84 Kids Activities for Summer Fun Every Day

Let the kids entertain themselves all summer long with this printable list of 84 kids’ activities that are simple, classic fun.

Disclosure: This blog contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, Keri Houchin earns a commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.

Summertime is all about relaxing, having fun. Kids are free from the school routine and able to explore the world and try new things. Except, about three days into the vacation, when they inexplicably decide they’re bored. Here are 84 kids’ activities for summer that are sure to be a hit.

I think most adults have a certain amount of nostalgia for their own childhood, especially summer vacation. And we all want to give our kids that “perfect summer” from the ’70s or ’80s.

The thing is, we remember the good parts and forget about the bad ones. Lots of things change.

That doesn’t mean you can’t give your kids the perfect summer the way you remember. What made it perfect wasn’t the time or the place or whatever. What made it perfect was the break from school, the time with friends and siblings, and the freedom to do what you liked and have fun.

Give your kids the perfect summer by letting them be free to entertain themselves. And when they say they’re bored, tell them to just go play.

Kids activities for summer

A little inspiration goes a long way. Print off this list of 84 kids’ activities for summer and hang it up on the refrigerator or bulletin board. When your kids are asking for something to do, tell them to check the list.

Summer is about 12 weeks long, which is 84 days. You probably have a few days planned, so this list should get them all the way through summer – maybe with a few things not done.

I tried to make it cover all kinds of categories – art, sports, play, indoors, outdoors, etc. – and some things will require a little more effort than others. All of them should be pretty inexpensive. Many of them are things that kids in a wide age range can do almost all by themselves. A few are family activities.

Summer activity ideas

Find a printable version at the end of this post!

1. jump rope

2. read a book

3. throw a ball

4. draw a picture

5. make popsicles

6. write a letter

7. visit a park

8. solve a puzzle

9. go to a $1 movie

10. play charades

11. watch a movie

12. have a picnic

13. paint rocks

14. blow bubbles

15. play a board game

16. make a friendship bracelet

17. look at the stars

18. fold a paper airplane

19. go on a scavenger hunt

20. play I Spy

21. fly a kite

22. make s’mores

23. go for a walk

24. play tag

25. build an obstacle course

26. start a journal

27. watch the clouds

28. dance to music

29. take a nap

30. build a pillow fort

31. make homemade playdough

32. draw with sidewalk chalk

33. sail a paper boat

34. plant flowers

35. write a story

36. do a science experiment

37. create a fairy garden

38. camp in the backyard

39. go swimming

40. ride a bike/scooter

41. wash the car

42. play hide and seek

43. watch the birds

44. do leaf rubbings

45. hula hoop

46. go on a bug hunt

47. play tic-tac-toe

48. read a story to someone else

49. feed the birds

50. make homemade slime

51. put on a play

52. take photos/selfies

53. learn to sew

54. take the bottle flip challenge

55. throw a frisbee

56. build with LEGO

57. learn something new

58. play duck duck goose

59. color with crayons

60. have a water balloon fight

61. learn a magic trick

62. make homemade ice cream

63. have a puppet show

64. tye-dye shirts

65. make shrinky-dinks

66. run through the sprinkler

67. draw a map

68. clean your room

69. bake cookies

70. play on a playground

71. make bookmarks

72. go geocaching

73. listen to music

74. help with chores

75. have a pajama day

76. go fishing

77. make lemonade

78. build a block tower

79. practice cartwheels

80. play a card game

81. do a craft

82. visit a museum

83. climb a tree

84. create a secret code

Get the printable

Download a printable version of this list to hang up on the refrigerator or by the calendar. This includes both a color and a black and white version that prints on 8.5×11-inch paper. All printables are for personal use only.