Look for lovely blooms in your neighborhood.

Summer Outdoor Activities for Kids

1. Take a Neighborhood Wildflower Walk

See how many different flowers you can spot, and how many different colors!

2. Go On an Alphabet Scavenger Hunt

See if you can find things that begin with every letter in nature. Or, try one of these other scavenger hunt idea for kids.

3. Take a Family Bike Ride

Hit a local bike trail, or just ride bikes around the neighborhood. Is your kiddo not on two wheels yet? Here are our tips for teaching your child to ride a bike without training wheels.

4. Use Ride-on Toys

Can't make it out for a bike ride? Your kiddos can ride around on your street on a scooter, in an electric car, or on another ride-on toy. Here are our favorite ride-on toys for kids of all ages.

5. Go Bird Watching

Grab your binoculars and look for birds at the beach or at a local park. Don’t have binoculars? Learn how to make an upcycled pair with toilet paper tubes.

6. Blow Bubbles

Our list of the best bubble guns will really up your bubble fun this summer. (Say that 10 times fast!)

7. Do Some Sidewalk Painting

Paint the sidewalk with water. See how fast the sun makes your art disappear.

8. Go For a Hike

Hit up a local trail and play one of these fun hiking games to keep the kids engaged.

Head to an orchard or berry patch to pick delicious local fruit.

9. Pick Fruit

Head to a local berry patch, peach orchard, or farm to pick some in-season produce.

10. Plant a Pollinator Garden

Help the environment and attract bees, birds, and butterflies to your yard or window box. Learn all abut how to plant a pollinator garden.

11. Make Wildflower Seed Bombs

Another great way to attract pollinators is to make wildflower seed bombs. It's Earth-friendly and fun!

12. Have a Car Wash

Don't trust the kiddos with your car? They can wash their toys, bikes, and scooters. Make sure they get really wet!

13. Catch Fireflies

Catch fireflies in a glass jar and watch them shine before letting them fly away.

14. Set Up a Backyard Obstacle Course

Set up a DIY obstacle course using materials you may already have at home, like pool noodles, ropes, and tires. Here are our backyard obstacle course ideas for Nina Warrior kids.

15. Watch a Movie Under the Stars

Got a projector? Turn your yard or driveway into an outdoor movie theater by showing a family favorite on an old sheet, on the garage door, or on the side of the house. Check out our list of 35 great summer movies for kids for inspiration on what to show.

16. Try a Backyard Science Experiment

From water balloon parachutes to an exploding watermelon, these 15 backyard science experiments are full of messy summer fun.

17. Have a Foam Party

There doesn't need to be a birthday to gather the neighborhood kids for some foamy outdoor fun. Read all about how to throw a foam party for kids.

Clouds have some very cool shapes!

18. Find Shapes in the Clouds

Lie down outside and see if you can spot clouds in the shape of animals and other fun things.

19. Build Sand Castles

Head to the beach and build an enormous sand castle. (This beach gear will make your day easier...)

20. Dig for Worms

Find some damp soil and see how many earthworms you can dig up!

21. Have an Epic Water Gun Battle

Organize a massive water blaster battle. When the kids tire of that, they can try water gun painting.

22. Have a Water Balloon War

Fill balloons up before starting, and keep them in buckets. Make sure the kids wear their swimsuits!.

23. Go Stargazing

Look for the Big Dipper, the Great Bear, and other constellations in the night sky.

24. Fly a Kite

Make a kite out of paper and string, then see how high it can soar. Not a DIYer? Flying a store-bought kite is also fun.

25. Have a Backyard Campout

Pitch a tent right in your own backyard and go camping under the stars. Here is our guide to backyard camping with the kids.

26. Go Fishing

Have fishing poles? Head to a local pond or lake and see if you can catch some fish!

27. Go Rock Collecting

Take a stroll around the neighborhood, park, or local creek and collect rocks. If you're feeling crafty, you can paint them later and hide them around the neighborhood. See our post all about painting kindness rocks!

Pull out the costumes and have a pretend play day.

Summer Indoor Activities for Kids

28. Play Dress-up

Raid the dress-up bin and pretend to be superheroes, princesses, fairies....you name it. You can even put on a play!

29. Create a LEGO Masterpiece

Build a tower, set up a LEGO ice excavation activity, or choose any of the other awesome ideas on our list of 101 fun things to do with LEGO bricks.

30. Build a Fort

Check out our list of easy fort ideas using couch cushions, blankets, old sheets, and other materials.

31. Play Restaurant

Have the kids create a menu, take orders, cook the meal, and serve you for a change. We've got you covered for recipe inspiration.

32. Do Some Summer Reading

Join your local library's summer reading program, then curl up in bed or on the couch with some good books. Our list of 100 kids' books every child should read before they grow up has some great picks.

