Summer activity books are the perfect boredom buster for kids! Add these books to your home library so you always have tons of fun ideas at any time.
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One of the easiest ways to plan summer activities is with books. I like to schedule a theme for each day of the week and set one day aside for a fun activity at home. That could be a hands-on science experiment, a classic kid game, or just about anything that involves doing (instead of watching tv).
Here is a round-up of my family’s favorite summer activity books for things to do with kids. The activities often use materials that you can find around the house. Some of them are messy, but most require little prep and can be tailored to fit your child’s interests.
You might be able to find these at your local library, but I’ve included links to shops so you can purchase them. We’ve borrowed a few, but we own the ones we love best because I can add sticky notes with ideas and things we’ve tried!
Activity books for kids
While I hesitate to put an age on any book, these will probably appeal most to kids in the 5 to 12 range.
1. Fed Up with Frenzy
by Susan Sachs Lipman
The idea behind this book is that we are all quite busy, but we need to slow down and connect with our families. The introduction talks about the slow parenting movement, as it’s called.
The rest of the book includes activities to do as a family, divided into categories. There are hundreds of things to do: games, crafts, recipes, gardening, outdoor fun, holiday activities, and travel games.
Find Fed Up with Frenzy on: Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble
2. Dad’s Book of Awesome Science Experiments
by Mike Adamick
This book makes science fun and includes 30 hands-on experiments. Some are messy, others simple. Each activity includes a kid-friendly explanation of why it works. I wrote about this book in another post if you want to read more or see a video of one of the projects.
Find Dad’s Book of Awesome Science Experiments on: Amazon.com | Bookshop.org | Barnes & Noble
3. The Kids Summer Games Book: Official Book of Games to Play
by Jane Drake
I borrowed this book from our library last summer. It has 150 or so games, organized by categories like games to make and indoor games. There is a whole section for setting up your own summer Olympics activities. This book has a little bit of everything but is best for elementary ages.
Find The Kids Summer Games Book on: Amazon.com
4. The Summer Bucket List for Kids
by Michelle Snow
This book includes activities for kids to do with adult supervision. Although most of them are simple, many require cutting, water, or other things you probably don’t want your younger kid to do unsupervised.
There are a lot of unique ideas in this one that you won’t find elsewhere – like how to hypnotize a chicken!
Find The Summer Bucket List for Kids on: Amazon.com | Bookshop.org
5. The Family Manager’s Guide To Summer Survival: Make the Most of Summer Vacation with Fun Family Activities, Games, and More!
by Kathy Peel
This is another book I first borrowed from the library a few years ago. It has a unique perspective, in that it has ideas for how to manage your summer routine, not just things to do. There are tips for setting summer rules, helping kids earn money, and of course, lots of craft projects too.
Find The Family Manager’s Guide to Summer Survival on: Amazon.com
6. 101 Kids Activities That Are the Bestest, Funnest Ever!: The Entertainment Solution for Parents, Relatives & Babysitters!
by Holly Homer and Rachel Miller
This is one of our favorite kids’ activity books, and it was written by a pair of bloggers I adore. As the title says, it is packed with over 100 things to do. They include games, crafts, experiments, and playtime ideas for all ages, similar to what you would find on their website, Kids Activities Blog.
Find 101 Kids Activities That Are the Bestest, Funnest Ever! on: Amazon.com | Bookshop.org | Barnes & Noble
7. Tinkerlab: A Hands-On Guide for Little Inventors
by Rachelle Doorley
I received an advance reader copy of Tinkerlab and found it charming and fun. It’s filled with arts and crafts for younger kids that might fit under the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, math) umbrella. Build simple machines, make art, and find inspiration for your next activity too. Projects are often open-ended and ecourage kids to think creatively. Like the activities on the author’s blog, most of these use everyday items and can fill a half hour or an afternoon.
Find Tinkerlab on: Amazon.com | Bookshop.org | Barnes & Noble
What’s next? Try these other fun and creative ideas on One Mama’s Daily Drama:
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