Summer Activity Ideas for Kids
Jun 12, 2025 02:28PM ● By Allison Eliason
With the first weeks of summer break now behind you, it’s highly possible that you are starting to hear, “I’m bored...” or “There’s nothing to do...” The excitement of summer has worn off some and coming up with new activities seems to get harder by the day.
Just in time to keep you from going crazy, here are 85 Summer Bucket List ideas to keep you kids busy, creative, learning and active over the summer. Do one a day, repeat your favorites or let them spark a few ideas of your own.
85 SUMMER BUCKET LIST IDEAS
1. Have a water balloon fight
2. Make tie-dye shirts
3. Start a vegetable garden
4. Make a summer scrapbook
5. Go camping in the backyard
6. Make homemade playdough or slime
7. Organize a scavenger hunt
8. Set up an outdoor kitchen and make mud pies
9. Make homemade ice cream
10. Create sidewalk chalk art
11. Make campfire s’mores
12. Have a picnic in the park
13. Create a summer music playlist
14. Go stargazing
15. Start a mini book club
16. Build a stick fort
17. Have a DIY spa day
18. Start a summer reading challenge
19. Make an outdoor river with foil
20. Learn to swim or pick up a water sport
21. Learn to roller skate or skateboard
22. Go on a nature hike
23. Start a collection (rocks, leaves, shells)
24. Organize a bike parade
25. Have a DIY pizza night
26. Learn basic survival skills
27. Learn a new sport
28. Make mason jar aquariums
29. Try bird watching
30. Make salt dough pinch pots
31. Set up a lemonade stand
32. Make suncatchers
33. Go on a leaf hunt (identify leaves)
34. Write a letter to a pen pal
35. Create a DIY solar oven
36. Have a tea party
37. Make a bird feeder
38. Write your first book
39. Go fishing
40. Make shadow puppets
41. Make DIY sponge water bombs
42. Make homemade popsicles
43. Make a homemade birdhouse
44. Host a movie night under the stars
45. Make a homemade lava lamp
46. Try bubble painting
47. Start a DIY jewelry-making project
48. Set up water games outdoor
49. Plan a themed dress-up day
50. Learn a new dance routine
51. Start a summer journal or blog
52. Have a family board game
tournament
53. Paint kindness rocks
54. Try out yoga or mindfulness
exercises
55. Try out a new hobby
56. Have a family BBQ night
57. Write and perform a play
58. Take a family bike ride
59. Learn how to do magic tricks
60. Plan a nature treasure hunt
61. Go on a cloud hunt (name clouds in the sky)
62. Create a time capsule
63. Learn to juggle
64. Learn to play a musical instrument
65. Build a model airplane or car
66. Have a DIY photoshoot
67. Visit a historic site
68. Make and fly a kite
69. Have a neighborhood clean-up day
70. Do a DIY science experiment
71. Create a family cookbook
72. Go on a photography scavenger hunt
73. Organize a neighborhood yard sale
74. Build a sandcastle
75. Create pressed flower jar lanterns
76. Set up an outdoor obstacle challenge
77. Make DIY stepping stones
78. Learn to cook a simple meal
79. Paint a summer art canvas
80. Learn about constellations
81. Catch a bugs (and release them after)
82. Learn about a different culture
83. Make a homemade pinata
84. Volunteer at a local charity
85. Paint with flowers
