The Ultimate Summer Bucket List for Kids
When the school year wraps up, we need a summer bucket list for kids to keep boredom at bay! My boys and I compiled a list of our favorite activities, including outdoor games, educational crafts, and fun field trips. Keep reading to download a free printable of these boredom busters.
This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. For more information, please see my disclosures.
Planning a Summer Bucket List for Kids
“I’m bored!”
Ugh, what parent doesn’t cringe when hearing their kids moan about summer boredom? Don’t get me wrong, boredom isn’t always a bad thing because it forces kids to use their imaginations and explore the great outdoors.
However, having a list of summer crafts for kids can help fill up a blank summer calendar. It also empowers kids to manage their own entertainment while helping parents schedule outings and activities in advance.
This list is geared toward young children in pre-school or elementary school. You can still modify many activities to suit older teens and tweens. I hope it enables you and your families to enjoy summer break to the fullest!
For a free printable version of this summer bucket list, keep scrolling!
The following summer bucket list is grouped by outdoor activities, crafts for kids, and visits to local attractions. However, the printable bucket list follows no particular order to encourage creativity and flexibility.
Fun Outdoor Activities for Kids
Go on a nature scavenger hunt
A scavenger hunt is a great way to give kids an appreciation for local plant and animal life. You don’t have to venture far!
I have a printable nature scavenger hunt to help you on your way. This list encourages kids to observe their surroundings and spot various objects from nature rather than collect them.
Fly a kite
There’s no better activity for a windy day than flying a kite! You can even find tutorials to make a DIY paper kite so kids can test their designs. This is a great way to sneak in a little STEM activity while having fun.
Plant a flower, fruit, or vegetable
Oh, how I love being in the garden with my boys! Below I’ve listed some highly-rated gardening kits to help kids plant flowers or veggies. To learn more about planning a backyard garden, visit my post on vegetable gardening for beginners.
Shop my favorite plant kits
Press flowers
We love pressing flowers in our household, and I have a tutorial on how to press flowers to get you started. I suggest pressing flowers in a book to keep things easy for kids.
You can also make adorable pressed flower bookmarks while you’re at it. Kids will love sharing their creations with friends and family.
Go swimming
Whether you have a community pool, own a pool, or have a friend with one, swimming is a great summer activity for kids. Just remember to have adult supervision at all times!
These pool accessories are some of our favorites to make pool time even more enjoyable.
Shop my favorite pool toys
Make a bird feeder
As another nature-related activity, consider making a DIY bird feeder to invite some feathered friends to visit.
This bird feeder kit for kids is a great way to apply some crafting skills while you’re at it.
Make s’mores
Whether you go camping or not, s’mores delight kids of all ages. We love making an outdoor fire to roast our marshmallows, but this indoor s’mores kit also has rave reviews.
Blow bubbles
Sure, this is a classic pastime for kids, but you can turn regular bubbles into something fabulous with the help of the bubble machines and gizmos below!
Shop my favorite bubble toys
Play in the sprinklers
Who remembers Slip ‘n Slide? When you don’t have a pool nearby (or even if you do), frolicking through the sprinklers is something kids of all ages enjoy on a hot summer day!
You can take it to the next level with some of the products below.
Shop my favorite water games
Have a picnic
When you have nice weather in the forecast, check “picnic” off your summer bucket list. This picnic blanket is a must-have for sitting on the ground, and don’t forget this DIY bug-repellant luminary to keep the flies away.
Play with water guns
Water guns allow kids to have fun outdoors while escaping the summer heat. Encourage kids to create their own obstacles, like shooting cans off a ledge with water guns.
Indoor Kids Crafts and Activities
Make suncatchers
Making a DIY suncatcher is the perfect rainy-day activity for kids. These stained glass-inspired window clings allow kids to display their artwork around the house. Plus, these suncatchers are repositionable and reusable.
Make slime
Making homemade slime is a rite of passage for kids these days. This non-stick slime recipe comes together in minutes, and kids can add food coloring to create variations.
Check out my DIY paper flowers tutorial for another fun indoor craft with household items.
Make clay figurines
I’ve done tons of tutorials with air-dry clay, and my kids love sculpting with it. You can get a clay kit for kids or buy this air-dry clay mixture to let your child’s imagination run wild.
