“I’m bored!”
It’s the dreaded phrase every parent hates to hear. Vacations and summer break are supposed to be a time of relaxation and a slower pace for everyone, but try telling that to your “bored” child.
If it’s only the second day of school break and your child is already complaining (and you’re ready to rip out your hair in frustration), it’s the perfect time to check out this summer bucket list of kids’ activities to keep your kids busy and add to your Summer Routine Ideas.
- Go to a local museum
- Tour local parks to find your favorite
- Visit relatives
- Have a picnic
- Eat popsicles (bonus points if you make homemade popsicles)
- Explore a science center
- Invite a friend over
- Swim in a lake
- Make breakfast for dinner
- Sleep (or read a book) in a tent
- Roast marshmallows or make a camper pie
- Look at the constellations (try downloading an app on your phone to show you where to find each constellation)
- Catch a lightning bug
- Jump in a puddle (send the kids outside on a rainy day – just make sure there’s no lightning!)
- Have a water balloon fight (these balloons are so easy to fill)
- Read a book
- Build an indoor fort
- Blow bubbles
- Play with sidewalk chalk
- Create a rock collection
- Have a building contest with Play-Doh
- Put on a show
- Paint a picture
- Write a letter (mail it to a long-distance relative or even send it to a nursing home to cheer someone up)
- Go to a library (many libraries have summer activities, so check the website or call ahead to find out if there are any exciting activities)
- Bake a dessert
- Watch a movie (share your favorite childhood movie with your kids)
- Play putt-putt golf
- Go for a bike ride
- Swim in a pool
- Run through a sprinkler
- Study a bug
- Make a sandcastle
- Visit a farm
- Go bowling (this is a perfect rainy day activity)
- Climb a tree
- Pick a bouquet of flowers
- Make s’mores
- Watch a baseball game
- Make homemade ice cream
- Get an international cookbook and try some new foods
- Visit a state park
- Attend an outdoor concert
- Visit a local farmer’s market and challenge the whole family to try a new fruit or vegetable
- Go to a water park and go down the tallest water slide
- Have a hula hoop contest
- Visit a wildlife sanctuary
- Go on a boat ride
- Make up hip hop dances to your favorite songs
- Create a summer playlist
- Take a day trip to an amusement park
- Attend some college summer programs: Does your local community college offer fun courses for young children in the summer? This is a great opportunity for local experts to teach a cooking class or other courses during the summer season.
- Fly paper airplanes across the great outdoors
- Ride a ferris wheel
- Make a time capsule
- Try a new sport
- Go on a local wildlife tour
- Join a book club
- Attend a music festival
- Go on a scavenger hunt
- Make some new friends
- Go on a road trip with your family
- Make root beer floats
- Have an outdoor movie night
- Participate in random acts of kindness
- Go on a treasure hunt
- Have a beach day
- Visit local businesses and find a hidden treasure
- Invite your friends to share their favorite snacks
- Host a game night
- Create your own summer bucket list
This has awesome summer bucket list ideas to banish boredom and get your kids to think of creative activities. Don’t forget to print a copy and add some of your own ideas to the bottom!