·
ride bikes
·
roller blade
·
basketball
·
play board
games
·
make a tent
out of blankets
·
squirt with
hoses
·
run through
the sprinkler
·
jump rope
·
read books
·
blow bubbles
·
make
homemade play dough
·
play with
play dough
·
press
flowers
·
do crafts
with pressed flowers
·
write a
letter to a relative, friend or pen pal
·
make a craft
·
draw
·
color
·
paint
·
watch a
movie
·
write
stories
·
use
binoculars
·
use
magnifying glass
·
use
microscope
·
bird
watching
·
write a play
·
act out a
play
·
invent
circus acts
·
perform a
circus
·
play card
games
·
make art on
the front walkway with sidewalk chalk
·
play catch
·
play
baseball
·
collect
rocks
·
collect
leaves
·
collect
feathers
·
play Frisbee
·
make
Frisbee's out of old plastic lids, decorate with markers
·
write
letters
·
read a
magazine
·
play
dress-up
·
play Cowboys
·
pick
vegetables
·
play outside
with the pet
·
build a fort
in your rooms
·
build a fort
in the backyard
·
do a jigsaw
puzzle
·
play on the
Geosafari
·
play on the
computer
·
listen to a
story or book on tape
·
do extra
schoolwork to get ahead
·
do brain
teasers (crosswords, word searches, hidden pictures, mazes, etc.)
·
cook
·
prepare
lunch
·
surprise a
neighbor with a good deed
·
play store
·
prepare a
"restaurant" lunch with menus
·
hold a tea
party
·
have a Teddy
bear picnic
·
play with
toy cars
·
play dolls
·
play house
·
chase
butterflies
·
collect
caterpillars and bugs
·
plant a
garden or a pot
·
collect
seeds
·
hunt for
four-leaf clovers
·
learn magic
tricks
·
put on a
magic show
·
plant a
container garden
·
sprout seeds
or beans
·
make sock
puppets
·
put on a
puppet show
·
make
Christmas presents
·
make homemade
wrapping paper
·
make
homemade gift cards
·
make picture
frames from twigs glued onto sturdy cardboard
·
crochet or
knit
·
make doll
clothes
·
sew buttons
in designs on old shirts
·
run relay
races
·
make
bookmarks
·
feed the
birds or squirrels
·
watch the
clouds
·
write these
ideas on pieces of paper and pick out one or two to do
·
whittle
·
whittle bars
of soap
·
practice
musical instruments
·
perform a
family concert
·
teach
yourself to play musical instrument (recorder, harmonica, guitar)
·
play in the
sandbox
·
build a
sandcastle
·
work with
clay
·
copy your
favorite book illustration
·
design your
own game
·
build with
blocks or Legos
·
plan a
neighborhood or family Olympics
·
have a
marble tournament
·
paint a
picture with lemon juice on white paper and hang it in a sunny window and see
what happens in a few days
·
finger paint
with pudding
·
make dessert
·
make dinner
·
give your
pet a party
·
paint the
sidewalk with water
·
start a
journal of summer fun
·
start a
nature diary
·
have a
read-a-thon with a friend or sibling
·
have a
neighborhood bike wash
·
play flashlight
tag
·
play Kick
the Can
·
check out a
science book and try some experiments
·
make up a
story
·
arrange
photo albums
·
find bugs
and start a collection
·
do some
stargazing
·
decorate
bikes or wagons and have a neighborhood parade
·
catch
butterflies and then let them go
·
play
hide-and-seek
·
create a
symphony with bottles and pans and rubber bands
·
listen to
the birds sing
·
try to
imitate birdcalls
·
read a story
to a younger child
·
find shapes
in the clouds
·
string dry
noodles or O-shaped cereals into a necklace
·
glue noodles
into a design on paper
·
play
hopscotch
·
play jacks
·
make up a
song
·
make a
teepee out of blankets
·
write in
your journal
·
find an ant
colony and spill some food and watch what happens
·
play
charades
·
make up a
story by drawing pictures
·
draw a
cartoon strip
·
make a map
of your bedroom, house or neighborhood
·
call a
friend
·
cut pictures
from old magazines and write a story
·
make a
