Summer Bucket List
It’s the start of summer and to celebrate, I try to put a list of fun things together for my kiddos (and myself).
This way I have a list of things we can potentially do for those moments when they say “I’m bored” or when I’m at a loss!
I put together these summer bucket list worksheets you can download for free. Have the kids put together a list of activities and things they want to do this summer and hang it on the fridge to check things off your list as the summer goes on.
I’ve also put together a list of my suggested summer activities for you, if you need inspiration (I know I always do)!
Go to the zoo or aquarium or both!
Visit a garden
Plant a garden or plant something! Whether it be a flower or vegetable garden, kids always have the best times seeing the fruits of their labor.
Have a water balloon or sponge bomb fight
Explore nature, whether it be an outdoor scavenger hunt, exploring native animals, or going for a nature walk.
Paint outside, let them get as messy as they want with water guns filled with paint, squirt bottles, or balloons filled with paint that they throw at paper! We also love doing this science experiment with paint as well.
Visit a place you’ve never been
Go on a boat (whether it be a ferry, a rented vote, or a fishing expedition)
Water fun, whether it be a sprinkler, a pool, a river, lake, or a blow-up water slide (our favorite and the best investment we made during COVID)
Craft, so many ideas here or all over the Internet! If you’re running low on ideas, check out my all-in-one craft kits
Set up a lemonade stand
Set up a neighborhood scavenger hunt by color, by item, or by nature, whatever is easiest and most fun!
Have a neighborhood block party
Set up a neighborhood parade with the other kids, decorate your bikes, wagons, and scooters, and show off your skills for all the neighborhood to see!
Enjoy a local children’s museum
Join a reading or math challenge. Our local library has a reading challenge where the more books you read, the more fun rewards you earn! Same for math!
Play with chalk. Make hopscotch, create an obstacle course, or play classic games like tic tac toe or hangman. Get creative, set up in the shade, and have fun!
Tie-Dye something. Tie-Dye is so huge, this is a fun activity I love doing outside because of the mess. Get some gloves, some plastic bags, and whatever you want to tie-dye and have fun. I love all of the ideas from The Neon Tea Party!
Spin art is a blast and great for indoors or outdoors. I love to use this inexpensive salad spinner from IKEA to make countless creations.
Marble painting. We recently got into this and you can now get super simple kits.
Check out some online resources! Yes, we want our kids to be outside and active as much as possible, but summer days can get hot and we all need a little break sometimes. These are at least educational!
Experiment with bubbles. We absolutely love bubbles in this house, and last year we picked up this super fun, major bubble wand, which was and is a big hit.
Conduct science experiments! We love this Geyser Tube kit you can do with soda from Steve Spangler, but we also love the exploding bag trick and creating volcanoes of all kinds! We also love this all-in-one kit with tons of experiments from National Geographic. The Internet is full of ideas, you just have to look a little.
Go insect hunting! You can draw or collect specimens (while not harming the insects of course). Create a bug hotel for them to live in and enjoy!
Grow your own butterflies. This is one of our faves to do every spring and summer and all you have to do is order the kit and watch magic happen!
Build a habitat for nature. Whether it be a bee house, or a birdhouse, build, paint, or create homes for critters and watch them in action all summer long.
Learn something new! This summer we are trying out sailing.
Take up a sport. This could be something you do in your own backyard, or on an organized team.
Eat ice cream or popsicles, or both and repeat!
Make s’mores! I love this kit if you don’t have a fireplace or fire pit of your own.
Camp outside, even if it’s in your own backyard!
Have an outdoor movie night! This is one of our favorite things to do as a neighborhood. Popcorn, sweet treats, pillows and blankets on the lawn, and a projector = magic!
Build a fairy house or a terrarium!
Explore an artist online and create your own version of their art at home!
Go to a game! We are planning a trip to Citi Field this summer (now that we can again safely) to cheer on our beloved Mets.
Bake something! Whether it be a cake, cupcakes, cookies, get inside on a rainy day and make something sweet along with some sweet memories.
Travel. Hit the open road and go on a road trip to somewhere close by or far away.
Make a sandcastle. Whether this is at a beach, or with Kinetic or regular sand at home.
Pick up an activity book. We love the learning books from Highlights, but there are so many choices now. Whether it be fun activities or educational ones that are also fun! Keep those minds sharp this summer.
Explore local playgrounds! Try a new playground every week and see rank them.