Summer vacations have begun, and boredom is knocking on. To kill time, kids today are screen-oriented, scrolling mindlessly or playing games. While it does offer another way to spend the day, it does more harm than good. So, as parents, you seek solutions that keep your kids engaged, active, and happy throughout the summer.

Now, there’s no denying the fact that summer vacations are the best time to relax and get creative simultaneously. More than this, it’s also a perfect season to bond as a family. So, how can you, as a parent, achieve this?

Below are 10 exciting, easy, and engaging summer activities that you can arrange for your children. These activities contribute to a healthy time-spending of the kids and improve the family bond.  

10 Fun Summer Activities for Kids

Seeking ways to foster learning with fun in your little ones this summer? Have a look at the following fun summer activities for kids:

1. Backyard Adventure Days

Bored of sitting indoors? Experience the thrill of exploration right on your lawn. No need to head out to the woods or countryside for adventure when your backyard can serve the purpose well.

Backyard Obstacle Course

Best for ages: 5–12

You’ll need: Buckets, garden chairs, jump ropes, and hula hoops.

Skills learned: Coordination, balance, and physical fitness.

To do:

• Use a stopwatch to time them for added excitement!
• Set up a playful course using buckets and ropes
• Kids hop, crawl, and balance through challenges
• Time their performance and reward the winners

Mini Camping Night

Best for ages: 6–12

You’ll need: Tent/blanket fort, flashlight, snacks.

Skills learned: Outdoor skills, storytelling.

To do:

• Download a star-gazing app to identify constellations!
• Set up a tent or blanket fort
• Make “campfire” stories with flashlights
• Enjoy s’mores with mini bonfires.

2. Crafty, Creative Days

Because imagination deserves the spotlight, too!

Give the kids a chance to express themselves and their creativity through these self-awareness activities for kids.

Sidewalk Art Gallery

Best for ages: 5–10

You’ll need: Sidewalk chalk, water, and theme ideas.

Skills learned: Creativity, imagination, observation, and self-expression through art.

To do:

• Take photos and turn the art into a printed “summer gallery book”!
• Set a creative theme (e.g., ocean or dream park).
• Talk about their ideas and inspirations. 

Cardboard City Building

Best for ages: 6–12

You’ll need: Cardboard boxes, tape, and markers.

Skills learned: Planning, design thinking, teamwork, and building.

To do:  

• Let them work in teams to build different parts of the city. 
• Build cardboard castles or entire towns. 
• Decorate small windows, flags, and doors. 
• Encourage storytelling around what they built. 

3. No-Pool Water Games 

There’s no summer without some splash-filled water fun. 

Kids love water, but a pool is not there in every child’s home. However, you can still give your child a splash of water fun. Here’s how!

Sponge Bomb Tag

Best for ages: 4–10

You’ll need: Colorful sponges, a bucket of water.

Skills learned: Agility, quick reflexes, teamwork.

To do:  

• Soak sponges and throw them gently like water balloons. 
• Whoever gets hit becomes “it”. 
• Get involved! Join the game for more fun. 

DIY Water Balloon Piñata

Best for ages: 5–12

You’ll need: Water balloons, string, small bat

Skills learned: Hand-eye coordination, motor skills

To do:  

• Hang balloons on a rope and bar over the grass to avoid slips 
• Blindfold the kids and hand them a soft bat 
• Let them swing until water explodes 
• Great way to cool down on a hot day 

4. Mini Builders and Makers 

Bring out the inner engineer in your child with hands-on building activities blending fun with learning.

DIY Bird Feeders

Best for ages: 6–10

You’ll need: Toilet rolls, peanut butter, and bird seed.

Skills learned: Nature awareness, crafting, and patience.

To do:  

• Keep a bird journal to track visitors. 
• Make feeders using recycled materials. 
• Hang them near windows or trees. 
• Observe bird activities during the week. 

Lego Engineering Challenges

Best for ages: 5–12

You’ll need: Lego bricks, timers, and themed cards.

Skills learned: Engineering, problem solving, creativity.

To do:  

• Host a mini “Lego Olympics” with medals. 
• Challenge kids to build tall towers or boats. 
• Use timers for added pressure. 
• Stretch the fun across multiple days for greater excitement. 

5. Outdoor Explorers Club 

Transform children’s curiosity into discovery! 

Make your lawns and backyards the ultimate playgrounds and bring your little ones close to nature.

Bug Hunt Bingo

Best for ages: 4–10

You’ll need: Bingo cards with bug images, and a magnifying glass.

Skills learned: Observation, nature awareness.

To do:  

• Include a “rare bug” bonus square! 
• Send kids on a garden bug hunt 
• Match findings with images on the card 
• First to complete a row wins! 

Nature Scavenger Hunt

Best for ages: 6–12

You’ll need: Scavenger list (feather, pinecone, yellow flower, etc.)

Skills learned: Focus, exploration, and environmental learning.

To do:

• Make teams build collaboration. 
• Let kids search around the yard or park. 
• Check each item they find. 
• Celebrate with a nature explorer badge. 