collage using pictures cut from old magazines
·
do a secret
service for a neighbor
·
plan a
treasure hunt
·
make a
treasure map
·
make up a
"Bored List" of things to do
·
plan a
special activity for your family
·
search your
house for items made in other countries and then learn about those countries
·
plan an imaginary
trip to the moon
·
plan an
imaginary trip around the world, where would you want to go
·
write a
science-fiction story
·
find a new
pen pal
·
make up a
play using old clothes as costumes
·
make up a
game for practicing math facts
·
have a
Spelling Bee
·
make up a
game for practicing spelling
·
surprise an
elderly neighbor or relative by weeding his/her garden
·
fingerpaint
with shaving cream
·
collect
sticks and mud and build a bird's nest
·
write
newspaper articles for a pretend newspaper
·
put together
a family newsletter
·
write
reviews of movies or plays or TV shows or concerts you see during the summer
·
bake a cake
·
bake a batch
of cookies
·
decorate a
shoe box to hold your summer treasures
·
make a
hideout or clubhouse
·
make paper
airplanes
·
have paper
airplane races
·
learn
origami
·
make an
obstacle course in your backyard
·
make
friendship bracelets for your friends
·
make a wind
chime out of things headed for the garbage
·
paint your
face
·
braid hair
·
play tag
·
make a
sundial
·
make food
sculptures and then eat it
·
make a
terrarium
·
take a nap
outside on your lawn
·
memorize a
poem
·
recite a
memorized poem for your family
·
Learn about
the trees and flowers in your yard or neighborhood.
·
Plan a
picnic or barbecue.
·
Go bird
watching. Learn names of local birds.
·
Walk the
dog. Wash the dog.
·
Plant a
garden. Work in your garden.
·
Take a
nature hike.
·
Feed fish or
birds.
·
Watch the
night sky through binoculars. How many starts or planets can you name?
·
Learn how to
use a compass.
·
Take
photographs and then make a scrap book.
·
Do yardwork.
Rake leaves. Pull weeds.
·
Go camping.
Put up the tent in your back yard.
·
Take an
early morning walk.
·
Climb a
tree.
·
Watch a
sunset; watch the sunrise with a friend
·
Turn your backyard into obstacle course! Bikes,
balls and backyard toys are all you need for some sporting good fun. Ring Toss,
Jump Rope, Ladder Golf & Dart Toss.
·
Cool off with a hot fudge sundae, coke float,
homemade ice cream or snow cones.
·
Make Yarn bugswww.makingfriends.com
·
Catch an insect or two in a clear jar so they
can take a closer look?
·
Visit a new park every week
·
Hamburger buns aren't the only burger bookends.
Think English muffins or bagels. How about a tortilla pizza or pizza English
muffin?
·
Show your talents! A kids’ talent show is fun
for actors and audience: let them create their own tickets &invite family
and neighbors. Pick a backyard, pop some popcorn, and on with the show!
·
·
Snip off the ends of licorice sticks and serve
with drinks instead of straws. A sweet treat and nothing to throw away.
·
Start a summer book club—for kids, adults, or
both! How about a book swap
·
Take the scenic route! Some of the most
memorable road trips happen on the back roads.
·
Kids are born with green thumbs! A little help
from a handy tomato and herbs planter and watch their spirits – and your garden
– grow.
·
That’s entertainment! Let the kids write,
direct, act, and make their own movies with the family video camera. If you
don’t have a camera, live performances are applause-worthy too.
·
Did you know: While we’re enjoying summer in
North America, in Australia, it’s winter? Have a snowball fight with paper
snowballs or round white bean bags, make an igloo out of sugar cubes and icing,
·
snow angels in the sand or how about ginger
bread houses.
·
Make cardboard box cars & have a foot race.
