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100 Fun Summer Activities for Kids (rain or shine!)

April 5, 2021 by Leslie 43 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience. To learn more, please read our disclosure and privacy policy

Let’s get ready for summer! It’s the time of sunshine and lazy days. But not too lazy, because we’re checking out 100 fun summer activities for kids to help beat the boredom.

With a simple structure, and plenty of ideas for sunny and rainy days, you’ll have plenty of affordable ways to make summer fun. The best part is that many of these activities are fun for everyone, so you can join in on the memory-making.

happy children looking down with text overlay 100 wild and fun summer activities for kids

Around here most summer camps are already booked solid by mid March. Am I the only one who thinks that’s kind of insane?

We’ve got three kids between the ages of 5 and 11, so finding summer camps and activities can be a real challenge. Seriously, it’s so hard to find activities that both tweens and kindergarteners will enjoy.

And did I mention that my husband and I both work from home? So, yeah…it may sound like we can just hang with the kids drinking blueberry wine slushies. But if we’re not prepared with a plan, then summer can be disastrous.

100 Summer Activities for Kids

I’m not really a fan of bucket lists (summer is supposed to be relaxing, right?)

So my kids and I spent time coming up with 100 kid-approved summer activities for kids that fit into a “Daily Theme”:

  • Make Something Monday
  • Try Something Tuesday
  • Wander Somewhere Wednesday
  • Thoughtful Thursday
  • Fantastic Friday

We also made sure to include ideas for both rainy and sunny days so there are no excuses! 🤣

Want an easy, printable version of this list? Click here to grab your free copy.

happy children baking together

Make Something Monday

Sunny Day Activities

  1. Make s’mores
  2. Make a fairy garden
  3. Make flower crowns
  4. Make a race track in your backyard
  5. Make a bouquet with wildflowers collected from your neighborhood
  6. Make a rock garden
  7. Make a lemonade stand
  8. Make & fly your own kite
  9. Create a unique ice cream flavor
  10. Make your own garden stone

Rainy Day Activities

  1. Bake cookies together
  2. Make a meal together
  3. Decorate crazy hats with items around the house
  4. Make a pillow fort
  5. Make a family video
  6. Decorate masks together
  7. Make a homemade bird feeder
  8. Make a time capsule
  9. Make a homemade puppet theater & put on a show
  10. Make paper airplanes
two girls playing outside with a hula hoop

Try Something Tuesday

Sunny Day Activities

  1. Plant a vegetable or herb you’ve never planted before
  2. Try a new sport
  3. Try to build something with things you find in the backyard/garage
  4. Try splatter painting
  5. Try to see how long you can hula hoop or jump rope
  6. Try a shaving cream slide
  7. Try to beat one of your own records (eg. Monkey bars, distance on bike)
  8. Set up a treasure hunt in the backyard
  9. Try a game that kids played 30, 40, 50 years ago
  10. Try to catch bugs like butterflies or lightning bugs

Rainy Day Activities

  1. Have a mud day
  2. Learn origami
  3. Try a Lego Challenge
  4. Learn a new card game
  5. Learn a magic trick & put on a magic show
  6. Try a new food
  7. Have an anagram contest (see who can make the most words out of another word)
  8. Try a new restaurant
  9. Try to fix something that’s broken
  10. Learn a few words in another language
a family hiking in the woods with arms up in excitement

Loving these ideas? Click here to grab your free printable list.

Wander Somewhere Wednesday

Sunny Day Activities

  1. Go to the farmer’s market or a local farm
  2. Find a new park to visit
  3. Go explore a new neighborhood
  4. Go on a photo walk. Take photos together and compare perspectives
  5. Go to a free local concert
  6. Go to a state park for a hike or a splash in the water
  7. Research a local historic site and then visit it.
  8. Go to a baseball game
  9. Go geocaching
  10. Go on a scavenger hunt

Rainy Day Activities

  1. Go to the local library
  2. Go bowling
  3. Go roller skating
  4. Go see a show at the local children’s theater
  5. Go to a local children’s museum
  6. Take a kids class at your local craft or hardware store
  7. Go see a movie at the movie theater
  8. Go to an open play session at your local gymnastics or bounce house provider.
  9. Find an indoor pool or water park
  10. Window shop at the local mall.
a child picking up litter outdoors

Thoughtful Thursday

Sunny Day Activities

  1. Go out for ice cream and pay for the person in line behind you.
  2. Clean up some litter in the neighborhood
  3. Take treats to your local police or fire station
  4. Help take care of a neighbor’s yard.
  5. Do chores around the yard to earn money for your favorite charity
  6. Put coins in random people’s parking meters
  7. Put away all the carts left out in a parking lot
  8. Help a stranger load bags into their car at the store
  9. Write a thank you note and make a treat for the garbage collectors.
  10. Help play with the little kids at the park.

