101 Summer Activities for Kids - Toddlers to Teens

Jesse H

Summer is one of the most memorable times for children. Some children just want to hang out with friends while others want to be couch potatoes for the summer. I have put together a list of activities that your child/children can do alone or that you can do as a family. You will find activities to do with your toddler all the way through the teen years.

I have also added some activities that each child will learn something from, because children may be on vacation but their brains are still learning and we want them to continue to learn and be prepared for the new school year.

Please feel free to add your own activities that you do with your children over the summer with other moms at the bottom of the page.

1. Have a Scavenger Hunt.

2. Take a trip to the park and take pictures of animals, go home and identify them.

3. Go swimming at the local pool.

4. Go on a camping trip or pitch a tent in your back yard.

5. Go to the movies (Some theaters offer discounted movie camps)

6. Go to a museum.

7. Visit a local farm for a tour.

8. Go horse back riding.

9. Go to the community college for “kids college”.

10. Go to day camp or overnight camp.

11. Go to the local library (many have summer reading programs with rewards)

12. Go to a Home Depot workshop (they offer free projects for kids)

13. Have your child plan his/her own themed party just because.

14. Take a Babysitting class.

15. Take a CPR class.

16. Mow an Elderly Neighbor’s lawn.

17. Offer to pet sit or take the neighbor’s dog for a walk.

18. Take a tour of your local grocery store.

19. Take a tour of your local bank.

20. Take a tour of your local restaurant or bakery.

21. Volunteer at a local nursing home or hospital.

22. Go miniature golfing.

23. Go play laser tag.

24. Go play paintball.

25. Get a season pass to a waterpark.

26. Go out for a picnic and have your child create the menu and pack it.

27. Go biking alone or as a family.

28. Go to city sponsored events.

29. Go to a concert.

30. Visit local landmarks.

31. Create a summer memory album for each activity that they do.

32. Plant a garden or flowers.

33. Have a lemon-aid stand.

34. Go rock-climbing

35. Go fishing.

36. Go hiking.

37. Have a reading challenge in your family.

38. Put a neighborhood playgroup together.

39. Make crafts that can be sold at a craft fair in fall.

40. Start making Christmas Gifts.

41. Go on vacation while you stay home. (Explore different places and cultures on the internet and create a scrapbook.

42. Find pen pals to write to around the country.

43. Get neighbor kids together and clean up a roadside with adults help of course.

44. Teach your child how to do laundry, create a grocery and go grocery shopping.

45. Go to Vacation Bible School.

46. Go to an indoor ice skating rink.

47. Go to a roller skating rink.

48. Go to an indoor or outdoor go-cart racing track.

49. Go to the Zoo.

50. Go to the mall.

51. Make your own movie.

52. Write and put together a play.

53. Practice Christmas Songs so they can go caroling during the holidays.

54. Play a sport over summer through the local park and rec.

55. Join The Knack (http://www.theknackkids.com/) They offer many workshops for children and have online project ideas.

56. Have a movie afternoon at home with popcorn (let the kids pick the movie)

57. Go to area festivals so that kids can learn and be exposed to different cultures.

58. Let your child plan and have a sleepover.

59. Water Day (Balloon fights, water guns, slip n’ slides ect)

60. Play Frisbee

61. Learn to play a musical instrument

62. Start a new collection of rocks, pressed flowers, leaves ect.

63. Visit a local Nature Center.

64. Make science Projects together (Volcano’s, ant farms ect)

65. Find a local farm and pick your own berries or fruits.

66. Play horseshoes.

67. Games with Sidewalk Chalk. Let them draw and be creative, it will wash away.

68. Make a clothes line fort in the backyard.

69. Catch Lightening Bugs

70. Bubble Day-Blow Bubbles, Put bubble bath in the pool, be creative.

71. Play Red Light Green Light.

72. Have sack races in the backyard.

73. Make a bird feeder. Use pine cones, or milk carton.

74. Create an obstacle course in your backyard.

75. Play Card Games

76. Let your child have Karaoke Night with Friends

77. Have a Tea Party

78. Start a Journal

79. Have your children Plan a Block Party.

80. Have a dress up day or backwards day.

81. Make and Fly a kite.

82. Learn a new language.

83. Make a summer vacation time capsule.

84. Let them make their own ice sculpture.

85. Make puppets and put on a show

86. Jumping Rope

87. Make your own holiday float using a bike or wagon.

88. Let your kids paint their own bedroom and paint designs on the walls.

89. Play in the rain (Do not leave children unattended)

90. Have a talent show

91. Make a pinata

92. Take your child to work so they can see what you do (ask your boss!)

93. Build a Sand Box together, fill with sand and make sand castles.

94. Play Hide-and-Seek

95. Finger Paints with Potatoes – Let them create projects outside.

96. Create a Calendar with a new activity they would like to do each day

97. Make a family Tree.

98. Make a planter or gift for your future teacher for the new school year.

99. Create a treasure Map.

100. Play charades

101. Find an age appropriate workbook to work through over summer to keep your child’s skills sharp.

About The Author: Tammra McCauley, mother of 8 and wife. Founder of momssource.com – This article is copyrighted and can not be copied, reprinted or sold.