·
With a refrigerator box make a house or pirate
boat
·
Paint with soapy water (large paint brushes
are best)
·
Play wacky croquet
·
Perform a Circus or Talent Show in your
back yard with a concession stand & face painting
·
Decorate a pair of flip flops to match your
personality (fishing worms, jewels, bugs, yarn)
·
Movie and popcorn party
·
Kids are natural entrepreneurs! Whether
it’s a lemonade stand, dog walking or organizing a neighborhood car wash, a
summer activity teaches responsibility, teamwork and the satisfaction of a job
well done.
·
Chalk on Sidewalk (washes off with a water
hose)
·
Pom Pom Chip Clipwww.freekidscrafts.com-All
Themes
·
Have a rubber band war, build forts on
opposite sides of the room and shoot rubber bands at each other
·
Have an indoor picnic. Spread out a blanket
in the den and serve everyone’s favorite foods. Fun, and no bugs!
·
Have a magic show – June 12th
Magic Day
·
Run through a sprinkler or make a Deluxe
Kid Wash -www.familyfun.go.com
·
Make sun printswww.freekidscrafts.com-All
Themes
·
Putt Putt Golf (make your own course, use
ping pong balls and brooms or sticks)
·
Puppet Show with paper bag puppets
·
Nature scavenger hunt: Make a list of a dozen
items from the great outdoors, like acorns, specific flowers or tree leaves.
Send the kids in small groups on a scavenger hunt to collect one of each item
on the list. Make nature placemats or pinecone bird feeders
·
Good weather is good for your health! Put
on a pair of rollerblades, pull out the workout tapes, or strap on some
sneakers and go for a nice leisurely roll in the cool morning.
·
Play candy bar Bingo
·
National Bowling Day - August 26th
·
Board Games (with a tarp make a life size
game board and you are the game piece)
·
The big, soft plastic inflatable orb we
know today as the beach ball was invented in California in 1938.Where would
Beach Blanket Bingo be without them!
·
Make some bean bags
·
Play flash light tag at night (hide &
seek)
·
Play dough and cookie cutters
·
Finger Paint with pudding
·
Go to the beach or play in the sand box
·
Make clay sculptures
·
Walk on stilts Day – July 27th -www.kaboose.com–
can stilts
·
Go fishing June 18th – Go
fishing Day
·
Cookin ‘n’ campin: hot dogs over a campfire
/ smores / jiffy pop…yum
·
Festivals- http://festivalsandevents.com/festival.php?state=TX
·
Fruit juice pops make popular moms! Pour
100% fruit juice into paper cups & put in the freezer. When juice is slushy,
set a wooden stick in the center of each cup & freeze until hard. Peel off
outer cup to eat
·
Water gun wars
·
Ever raced a rubber duck? Using only your
noses, have everyone push a rubber duck from one end of the pool to the other.
·
Celebrate July 2nd , the middle
of the year
·
Play beauty parlor or safari
·
July 14th – Tape Measures
Birthday – Measure something
·
Where’s the flip flop? Give every player
one flip flop sandal, and then have them search the back yard (where the other
is cleverly hidden) for its match.
·
Block party! Go potluck and share the
cooking duties, bring along a karaoke machine, some blankets and comfy lawn
chairs and it’s an inexpensive evening you won’t soon forget.
·
Make your own bubbles: mix 1/2 cup liquid
dish soap with 1-1/2 cups water, and 2 teaspoons of sugar and let the bubbling
begin!
·
Need a break from the sun? Have a
cookie-baking contest. Munch on the winners
·
If you’ve seen “wash me” one too many times
on the family car, grab a bucket, some soap, rags and a hose and the family Car
Wash is open for business! Wear bathing suits, and everyone can stay cool while
working hard.
·
Make your own water slide with a tarp and a
running garden hose.
·
Remember cat's cradle. Jacob's ladder and
kitty whiskers? String games are good old-fashioned road trip fun.
·
Clean up! Take a walk through your
neighborhood, town or park and collect empty bottles and cans. Recycle them or
return to the store for a refund. Great exercise, good for the environment, and
you get a little pocket money to share.
