Ideas for Summer Fun at Home

Summer at home with kids can be a challenge. Sure, you can send them to camps, but sometimes those are expensive, and you can’t rely on having a weekly camp for your child over the summer. Although it can be challenging, having summer fun at home is just as magical as a camp or a big vacation. With proper planning, creativity, and caffeine (for you…not your kid!), you can have a great fun summer at home. Below is a list of fun summer activities for kids that include both free and paid ideas so that you can make this summer fun and enjoyable for the whole family.

1. Take a field trip. Plan at least one day a week to go out and do something, think like a field trip. Here are some easy field trip ideas to look into:

• Library outing
• Farmer’s Market
• Kid-friendly museum
• Go to the pool
• Pick berries (strawberries and blueberries specifically, as these are most commonly available during the summer)
• Go for a hike

2. Movie and snack bar day. Yes, you should be cognizant of screen time for kids, but this is a great activity for a rainy day, which will undoubtedly happen at least once during the summer. And you need to prepare some fun summer activities for kids that can be done indoors, too. You can put the snacks on a counter or table, or you could bring them into the living room and set everything up picnic style on the floor for the movie.

3. Water play day. Water makes everything better in the summer. If you don’t have a pool or aren’t near a local one, you can create a water day right at home. You could even create a “car wash” for bikes and scooters! Water play is an easy win and perfect for cooling down during those hotter days. Here are some easy, fun summer activities for kids:

• Sprinklers or splash pads
• Water balloons
• Buckets and cups for pouring fun
• A water table (or just use a large plastic bin)
• Sponge toss game

4. Arts & crafts afternoon. Have a craft explosion day where you break out all the supplies and let your child’s imagination run wild. Add a little structure or mix it up weekly by creating a theme or challenge (like “create something with only three colors” or “make a jungle animal”). Here are some ideas (and links) to get you started:

• Paint-your-own rocks
• Make paper plate animals
• Create puppets with brown paper bags or socks
• DIY bird feeders or fairy houses

5. Backyard camping night. Set up a tent, make a fire, roast some s’mores. Older kids, especially, will love this one as it’s special and fun. It’s a chance to slow down and make a memory, and no travel is required. Don’t forget flashlights for shadow puppet shows or a round of flashlight tag before bed. Bring out cozy blankets, read bedtime stories by lantern light, or listen to nature sounds together. Alternatively, you could do this inside if you don’t have a big yard or if it ends up raining. Indoor campouts are still fun, plus you can watch a movie!

Allison Green
Boston Tutoring Services