Summer Activities for Kids of All Ages

Wondering what are the best summer activities to entertain and engage your kids over the school break? Here are 10 suggestions for great ways to enjoy summer as a family…

 

 

Kids love summer – and for good reason! It’s a break from the normal routine of school and early wake-ups. The days seem endless and filled with promise. Or filled with nothing at all, which many kids are happy with, too.

But somewhere around week 2 or 3 of summer break, kids start to get antsy and bored. All the freedom that they loved suddenly leaves them aimless. What to do?

Having experienced this over the course of many summers, we have come up with a game plan. Each year, we have a list of frugal-ish summer activities that we use to fill our days and make our break special. Great summer activities don’t just entertain, they also educate or inspire kids. Some will last well beyond the season, if we’re lucky. Others will be just the thing for that week and be nothing but a good memory in the future.

I’ve put together a list of 10 great ways to entertain and engage kids throughout the school break. Some of these summer activities will be perfect for your kids, but others may just be an inspiration point to help guide you to your family’s ideal brand of fun. I hope this list brings lots of ideas that will make this summer extra special for you and your children.

 

 

Summer Activities for Kids of All Ages

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Pool time

I’m not a big pool person, but I was as a kid. There is something about all the games, splashing, and cool fun on a hot day that make pool time absolutely irresistible to kids as a summer activity. If you don’t have a pool in your backyard (as we don’t), look into a community pool or YMCA nearby that can be easily and cheaply accessed. We spend multiple evenings a week at the pool because it’s free fun that ends our days on a high note. (And it wears the kids out so they sleep really well!)

 

Board games

Board games have been around a long time for good reason. They’re fun, varied, and able to entertain multiple ages at a time. We love classics like Monopoly, Life, Ticket to Ride, and Clue. These can while away the long, hot afternoons and enliven a night at home. Look for good quality games that kids engage with. Card games are also a great summer activity. Skip gimmick board games that require complicated rules, are too simplistic to be enjoyed long, or only hold their interest for a day or so. Games that stand the test of time are your best bets.

 

Reading challenges

We started doing these a few years ago and they have been very popular with my kids. Basically, I use a poster board to create a path that is divided into 30 minute increments, with the end being when the kids have read 2,000 or 6,000 words (or whatever amount you like). There are small rewards along the way, such as when all the kids pass one point and get ice cream sundaes. There are big rewards for 1st place, 2nd, etc., such as going to a favorite store with $20 or having a new experience like ice skating.

The beauty of reading challenges is that you can customize them to your kids and their reading levels and interests. Rewards can be as big or small as you like. And they keep kids reading throughout the summer. You can even include mini challenges (like “Read a historical fiction book set during the Civil War”) to keep their book choices varied.

 

Family movie night

I’m not much for screens, but I make exceptions for family movie night. During the school year, we often have extracurriculars that take up our evenings. But in the summer, we can enjoy many nights as a family watching great films. Pop some popcorn, make a unique beverage to really make the event special, and curl up with classic movies for older kids and family-friendly cartoons for younger ones. We love watching Frozen, Rookie of the Year, Hotel Transylvania, and many others. I like to throw in movies I loved as a kid, and even some black and white classics when I can, to share my childhood with my children

For movie reviews to help decide what’s appropriate for your kids, check out commonsensemedia.org.

 

Season passes to a water park

If you want to really wow your kids, then a season pass to a water park is the way to go. Hear me out on this expense. At our local Cowabunga Bay, general admission is $49.99, but a season pass is $99.99. As long as you go at least twice, then you’ve gotten your money’s worth. And this is a great summer activity if you live close to the water park. I find that with season passes, you’re more likely to go often and for just a few hours rather than making a long day of it. This is perfect for days when the kids need something different and maybe a little special. If you can weather the expense, this activity is a great one for the dog days of summer.

Sports events

Keep an eye out for low-cost sports events in your area. We have a minor league baseball team that offers general admission tickets to the grassy area in the outfield for $10. We’ve also been offered free tickets to our local pro soccer team and women’s basketball team games. There are also exhibition games that go on, amateur sports, and more that can be lots of fun for the family. Check online for season ticket holders looking to unload tickets on the cheap the night of a game for a steal.

 

Tours

Tours are a wonderful summer activity that is both fun and educational. Are there businesses or arenas that offer tours in your area? Universities for your older kids to experience? We took our kids to Ethel M‘s to watch how they make and package chocolates, followed by samples and a walk through their cactus garden. Museums and art galleries also offer tours, both with a tour guide or self-guided with an audio device. The Bellagio hotel by us has a Gallery of Fine Arts that rotates its offerings multiple times a year and offers a discount for locals. See what’s available in your area.

 

Museum passes or memberships

From art museums to science and tech museums, to children’s museums, this is a great summer activity. Passes usually save you lots of money (if you go multiple times) and make it easier to come back repeatedly so the kids aren’t overloaded with just one long visit. Our local children’s museum is always a hit and they can come back again and again without getting bored. Growing up in New York, I have visited the MET multiple times and have never seen everything. Passes or memberships allow you to take your time and really enjoy the experience. (Tip: Before heading to a history museum, read From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler to the kids.)

 

Entrepreneurship

Summer is a season when there is a lot of free time. And this makes it the perfect opportunity to let your kids’ creativity flow. Maybe they want mow lawns to make some extra money because they’re saving for a car. Or maybe they have always made adorable macrame decor and would love to sell their work on Etsy. Maybe they want to start a YouTube station showcasing their baking. Or perhaps they want to have a good old lemonade stand. Whatever sparks a fire in them, you can help them get started this summer.

Guide, but don’t control, how they go about it, using good business practices and safe behaviors. This, above all the other summer activities mentioned, has the power to have a long-reaching impact on your children’s lives. So let them spread their wings and let imagination and motivation push them forward in this endeavor.

 

I hope this list has given you some useful ideas for summer activities that will keep your children inspired, engaged, and entertained all season long.

 

What summer activities do your kids love? Share your ideas with us in the comments or on social!

 

Looking for more on summer family fun? Check out these posts:

Books to Read with Your Kids over Summer Break

Great Ways to Keep Kids Content during Summer

Summer Reading List for Elementary School Kids

15 Frugal Family Recipes for Summer

 

 

[Disclaimer: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a commission, at no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own and I never recommend anything I haven’t used myself and loved.]