·
Let’s rock: kids love rocks, so let them
collect rocks of all shapes and sizes and arrange into a garden. For a splash
of color, they can be painted, too.
·
Inside-out camping: Cover the kitchen table
with a bed sheet and camp out underneath. Sing campfire songs, make s’mores in
the microwave and tell ghost stories!
·
Puzzled about what to do on a rainy summer
day? Make a puzzle! Cut a picture into fun shapes and then put it back
together.
·
Have a parade for July 4th –
decorate bicycles
·
Make bean mosaics or paint noodles for a
necklace
·
Have you lost your Marbles?www.oldfashionedliving.com-
Treehouse
·
Peaches are the No. 2 fruit grown in the
United States, second only to apples, bake something with peaches
·
Make a straw sculpture with straws and
paper clips or Make & Play Pick-Up-Sticks -www.oldfashionedliving.com-
Treehouse
·
Make car fun kitswww.familyfun.go.com
·
This land is your land: roadside classics,
like the World's Largest Ball of Twine, the 18-foot tall Paul Bunyan statue and
the National Pinball Museum are just some of the many wonderful sights to see
in the good ol’ U.S. of A.
·
Sew with yarn, back a coloring page with
cardboard, punch holes & sew. Or go to www.makingfriends.com for more yarn
crafts.
·
Color with your kids (crayons, markers,
water colors, colored pencils)
·
Trade tablecloths for butcher paper and
outdoor dining cleanup’s a cinch. Add a few crayons, and watch your guests
“decorate” it for the occasion!
·
Go
on a photo scavenger hunt
·
Make
homemade finger paints
·
Make
a masterpiece with sidewalk chalk
·
Go
on a bike ride
·
Create
puppets and put on a show
·
Build
a fort
·
Write
and illustrate your own story
·
Make
your own movie
·
Make
a crayon/watercolor painting
·
Write
some thank you notes
·
Create
artwork using your hand/footprints
·
Hopscotch
·
Make
a collage of your favorite things
·
Make
an ABC book
·
Go
on a color hunt
·
Make
masks from paper plates
·
Make
homemade bubbles
·
Make
HUGE bubbles
·
Paint
cement with water
·
Jump
on tramp
·
Water
games in the backyard
·
Squirt
bottle tag
·
Learn
some origami
·
Have
a pretend “drive-in” theater
·
Create
puzzles from drawings/photos
·
Make
pinwheels
·
Play
a board game
·
Have
an impromptu photoshoot w/ props
·
Draw
while blindfolded
·
Make
slime
·
Freeze
things in ice and “dig” them out
·
Dress
ups
·
Make
bath paints w/ shaving cream and food coloring
·
Play
charades
·
Research
a topic on the internet (w/mom or dad)
·
Have
a race in the backyard
·
Straw
and cotton ball race on the kitchen table
·
Do a
pretend cooking show
·
Make
finger puppets
·
Interview
family members
·
Make
a family tree
·
Write
in your journal
·
Do
something nice for someone else
·
Take
care of our garden
·
Work
on a Faith in God requirement
·
Memorize
a scripture
·
Memorize
a poem
·
Do a
science experiment
·
Diet
Coke and Mentos experiment
·
Make
sparkler shapes (with camera and tripod)
·
Make
up a secret code and write notes
·
Write
messages with invisible ink
·
Have a Tailgate party in your driveway: set
up a “create your own” hot dog station.
·
Make a windsock
·
Make napkin rings
·
Card Games…..Go Fish / Old Maid
·
Hey kids - take a hike! Hiking with
children can be a great way to enjoy time together--and get some good old-fashioned
exercise. Since it can be strenuous, especially for little ones, start easy
with a 15-minute nature “stroll” and work up to 30 minutes or an hour.
·
Everyone needs a Pebble Pet! Decorate small
rounded stones with colorful magic markers, and use white school glue to create
shapes. Watch ladybugs, frogs and other critters come to life.
