110+ Summer Activities for Kids

Never run out of ideas again, this massive list contains 110+ different summer activities for kids! From outside fun, field trip ideas, and even inside activities for rainy days, there is something for everyone on this list! Perfect for summer days, spring break, or even snow days when you are stuck inside!

Outdoor Activities

One of the best parts about summer? Spending lots of time outside with the sun shining down, or laying under the stars at night with a crystal clear view. Summer days (& nights!) are meant to be enjoyed.

The problem is we are so excited to kick off summer with lots of trips to the pool or neighborhood park, but then after a few weeks, the boredom of those beloved places takes over.

Not anymore! With a list of over 30+ different outdoor summer activities for kids, your family will find new adventures each day!

Walk barefoot in the grass
Roast marshmallows for s’ mores
Plant and water flowers
Plan and plant a vegetable garden
Make and fly a kite
Build an outdoor swing
Run through the sprinklers
Build or buy a Slip’N Slide
Create murals with sidewalk chalk
Swim in a backyard kiddie pool (small sizes for little ones, even bigger ones for big kids!)
Have a picnic lunch outside in the front yard, invite some neighborhood friends to join you
Grill hotdogs and hamburgers
Pick fresh flowers
Make a flower crown
Have an ice cream social with friends and neighbors
Invite friends and neighbors for a cookout
Create your own obstacle course
Learn how to roller skate
Read in a hammock
Fill 100 water balloons
Have a jump rope contest
Play water gun tag
Camp out in the backyard
Catch lightning bugs
Have an outdoor family game night
Play frisbee games
Paint a picture outside
Read books outside on a beach towel
Start a rock collection
Wash the car (volunteer to wash a neighbor’s too!)
Set hula hoop or jump rope records
Play bubble tag or other bubble games
Look up at the clouds and try to make out the different shapes
Bring a telescope out at night to look for constellations
Decorate your bikes or wagons for a 4th of July Parade
Go on a nature scavenger hunt

Inside Activities

Some days during the summer, it’s nice to plan some time to just stay at home. Your family might be exhausted from several activities that have kept you busy, maybe it’s over 100 degrees outside and you just need to cool off. Or some days it might just be too rainy to go outside.

No matter what’s the reason for keeping your kids home and inside, there is no need for boredom or whining because they have “Nothing to do!” to ring out.

With 40 different summer activities for kids to keep them busy inside, there is something on this list for everyone!

Make a bird feeder
Build a fort
Make homemade bubbles
Campout in the living room
Play through the Bible & plant seeds of faith in a tangible way for little hearts
Have a picnic lunch inside on a rainy day
Host a sleepover
Make homemade ice cream in an ice cream maker
Make DIY ice cream in a bag
Make playdough
Keep a summer memory journal
Take a photo each day
Create a summer scrapbook
Make homemade popsicles
Make Root Beer Floats
Set a reading goal
Practice new cooking skills
Make Slime
Make no bake cookies (I’m going to try this recipe and substitute sun butter for the peanut butter since we have a nut allergy)
Create a summer themed book basket
Paint rocks
Write a letter to a friend
Mail and make cards to send to grandparents or other relatives (How cute is this stationary set?)
Have a face painting party
Make homemade snow cones
Make fresh lemonade (The key is to have a couple of these juicers for each kid… trust me, they will ALL want to juice a lemon!)
Make fruit kabobs or a colorful fruit salad
Make a paper plate frisbee
Make a family home video
Learn origami, calligraphy, or hand-art lettering
Build new Lego creations with pieces you already have
Learn a magic trick and put on a magic show
Make a care package to send to soldiers
Read books together
Watch a family favorite movie
Bake cookies or a special treat to give to a neighbor
Have a dance party
Play Minute-to-Win-It Games
Put together a puzzle with lots of pieces
Play board or card games

Field Trip Ideas

Some of my fondest memories of summer are going to our cities museums with my mom and brother. We would spend the morning walking through all the different displays, then find a new-to-us park to explore and eat a picnic lunch afterward.

We would also spend hours at our local library, choosing books to read during the summer reading challenge, as well as attending a storytime read aloud by a local children’s book author.

No matter where you live, I bet there are so many great attractions to visit and enjoy during the summer months. From free to budget-friendly, or maybe even a splurge to spend the day at a local waterpark, these summer activities for kids will give lots of ideas of different places to visit this summer.

Perhaps your city doesn’t offer everything on this list, there are still lots of great ideas to think outside the box to find maybe 1 field trip a week for the entire summer!

Visit the summer activities at the local library
Enroll in a summer reading program (If your local library doesn’t have one, this is a great list of some national reading programs your kids can join… many give free books!)
Attend a baseball game
Swim at a water park
Go to a movie (This is a great list of cheap kids movie programs many theater chains across the country are hosting)
Attend Vacation Bible School (We go to the VBS our church hosts and also attend a neighborhood church’s VBS as well)
Go to the zoo
Pick berries at the berry patch
Visit new playgrounds and parks (We make a list of local parks that we haven’t been to for a while)
Explore a local children’s museum
Watch fireworks
Plan a bike ride
Swim at the pool
Find a local fair or carnival
Take a nature hike
Find an amusement park
Spend the day at a nearby lake or beach
Shop at the Farmer’s Market
Explore your hometown’s attractions
Take a local train or bus ride
Go to a drive in
Visit the skate park
Feed the ducks
Go on a bike ride
Take a one-day road trip to somewhere nearby
Visit a local farm
Visit the Home Depot Kids Workshops
Go bowling
Visit a community nature center
Tour the fire station
Play miniature golf
Visit a National Park
Make a day trip to local historical attractions
Volunteer at a local shelter or food pantry
Visit an art or history museum
Attend an outdoor Movie-in-the-Park

A great place to look for local events is to check the websites of your library system, city hall, chamber of commerce, follow local family bloggers, or your local newspaper/magazine will most likely have a list of upcoming events or summer fun activities.

What are your favorite summer activities for kids that your family looks forward to every summer?

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