33. Go Camping Indoors

Set up a tent in the living room, make oven s'mores, turn off all the lights, and download a campfire app for your tablet. It's all in our guide to hosting a living room campout!

Have a massive pillow fight. Victoria Borodinova/Pixabay

34. Have a Pillow Fight

It's the perfect way to start (or end) a summer day!

35. Learn to Code

These free coding website and apps will teach your kids some coding skills by the end of summer break!

36. Binge a 90s Kids TV Show

Lazy summer days are the perfect time to binge-watch a great TV show. These 90s kids shows you can currently stream will bring the nostalgia!

37. Make Shadow Figures

All you need is a flashlight, a sheet, and your hands.

38. Have a Fancy Tea Party

Invite your kiddo's friends, dolls, and/or stuffed animals.

39. Play with Alexa

Have an Echo device? Here are 40 funny things to ask Alexa to do. 

Gather all the materials you need to build a fairy house.

Summer Crafts for Kids

40. Make a Fairy Garden

Use moss, acorns, leaves, rocks, and other natural materials to create an awesome fairy (or dragon) garden.

41. Create with Cardboard Boxes

From an arcade game to a rocket ship to a dollhouse, check out our list of 50 genius things to do with cardboard boxes.

42. Make Your Own Playdough

Why buy playdough when you can make your own? Learn how with our easy homemade playdough recipe.

43. Put Together a Sensory Bin

Sensory bins are a fun way for toddlers and preschoolers to develop fine motor skills. Here are our favorite sensory bin ideas.

44. Tie-Dye Shirts

Have a tie-dye party! For less mess, skip the dye and try this Sharpie method or ice tie-dye.

45. Raid the Pantry for Craft Materials

Make a macaroni necklace; create a collage from dried beans, peas, and lentils; or try painting with salt.

46. Make a Bird Feeder

Teach your toddler how to make a simple bird feeder using a pipe cleaner and Cheerios.

47. Create Paper Towel Art

Our paper towel art experiment is perfect for preschoolers and toddlers!

48. Make a Terrarium

Hit your local garden, park, forest, or yard to collect items for it. Short on space. We'll tell you how to make a mason jar terrarium.

49. Do Some Coloring

No coloring book? No problem. Just download some of these free printable coloring pages for kids.

50. Create a Glitter Volcano

Learn how to make a volcano using baking soda, white vinegar, food coloring, and glitter.

Make a masterpiece on your sidewalk. Photo by Jaime Sumersille

51. Create a Masterpiece with Sidewalk Chalk 

Or, if you want to try something different, learn how to make your own fizzy chalk fireworks.

52. Make Slime

Summer is the perfect time for your kids to make slime because they can do it outdoors, meaning no mess in the house! Here is the best easy slime recipe for kids.

53. Create a Short Stop-Motion Film

Use dolls, stuffed animals, or action figures. There are lots of apps that make this easy. (Check out this one that one of our editor's children made with Elf on the Shelf!)

54. Make Seashell Crafts

Did you come home from the beach with a bucket full of seashells? But them to good use with these fun seashell crafts.

55. Paint a Terracotta Pot

Then, head to the local nursery to buy a plant to put in it. Succulents and grass seeds grow quickly!

56. Make Friendship Bracelets

You can do the Taylor Swift-style beaded ones, or you can try these recycled t-shirt friendship bracelets or easy finger crochet friendship bracelets.

57. Paint with Ice

Put some food coloring in an ice tray, add water and freeze to make super cool "crayons."

58. Get Creative with Toilet Paper Rolls

Turn those toilet paper rolls into a tiger, an octopus, a tree, and more with these 20 fun and easy toilet paper roll crafts for kids.

59. Make a Nature Collage

Collect items like rocks, twigs, flowers, etc. and use them to make a nature collage. Add paint or leave it au naturale.

60. Collaborate on a Summer-Vacation Scrapbook

Use one page for each day or week.

61. Make a Toy Slingshot

Learn how to make a slingshot, then spend some time outside testing it out!

See how long you can keep a hula-hoop going.

Summer Games for Kids

62. Hula-hoop Contest

See who can keep the hoop spinning longest and who can twirl the most hoops.

63. Magna-Tile Games

Get out those magnetic tiles and get creative! Here are 50 Magna-Tiles games and building ideas for kids.

64. Jump Rope Games

Jumping rope is lots of fun and great exercise—especially when you play these 20 jump rope workout games and songs for kids.

65. Water Games

Beat the summer heat with these 35 water games for kids to play all summer long.

66. Card Games

Pull out a deck of cards and teach your child some of these 25 card games every kid should know, including classics like Go Fish, Crazy 8s, and Rummy.

67. Balloon Games

Throw a balloon into the air and see how long you can keep it afloat without letting it touch the ground. Or, try playing balloon tennis!