Rainy Day Activities

  1. Read books to each other
  2. Make food pans for the homeless shelter
  3. Bake cookies for a neighbor
  4. Have a donation day & clear out old clothes & toys
  5. Make and mail cards to grandparents
  6. Make and mail cards to cousins
  7. Make a care package for some soldiers
  8. Make scarves to donate to the homeless in wintertime.
  9. Do something extra special for a sibling or parent.
  10. Make pet beds for shelter animals out of fabric scraps and old linens
happy children smiling down from overhead

Love these ideas? Click here to grab a free printable copy of this list.

Fantastic Friday

Sunny Day Activities

  1. Have a picnic
  2. Roll down a grassy hill
  3. Play messy slime party games
  4. Run through the sprinkler
  5. Have a water balloon fight
  6. Have a squirt gun fight
  7. Catch fireflies at sunset
  8. Camp out in the backyard.
  9. Do a shaving cream craft or activity
  10. Have a bike decorating contest for Independence Day (or just because!)

Rainy Day Activities

  1. Have a dance party
  2. Make it a movie day
  3. Have a pajama day
  4. Mother/Son or Father/Daughter dates
  5. Have a backwards day
  6. Have a video game day
  7. Play Minute-to-Win-it games
  8. Camp out in the living room
  9. Play board games
  10. Have a ‘Yes’ Day

Want more fun summer activities for kids? We’re always adding more fun crafts and activities to our Kids Crafts and Activities page. It’s a great place to look for new games to play with your kids, easy crafts for all ages, and even more free printable to enjoy together.

Grab Your Free Printable Summer Activities List Here

And there you have it – summer activities for kids with at least two things to do for nearly every day of the summer break.

Most importantly, the list was partially created by a kid! Which means there’s no excuse for hearing “I’m bored” during the next three months!

mockup of cover and two pages of summer activities printable checklist

As an added bonus, I’ve got an easy-to-use printable version of these summer activities for kids. It’s available FREE for subscribers. Just add your name and email to the form below and I’ll send it straight to your inbox.

Don’t want to subscribe? No problem! I’ve also got this list available for small price in my shop.

Get the Free Files!

Subscribe to the newsletter (it’s free!) & I’ll send these Free Summer Activities for Kids Checklists straight to your inbox!

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    Now I want to know…

    What summer activities do you have planned for your kids?

    What summer activities would you add to this list?


    Join me over at Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter,

    for more fun ideas and inspiration!


    This post was originally published on June 2, 2016. It has been updated with fresh ideas, new graphics, and an improved printable checklist.

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    Filed Under: Family, Kid Crafts and Activities, Printables Tagged With: Library, printable games, summer

    About Leslie

    Leslie is the passionate party planner in her family. Living with metastatic breast cancer since 2022, she is determined to find a way to continue making amazing parties for her kids that don't leave you exhausted. To do that Leslie combines the experience she learned working for a professional event planner with the reality of a busy family life to create party inspiration that the average mom can reproduce and be proud of.

    Comments

    1. Tamara says

      June 2, 2016 at 9:12 pm

      It’s true. Summer is supposed to be relaxing but I often find it to be more intense. In an awesome way, though. I’m ready for it, and all these activities!

      Reply
      • Leslie says

        June 5, 2016 at 1:18 pm

        More intense…that’s the perfect way to put it. I think we’re both looking forward to the break, this list just gives us the extra push we need to make some new memories.

        Reply
    2. Jen says

      June 3, 2016 at 9:53 am

      Pinned! Love this list. Summer is pretty much my favorite time of year. I love the freedom and the magic of it all.

