Once summer break hits my families favorite thing to do is write our summer bucket list! I love getting a big piece of paper out and writing down all the different things my kid wants to do for the summer.
We always add our favorite summer activities like water balloon fights and making homemade popsicles and then I try to get him to add new things we haven’t done before like painting pottery or trying a new hobby.
It’s so much fun to wake up in the morning and look at our list for ideas on how we should spend the day and in a way it makes the summer really magical because my son gets to choose so much of what we do (which can be very different than the busy school year).
Plus having a bucket list helps with summer boredom because there is a huge list of ideas to choose from! Check out this ultimate summer bucket list below that is full of fun ideas for kids of all ages.
Let your kids create their own summer bucket list by writing down ideas they like and enjoy your summer!
Summer Bucket List Ideas For Kids
1. Have A Photoshoot With Friends
I can’t think of a more fun way to spend time with friends in the summer then a photoshoot! I still have photos from when I was little and my friends and I did this and the memories still make me smile! Photoshoots are silly, full of laughs and just so much fun!
Options for cameras- phone, tablet, instant cameras like a Polaroid or go old school (for a little extra cost) and get your kiddo a disposable camera so they can experience a photoshoot like it’s the 90s! Looking for a fun craft to go along with the photoshoot?
After the photos are developed your kiddo can make a friends collage for their room!
2. Go To A Drive-In Movie
Looking for a fun summer activity for the whole family? Drive-in movies are just this! There is something special about getting cozy in your car while watching a movie on a huge screen outside!
Search drive-in movie’s to find one near you! If you don’t have one close by, bring the drive in movie to your backyard! Set up a big white sheet, get a projector and have your very own movie night in your backyard.
We bought a projector a few years ago and we do outdoor movies all summer long!
3. Camp In The Backyard
Experience the great outdoors in your own backyard this summer with a camp out! The best part of camping in your own backyard is that everything you might need/forget or want is right inside.
Set up a tent, bring yummy food and tell ghost stories around a fire during your backyard camp out.
4. Go Blueberry/Strawberry Picking
My family eat a LOT of berries during the summer months and berry picking is one of our all time favorite things to do!
There is nothing like picking a ton of berries and then getting to come home and feast! It’s also a really great way to give your kiddo more understanding of where their food comes from and let them be part of collecting it.
To find a local place to pick, just search berry picking and get ready for some delicious berries!
5. Create An Epic Obstacle Course
Looking for fun outdoor adventures? Create your very own obstacle course!
I love creating things that will last all summer long. My son loves pretending he is a ninja and an obstacle course helps make all of his dreams come true! Set up your very own obstacle course and let the fun begin!
6. Plant A Garden
Planting a garden is such a great activity to do with your own kiddo and there is nothing like having fresh produce all summer long!
This is one of our favorite summer activities and I love taking my son to our local nursery to pick out our veggies for the year.
The best part about including your kiddo in gardening is that they can help water and learn to take care of plants and then watch them grow into yummy veggies!
7. Go To A Local Baseball Game
Get your family singing “Take Me Out To The Ball Game” this summer with a family visit to a local baseball game!
There is nothing more classic than going to a baseball game in the summer and enjoying the crowd, the game and most of all the yummy food!
8. Learn A New Skill
Summer break is the perfect time to learn a new skill! This summer my son is working on learning to tie his shoes (which any parent knows is a huge skill to learn!)
Get your kiddo excited about learning a new skill and find a few minutes each day to work on it. Looking for some ideas? Think of something you do each day for your kiddo that they may be able to do on their own.
9. Stargaze
Stargazing is such a fun summer activity and almost magical. There is nothing like being a kid, staying up late and looking up into the huge sky and seeing a sea of stars! The first time we let my son stay up to stargaze he was truly in awe.
He couldn’t believe the sky looked like that at night and talked about it constantly! You might get lucky and your kiddo might get to even see a shooting star!
10. Fly A Kite
Looking for a fun activity on a windy day? Get out a kite and let your kid have some fun!
11. Take A Class As A Family
I love learning new things as a family and taking a class together is a great way to make family memories!
There are so many classes out there- cooking, crafts, dancing etc. Find one that fits your family and go have some fun trying something new!
12. Go Hiking
Hiking is such a great activity and the perfect one to do in the morning before it gets hot for the day!
Check out all the different hikes around you and see how many new ones you can do this summer! You might even do a short road trip to a local state park to find some new hikes.
13. Have A Slumber Party In The Living Room
The idea of piling the whole family into the living room for a sleepover is truly a kids idea of magic. There is something fun about breaking the norm and having a slumber party in the living room is doing just that!
Set up a place to sleep (bonus if you have an air mattress) watch a movie, grab some popcorn and create some special memories with your kids!
14. Plan A Family Olympics
This is the perfect activity for the entire family! You can bring the olympics to your backyard and let your whole family join!
There are a ton of ideas online about different events you can include but think kid friendly like pool noodle javelin or high jump over a broom stick!
15. Bake A New Recipe
This is a great way to get your kiddo interested in baking/cooking and have them help out in the kitchen!
Letting your child pick out the recipe makes it more personal and it gives them a chance to try new foods that they are interested in.
16. Discover A New Hobby
Summer vacation is a great time for you and your kids to find a new hobby! Maybe it’s a craft or pickle ball or doing puzzles together!
There are so many hobbies out there to learn and trying out new ones is the best way to find the perfect one for you and your kids!
