40 Summer Fun Ideas For The Most Amazing Summer as a Family

There Is No Need To Be Bored This Summer

Summer is quickly approaching, and for some, it might already be here.  And there is nothing more troubling for a parent than bored children.  And what is even harder for parents is having bored children and not having any idea of what you can do with them.  So, I have come up with this quick list of summer fun activities, a list of things you can do with your kids this summer.  Most of these items require some planning and adult supervision, and interaction, but that is what being a parent is all about!

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Summer Fun at the Farm with Fruits and Vegetables

Summer is a great time to go fruit and vegetable picking.  And there are lots of farms that will allow you to do your own!  So you do not need to worry about growing anything at home.  But if you want to grow your own, check out this article on how to get started.  These are some summer bucket list ideas for picking fruits and vegetables:

• Strawberry Picking –  June & July 
• Raspberry Picking – June through August
• Blueberry Picking – Mid August through Mid September
• Tomato Picking – August & September
• Peach Picking – July & August
• Apply Picking – September & October

I have listed some general timelines of when the picking seasons are, but this varies depending on where you live.  Make sure you check out your local farms to see their schedules.

Water Activities

Nothing says summer more than water!  Especially when it involves swimming and getting wet!  Not everyone has a pool, but there are other ways to enjoy the water in the summer.   Here are some of our favorites:

• Visit a splash pad at the local park
• Go swimming in your neighbors’ pool 😉
• Going to the beach
• Having a water balloon fight
• Having a water gunfight
• Running around in the sprinkler
• Play in the rain – This is best in August when the rain is warm.

Backyard Ideas

Simple outdoor crafting activities in your front or backyard are also worth mentioning because we can not always just get up and go somewhere.  Some summer bucket list items on our list include:

• Using sidewalk chalk
• Painting Rocks 
• Using a paintbrush with water to “paint” the fence
• Growing a garden 
• Growing sunflowers
• Setting up your tent outside and spending the night in the backyard!
• Having a picnic outside
• Eating Breakfast outside

Learning Activities

Nothing says summer more than learning!  (Sorry, I could not resist). But there are fun and educational things you can do in the summer:

• Read a book
• Catch a caterpillar and grow a butterfly – you can learn how to do that here, but you will need a butterfly habitat
• Build a bumblebee house – or buy one and watch the bumblebee move in.
• Build or buy a birdhouse – be warned that birdhouses produce a lot of bird poop if a bird moves in….

Fun Summer Evening Activities

Nothing is more enjoyable as a kid than staying up past bedtime  in the summer and having fun.    The best summer memories  can be made in the evenings once it gets dark.  Some fun activities for evenings outside include:

• Outdoor movies – all you need is a projector and a white bed sheet up against the fence
• Campfires
• Roasting marshmallows
• Looking at the stars
• Watching a meteor shower – check out this summer schedule here

Going for a Visit

Being stuck at home all summer is no fun, not even for parents! So, some summer bucket list ideas that involve getting out of the house and going for a visit, even just a small one, include:

• Visiting grandparents
• Going to the neighbors to jump on their trampoline
• Going to a park
• Camping – either day camping or overnight
• Taking the family for a trail walk

Random Activities

And, to round things off, there always needs to be a list of random things to do that are not related to anything else, so here they are:

• Go for ice cream!  Because who does not love ice cream?
• Have a picnic at the park
• Go to a public park with a hill, and roll down the hill (you know what I am talking about)
• Put your feet up and relax!
• Make a fort in your living room and spend the night there! Just a warning, this is not a comfortable sleeping position for parents!

Final Thoughts

I know I have said this numerous times, and I will say it many more, I am sure, but parenting is hard.  It is hard to plan activities for your kids just to have them meltdown about not wanting to do it. It happens to all of us. I promise.  Although this list has many things on it, I am not aiming to do all of them, maybe not even half.  Summer is not about completing all of the activities on a summer bucket list.  It is about having a wonderful summer with your kids. If that summer simply involves sitting in the backyard and playing in the grass, that sounds completely wonderful. There is no judgment here.  

Honestly, your children will not remember that you completed 100 items from a summer bucket list. They might remember the summer being way too busy and not being able to relax and enjoy. But they will not remember doing all of the “fun” things.  If you can do a handful of items, good on you. If you can not, good on you too.  

Being a parent is tough. Just keeping your kids happy and healthy, and moderately entertained is a bonus!

Happy Summering!

Was this List of Summer fun Activities Helpful?

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If you liked this list, be sure to check out my others here.