• Home
  • Start Here
  • Blog
  • Printables Store
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

Learning Ideas for Parents

  • Word Searches
  • Memory Games
  • Books for Kids
  • Sight Word Activities

June 4, 2020 · 30 Comments

50+ Summer Fun Activities for Families

Family Fun

823shares
  • Share
  • Email

Our children will be out of school for the summer before we know it!  You know what that means, don’t you? We’re only weeks, or even days, away from hearing the words Mom, I’m bored on a daily basis. Which means you need some summer fun activities ASAP.  Even if this summer is a little different, it is still possible to have lots of family fun!

Summer Fun Activities for Families

***This post includes affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.***

Summer Fun Activities for Families

Some of the things on this list are totally free and others are almost free. Some are outdoor activities and others are inside (because great summer weather is not a guarantee).

Some can be done at home and others involve going somewhere else. Several of them could actually be done any time of year.

You have probably done at least a few of them before and I’m sure there are many, MANY more activities that I didn’t think to include. I hope you find something fun to do with your family this summer!

Any activity followed by a * is one that may be on hold for now!

Summer Fun Activities Out and About

Find something fun to do for each letter of the alphabet.

Participate in the Summer Reading Program at your local library.

Make fun crafts at your local Lakeshore Learning store.*

Take a nature walk.

Enjoy the bargain kids movies and a KidsPack at the AMC Summer Movie Camp.*

Go on a bike ride.

Take a walk around the neighborhood.

Take your kids bowling at a participating Kids Bowl Free center.*

Visit different playgrounds all over town.

Take your kids roller skating at a participating Kids Skate Free center.*

While you’re at the library, head over to the DVDs and introduce your kids to movies and TV shows from your childhood!

Pick an interesting book series and see how many books you can read.

Go get snowballs or ice cream and try a new flavor.

Watch the 4th of July fireworks.

Visit a beach (if you have one close by), collect seashells, and build sand castles.

If you have a membership to the local zoo, aquarium, science center, museum, etc., take advantage of it and go!

Visit a museum you’ve never been to before. Have you tried the Turkey Hill Experience?*

Go fishing.

Visit an art museum.

Fly a kite.

Take a scenic drive.

Visit a farmer’s market and try a new fruit or vegetable.

Feed the ducks at a nearby lake.

Go roller skating.

Just go someplace you’ve never been before!


Summer Fun Activities At Home

Play in the sprinkler.

Build something together at the home with ideas and materials from Home Depot. The in-store workshops are on hold, but there is a lot you can do at home.

Draw with sidewalk chalk.

Have a picnic in your yard.

Have a water balloon fight.

Blow bubbles.

Get creative with paper bags, paper towel rolls, craft sticks, paper, boxes, and other things you can find around the house.

Have a board game night and try a new one or an old favorite.

Enjoy a family movie night.

Tie dye a t-shirt.

Have a backyard camp-out.

Make a craft by participating in a Michaels Kids Club online event.

Make homemade lemonade.

Play outside in the rain.

Make your own popsicles.

Play memory games.

Drop everything and read, inside or outside.

Play classic outdoor activities, like jump rope, hula hoop, and hop scotch.

Plant a garden.

Paint with water.

Catch lightning bugs.

Celebrate Christmas in July by making an ornament to save for December.

Build an indoor fort.

Write a letter to a friend or relative…not an e-mail.

Eat dessert for dinner one night.

Have a yard sale.

Sit outside at night and gaze at the stars.

Have a water gun battle.

Take a nap!

Did I forget anything? What free or almost free summer family fun do you have planned?

A list of over 50 summer fun activities for families.

823shares
  • Share
  • Email
Previous Post: « Color Sorting Mats Free Printable
Next Post: LEGO Memory Game Free Printable »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Terra says

    May 28, 2014 at 7:16 pm

    I love “take a nap”! I wish it would go over well at our house. Thanks for the great list!

    Reply
    • Cindy Howell says

      May 28, 2014 at 8:49 pm

      Yeah, that one probably works better in a home with very young children. Mine are well beyond naps. Me on the other hand…

      Reply
  2. Lorrie Duran says

    May 24, 2014 at 7:53 pm

    I am glad to see free bowling is still around. I did this a couple of summers with my son. They charged for shoes which gets pricey so we bought our own for a real savings!

    Reply
    • Cindy Howell says

      May 28, 2014 at 9:26 pm

      Oh yeah, I guess the bowling shoes could add up quickly. You were smart to buy your own!

      Reply
  3. Martha says

    May 23, 2014 at 7:06 am

    I love those posts! My little girl is 18 months old and I am searching for activities like these!

    Nice to meet you!