68. Car Games

Going on a summer road trip? Institute a no-screens rule for part of the car ride and play games like license plate bingo and I Spy. Check out our full  list of fun car games for kids.

69. Old-School Backyard Games

Classic backyard games like Leap Frog, Red Rover, Mother May I?, and Red Light, Green Light will never get old. Here are 40 classic outdoor games for kids.

70. "What’s on My Butt?"

Need a break from all the summer fun? This twist on 20 Questions will have the kids giggling and you resting! Lie on your stomach and have the kids put an object on your butt. Ask questions to try and determine what the object is. We've got more ideas for games you can play with kids when you're tired, too.

71. Board Games

Organize a game night and play some of these 100 best family board games.

72. Pickleball

Pickleball appeals to all ages! If your local park has a pickleball court, bring the kids and get a game going. Learn all about the sport in our guide to pickleball.

73. Exercise Games

Make working out fun with these 30 exercise games to get kids moving.

74. Jigsaw Puzzles and Puzzle Games

Beat the summer slide with these brainy puzzle games and jigsaw puzzles for kids.

75. Word Puzzles

These printable word puzzles for kids are another great way to keep children learning all summer long. They're perfect to bring along to restaurants, and even to the beach, park, or pool for kids to work on while they have lunch.

76. Arm Wrestling or Thumb Wrestling

Challenge the kids to this classic game. Should you let them win? That's up to you!

77. Glow-in-the-Dark Ring Toss

Use dollar-store glow necklaces or bracelets as rings.

78. Field Day Games

Our list of 100 field day games and activities will entertain all the neighborhood kids. It includes a variety of tag games, racing games, dance games, and more.

79. Beverage Challenge

Set up chilled cups of seasonal drinks (lemonade, iced tea, etc.) and get kids to try to identify each while blindfolded.

80. Charades

See what kinds of wacky themes you can come up with, like Harry Potter, superheroes, sports, etc.

81. Baseball

Sandlot baseball is a summertime staple! Help your little slugger brush up on their skills with these Little League baseball drills you can do at home.

A lemonade stand is a great way for little entrepreneurs to earn some summer cash. Photo courtesy of Party with Unicorns

More Summer Bucket List Ideas 

82. Have a Lemonade Stand

Open a lemonade stand or come up with your own small business idea.

83. Learn Some Magic Tricks

Teach your kids some of these 20 easy magic tricks so they can impress their classmates at recess when school starts again!

84. Make Your Own Ice Cream

You don't even need a special ice cream maker! Try our recipe for Bananamon ice cream, and or learn how to make ice cream in a plastic bag!

85. Sing Loud and Proud

Belt out your favorite tunes with a karaoke machine. Don't have one? You'll find links to many popular kids' songs on YouTube in our list of the 100 best sing-along songs for kids.

86. Go all Out for Fourth of July

Make your July 4 celebration last all week with these fun Fourth of July crafts, games, desserts, and other activities.

87. Host a Summer Sleepover

Make it extra fun with these summer sleepover games and snacks.

88. Make a No-Bake Dessert

On those days when it's just too hot to turn on the oven, whip up one of these no-bake dessert recipes easy enough for kids. 

89. Have an Opposite Day

Eat breakfast for dinner, wear your clothes inside out, and engage in other silliness.

90. Give the Dog a Bath

Got a furry friend? Help them get clean and cool with a refreshing bath. In summer, you can even do It outside with a hose—just keep the pressure low!

Braiding is a fun new skill to learn this summer!

91. Learn a New Skill as a Family

Try juggling, skateboarding, French braiding, or whatever strikes your fancy.

92. Make Popsicles

These fun popsicle recipes to make with kids are the perfect cold treat on a hot summer day.

93. Tell Ghost Stories

Make up some spooky stories and share them around a campfire. Or try some classic ghost stories for kids.

94. Have Fun with Bubble Wrap

Lay down sheets of bubble wrap and have the kids get popping. Or, try some of these hilarious (and sometimes messy) bubble wrap activities and games for kids.

95. Try Some Bird Calls

See who can do the best owl screech, blue-jay squawk, chickadee tweet, etc.

96. Take Something Apart to See How It Works 

Any obsolete and/or unwanted household object, such as an old printer or clock radio, will do.

97. Make Summer Desserts and Snacks

From salad on a stick to Disney's Dole Whip, our 50 easy summer desserts and snack recipes will make for a delicious summer.

98. Visit the Library

Most libraries offer a plethora of free children's programs throughout the summer, such as storytimes, puppet shows, arts and crafts, and more. They also likely have a summer reading program to encourage your kids to read. 

99. Have a Pajama Day

One rainy days when school is out, there is absolutely no reason for kids to change out of their comfy PJs!

100. Make S'mores

S'mores are a quintessential summertime treat. Don't have a fire pit? Here's how to make a solar oven.

Unless noted, photos by Sara Marentette

Originally published in 2014