Fun Things To Do With Kids This Summer
Are you looking for some fun things to do with your kids this summer? Summer is a great time of year to get outdoors and have some fun in the sun! Keep your kids busy all season long with this great summer bucket list full of fun ideas that are free or cheap and easy to do.
Download the summer checklist below with 40 different kid-friendly, screen-free activities and start checking each one off today! How many can you and your kids get done this summer?
Some of my favorite summer activities are some of the things I used to do as a kid. We went exploring in the woods, riding bikes through the neighborhood, and fishing in the bayou. It seemed like a simpler time back then, when a kid had no worries and could be so carefree. I can’t wait to share those things with my daughter when she’s old enough.
What are some of the fun things you used to do as a child? I bet you have some great memories to share with your kids. Take a little time to plan ahead and incorporate those things into your summer plans. Your children will love sharing those memories with you!
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Fun things to do with kids
You can discover all kinds of new and fun things to do with a little research. Do some planning ahead and search for what’s going on in your city this summer. There are usually lots of events that are sponsored by various organizations happening every weekend.
See if you can find any discounts or free days during the week that are offered for different events to save a little cash. Who doesn’t love saving a little extra money here and there? Check out some of my favorite ideas below.
Summer camps
Are there any summer camps being offered in your area? Depending on how old your children are, you can find overnight camps, day camps, week long camps, one day camps, and free or paid camps. Check your local YMCA or college.
There’s literally summer camps for everything: church camps, camps at museums, art, history, coding, cooking and so much more. Your kids will have a blast learning and interacting with new friends. They might even learn a new skill while there.
Vacation Bible School
Vacation Bible School is usually held for a week during the summer. This is something I always looked forward to each summer as a child. Different churches offer different Bible school programs. Not only do they have lessons they learn, but also music time, craft time, games and more!
If you don’t belong to or attend a certain church regularly, most churches are open and welcome to new visitors. Ask friends and family if they know of any VBS programs they will be taking their kids to for some suggestions.
Family concert series
Many cities have free music events throughout the summer. Check to see if your city offers a free family concert series. Near Houston, we have the Kemah Boardwalk that hosts Rock the Dock with free live music every Thursday evening.
This is a family-friendly event with tons of kids running around. Its fun entertainment for both parents and kids! Do you have something similar near you that would be fun for all ages?
Summer reading programs at the library
I don’t know about you but I LOVED reading as a child. I loved getting lost in a good book, imagining all the great stories I was reading. The summer reading program at your local library is a great way to get your kids involved in reading. The kids get prizes for reading a certain number of books.
Even if you have a baby or toddler that can’t read yet, you can still participate in the summer reading program by reading books to them. Our local library will still give age-appropriate prizes to babies and toddlers when parents read to them.
Parks and Recreation events
Check with your city’s Parks and Recreation department to see what events they are offering. They usually have some sort of summer enrichment programs for kids, as well as sport centered activities, and nature and outdoor events at city parks.
Something I see a lot around our home town is Movie Nights at the park where they show different kid-friendly movies.
Water Fun!
What is the best way to beat the summer heat? Splashing around in the water, of course! What kid doesn’t love playing in the water? Teach your child to swim or enroll them in swim lessons at the YMCA or city pool. If you don’t have access to a pool there are a ton of other options for some water fun including:
- the sprinkler
- the splash pad at the park
- slip and slide
- a kiddie pool in your backyard
- water balloons
There is so much to see and do during the summer. For even more ideas grab our list of “40 Fun Things To Do With Your Kids This Summer”. You don’t even have to go anywhere to have a good time with your kids.
There’s plenty to do right in your own home.
Download the summer bucket list below. And I hope ya’ll have a wonderful summer!