150 Summer Activities for Kids: Printable Bucket Lists Included!

Finally, school’s out, and summer’s here! Our little ones are always looking forward to this time of the year when they get to enjoy a break from their studies and dive into exciting summer activities for kids. What’s more, they can now have some fun under the sun.

Of course, we parents want to make our kids’ summers memorable and enjoyable. However, there are just too many options out there, so it’s hard to choose which to include in our bucket list.

We know the struggle, so we’ve come up with the ultimate summer activities for kids that will surely keep them entertained all season long. And to make it even easier, we’ve also included a printable bucket lists for you to download and print out at home! So pin, save, or share this image below and start planning your kids’ best summer yet.

25 Outdoor Summer Activities for Kids

Summer is the perfect time to get our kids outdoors and let them enjoy some fresh air. There are plenty of outdoor activities that both parents and kids can enjoy together, such as:

1. Have a picnic in the park
2. Enjoy backyard camping and stargazing
3. Have a water balloon fight
4. Organize a neighborhood scavenger hunt
5. Go on a nature walk
6. Start a barbeque for a family cookout
7. Play mini-golf or frisbee 
8. Host a lemonade stand
9. Visit a local farmer’s market
10. Ride a bike around the neighborhood
11. Ride a bike around a nearby trail
12. Build a DIY obstacle course
13. Go on a bug hunt
14. Make bubbles with soap and water
15. Fly a kite
16. Start a small garden
17. Go bird-watching
18. Go fishing at a local lake or pond
19. Try a kid-friendly yoga
20. Have a water gunfight
21. Have a water balloon fight
22. Visit an outdoor zoo
23. Play mini-soccer or basketball in the backyard
24. Create art with sidewalk chalk
25. Have a bonfire and make s’mores

25 Indoor Activities

Summers can get too hot. And if you live in an area with extreme heat like me, staying indoors may be the best option for some days. That’s why it’s always good to have some indoor activities lined up. Here are some fun ideas to try with the tots:

1. Have a movie marathon
2. Bake and decorate cupcakes
3. Create DIY sensory bins with beans
4. Make homemade ice cream
5. Try origami or paper crafting
6. Build a fort with blankets and pillows
7. Play an indoor scavenger hunt
8. Have a family game night
9. Do some science experiments
10. Have a dance party
11. Make homemade playdough
12. Create an indoor obstacle course
13. Enjoy a fashion show
14. Perform on a talent show
15. Have a karaoke session
16. Write and act out a play
17. Have an indoor picnic
18. Paint or draw with watercolors
19. Make paper airplanes and have a flying contest
20. Create puppets and put on a puppet show
21. Play board games or cards
22. Host a tea party or cooking class
23. Play this or that questions
24. Organize your cabinet
25. Have a spa day

35 Creative + Arts & Crafts Activities

Creative juices flow during summertime. Therefore, summertime is the perfect opportunity to let their imagination soar. Let them try these creative activities to enhance their artistic side:

1. Create a scrapbook or photo album
2. Make a time capsule
3. Build a birdhouse or feeder
4. Design and paint rocks for the garden
5. Have a fashion design challenge with old clothes
6. Try different types of painting techniques
7. Make a scrapbook of summer memories
8. Write and illustrate a storybook
9. Craft origami animals or flowers
10. Make friendship bracelets
11. Create a family tree
12. Decorate mason jars
13. Design a t-shirt or tote bag
14. Make paper flowers for decoration
15. Do some outdoor chalk art
16. Have fun with face paint
17. Make paper mache crafts
18. Create a comic book
19. Craft a dream catcher
20. Make homemade soap or candles
21. Create personalized bookmarks
22. Make your musical instruments
23. Write poems
24. Compose a song
25. Learn a viral dance
26. Learn a viral song
27. Record and edit a vlog
28. Illustrate your own comic strip
29. Learn hand lettering
30. Practice calligraphy
31. Paint shells
32. Make a tie-dye shirt
33. Photograph nature
34. Finish a coloring book
35. Make a collage art

