Summer is a time for kids to explore, create, and enjoy the great outdoors. Easy summer activities for kids will make this season memorable and fun. Below are some engaging activities that will keep your children entertained and active.

1. Make a Homemade Kite

Materials Needed:

• Sturdy paper or plastic bag
• Wooden dowels or bamboo sticks
• String
• Tape or glue
• Markers or paints for decoration

Instructions: Making a homemade kite is a wonderful way for kids to blend creativity with practical skills. Start by designing your kite on sturdy paper or a plastic bag. Use markers or paints to decorate it with fun patterns and colors. Attach two wooden dowels in a cross shape using string, and secure them to the kite with tape or glue. Finally, attach a long piece of string to fly your kite and head out on a breezy day to see it dance in the sky.

2. Create an Obstacle Course

Transform your backyard into a thrilling obstacle course that will challenge kids’ agility and stamina. Use household items like hula hoops, cones, jump ropes, and planks. Set up stations where kids can hop, crawl, and balance. Get creative with activities like jumping from one hoop to another, crawling under a line of chairs, or balancing on a plank. Time each child as they race through the course and encourage friendly competition by rewarding the fastest time.

3. Build a Backyard Fort

Outdoor forts provide kids with a secret haven for imaginative play. Use blankets, tarps, and pillows to construct a cozy hideaway in your backyard. Securely drape blankets over low-hanging branches or use lightweight furniture to form the structure. Encourage kids to decorate their fort with fairy lights, flags, or signs. This fort will become their personal retreat where they can read, play games, or simply relax with friends.

4. Plant a Vegetable Garden

Gardening is a fantastic way to teach children about nature and responsibility while reaping the rewards of their hard work. Choose easy-to-grow vegetables like tomatoes, carrots, or cucumbers. Assign each child their own section of the garden or involve them in every step of the process. Watching their plants grow and eventually harvesting the produce will give them a sense of accomplishment and encourage healthy eating habits.

5. Organize a Nature Scavenger Hunt

Turn an ordinary walk in the park or a visit to the local nature reserve into a thrilling adventure with a scavenger hunt. Create a list of items for your kids to find, such as a smooth rock, a pinecone, or a feather. Include some fun tasks like finding a leaf with a certain shape or spotting a specific bird. This activity encourages kids to explore and learn about their natural surroundings while having loads of fun.

6. Host a Water Balloon Day

Beat the summer heat with a refreshing water balloon day. Fill up biodegradable water balloons and organize a series of games such as tag or a good old-fashioned water balloon toss. Kids will have a blast chasing each other around the yard and staying cool at the same time. Just be sure everyone ends the day with a smile and perhaps a towel!

7. Create DIY Bird Feeders

Encourage children to connect with nature by creating their own bird feeders. Use pine cones, peanut butter, and birdseed to craft simple feeders that can be hung in trees. Kids will enjoy watching as birds visit their feeders, learning to identify different species and understanding the importance of caring for wildlife.  By following these steps, you can create a simple yet effective bird feeder that will attract a variety of birds to your outdoor space. Enjoy the beauty and music of nature right in your backyard!

1. Gather Materials: You will need a clean, empty plastic bottle or a small milk carton, some string or wire, birdseed, scissors, and a small stick or dowel.
2. Prepare the Container: Clean your chosen container thoroughly, then dry it completely. This will serve as the main body of your bird feeder.
3. Make Holes: Carefully cut some small holes near the bottom of the container. These should be just large enough for birdseed to come through but small enough to prevent the seed from spilling out too quickly.
4. Add Perches: Below the seed holes, make two small holes opposite each other on either side of the container. Insert a small stick or dowel through these holes to act as a perch for visiting birds.
5. Attach a Hanger: Near the top of the container, make two more small holes on opposite sides. Thread a piece of string or wire through these holes and tie it securely, creating a loop for hanging.
6. Fill with Birdseed: Pour birdseed into the container, filling it just to the bottom holes.
7. Hang Your Feeder: Choose an appropriate spot in your garden or backyard where birds like to visit, ideally in a quiet location away from too much foot traffic. Hang your bird feeder on a branch or hook.

8. Camp Out in the Backyard

Bring the excitement of camping to your own backyard. Pitch a tent, roll out sleeping bags, and enjoy an evening under the stars. Kids can toast marshmallows, tell stories, and discover the wonders of the night sky. A backyard campout offers the fun of camping with the comfort of home nearby.

9. Hold a Backyard Olympics

Organize a mini-Olympics in your backyard with a series of fun, kid-friendly events. Activities could include a sack race, tug-of-war, and a long-jump competition. Encourage kids to create medals and celebrate each participant. It’s a great way to encourage physical exercise while fostering teamwork and sportsmanship.

10. Paint Rocks

Get creative with a rock painting project. Collect smooth stones and provide children with paints or markers to create their own colorful designs. Finished rocks can be scattered around the garden as cheerful decorations or given as gifts to friends and family.

1. Select Your Rocks: Choose smooth, flat rocks as they provide the best surface for painting. River rocks are often ideal.
2. Clean the Rocks: Wash the rocks thoroughly with soap and water to remove dirt and debris. Allow them to dry completely before beginning your painting.
3. Gather Supplies: You’ll need acrylic paints, paintbrushes in various sizes, a palette or paper plate for mixing colors, a cup of water, and paper towels.
4. Prime the Surface: If desired, you can apply a coat of white acrylic paint to the rock’s surface as a primer. This helps your colors appear more vibrant and helps the paint adhere better.
5. Plan Your Design: Decide on a design or pattern. You might sketch it lightly with a pencil on the rock before painting. Popular designs include animals, flowers, inspirational words, or abstract patterns.
6. Start Painting: Use different brushes for various areas of your design, starting with the larger sections and working toward the details. Let each layer of paint dry before adding more detail to avoid smudging.
7. Add Details: Once the base colors are dry, use smaller brushes or even fine-tipped paint markers for detailed work.
8. Seal the Paint: After your paint has fully dried, apply a clear acrylic sealer to protect your design and ensure it withstands the elements if placed outdoors.
9. Display Your Art: Place your painted rocks in your garden, along a walkway, or in a decorative dish inside your home.

Essential Activity

These easy summer activities offer endless opportunities for creativity, learning, and play.  Be sure to provide your children with items from your home that they can problem solve and create with.  From crafting a kite that takes to the skies, mastering an obstacle course, finding solitude in a backyard fort, nurturing plants in a garden, seeking treasures in nature, splashing with water balloons, connecting with wildlife, enjoying backyard camping, competing in fun games, to painting rocks, your children will treasure these hands-on experiences. Enjoy this summer filled with adventure and discovery, creating lasting memories right in your own backyard!