      Reply
      • Leslie says

        June 5, 2016 at 1:20 pm

        That’s saying a lot coming from someone who lives in the desert! I’m partial to fall, but Summer’s definitely a special time of year.

        Reply
    3. Kristen says

      June 3, 2016 at 10:20 am

      This is SO helpful! I am pinning, great ideas!

      Reply
      • Leslie says

        June 5, 2016 at 1:22 pm

        Thanks Kristen! I know there are tons of summer lists out there so I’m glad you found this helpful!

        Reply
    4. Nina says

      June 4, 2016 at 12:24 am

      You’re so right! And I see “bucket lists” the same way—more like idea generation rather than a must-do list. That’d be way too much pressure! Most of my summer to-dos are pretty simple and they’re things I’d do every summer. I think that’s one of the beauties of seasonal traditions is that we do them over and over yet we love and look forward to them every year! One thing I for sure want to do this year because we missed out last year is to see fireworks.

      Reply
      • Leslie says

        June 5, 2016 at 1:24 pm

        I tried to keep this list to the kinds of things we should be doing anyway. Otherwise it would feel more like a chore, you know? Fireworks are definitely a favorite around here. Hopefully you get to go see some this year!

        Reply
    5. Janine Huldie says

      June 6, 2016 at 4:42 pm

      We still have 3 more weeks of school here in NY, but I am so going to refer back to your list as we get closer now. Thanks so much, Leslie for sharing here!! 🙂

      Reply
    6. Tammy says

      June 8, 2016 at 12:59 pm

      Thank you for this great list! I am going to print it off and keep it accessible when the kiddos are looking for something to do!

      Reply
    7. Nellie says

      June 16, 2016 at 7:08 pm

      LOVE LOVE LOVE the donation idea during rainy days! So good. Thank you for all of this, the boys especially love to read to each other now that they can both read. It’s pretty awesome to watch too. 🙂 This was right on time as we are preparing to end school in a few weeks!

      Reply
    8. Laura - The No Pressure Life says

      April 5, 2017 at 5:15 pm

      Oh man, I can’t wait for warm weather! These are great ideas. A fairy garden is definitely on our list.

      Reply
    9. STEPHANIE ABBOTT says

      April 24, 2017 at 6:20 am

      Great ideas for this mom of littles! Pinned to a couple boards. I cohost a link party on Wednesday’s. We’d love to have you join!

      Reply
    10. Annie says

      April 24, 2017 at 7:02 pm

      Pinning this for my 3-year-old (who is home with me all day, every day :P)!

      Reply
    11. Lindsey says

      April 25, 2017 at 2:57 pm

      Great Ideas! Pinned. Thanks for sharing at #iDIYedthat

      Reply
    12. Kristina Rees says

      April 26, 2017 at 7:37 am

      Found you at Coffee and Conversation. Great Ideas. I love have one place to get ideas. Definitely pinning this.

      Reply
    13. Kate Hollingsworth says

      April 26, 2017 at 8:10 am

      This is a fantastic list Leslie (and I’m so glad you included a printable!). Thanks for sharing at To Grandma’s House We Go ? xx

      Reply
    14. Mother of 3 says

      April 26, 2017 at 4:58 pm

      What a fun idea to break your list into themed days! Love this. Pinned.

      Reply
      • Mother of 3 says

        March 12, 2018 at 3:22 pm

        Visiting once again from #familyFunliky and shared all over.

        Reply
    15. April says

      April 27, 2017 at 10:06 am

      I am totally in summer planning mode, so I love this. So excited and nervous for summer. Only nervous b/c 4 all day….yikes…

      Reply
    16. Chloe Crabtree says

      April 27, 2017 at 1:25 pm

      What a great list! I am sending the link to this post to my daughter! Some of these won’t work for a 2 and 3 year old, but a lot of them will! Thanks for sharing at Celebrate Your Story!!

      Reply
    17. Kimm at Reinvented says

      April 28, 2017 at 9:36 am

      Those are great ides and plenty of them. Makes me miss my kids being little – briefly:).
      Thanks for sharing at Funtastic Friday.

      Reply
    18. Mary - the boondocks blog says

      April 28, 2017 at 4:35 pm

      Lots of great ideas to keep the kids busy all year long. Where were you when my kids were younger? Lol! Pinning.

