Summer Fun Activities To Keep the Kids Happy (And Busy!)

by | Jun 3, 2019 | Family Fun

25 Activities To Keep Kids Happy All Summer

The time has come, friends: school’s out for the summer!

At least in most parts of the country, it is. If it’s not by you JUST YET, then within a few weeks your kids will too, be joining the collective “I’m bored” and “what can we do?!!?” Summertime can be a stressful time for moms and dads—whether balancing working from out of the house and childcare or staying home and keeping the kids entertained 24/7.

But that doesn’t have to be the case.

With a solid plan of attack, your summer can be carefree, fun and full of activities that keep the kids happy and busy until the school bells ring once again. Before we jump into our favorite activities to add to your calendar this summer, we think it’s important to lay some ground rules so everyone knows what to expect.

Some summertime rules we’ve found to help are:

  • Know which days/ hours of the day are reserved for errands, work or house chores.
  • Following that one up… GIVE THE KIDS CHORES! Set up a chore chart of simple tasks they can help with. This accomplishes three things:
    • It keeps them occupied for a portion of the day.
    • Provides you with help from cleaning up after EVERYONE all summer long.
    • Keeps them on task and responsible, which is often a hard habit to get back into come school time if not practiced throughout the summer.
  • Set boundaries for activities. If going to water parks and the movies every week isn’t financially feasible, let the kids know that those trips are reserved for extra special rewards. Otherwise, they can expect fun days at the park, community, pool, library, etc.
  • Ask for input. Sit down with your kids and have them come up with a summertime bucket list. Explain that while not everything on the list is possible, you don’t want to know what THEY want to do this summer and will keep it in mind when planning activities.

Now onto the real fun!

Our List of 25 Summer Fun Activities to Try With Your Kids:

  1. Send them to camp: sports, drama, art, science, you name it!
  2. Take a trip to the aquarium.
  3. Visit the zoo.
  4. Find a new favorite park.
  5. Have a picnic!

    picnic in the park

  6. Go camping… and don’t forget your bug spray!
  7. Volunteer at a Veteran’s center, animal shelter or children’s hospital.
  8. Go fruit picking.
  9. Visit an amusement park.
  10. Head to a museum.
  11. Find a movie discount day.
  12. Go mini golfing!

    Go mini golfing this summer

  13. Visit your local beach/ lake.
  14. Set up a slip and slide in your backyard.
  15. Have a paint party.
  16. Get into a water balloon war.
  17. Have a kid’s choice day! 3 wishes pending parent approval!
  18. Go kayaking or canoeing.
  19. Make “squirtable” chalk and go CRAZY!

    squirt able chalk

  20. Have a neighborhood block party!
  21. Paint rocks and get artsy with nature.

  22. Make ice cream at home!
  23. Build an epic fort… and sleep in it.
  24. Go fishing.
  25. Plan a family game day.