·
Have a Full Moon party…with Moon Pies,
Milky Way Shake, Full Moon Pizza
·
Karaoke sing along - ?www.oldfashionedliving.com–
Treehouse – make instruments
·
Delicious without doing the dishes: Hollow
out fresh lemons or oranges (cut 1/4 off the top, trim base if necessary to
create a flat bottom), freeze. When frozen, fill with your favorite ice cream,
sorbet or sliced fruit. Fun, nothing to wash, and makes great compost when
you’re through.
·
Fun at the beach: Beaches around the world
are made up of more than just sand. Look under the microscope and you’ll find
everything from tiny bits of shells, to lava, coral.
·
Make the kids a grocery list with pictures
and let them do the shopping
·
Stargazing after dark with a flashlight and
on astronomy guide is free, fun and educational. See if you can find all the
constellations.
·
There’s nothing like kicking back on a boat
to help you relax – all you need is some open water, some sunscreen, refreshment
or two, and let the unwinding begin.
·
Go fly a kite – June 15th –
National Kite Flying Day
·
Water balloon toss
·
A host of compost: Paper napkins, grass
clippings, egg shells, soap scraps, used tea bags and grounds, houseplant trimmings
and animal fur all make great composting material!
·
The License Plate Game is a perennial
favorite: each player writes down different state license plates spotted on the
trip. Bonus points for Canada and Mexico.
·
Decorate magnets
·
Write a book and illustrate it
·
Nature walks are not only good exercise,
they’re also learning opportunities. Bring along a bird-watching book and bug-catcher
for hands-on discovery.
·
Try a Hawaiian luau, a Western hoedown with
ribs and country music, a “backyard” black-tie affair, a dessert swap or night
under the stars with big band-era music.
·
Hold a cookie swap (stamp, coloring book,
recipe, cookie cutter, candy or goodie bags)
·
Make a summer scrapbook. Each take a disposable
camera to use over the vacation. Before back-to-school, create a family
scrapbook together of all the things you did and fun you had.
·
Check out Lowes free clinic www.lowesbuildandgrow.com
·
Visit www.theknackkids.com for free family
events at Michael’s Art & Craft Store
·
Make sea shell critterswww.kaboose.com
·
Listen or, better yet, dance to the radio.
·
Write an article or story.
·
Paint a picture, a mural, an accent wall or a
room.
·
Write to the President with some ideas you have
for making life better in the US.
·
Read a book.
·
Read to someone else like a little brother or
sister.
·
Learn to change the oil or a tire on your car.
Fix something. Wash your car.
·
Write a letter to a friend or a relative. Write
a letter to a soldier in the hospital.
·
Wash your car.
·
Read magazines or newspapers. Swap them with
friends. Look for healthy activities to do.
·
Go through your closets and donate items to
Goodwill
·
Start a diary/journal.
·
Play cards or board games.
·
Make crafts to give as gifts. Try a new craft.
·
Do a crossword puzzle.
·
Learn about a different culture or country.
·
Make an international dinner. Go to the grocery
store and buy what you need.
·
Teach your kids some of your favorite childhood
games.
·
Study sign-language.
·
Write a letter to your favorite author.
·
Cook dinner with friends and family.
·
Make cards for holidays or birthdays.
·
Play chess, bridge, or checkers.
·
Play charades.
·
Repair or refinish a piece of furniture.
·
Make a wooden flowerbox.
·
Wake up early and go for a walk. Take the dog
with you!
·
Read a favorite poem.
·
Go roller
skating or ice skating.
·
Go swimming
·
Go for a
bicycle ride.
·
Play
frisbee.
·
Go dancing.
Take a dance class.
·
Make paper
bag costumes and have a parade.
·
Design a
poster with top 10 no-screen activities.
·
Discover
your community center or local park activities.
·
Blow bubbles.
·
Color the black
and white funny papers.
·
Build a fort
in the living room and camp out one night.
·
Research
your family history and draw a family tree.
·
Invent a new
game and teach it to your friends.