    Reply
    • Cindy Howell says

      May 28, 2014 at 9:27 pm

      I hope you find something fun for your little girl. Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  4. Deceptively Educational says

    May 18, 2014 at 10:25 pm

    Great list! Thanks for sharing at the After School Linky Party!

    Reply
  5. Susan W says

    May 18, 2014 at 8:45 pm

    This is an awesome list!! Thanks for sharing at the Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop!

    Reply
  6. DIStherapy says

    May 16, 2014 at 9:40 am

    Free is good! Your list is full of what we did during the summer in “the old days”. 😀 I love that you put everything in list form; so easy to refer to in those “down” moments. (Catching lightening bugs ended up being a childhood highlight for my 2 boys!!)

    Reply
    • Cindy Howell says

      May 28, 2014 at 9:29 pm

      I’m hoping to eliminate a lot of the modern tech stuff this summer and focus on good, old-fashioned fun!

      Reply
      • Clare says

        June 1, 2014 at 1:56 am

        It’s a brilliant list and I’m going to save it to refer to when the kids get tetchy and my creative brain fails! I love your play outside in the rain idea – and if you have some chalks you could do this great activity http://www.mybigfathappylife.com/rainy-day-art/

        Reply
        • Cindy Howell says

          June 6, 2014 at 8:34 pm

          Thanks, Clare! I never thought to combine the two.

          Reply
  7. Lin @ DisneyMamas says

    May 15, 2014 at 11:15 pm

    This is a FANTASTIC list! Thank you so much for sharing!

    Reply
    • Cindy Howell says

      May 28, 2014 at 9:31 pm

      Thanks! I hope you find something useful. 🙂

      Reply
  8. Mouse Fan Diane says

    May 15, 2014 at 10:47 pm

    I love your list Cindy, I think taking nature walks is our favorite and making popsicles too

    Reply
    • Cindy Howell says

      May 28, 2014 at 9:32 pm

      Thanks! I need to find a good popsicle mold. I discovered that the really inexpensive ones break way too easily.

      Reply
  9. Julie @RunWalkFastpass says

    May 15, 2014 at 7:53 pm

    This is SUCH a great list. I LOVE the laid back aspect of summer. We sleep in and then either go to the pool or something else FREE, thanks for this post so we can get some new ideas!

    Reply
    • Cindy Howell says

      May 28, 2014 at 9:33 pm

      You’re very welcome! I love the laid back part of summer too. 🙂

      Reply
  10. Lisa @home is where the mouse is says

    May 14, 2014 at 5:13 pm

    Great list! I can even use some of these to keep my toddler entertained!

    Reply
    • Cindy Howell says

      May 28, 2014 at 9:34 pm

      Thanks! I hope you find something fun for your toddler to do this summer.

      Reply
  11. Theres Just One Mommy says

    May 14, 2014 at 11:40 am

    So many fun ideas! We loved the bowling program last year.

    Can’t wait for summer!

    Reply
    • Cindy Howell says

      May 14, 2014 at 2:47 pm

      I’m glad to hear the bowling program is fun. There isn’t a center close enough to us, unfortunately.:(

      Reply
  12. Amy says

    May 13, 2014 at 10:41 pm

    What a great list! I’m pinning this! 🙂

    Reply
    • Cindy Howell says

      May 14, 2014 at 2:53 pm

      Thanks! I’m hoping to get to do as many as possible.

      Reply
  13. Lynn says

    May 13, 2014 at 9:17 pm

    Lots of great ideas!! It’s hard to come up with things to keep the “I’m bored” comments at bay 🙂

    Reply
    • Cindy Howell says

      May 14, 2014 at 2:55 pm

      Thanks! I’m worried about the “I’m bored” comments and the constant bickering between my boys too. Maybe keeping busy will help.

      Reply
  14. Elizabeth says

    May 12, 2014 at 5:04 pm

    Thank you! I need a list like this – especially on those days when my brain is spent and I have no idea what to do!! Must print it out and put it where I can see!! 🙂

    Reply
    • Cindy Howell says

      May 14, 2014 at 2:56 pm

      I hope you find it helpful. Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  15. Starla J says

    May 12, 2014 at 9:43 am

    Wow! Great list! thank you!

    Reply
    • Cindy Howell says

      May 14, 2014 at 2:57 pm

      Thanks! I hope you find things on the list you can use.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Number of items in cart: 0

  • Your cart is empty.
  • Total: $0.00
  • Checkout
Learning Ideas for Parents About Me

What Do You Need?

Let’s Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
Free Printable Dolch Sight Word Flash Cards Pre-Primer to Third Grade

Categories

Footer

Helpful Links

Privacy Policy

Terms of Use

Disclosure

Search Our Website

Copyright © 2013-2021 Learning Ideas for Parents. All rights reserved.