15 Educational and Learning Activities

Don’t worry, moms and dads! These educational and learning summer activities won’t make your kids feel like they are still in school. Instead, they’re engaging, fun, and  will help your child learn new things:

1. Visit a museum or zoo
2. Visit an art gallery or exhibit
3. Go on a nature scavenger hunt
4. Conduct science experiments
5. Create a mini herb garden
6. Learn how to cook a new dish
7. Take up a new language
8. Practice basic coding skills
9. Do some DIY electronics projects
10. Attend a summer camp
11. Read a book
12. Watch a documentary
13. Answer Math or Trivia quizzes
14. Teach a younger sibling or friend a new hobby
15. Visit historical landmarks

15 Sports and Physical Activities

Kids have lots (even endless)  of energy to burn, and summer is the perfect time for them to do so. These sports and physical activities will keep your youngsters in shape:

1. Swim at the pool or beach
2. Play mini golf
3. Have a water balloon fight
4. Fly a kite
5. Go hiking or camping
6. Play outdoor hide-and-seek
7. Enroll at a sports camp
8. Join a local sports league
9. Go rollerblading
10. Go skateboarding
11. Play backyard games like tag, capture the flag, or hopscotch
12. Learn a new sport
13. Dance to your favorite songs
14. Practice yoga or meditation
15. Join a dance or fitness class

15 Cooking and Baking Activities

Foodies or not, these cooking and baking summer activities will make your kids love being in the kitchen:

1. Create your a smoothie recipe
2. Make homemade ice cream
3. Decorate cakes or cupcakes
4. Bake a pizza
5. Make an iced candy
6. Arrange a cheese platter
7. Make your own salsa
8. Cook an egg
9. Make a hot chocolate
10. Bake a simple pie
11. Make granola bars
12. Create a sandwich with different ingredients
13. Prepare a fruit salad
14. Bake cookies from scratch
15. Make homemade popsicles

10 Animal and Wildlife Activities

Youngsters and animal lovers will surely love these animal and wildlife summer activities. Just ensure the safety of your kids and the animals involved. Moreover, always follow the rules and regulations set by the local authorities:

1. Feed ducks at the park or pond
2. Volunteer at an animal shelter
3. Go horseback riding
4. Build a birdhouse
5. Build a feeder
6. Visit a petting zoo
7. Go bird watching
8. Visit an aquarium
9. Visit a farm or ranch
10. Set up water for wild birds in your backyard

10 Community and Volunteer Activities

As the saying goes, “Teach them young.” Children’s hearts are pure, and it is the perfect time to instill in them the value of giving back to their community. Try these community and volunteer summer activities for kids:

1. Join a beach or park clean-up
2. Help organize a book drive
3. Volunteer at a food bank
4. Visit the elderly at nursing homes
5. Create care packages for the homeless
6. Plant trees or flowers
7. Pick up trash at a local park or beach
8. Donate clothes and toys to a charity organization
9. Send letters to hospitalized children
10. Write letters to soldiers

Tips for Safe and Fun Summer Activities for Kids

Keep safe while crossing off your summer bucket list with these tips for safe and fun summer activities:

• Stay hydrated
• Wear sunscreen and reapply every 2 hours
• Wear appropriate clothing and footwear for outdoor activities
• Seek shade or stay indoors to avoid heat exhaustion
• Be aware of dangers like insects, poison ivy, and open bodies of water
• Always have a first-aid kit
• Always have adult supervision
• Always follow safety rules for physical activities
• Bring insect repellent for outdoor activities
• Stay away from poisonous plants and avoid touching wild animals
• Know weather conditions

Conclusion

Summer activities for kids will keep them entertained and busy. Moreover, they’ll also help them learn new skills, build character, and make a positive impact in their community. Print the summer bucket lists above and start planning your child’s fun-filled summer!

Which of the activities listed above are you most excited to try with your munchkin? Share it with us in the comments below. Happy summer!