·
Make a
‘No-TV’ sign to put in front of the TV screen.
·
Play
hopscotch, hide & seek, red rover, or freeze-tag.
·
Organize a
neighborhood scavenger hunt.
·
Play board
games.
·
Clean-up or
re-decorate your room.
·
Make puppets
out of old socks and have a puppet show.
·
Write a play
with friends. Perform it at a nursing home.
·
Build a
kite. See if it will fly.
·
Go on a
family trip to see grandparents or historical site.
·
Create a
collage out of pictures from old magazines.
·
Shoot hoops
with friends.
·
Make a
friendship bracelet.
·
Draw pictures
of members of your family.
·
Tell stories
around a campfire.
·
Plan a slumber
party.
·
Create a
low-calorie dish from an old recipe.
·
Make a
miniature boat and float it on water.
·
Write a
letter to your grandparents. Make them a special card.
·
Create
sidewalk art with chalk.
·
Everyone!!
Have a huge party to celebrate no TV!
·
Try out for
a play. Go to a play.
·
Collect
recycling and drop it off at a recycling center.
·
Learn to
play a musical instrument.
·
Go to a
museum.
·
backyard
fire pit
·
host a
sleepover
·
go to splashpad
·
build a fort
·
read a 100
page book
·
make
homemade pizza
·
cold stone
ice cream
·
visit the
zoo
·
do a paint
project
·
do service
for someone
·
visit
grandma,
·
go camping
·
fly a kite
·
go to a
movie
·
walk a dog
·
write a
story
·
have a
picnic
·
have a
pajama day
·
tie-dye a
shirt, go to the park,
·
mail a
letter,
·
make a
magazine collage
·
go to a city
pool,
·
make
homemade lemonade,
·
play a board
game,
·
take someone
dinner,
·
paint with
pudding
·
invite
someone to church,
·
have lunch
at work with dad,
·
make cookies
·
sidewalk
chalk
·
stay up til
midnight,
·
go fishing,
·
register for
school
·
get a
haircut, clean your room,
·
buy school
clothes,
·
buy school
supplies
·
read at
least 10 books
·
hand write
at least 4 letters
·
see at least
one movie a month at the drive-in
·
go fishing
·
go on a
picnic
·
cook hot
dogs and smores with friends in our fire pit
·
grow a
veggie garden
·
family game
night at least once a month
·
Christmas in
July with handmade gifts only
·
movie
marathons:
·
slumber
party with my girls and the wizard of Oz
·
have a
picnic and feed the ducks
·
Go to a
concert
·
Fly a kite
·
Build a
sandcastle at the beach
·
Have a
backyard BBQ
·
Paint my
toenails like the American Flag
·
Paint my
toenails like watermelons
·
Catch
fireflies
·
Independence
Day and enjoy activities and fireworks
·
Get family
photos taken
·
Finally buy
a straw hat and wear it to protect my face from sun exposure
·
cook hot
dogs on a stick in our backyard fire pit
·
roast
marshmallows and make smores in the backyard fire pit
·
read at
least two classic stories
·
go to the
Natural Science Museum
·
Go to the
History Museum
·
Pick fresh
strawberries and blueberries
·
Visit the
farmers market
·
Celebrate
kids birthday
·
Make
homemade ice cream
·
fold laundry
·
weep kitchen
or bathroom floors
·
weep front
walkway
·
sweep or
spray back patio
·
sweep or
spray driveway
·
wash car
·
vacuum car
·
vacuum or
dust window blinds
·
lean
bathroom mirrors
·
clean
sliding glass doors
·
clean inside
of car windows
·
wash
bicycles
·
clean garage
·
organize a
dresser drawer
·
clean under
the bed
·
empty
dishwasher
·
vacuum under
the couch cushions and keep any change found
·
take a quiet
rest time
·
take a
shower or bath
·
bathe a pet
·
dust the
house
·
brush the
pet
·
pull weeds
·
clean
bedroom
·
vacuum
living room
clean bathroom
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