Try making these clay gnomes for starters, or watch my gnome video tutorial for step-by-step instructions.
Build a fort
My boys enjoy building forts year-round, not just in the summer. They typically use blankets and furniture to create their little forts, but they especially enjoy this Crazy Fort kit.
Finish a puzzle
Start a puzzle as a family and come back to it throughout the week when boredom strikes. It’s a great activity that kids can revisit throughout the day to take breaks from outdoor games or screen time.
My favorite family puzzles
Make a pinwheel
Pinwheels take only a few minutes to make, and my boys love watching them spin in the wind outdoors. See this post on how to make a pinwheel for a step-by-step tutorial.
Put on a puppet show or play for your family
Do your kids love to play with hand puppets? Why not encourage them to perform a play for friends or family? They can also create stick puppets from scratch with construction paper and wooden craft sticks.
Shop my favorite puppet theatres
Read a new book
I firmly believe kids should continue reading (or be read to) throughout the summer. You can set up a book exchange with friends, visit a library, or download e-books from your local library using the OverDrive app.
Make a cardboard robot
Everyone has cardboard hanging around, it seems. Why not put it to good use by cutting out some armholes and a neck hole to make a robot? You can also upgrade it with a toolkit like this:
Bake cookies
Baking cookies (or another treat) can teach kids important lessons about measuring and kitchen safety. Plus, kids can decorate their cookies later.
For a non-edible alternative, try making salt dough ornaments that the kids can bake and paint.
Make tie-dye shirts
Tie-dye crafts have never gone out of style. You can buy a tie-dye kit and host a group of friends to decorate tote bags, shoes, or shirts.
Have a dance party
Get kids moving with a dance party in the house! For added fun, kids might enjoy this portable karaoke machine that includes two mics.
Make popsicles from scratch
One of my fondest childhood memories is making homemade popsicles. The benefit for parents is knowing the exact ingredients included (and sneaking in some healthy fruits). You can find budget-friendly popsicle molds at a dollar store or online (see below).
Make a scrapbook
At the end of the summer, scrapbooking is a great way to practice gratitude for the fun adventures experienced.
After our summer vacation to Colorado, we bought small scrapbooks for our boys to personalize. We printed photos at a local Walgreen’s and encouraged them to fill the pages with fun memories.
Visits to Local Attractions
Go to a park
Here’s one activity you can combine with a few others on the bucket list (like having a picnic, flying a kite, or going on a scavenger hunt).
Having a change of scenery not only entertains the kids but also invites the opportunity to meet new friends in the community.
Visit a library
Libraries often have summer programs to engage kids of all ages. If you’re based in the United States, you can look up your local library in this directory of public libraries.
Go to a beach
Kids love visiting a beach where they can make sand castles and hunt for shells along the shoreline. Pack a snacklebox and lots of sunscreen to maximize your time there if you’re fortunate enough to have a beach nearby.
After visiting, kids can create a shell collection from their beach adventure or do some crafting with a coastal theme.
Visit a museum
Museums host many kid-friendly summer programs. Plus, they offer a nice respite from the heat when temperatures rise. (Trust me, no one wants to go outside in August here!)
If you’re looking for a museum in the U.S., you can visit this list of museums on Wikipedia. Some museums have attractions like movies or traveling exhibits that may influence when you want to visit.
Visit the zoo
A trip to the zoo usually makes the highlight reel of summer vacation. You can research tickets beforehand to determine if your local zoo has a season pass or family discount.
Before you plan your trip, find out if your zoo allows outside food and has parking nearby. You may also want to find out if the zoo has special exhibits or shows during the summer.
More Summer Bucket List Ideas
Do you still need more ideas to keep the kids entertained? Try searching the blog for more kid-friendly crafts, and check out more ideas below.
- Make DIY playdough
- Draw a self-portrait
- Go star gazing – download my free Space Bingo game to get inspired
- Play hopscotch with sidewalk chalk
- Mail a letter to a teacher or friend
- Watch a fireworks show or enjoy sparklers
- Watch a sunrise or sunset
Download the free printable summer bucket list
Pin it for later!
