50 Fun Summer Activities for Kids

So. This is pretty much my daily life with a little boy right now.

Nothing quite prepares you for how active little boys can be. I remember before I become a mom thinking I fully understood the level of crazy that I was getting myself into. Let’s just say I vastly underestimated just how fast – and messy – one little boy can be. 

It seems like from the moment my little man wakes up until the moment his head hits the pillow at night he is running or jumping or sliding or swinging or… well you get the point.

Sometimes all of that activity leads to bumps and scrapes than force him to slow down just a bit, which is why I’m making sure I have an arsenal of great indoor and/or calm activities to keep the fun going after those boo-boos occur.

I’ve put together a list of some of my kids’ favorite activities for summer.  Some are great for rainy days, some are great for days when it’s too hot and humid to play outside, and they’re all perfect for slowing down and playing a little bit more calmly.

50 Fun Summer Activities for Kids

Outdoor movie night
Complete a jigsaw puzzle
Make leaf art
Sing silly songs
Build a Lego masterpiece together
Play a board game
Grow a small garden
Play a game of charades
Stand dominoes in a long line then push the first one over
Do a fun craft
Plan and cook dinner together – kid’s choice!
Go swimming at a local pool
Camp overnight in the back yard
Make pinecone, peanut butter and seed birdfeeders
Take a hike through the woods
Play “Simon Says”
Volunteer at an animal shelter
Play red light, green light
Make ice cream sundaes
Paint with watercolors
Try a new restaurant or cuisine you’ve never had before
Enjoy a backyard cookout
Create fun salt paintings
Snuggle up to watch a movie with popcorn
Make paracord bracelets
Go to a fun park or arcade
Make paper bag puppets
Have a water balloon fight
Paint flower pots and plant flower seeds
Make slime
Write and perform a play
Fly a kite
Dress up in silly clothes and have a fashion show
Make s’mores
Rent a canoe or paddleboat
Ride bikes
Sink into a pile of pillows and read books together
Check out books from the town library
Build a blanket fort
Go roller skating
Sell lemonade
Make friendship bracelets with thread/knots
Play follow the leader
Rollerblade together
Tie-dye t-shirts
Make ooblek
Play Go-Fish or Crazy 8
Bake cookies
Have a dance party
Make DIY instruments and play music together

Have a safe and happy summer!