The summer spent at home can be full of magic but there is one thing that it often carries with it - "I am bored." When schools are out and days feel long, we tend to look to the help of technology to keep kids busy. Yet, we know that the best summer memories will come from hands-on activities that will allow your kids to build, play, cook, paint, move, explore, and use their imagination!
It’s fortunate that the best summer activities for kids at home are far from boring and are quite affordable, so get those supplies ready!
What can I do this summer without my kids glued to their screens? Here are 30 screen-free summer activities that are easy, fun and sure to bring lots of giggles while making lots of memories. Let's get going! 30 Screen-Free Summer Activities for Kids
1.Bake a Summer Treat - Baking is one of the best summer activities for screen-free kids because the process is rewarding and the result is so good.
Let the kids whip up some cookies, cupcakes, muffins, brownies, cake pops, or a yummy baking kit from HomeBaker which includes pre-measured ingredients and simple steps!
2. Set up a Backyard Picnic - Put out a blanket, pack sandwiches, juice boxes, water, cookies, maybe fruit and let kids eat lunch in the backyard.
For added fun, grab some paper plates, napkins, and play some summer tunes!
3. Make Homemade Popsicles - You can mix fruit, yogurt, lemonade, or juice and freeze them in popsicle molds!
4.Create a Sidewalk Chalk City Give the kids sidewalk chalk and let them have fun with the sidewalks, roads, houses, parks, stores, and playgrounds that they can draw.
5. Water Balloon Toss - Is there anything more classic for summer then a water balloon toss? Have kids pair up and have fun tossing them back and forth. Take one step backward for each catch!
6. Make Friendship Bracelets - Friendship bracelets are the perfect relaxed, creative, and screen-free activity for children.
7. Build an Indoor Fort - Grab blankets, pillows, cushions and chairs to build a cozy fort inside. You can make it a comfy read or quiet space to enjoy snacks and stuffed animals!
8.Have a Cookie Decorating Party - Bake up some plain sugar cookies with kids and let them go to town with icing, Sprinkles, chocolate chips and candies to create fun silly summer cookie creations. Think sun, beach balls, and butterfly designs!
9. Go on a Backyard Nature Hunt - Have kids look for a list of things in the backyard: a leaf, a flower, a pinecone, a feather, a bug, a rock, something yellow!
10. Make a Lemonade Stand - Encourage creativity, teach responsibility, and kids' math skills all while they run their own lemonade stand.
11. Make a Summer Memory Jar - Design a memory jar and let kids write down things that happened throughout the summer, every day. At the end of summer, read your memories together.
12. Paint Rocks - Collect smooth rocks, paint them with bright colors or animals, happy faces, rainbows or happy messages and spread them in your garden and neighbourhood!
13. Make Paper Airplanes - Let kids have fun designing and decorating their own paper airplanes and seeing which one flies the furthest. Try testing out a couple of new categories too – furthest and funniest crash landing!
14. Backyard Obstacle Course - Create an obstacle course with household items: Hula hoops, cones, jump rope, pool noodles, pillows, chairs and box. Kids can crawl, jump, race and bounce through the course!
15. Try a Simple Science Experiment - The summer is the perfect time for some simple, fun science with the kids: sink or float tests, rainbow water experiments, baking soda volcano, or make slime!
16. DIY Ice Cream Sundaes - Set out scoops of ice cream, sprinkles, fruit, syrup and a whipped cream – let the kids make their own dessert!
17. Start a Mini Garden - Plant seeds, flowers or vegetables into a pot and encourage kids to take care of the mini garden all summer long by watering it.
18. Make a Puppet Show - Grab a sock, paper bag or craft stick and create a puppet for the kids. Then create a story and help them perform a puppet show for the entire family!
19. Summer Activity Bingo Card - Create a simple bingo card and write down screen-free activities, such as “bake cookies”, “read a book”, “go to the park”, “plant flowers” and play this game all summer long.
20. Have a Dance Party - Turn on some fun music and get ready for a dance party in the living room or backyard! Turn up the music and let kids have their own dance-off.
21. Cardboard box Creations - Save those delivery boxes for this – the kids can build cars, rockets, castles, houses, shops, robots or anything else their heart desires with just a little imagination, tape and paint!
22. Make a Homemade Bird Feeder - Use a pine cone, peanut butter or seed butter, and bird seeds. Let your kids hang the creation in a tree and watch for visitors!
23. Backyard Camping Adventure - Sleep in a tent or just set up sleeping bags in the backyard! Have a fun night filled with stories, snacks, and maybe some camping-inspired treats like S’mores – but at home.
24. Summer Family Recipe Book - Compile and write down your favourite summer recipes: from summer salads and lemonade to baked treats made using a HomeBaker kit!
25. Bubble Art - Add food coloring to your bubble mix, blow bubbles onto paper and see how kids are able to make some colorful bubble art. This activity is messy and awesome, so do this outdoors!
26. Mini Talent Show - Family entertainment right at your doorstep. Have everyone showcase their talents: singing, dancing, telling jokes, acting, reading poetry… the works!
27. Fruit Skewers - Make a bunch of fruit kabobs that the kids can build. Think grapes, melon chunks, pineapple, blueberries, and slices of bananas.
28. Outdoor Art Studio - Take paper and paint to the backyard and let the kids express their creative talents while enjoying the fresh air.
29. Book Picnic - Grab your favorite books, pack up some snacks, and enjoy reading outside under the warm summer sky. A perfect relaxing activity for summer days!
30. Monthly Baking Kit Subscriptions - Give kids something to look forward to every month while parents get an easy, pre-planned project that eliminates measuring, and shopping! HomeBaker kits offer everything kids need and parents can relax.
A Note About Screen-Free Activities for Kids Why is it important for kids to do activities not involving screens?
Screen-free time can encourage a child's ability to think creatively, be independent, play freely, communicate, and develop confidence and gross motor skills.
These are not Pinterest perfect activities – it is about letting go and enjoying time with your kids while having fun with things that don’t require technology. This is all about getting your children excited for the long days ahead with 30 screen-free and easy fun activity ideas. Have a wonderful summer! What are your favorite easy, at home screen free activities for the kids?
Share in the comments below!
