Our kids have been out of school for just about two weeks and we are starting to slip into the rhythm of summer. Mornings are slower, evening bedtimes a little more relaxed (and later!) and the days are filled with a little less. This summer I intentionally enrolled my kids in fewer camps, summer sports teams, and commitments. Instead, we are enjoying much more time together exploring our city, traveling to visit family and friends, and just having fun! I am really excited about the memories we will make during this time!
I know that sometimes we get caught up in the routines and constantly have to have a ” perfect plan” for the day. There are so many activities we can do that entertain our kids but don’t necessarily cost a ton or take that much “effort”! A few days ago I sent out a poll to all of you with your favorite summer activities so I will make sure to share all of those below as well as my go-tos!
12 Activities that you can do with your kids this summer
Have your kids pack their own picnic!
We did this last week and it was an absolute hit with my crew. Let them make their own sandwiches and pick snacks for their lunchbox, fill their water bottles, and pop it all in a cooler! Take it to a local park or enjoy it in the backyard! They earned dessert later that night by making sure the kitchen was tidy when they were done.
Have a Yes day!
We’ve been celebrating Yes Day’s (inspired by this book) for years (heck my husband even made a movie about it!!) and my kids inevitably kids ask for ice cream multiple times a day – so I always make sure to have tons of options on hand.
Go to a local museum, aquarium, or botanical garden.
We are really fortunate that in LA we have so many amazing museums and parks to visit, and many are free to enter. A favorite of ours is the Getty Villa and LACMA. We love to wander around, explore the colorful paintings, and learn! It’s also a great activity for days when the weather does not cooperate! Most times we go we also pack a picnic or snacks to enjoy while we explore.
Arts and Crafts
I’m always up for process art at our house and find joy in having mixed mediums around to promote creativity and exploration. This book is one of my favorites chock full of ideas from super easy to complex art projects and the best part is you don’t need to have a lot on hand. We did these paper mache projects during the pandemic and they’re one of my favorites ever. And this clay is always on hand in our house. It’s so easy to create and then pop in the oven to harden.
Scavenger hunt
This is honestly a great parenting hack! Whether you are stuck inside on a rainy day or just in need of an extra activity a scavenger hunt is fun for all! It can be as simple as finding a pink item, a square item, and an item made of wood that your kids have to find and cross off a list! I love this activity as my kids can work together or I can make individual ones for each of them. I also have done this when traveling or in museums as it keeps the kids interested in discovering “items” as we walk around exhibits.
Beach Day
Is there anything better than a day spent with your toes in the sand? My kids can spend hours building sandcastles and riding boogie boards! A friend shared this fun activity with me – bring a set of watercolor paints and decorate rocks and seashells! I shared all my beach day essentials in this post! And if you have younger kids, grab a big umbrella or tent and hang out in the shade with sand buckets, and shovels and hope for a little mid-day nap in the shade. Those were always my favorites!
At home “water park”
Some days I am not up for the trek to the beach or the pool or we are at home during nap time for my youngest. An at-home waterpark as I like to call it has been a fun activity – think sprinklers, water balloons (I love these reusable ones), a water table for my youngest, or “car wash” (where they wash all the outdoor toys) are games and activities that will occupy your crew for hours.
Enjoy a Park or Playground
As simple as it can get! We love playgrounds and are really lucky to have a few within walking distance from our house! But one thing we also like to do is go playground hunting – go to the next neighborhood and test out their swings and slides! It keeps the littles entertained and exploring!
Enjoy a morning at the local Library
The library is one of the best spots to escape the heat! Our local library also has numerous activities for all ages! From music class to story time, crafts, and even reading challenges for older kids! I highly recommend looking at your local programming to see what’s on their calendars and maybe a stop at your local library will become a weekly tradition! Don’t forget to bring a few books home to enjoy till your next visit! If you are looking for book suggestions for your at-home library that my kids love, I shared many of them here!
Backyard Movie Night
Backyard Movie Night nights have become a family favorite of ours. We invested in a big screen and projector during covid and I’ve used it more times than I can count! I shared my tips and tricks for an at-home movie night a few weeks ago! My kids also love when we put the screen by the pool when we’re in Palm Springs and they can float while watching!
Kids Kitchen Takeover
My kids have always loved helping in the kitchen but even more so recently. I love getting them involved in planning out our weekly menu, grocery shopping, and cooking meals. We have loved testing out new recipes and cookbooks (we just got this one in, it’s so fun and silly) and it has also helped with trying new foods and exploring new cuisines. These kids’ knives are great for learning to chop – safe that even my youngest can use!
Build a Garden
This one may be the only activity that requires the most “effort” but the benefits if successful are great! We built a very small tiered garden last year (like this and this) with herbs and veggies and it was really fun to watch it grow and use in recipes. My kids were excited about the responsibility of watering and tending to the plants. If you don’t have a green thumb…not to worry take your kids to the local farmers market and let them pick out items to try or visit a local farm!
A Few other favorites that you all shared:
- Lemonade stand – keep it simple or bring out all the bells and whistles like this adorable cart!
- Paint with ice cubes – perfect for a hot day, fill ice cube trays with water and paint and go to town on a canvas
- Go berry picking and make jam
- Make ice cream party
- Build a Fort in the backyard
- Go to the car wash for a few moments of peace
