10 Ways to Entertain Your Kids This Summer

Children have a lot of energy, and summer gives them the perfect opportunity to run, jump, explore, create, and spend more time outdoors. Keeping kids active does not have to mean planning an expensive vacation or filling every minute of the day with scheduled activities.

There are plenty of simple ways families can enjoy the summer together, whether you want to head outside for an adventure or find something creative to do closer to home. Here are 10 fun summer activities for kids that can help make those long summer days a little more exciting.

Camping and Hiking

Summer offers so many opportunities to get outside, and camping or hiking can turn an ordinary weekend into a family adventure. You do not have to plan a long or difficult trip either. A short nature trail, an afternoon at a local park, or a simple overnight camping trip can introduce children to the outdoors without overwhelming them.

When hiking with younger children, choose a trail that matches their age and ability, bring plenty of water and snacks, and allow extra time for stops along the way. The National Park Service offers helpful tips for hiking with kids, including ways to prepare and keep the experience enjoyable for the entire family.

Spend a Day at the Beach

A beach day remains one of those classic summertime activities that never seems to get old. Kids can swim, splash in the water, collect shells, build sandcastles, play games, or simply enjoy being outside.

Safety is especially important around water. Children should always be closely supervised, and younger children or inexperienced swimmers may need properly fitted life jackets. Sunscreen, plenty of drinking water, shade breaks, and protection from excessive heat are important too. Parents can find additional beach safety recommendations from HealthyChildren.org.

Go for a Family Bike Ride

Bike riding is another fun way to get everyone moving during summer. Families can explore a neighborhood trail, visit a park, or simply ride together around the neighborhood.

Before heading out, make sure each bike fits the rider properly and that everyone has a correctly fitted helmet. Kids who are still learning should practice somewhere away from traffic before riding near streets or busy intersections. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has bicycle safety tips for parents and kids covering helmets, visibility, bike fit, traffic awareness, and safe riding habits.

Make Time for Reading

Not every summer activity has to involve running around outside. Reading can be a wonderful way for children to relax while keeping their minds active during the school break.

Let kids choose books about subjects they actually enjoy. Dinosaurs, animals, sports, mysteries, science, superheroes, cooking, or even comic books can encourage a child who normally would not pick up a book.

Families can also visit their local library and see what summer reading programs are available. Reading Rockets has summer reading and learning ideas for families that combine books with writing, exploring, creating, and hands on activities.

Start a Small Garden

Gardening gives children a chance to learn about plants, insects, food, weather, and nature while getting their hands a little dirty.

You do not need a huge backyard garden either. Kids can grow herbs in containers, plant flowers, help water vegetables, or choose one plant that becomes their responsibility for the summer.

Once everyone is outside, you can add other backyard activities such as blowing bubbles, drawing with sidewalk chalk, playing hopscotch, having a water balloon game, or creating a simple obstacle course. Parents looking for more inspiration can find several low cost summer activities for kids from Parents.

Enroll in a Local Summer Program

Many communities offer summer programs through schools, libraries, recreation centers, parks, churches, museums, and local organizations. Some programs last several weeks while others may only meet for a day or a few hours.

Ask your child what they would actually enjoy before signing them up. Sports, science, nature, music, art, technology, cooking, and outdoor recreation programs can all give kids an opportunity to learn something new while meeting other children.

Do not overlook your local parks and recreation department either. Community parks often offer affordable or even free activities throughout the summer. Parents also recommends checking local recreation opportunities through the National Recreation and Park Association when searching for programs nearby.

Get Creative With Art

Art is one of the easiest activities to put together at home because you can often use supplies you already have. Pull out paper, washable paint, crayons, pencils, buttons, old shirts, cardboard, glue, sidewalk chalk, or anything else that lets kids safely use their imagination.

There does not always need to be a perfect finished project. Sometimes giving children a table full of supplies and letting them create whatever comes to mind is where the real fun begins.

Try a New Class

Summer is a great time for children to try something completely new without the pressure of adding another activity to an already busy school schedule.

Look for cooking classes, pottery, painting, crafts, beginner photography, swimming, music, dance, robotics, nature programs, or other activities that match your child’s interests. Local libraries, community centers, museums, craft stores, and recreation departments are good places to check.

Trying a new class could simply be something fun to do for an afternoon, or it might introduce your child to a hobby they continue enjoying long after summer is over.

Plan a Family Day

Between work, school, appointments, and everyday responsibilities, families can easily get caught up in busy schedules. Summer gives us a chance to slow things down and intentionally spend some time together.

Plan a family day at the zoo, aquarium, museum, nature center, park, farmers market, or another local attraction. It does not need to be an expensive outing. A picnic at a favorite park or exploring somewhere nearby that your family has never visited can be just as memorable.

Take pictures, let the kids help decide where to go, and make the day about simply enjoying one another’s company.

Have a Summer Party

Sometimes the simplest idea is one of the most fun. Invite a few friends, relatives, neighbors, and your children’s friends over for a summer get together.

Set up outdoor games, bring out the sprinkler, prepare easy snacks, play music, blow bubbles, or let the kids come up with their own activities. You can even turn it into a backyard picnic where everyone brings something to share.

Summer does not have to be filled with expensive trips and elaborate plans to be memorable. Kids often remember the simple things most: riding bikes together, getting wet in the sprinkler, staying up a little later, reading a favorite book, planting something in the garden, or spending an afternoon exploring with their family.

With a little creativity, there are plenty of ways to keep kids active, entertained, and learning all summer long.