6. Food Fun 

What activity could be more fun than ones that involve both eating and learning?

Ice Cream in a Bag

Best for ages: 6–12

You’ll need: Ziplock bags, milk, sugar, vanilla, ice, and salt.

Skills learned: Science basics, patience, reward processing.

To do:  

• Have a topping station with sprinkles and fruits 
• Shake ingredients in the zip lock bag until creamy ice cream forms 
• Freeze it and have a delicious homemade treat in 10 minutes 

Fruit Face Challenge

Best for ages: 5–10

You’ll need: Sliced fruits, plates, a camera or a phone.

Skills learned: Creativity, nutrition awareness, motor skills

To do:  

• Share pictures on a family chat or social page 
• Create funny faces using fruit slices 
• Take pictures of finished art 
• Enjoy a healthy snack afterwards 

7. Story Time Adventures 

Let books become portals to new worlds. 

Keep books a part of the kids’ learning during summer by turning stories into active play.

Book & Craft Pairing

Best for ages: 4–8

You’ll need: Children’s books, craft materials (pompoms, glue, pipe cleaners)

Skills learned: Reading comprehension, art skills.

To do:  

• Read aloud from a favorite story 
• Craft something inspired by the tale 
• Use matching story snacks for added fun 
• Helps reinforce storytelling in fun ways 

DIY Puppet Show

Best for ages: 5–10

You’ll need: Paper, sticks, markers, stage area.

Skills learned: Performance, storytelling, creativity.

To do:  

• Record and replay the show for laughs! 
• Create character puppets from a story. 
• Let kids act out scenes and dialogs 
• Invite family to a backyard premiere. 

8. Mini Olympic at Home 

Turn playtime into a celebration of movement. 

Set friendly challenges and competitions to create mini-Olympics for kids in the backyard.

Races & Hula Hooping

Best for ages: 5–12

You’ll need: Sacks, spoons, hula hoops, medals

Skills learned: Physical fitness, sportsmanship

To do:  

• Play Olympic music for an authentic vibe 
• Host classic sack and spoon races 
• Add fun with hula hoop contests 
• Award pretend medals to every participant 

Freeze Dance with a Twist

Best for ages: 4–9

You’ll need: Music player, open space

Skills learned: Rhythm, self-control, humor

To do:  

• Pick animal-themed poses for extra laughs 
• Kids dance till the music stops 
• Freeze in a silly animal pose 
• Great fun and laughter all around 

9. Kindness Challenges 

Teach kids the joy of giving back in fun ways.

Kindness Coupon Books

Best for ages: 5–10

You’ll need: Paper, scissors, and markers.

Skills learned: Empathy, generosity, creativity.

To do:  

• Let kids trade coupons with friends or siblings 
• Write kindness acts like “1 big hug” or “help with chores” 
• Create booklets to give to others. 
• Spread joy and helpful habits. 

Paint Kindness Rock

Best for ages: 6–12

You’ll need: Smooth stones, paint, paintbrushes

Skills learned: Art, mindfulness, and community service.

To do:  

• Paint rocks with cheerful messages 
• Leave the rocks near parks or sidewalks 
• Place them where others will find them. 

10. Evening Thrill 

You can now also make summer evenings fun-packed for your kids. Try out these engaging activities!

Driveway Movie Night

Best for ages: 5–12

You’ll need: a White sheet, a projector, and popcorn.

Skills learned: Social bonding, movie appreciation.

To do:  

• Let kids vote on the movie choice 
• Set up a screen under the stars 
• Serve snacks like at a real cinema 
• Enjoy a magical movie experience 

Glow Stick Hide & Seek

Best for ages: 5–10

You’ll need: Glow sticks, a timer, safe play area.

Skills learned: Observation, night awareness, and agility. 

To do:  

• Give bonus points for rare glow stick colors 
• Hide glow sticks as the sun goes down 
• Let kids search in the dark 
• Time the game for an extra challenge 

Try a New Sport: Padel for Kids 

Fun, fast-paced, and perfect for summer play.

Introduce your child to new activities and games this summer. Padel is one such exciting game that’ll bring a smile to the kids’ faces throughout the year. This fun-filled game is mostly a doubles team game and is played on an enclosed court.

This game beautifully blends sports and engagement. It not only enhances sportsmanship but also develops teamwork and coordination and physical skills, such as communication, collaboration, and body coordination.

Even better? Padel is a social game, so your child can meet new friends while developing a lifelong skill. Whether it’s a weekend match or a summer camp program, padel is a unique, energy-burning activity that keeps kids engaged. Many clubs and cafes are now arranging padel club for kids, where you can get your child enrolled and enjoy the thrill of padel with active learning.

Final Thoughts: Make Summer Memorable 

You don’t need to overly plan for summer to make it exciting. Simple activities can well serve the purpose. Just arrange one or two interesting activities for kids and see how it helps with their mental and physical growth. 

This article lists several interesting summer activities for kids that you can arrange this season. The activities are good enough to keep your kids smiling and engaged in physical activity. Among others, you can even enroll them in padel clubs and introduce them to sports in a fun way.