School’s out! With summer in full swing and the kids being home, the number one comment parents hear is, “I’m bored!” Even with camps and summer babysitters, there will still be those moments. Here are 20 summer activity ideas to help beat the boredom and keep kids busy for at least 20 minutes.
Get Outside
I’m no stranger to using electronic devices as a digital babysitter, but getting kids outside is great for them mentally and physically. Choose activities that require focus and fun to get kids motivated and off the couch.
- Beat the heat at the beach or pool with fun challenges. Ask them to create 3 mini sandcastles in architectural styles based on different sea creatures.
Dive for or collect pool toys in a race against the clock. Consider a giant pool shoot-ball game to get the competitive spirit going.
If your town has water sprinklers in the park, play a few rounds of Fill The Cup. If you’re in New York City, ask your local firehouse for a permit to install a spray cap for a hydrant sprinkler party.
- Play outdoor explorer by collecting specimens and observing little creatures—on land or in water—to encourage their curiosity about nature.
- Encourage kids to create an obstacle course challenge using chalk on the sidewalk or driveway. No sidewalk or driveway? No problem. Modify the challenge by having them draw on paper, and then tape them down. They can draw a lily pad hop, log balance beam, and backward trail. Beware of the whirlpool—don’t get sucked in! For a next-level challenge, add a timer and beat your best time.
- Learn to navigate the great outdoors with a compass or play I Spy with a set of binoculars. Incorporate a simple bingo chart with types of flora and fauna for them to find, to gamify their exploratory experience.
- Stargaze and discover the wonders of the night sky with a telescope. Follow a star map to identify different celestial bodies.
Slow Down
Incorporating activities with a more leisurely pace provides a calm space for mindfulness, focus, and much-needed quiet time for kids and parents.
- Photography is a wonderfully engaging activity for kids of all ages. It’s a skill many children already have based on their digital device experiences—taking photos of people and items that interest them. An incredible form of self-expression puts a camera and challenge in their hands and looks at what they capture.
For the littles, an instant film camera like the Fujifilm Instax Square SQ1 is easy to grip and operate. Showcase their photos on a dedicated wall or the fridge to display their view of the world.
For the tweens, consider a durable and robust digital camera like the Kodak PIXPRO WPZ2. With easy Wi-Fi connectivity, it’s effortless to share to their smart device. Shockproof and waterproof, this camera is built for adventures in the water or on land and can withstand even the most slapdash kids.
For the teens, look for a versatile, mirrorless camera with stabilization technology and a flip screen like the Nikon Z 30. It is a compact, lightweight camera, that is great for vlogging, streaming, and taking beautiful photos.
Need something more reasonably priced? Check out used gear. Cameras traded in by other photographers are a sustainable and affordable way for young photographers to figure out what they like.
- Legos and building blocks are beloved, classic quiet activities for a reason. Generations of kids have built their dream houses, mazes, obstacle courses, and favorite animals—manifesting their incredible imaginations. For kids looking for a challenge create a monochromatic piece or an upside-down cityscape.
- X marks the spot, or in some cases “beep”! Hide some toys or sealed treats in the house or yard, provide a map with clues to solve, and set the young treasure hunters free. For kids who enjoy finding buried treasure, place a few pennies in the yard and give them a metal detector to roam around.
- An engaging activity that requires a lot of patience and focus is creating stop-motion videos. It utilizes numerous creative skills such as planning, set design, storytelling, photography, and editing. My young son uses a great app called Stop Motion Studio. He took over 400 photos, and over 5 hours to create a 1-and-a-half-minute car racing stop motion video. He was incredibly proud of himself and excited to show me. I was so proud of him!
- Some kids love reading and can spend the entire day doing it. Others need some encouragement and motivation. For any kid, explore public library summer activities, start a book club, or swap with their friends. Lastly, find a cozy spot and dive in!
Let Their Inner Artist Shine
Encourage kids to explore their creativity with different art and craft mediums. Tactile activities engage their senses and are fun!
- An easily modifiable activity for all ages, jewelry making is leisurely and can be done solo or in groups of kids. With a variety of styles to choose from—pasta pieces, loom bands, or beads to name a few—they can customize and make jewelry to wear or for a fun summer memento.
- A not-so-ordinary, affordable, and personalized craft activity is the paper doll! With countless pre-made or self-made options available, kids are only bound by their imagination. Want to be a race car driver in the morning, but a superhero in the evening? No worries! Outfit change, please!
Not sure where to start? Feel free to download a basic paper doll template I created with my son. Here are other options.
- For many of us, food is a love language and expresses our artistry. Ask your kids to be restauranteurs! Design a menu, create sample dishes using toy foods, Play-Doh, or drawings, and set up the restaurant. Use a portable, Bluetooth speaker like a Sonos Roam 2 to play music of their selection for the ultimate experience. Be sure to make a reservation and show up on time to the grand opening.
- Be an urban planner. On a roll of paper, ask your child to plan and design a community for their favorite stuffie. Draw out the buildings in the town, decide where the roads lead to, and include what’s happening in the city. Level-up challenge: add a hard-to-find drawing of themselves in the community for you to find later.
- Kids play and learn from games all the time. It’s time to flip the script and have them create one. Game design includes creating new worlds and rules, storytelling, and problem-solving. Start with a basic checkered path on paper and add the outcome of players that land on each square. They can design other elements on the game board to customize it. When it’s ready to play, add dice to roll their turn. Good luck!
Hanging with the Crew
Kids cultivate their friendships, even if some only last for the summer. These activities are great for bonding.
- Build your own mini pizza party! To start, set up your pizza dough, sauce, and ingredients, then let the kids go to town designing their pizzas.
- Enjoy the ultimate competition of fort building. Give each child or team a set number of pillows, sheets, location, and a time limit to build their domain.
- Kids love new toys, even if they aren’t absolutely new. A toy swap with friends is a fun way for kids to pick out a game they don’t already have while replacing the game they were bored with.
- Create a puppet theater using toys or draw up characters and glue them to a popsicle stick. Pretend play and acting out encourage speaking skills and role play. Get ready to hear giggles and laughter.
- Relive the best summer photos with a photo book. Have them choose their favorites, then use the editor to make your book in minutes. Printique is an Adorama company specializing in high-quality printing and preserving photographs.
At the End of the Day
As a working Mom, I am always looking for ways to keep my son engaged, expressing himself creatively, and electronic devices in moderation. The best part of all these activities is the ease of adding yourself to them for quality time together. Otherwise, take your 20-minute summer break, too.