      Reply
    19. Laurie says

      April 28, 2017 at 9:57 pm

      Love the list of ideas! Thanks so much for sharing them. Pinning!

      Reply
    20. Sam @ A Happy Home In Holland says

      April 29, 2017 at 3:30 am

      You have some really great ideas here – I have pinned for later as I think this help keep the boredom at bay for my two girls during the holidays 🙂

      Reply
    21. Mary Leigh says

      April 29, 2017 at 7:48 am

      These are really great ideas! I especially like that you have them in themes during the week! Im stopping by from SITS Girls and I’ve saved this to Pinterest!

      Reply
    22. Jennifer-BeforeTheyreGrown says

      April 29, 2017 at 8:48 am

      I really like how you divided summer activities into rainy day and sunny day activities. I live in Florida so we have lots of Rainy days all summer long. Great idea. Thanks
      visiting from Sits Girls Sharefest

      Reply
    23. Gentle Joy Homemaker says

      April 29, 2017 at 12:47 pm

      Good ideas and list. It is important to keep some type of structure going… w/o overwhelming Mom! 🙂

      Reply
    24. Lori Hill-Smith says

      April 30, 2017 at 12:25 am

      So many great ideas to keep the kiddos busy this summer!

      Reply
    25. Denise says

      May 3, 2017 at 8:19 pm

      So much fun all on one list. Thanks for sharing with us at Waste Not Wednesday. Looking forward to seeing more from you this week. Don’t forget to hop over and link up.

      Reply
    26. April J Harris says

      March 12, 2018 at 8:52 pm

      I agree with you about the term ‘bucket list’ – but I love this great list full of wonderful ideas! Pinning and sharing on Twitter. Thank you for bringing this post to the Hearth and Soul Link Party. Hope you have a lovely week!

      Reply
    27. Katie says

      March 13, 2018 at 9:57 am

      I’m so ready for my first summer as a SAHM with this list of activities. I’m so looking forward to all the fun I’m going to have with my son!! Thanks!

      Reply
    28. Tammymum says

      March 14, 2018 at 1:26 am

      Some great ideas for keeping everyone entertained. I think we might go for a picnic this afternoon in fact. Thanks for joining us at #familyfun

      Reply
    29. Alicia Owen says

      March 15, 2018 at 2:02 pm

      Love lists like these! No matter how many you come across, you can always find new ideas! Thanks so much for sharing this huge list! Summer is all about having fun. 🙂

      Reply
    30. Tracy Albiero says

      March 16, 2018 at 8:14 am

      Thank you! I needed a list like this. This will be perfect this summer! #Fridayatthefirestation

      Reply
    31. Teresa Les Chander says

      March 16, 2018 at 9:13 am

      Great ideas! Thank you for the list. My kids are going to love these! Hopefully Summer weather gets here soon.

      Reply
    32. Whitney@confessionsofparenting says

      March 16, 2018 at 10:44 pm

      Thank you so much for all of the wonderful ideas. I am really looking forward to warm weather when the kids can go outside. This list makes me so happy. Spring is almost here!

      Reply
    33. Wrae says

      March 17, 2018 at 4:08 pm

      I loved this! Pinned to two boards. I will use this for sure with my kids.

      Reply
    34. moozi says

      August 29, 2021 at 1:32 pm

      Our kids really need this ,,,,,,,
      Our kida are only bond to wife and phonse
      Thank you so much for it

      Reply
    35. Marina Teramond @ NMPL says

      September 7, 2021 at 6:43 am

      I absolutely agree with you that without some kind of plan the summer will be disastrous when you have children and need to satisfy their needs. To tell the truth, any summer we spend with our children and not always we travel during this time. Really often my ideas for entertainment run out. I’m so glad that I found a lot of new ideas for myself to enjoy not only my children, but also the whole family. What most impresses me is that there are ideas for any weather and on rainy days you will not have to be bored. I’m really inspired by your idea of building something with things we can find in the backyard or garage. It is so original and not typical, that you will certainly be engaged in the process and you can do it with the whole family, becoming close-knit. Also, I really want to try to beat one of our own records with my children. I think it can help you to develop your confidence and have fun at the same time.

      Reply

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