give your kids a backpack and fill it with things like binoculars, a magnifying glass, tweezers, a ziplock bag, a notebook, crayons, a bug catcher, etc. Let your kids loose in the backyard and let them discover the world around them
Mini-Golfing
Kids’ Summer Activity: Mini Golf
Got a little extra cash this week, take the kids out for some mini-golf! Keep score— Or don’t! This is all about having a fun family outing to get out that extra summer energy. A lot of mini-golf locations also sell ice cream! Score!
BBQ
Break out the grill and BBQ baby. In this category I’m relatively useless. I don’t know the first thing about the grill, so my husband does the heavy lifting here. Although, I will help in the seasoning and preparing of the foods to be grilled. Invite family or friends and let your kids enjoy some company. My kids love to host at their own home. They are always so happy to show visitors around and share their toys and games with different people. They readily agree with the phrase, “The more, the merrier.”
Build a Fairy House
Kids’ Summer Activity: Fairy House
Fairy houses are magical! My daughter fully believes that the tooth-fairy herself is coming to stay in this fairy house we made together. Your kids can add to these all summer! Seriously, the fun never ends as you will need to freshen up your fairy house often.
Lemonade Stand
Put your kids to work! I’m just kidding, ya. The lemonade stand is a classic. It almost feels like a right of passage that all children must aspire to become rich off of selling lemonade they force their mothers to make. It you like awkward social interactions as you beg strangers to buy your kids’ lemonade, this one is for you!
Walk your Local Rail Trail
Kids’ Summer Activity: Rail Trail
Rail trails are gorgeous. We love to walk on rail-trails with the girls. For the most part, you can just let them loose and you don’t need to worry about cars or them wandering too far. They typically stick to the trail, and you get the joy of watching them run, skip, and gallop in their freedom.
Play Disc Golf
This can be tricky for really little ones, but practice makes perfect! This can become a really fun activity for your family as everyone gets the hang of it!
Little Tikes Car Wash
Kids’ Summer Activity: Little Tikes Car Wash
These Little Tikes cars can get really messy overtime, especially if you store them outside. Put the kids in swimwear, fill up some bowls with soapy water, add in a dish rag, and you are good to go. The kids don’t even notice that they are cleaning. In their eyes, they are simply having a blast playing car wash.
If you don’t already have one, get your kiddo a Little Tikes Cozy Coup! We’ve had the Ladybug style coup since 2020!
Stargazing
On a warm, clear night, set up outside with a blanket or some beach chairs and marvel at the night sky together. My 20 month old, loves to look for stars while singing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.” It is so precious and a beautiful memory you do not want to miss out on.
Conclusion
I hope you found some summer activities that you and your littles will be excited to try out! Gone are the days of waking up each summer morning and wondering what to do next. Now you have 50 days of activities to try! Let us know in the comments which ones you will try first!
