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Every kid looks forward to summer… until they start saying that they are bored and have nothing to do. To keep yourself sane, be sure to print out this kid’s summer bucket list and give a copy to your kids. Challenge them to see how many they can check off before summer is over!
This is the ultimate summer bucket list. It is full of summer activities for kids to keep them busy and content for the entire summer. It includes indoor activities as well as kid-friendly outdoor activities for kids. A lot of these ideas are free activities. Don’t forget to check out the free printable that goes with this article. Give a copy of this bucket list printable to each of your little ones and their friends, too!
The Ultimate Kids Summer Buck List
1. Have a water balloon fight
2. Lay and look at the stars
This is a great time to teach the kids about the solar system.
3. Go camping – Check out our tips for camping with kids!
Even if it’s just camping in your backyard or a campout in the living room, the kids will love camping.
4. Build a sandcastle
If you don’t live near a beach, get some kinetic sand and build a sandcastle with that. Or use play-doh to build a castle.
5. Visit a children’s museum
6. Go to a waterpark
Another easy (and free) option is a splash pad! Most cities have at least one, and the kids have so much fun there. Any sort of water play is a great summer activity for kids.
7. Take a vacation
It can be as big or as small of a vacation as possible. Even just a day trip somewhere fun will be a blast for the kids.If you are planning on going on a road trip, be sure to check out these 19+ Road Trip Games for Kids!
8. Play in a creek
Find some water and go play! Whether it’s a creek, a pond, or a lake. Playing in the water is a core childhood memory that every child should make.
9. Go to the movies
A drive-in movie would be the perfect summer movie showing, but if you can’t find one then just a regular movie theatre is fun too.
10. Lay in the grass and watch the clouds
Let the kid’s imagination run wild and see how many shapes and things they can see in the clouds.
11. Read a book
Don’t forget to check out our guide to making screen time beneficial for kids!
12. Go berry picking
Find a local berry (or apple) picking orchard and go pick some fruit. You can just enjoy it as it is or teach the kids how to make jam, pie, or any other yummy dish!
13. Write in a journal
14. Make a summer craft
Find some fun summer crafts for kids and let them pick a few to do. A few fun ideas are to paint pet rocks, make tie-dye shirts, make homemade slime, make paper boats, or make a time capsule and bury it.
15. Climb trees
16. Go on a nature walk
Let the kids pick leaves, collect rocks, etc. They can even go home and do some research to try and see what each plant is called.
17. Feed ducks
If you can find a nearby pond and you will likely find some ducks. Bring some frozen peas for them, they are much healthier for them than bread and they love them. Plus, a bag of frozen peas is cheaper and will last longer.
18. Make some chalk art
19. Play hopscotch
20. Play in the sprinkler
21. Do a movie marathon
Pick a series and go crazy! Maybe binge-watch all of the Harry Potter series, or the Avengers, or just make a list of fun movies and work your way through them.
22. Go to the library
The library usually has fun activities and programs for kids.
23. Do a lemonade stand
Let the kids get started on entrepreneurship early! Help them set up a lemonade stand, snow cone stand, homemade jewelry stand, or anything they will think is fun.
24. Plant a flower and watch it grow
You can have the kids plant and design their own flower pot, and then plant a seed and water it every day. You can also help the kids plant vegetables if they would rather do that than a flower. This is also a good way to teach responsibility.
25. Have a picnic
Even if it’s just in your front yard, pack lunch and head outside somewhere to eat.
26. Go on a bike ride
27. Fly a kite
28. Re-organize your bedroom
Something about re-arranging your bedroom as a kid is so much fun!
If you’re trying to get your kids to help out around the house more, make sure to check out our guide to getting kids to enjoy doing chores!
29. Visit an arcade
30. Go mini-golfing
31. Make S’mores
–> Don’t forget to grab this bucket list printable so your kids can check off the activities as they go!
32. Paint in nature
Get some paint supplies, and head out into nature! Whether you are near a beach, or the mountains, or a big open field with cows, etc. Let the kids paint what they see.
33. Go to the farmer’s market
Farmer’s markets are a great place to get some yummy snacks, and sometimes they have cute animals or other fun activities for kids.
34. Have a sleepover
35. Make dinner for the family
Have the kids help out with a meal. Let them pick a recipe out of a cookbook or offline, and let them take charge of the cooking.
36. Go swimming
37. Watch fireworks
38. Have a tea party
Get the kids a cute tea party set and let them go crazy with the tea party.
39. Go bowling
40. Get a snowcone
If you can’t find a snow cone stand, you can at least always find an ice cream place. For even more fun, buy a small snow cone maker and the kids can make homemade snow cones or ice cream!
41. Watch the sunset
42. Go to the zoo
If you can find an animal sanctuary near you, that would be even better! A lot of times you can even offer to volunteer.
43. Have a pajama day
44. Volunteer
There are so many places to volunteer! Animal shelters or sanctuaries, nursing homes, etc. Getting kids involved in volunteering is such a great activity and teaches important life lessons.
45. Make Root Beer floats
46. Go to a carnival
Most cities have a carnival at some point in the summer, so be on the lookout for one near you.
47. Do a scavenger hunt
Scavenger hunts can be a lot of work, but they don’t have to be. You can find tons of free printable scavenger hunts for kids that don’t involve any work on your part.
48. Make a vision board
49. Build a fort
Building forts is a must for kids! Use the blankets, pillows, cardboard boxes, etc.
50. Put together a puzzle
Puzzles are a great way for kids to kill time and exercise their brains.
51. Find a summer pen pal
A fun, and safe, pen pal option for your kids might be a friend from school that they can keep up with during summer, or maybe a cousin that lives far away.
52. Go to the park
If it’s too hot where you live, look for an indoor park or playland of some sort.
For more ideas, check out our list of 99 Activities for Toddlers to Do at Home!
What Do You Think of These Kids Summer Bucket List Ideas?
We hope this list of fun ideas will be helpful in keeping your kids busy this summer, and hopefully, this list will help encourage them to try new things. Don’t forget to grab the free printable checklist so your kids will have it on hand to cross off things as they go!
Don’t forget to check out these other helpful parenting articles:
The Ultimate 30 Day “Be A Happier Mom” Challenge
Don’t forget to download the FREE Printable Bucket List!
Kayla
Kayla is the content creator over at motviationformom.com. She is a wife and mother who loves to share all of the tips, tricks, and life lessons that she has learned over the years with all of her readers. Her primary focus is on children’s education, motherhood, and healthy family relationships!
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