The last few weeks of school have been torture… We were creeping along, trying to finish up our lessons so we can hit Summer Vacation AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! What are your plans for the summer? We are always looking for low-budget, or fun free activities to enjoy while school is out. My husband and I both work part-time over the summer, so we have to plan day trips and home fun activities for our 11-year old – or she will bug us to death! If we don’t make a list of ideas, then WHOOSH, the summer runs away and we are PLOP – right back in school before we know it.
Our childhood is made up of memories – precious and sometimes simply daily moments. We will remember and cherish the relationships more than the physical and material items. Don’t waste any more of your precious time together. Grab a few things to do each day, and enjoy yourself. Here is a list of ideas from our world. You can always tweak any of them to fit your family.
- create and play hopscotch with neighbor friend
- sleepover at a friend’s house
- host a sleepover
- watch a sunrise
- go to the zoo, and create a story
- get a treat at the Dollar Store
- play mini-golf
- invent your own personal trail mix (serious experimentation required)
- attend a free Home Depot or Lowes Kid’s Workshop [click for links]
- leave a treat for the mailman in the mailbox
- keep a summer journal
- bake rainbow cupcakes
- de-clutter your bedroom
- wash the car
- create a scavenger hunt for daddy or a friend
- visit a museum
- run through the sprinklers
- write the next episode in your favorite series (“Gravity Falls”)
- make a list of suggestions for “Walk the Prank” [click to see the show]
- go roller skating
- make homemade pizza
- play in the rain
- website fun: science [click for links]
- website fun: math [click for links]
- website fun: LA [click for links]
- website fun: multi-subject [click for links]
- go to an outdoor movie
- go to the drive in:
- go to the drive-in:
- set up a recycling center at home
- go garage sale-ing
- make a minecraft craft
- make jello
- play ping-pong once a week
- play tennis once a week
- swim as much as possible!
- make a list of kids-eat-free restaurants
- make a maze in minecraft
- go to each local park, to see which has the best scooter paths
- find a location to volunteer (we are going to sign up with the local humane society to play with the cats)
- make a cereal necklace & eat it
- eat watermelon
- play flashlight tag
- make homemade moon sand
- play with giant bubbles [click the link]
- try yoga
- eat freshly made donuts
- go to a water park
- visit the farmer’s market
- watch fireworks
- make s’mores
- go on a road trip
- sleep in a tent
- have a water balloon fight
- build a blanket tent inside
- write a letter
- create a coloring and activities book: Finding Dory, Alice Through the Looking Glass, Coloring for Big Kids, Star Wars, Power Rangers: Dino Charge, How to Draw Judy Hopps/Zootopia, Zootopia, DreamWorks: King Julien/DINOTRUX [click for pages]
- make cookies for daddy’s department secretary
- play frisbee
- visit a state park
- have a lemonade stand
- make popsicles: Pudding Popsicles, Soda Popsicles [click link for instructions/recipe]
- sleep under the stars
- go on a picnic
- go to an amusement park
- pick berries
- catch fireflies
- decorate the driveway with chalk
- feed ducks
- make and have a paper airplanes race
- collect bugs
- go bowling
- make pancakes
- paint rocks
- make a board game
- borrow a book from the library
- have a breakfast picnic
- make dandelion necklaces
- water paintbrush painting on the driveway
- use old crayons to make homemade crayons
- make rock candy
- plant flowers/herbs
- origami
- make a jigsaw puzzle
- family tree
- shopping spree
- make dessert
- nature walk
- science project
- trampoline place
- movie:
- movie:
- movie:
- movie:
- movie:
- movie:
- movie:
- aquarium
- zoo
- movie night/rental, etc.
- tennis
- find a new playground
- cookies for daddy
- make dinner
- sidewalk art
- ice cream
How do I make my list? I peruse Pinterest. I have also started collecting local calendar of events, which list wonderful activities for kids. Libraries usually have great programs too! Another tip: keep notes of your kiddo’s interests throughout the year. My daughter is always coming up with things she’d rather do than school LOL. Kids can have great ideas too!
This year, I am posting a huge list of activities on our fridge, so that we can have summer fun and enjoy ourselves.
Comment below with your summer fun list.