17. Read A Certain Amount Of Books
Reading during the summer is so much fun and so important for your kid. There are a ton of places that do fun reading challenges for kids in the summer and many of them let kids get a book at the end of it.
Check out Barnes and Noble or your local library for summer reading challenges!
18. Go To A Fancy Restaurant
Let your kid experience a fancy restaurant this summer! Have your kiddo get dressed up all fancy and take them out to a nice restaurant!
This would be so much fun to do with older kids and I bet they will feel pretty fancy!
19. Have A Mommy/Daddy And Me Day
There is nothing like some one on one quality time with your kiddo and a mommy/daddy and me day is the perfect way to do this!
Choose an activity you know your kid will love and have some fun quality time!
20. Go Fishing
Take your kid fishing this summer and let them enjoy the peace that comes with sitting on the water waiting for a fish!
21. Make Homemade Ice Cream
Looking for some summer fun? Make your own homemade ice cream! There are a ton of recipes online so you and your kid can find the perfect flavor!
22. Visit The Library
Visit your local library and bring home new books to read. Check out your local library event schedule as they often have fun free events for kids all summer long!
23. Watch The Sunrise/Sunset
I have watched many sunsets in my life but I have to admit I have never seen a sunrise! What a fun thing to do with kids (who always get up early anyways!)
Get up super early and let your kid experience a sunrise (bonus if you can get somewhere high to see the full view!)
24. Play In The Rain
If you happen to get a rainy day this summer, let your kid play in the rain!
25. Tie Dye Something
Tie dye is seriously so fun and a really easy craft that results in you and your kid getting to wear awesome tie dye clothes!
My son and I do this every summer and love wearing our shirts together all summer long! There are a ton of kits at craft stores and even stores like Target that make this creative project so easy!
26. Make Unpoppable Bubbles
Blow your kids mind with unpoppable bubbles! These are truly magical and super easy to make!
Check out a recipe online and make your very own unpoppable bubbles!
27. Volunteer At An Animal Shelter
Does your kid love animals? Volunteering at a local animal shelter is a great way to get some volunteer experience and spend time with some sweet animals!
28. Make Popsicles
Homemade popsicles are the best and so fun to make! We literally have some freezing in our freezer now!
The best part of homemade popsicles in letting your kid decide the flavor or throwing whatever fruit you have left from the week into the blender. They are super easy to make and your kid can enjoy them all summer long!
29. Set Goals
Summer break is long and setting goals can really help keep some normalcy during a somewhat unscheduled time.
30. Have A Water Balloon Fight
There is no better way to spend a hot summer day than a good old fashion water balloon fight! Check out these fun water balloon fight ideas!
31. Make Slushies
Anything cold and frozen is a must on a hot summer day!
32. Visit A Farmer’s Market
Check out your local farmer’s market to find new foods, yummy produce and cool crafts! There is no better way to support your local community and have fun!
33. Be A Tourist In Your Own Town
Take a day trip through your own town and do all the touristy things that you have never done!
34. Learn A Magic Trick
Let your kids dazzle their friends by learning a magic trick! Check out YouTube for super easy kid magic tricks.
35. Put On A Show
Let your kid put on their very own fashion show! This is a great summer activity and will keep your kids occupied for hours!
36. Have A Lemonade Stand
Looking for a classic summer activity? Putting on a lemonade stand is still one of the most classic things kids can do in the summer and so much fun!
My niece recently did one and she had so much fun chatting with her neighbors while also making some summer spending money.
37. Catch Fireflies
If you are lucky enough to live in a place with fireflies, you and your kiddo can catch them and enjoy their magic!
38. Complete Acts Of Kindness
Remind your kiddo the importance of kindness this summer with acts of kindness. They will for sure put a smile on someone’s face and might even make new friends!
39. Write And Illustrate A Book
Writing and illustrating a book is such a fun activity and a great way to get your kids’ imagination going. The best part is having them read their finished book to the family when they are done.
40. Have A Backyard Picnic
Having a backyard picnic is not only a fun way to eat lunch or dinner for your kid, but it’s also a huge bonus for you because you don’t have to clean up a table!
We do a backyard picnic almost every night in the summer and it makes for a nice long dinner that usually results in us enjoying our food and our kid running around the backyard, stealing bites of food in-between playing.
41. Build A Fort
A perfect summer activity is building a fort! Let your kid pile couch cushions, blankets and chairs to create the perfect fort!
42. Have Family Game Night
Game nights are the perfect way to get in some family time!
43. Make A Treasure Hunt For A Sibling
Help your kiddo create their own scavenger hunt for their sibling. This will keep them busy for a while and makes for a super fun activity!
44. Go For A Bike Ride
Bike rides during the summer months are my favorite and a great activity to get you and your kids out of the house! Explore different areas on your bike or let your kid take the lead and follow them.
45. Play Flashlight Tag At Night
This might be my favorite activity of all time because it’s not just fun for kids, but adults too! Get your flashlights out and have an epic game of flashlight tag!
46. Visit A New Park
Visiting any park is still a huge highlight for my kid and I think this still holds true for older kids. We visit our local park at least 4 nights a week because my son constantly begs us to go there.
There is something magical about exploring a new playground and trying out all the different features! Check out your cities recreation webpage for parks near you and see how many new ones you can try this summer! You might even have a park bucket list!
Would you like the printables?
Printable Summer Bucket List Ideas And Checklist
