Hey everyone!
Summer vacation is almost here. There are fourteen whole weeks to enjoy between Memorial Day and Labor Day to make memories, build relationships, and breathe a little deeper. Let’s make this summer one to remember!
First things first—let’s simplify our home routines and schedules for the summer months. But don’t toss all those good habits you’ve worked so hard to build. Instead, think about how to gently weave them into a slower, more enjoyable summer rhythm.
One great idea? Try gardening together! It’s a peaceful way to sneak in some hands-on horticulture, connect with God’s creations, and enjoy the outdoors.
Yes, summer is for rest and relaxation—but don’t throw everything out the window. Work alongside your kids to get meals on the table, do the dishes, tidy up, fold the laundry, and put it away. You’re not just managing a household; you’re building life skills that will serve your children well.
Surprise your children by helping them clean their rooms (I know—it sounds backwards, but trust me on this one). Put on some music, laugh together, and show them that even the “not-so-fun” jobs can be joyful when done in good company. As you work, share your heart, your values, and your love for the Lord—just like Deuteronomy 6:7 encourages us to do.
Remember: summer doesn’t have to be expensive or high-stress to be meaningful. With a little planning and a sprinkle of creativity, you can design a summer your family will treasure—without draining your wallet or your sanity. Screen time boundaries are important, but don’t stop there—fill your days with real-life activities that connect, challenge, and inspire your kids. You don’t have to go far—staycations count too!
105 Ideas for Summer Activities on a Shoestring!
This list is packed with plenty of ideas—more than enough to cover the entire summer. That’s right: you could do something new every day for 14 weeks and still have extras to spare. Grab a calendar and pencil in the ones that sound like the most fun. Let the summer adventure begin!
What are some ideas for fun summer activities with family and friends?
1. Find local opportunities! Get a calendar and list local fairs scheduled nearby. We have local city festivals during the summer months. We also have a huge Fourth of July Festival, a Colonial Festival, a Scandinavian Festival, a Scottish Highland Festival, and other festivals near our town every summer.
2. What free activities near your home? Look in the local newspapers or online to find free local events and venues. Schedule them in your family activity calendar.
3. Are there any free local open-air concerts available nearby? Include those in your calendar!
4. Enjoy meals, Al Fresco! Eat outside on the porch, patio, deck, under the shade of a large tree, on a blanket on the lawn, or have a picnic at the local park. Listen to the natural outdoor sounds as you eat. Enjoy the time with your family,
5. Cool off at a local splash pad or make your own splash fun by turning on a lawn sprinkler.
6. Make your own frozen treats. Enjoy!
7. Make sure to do dinner preparation during the cooler parts of the day. In the morning, take a few minutes to chop up some fresh veggies and fruits for a quick and easy serving throughout the day. It's best to store these prepared fruits and veggies in wide-mouthed mason jars in the fridge. After that, rinse and chop up some fresh romaine lettuce, and pack it into wide-mouthed jars before storing it in the fridge, as well. This will create a convenient salad bar or lunch option, or even a lovely first course for dinner..
8. Create your own summer scrapbook or photo journal! Head to the dollar store and pick up some photo albums for everyone in your family. They can use them to store pictures, ticket stubs, and even add little journal entries about their wonderful summer vacation experiences. As a nightly ritual, encourage each family member to reflect on their favorite activity of the day and write it down in their journal. This is a great way to create lasting memories and capture the essence of your summer adventures!
9. Create a family summer staycation blog, including captivating pictures, and share your delightful summer experiences on the blog.
10. Create a garden, even if it's just a few container plants. Dig into the soil and feel the sense of joy as something you nurture comes to fruition.
11. Grab some sidewalk chalk and enjoy a fun-filled activity with your family by drawing or doodling on your driveway.
12. During those scorching summer days, it's a great idea to cool down and head to the library to kick off a summer reading program.
Start your own family reading program. Everyone contributes. Time reading aloud contributes points. We did "Have you Bean There?" A series of five jars from the size of a spice jar to a one-gallon jar. As one jar filled it flowed into the next. Then we start again at the smallest. We had different numbers of pinto beans for each level of difficulty of books that could be read in a certain time period. We changed things up and decided they could also earn points for exercise 1 bean per fifteen minutes. Each jar, when full, represented a family celebration. Then that jar would be poured into the next size jar. Love it when we get to the tipping point of one jar topping off the next, and that one topping off the next! We get all the prizes.
Celebrations do not have to be major or expensive. It is nice to have the celebrations graduate in magnitude. The spice jar could be a classic matinee movie and popcorn or an ice cream cone. Another jar can be a local venue everyone enjoys. Another jar may be to a family hike, have a BBQ, go on a picnic, go on a favorite field trip, or go camping. The big jar could be a trip. Let the family meet on the committee to help decide what they want to work towards celebrating. Small goals and celebrations along the way help the family stay on track and become more consistent. Then each larger jar was a bigger celebration.
13. In the cool of the day, take family and personal walks. Enjoy the sights and sounds, the fresh air, and exercise.
14. Have a yard party and BBQ. Invite neighbors. Make Frozen Bananas. Prepare jar salads and mason jar drinks. Fill a bucket with ice and keep the drinks and salads cold.
15. Get a badminton set, volleyball set, Frisbee or croquet game to play with family and friends. Learn how to play these outdoor games.
16. Get a few families together and organize a summer day camp for your children.
17. Organize a summer vacation Bible school with some families you know.
18. Visit a different local park with your family each Friday for a picnic and games.
19. Learn how to cook outdoors.
20. Have a classic movie night.
21. Create an "I'm Bored Jar."
To start, find a jar or container that you can use to hold the boredom-busting ideas. You can decorate the jar with stickers, markers, or anything else you have on hand to make it fun and appealing. Then, cut out strips of paper, and on each strip, write down a single activity that your child can do when they're feeling bored. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Do ten sit-ups
- Make a cold dessert for the family and clean up afterward.
- Learn something new from a book and share what you learned.
- Play checkers with your younger sibling.
- Make paper airplanes and have a race.
- Wash the car.
- Memorize a poem, quote, or Bible verse.
Creating an "I'm Bored Jar," can bring some creative fun to the family on days activities are not scheduled. Have a family meeting and let the children contribute ideas to the jar. The Bored Jar is used when a child complains about being bored. They get to select a strip of paper and then they must do the activity. This can stimulate creativity. Some may choose from the jar in the beginning but may decide that coming up with their own ideas is better. Ultimately, you actually want your children to get bored. Boredom is how many inventors, writers, musicians, artists, and even scientists got their start. So, boredom is the stimulus for creativity! Then top this game off with sharing time at dinner. Each person that used the jar can share about their adventure. Sharing expands the interest of those who hear the experience.
22. Host a neighborhood family recital night, and make it even more special by serving refreshments! You can hold the recital outside on the lawn for a lovely, relaxed atmosphere..
23. Host an End of Summer Art Show in your yard. You can invite your neighbors to participate, and it's a great way to bring your community together.
First, make sure to send out invitations well in advance, so people have time to plan and prepare. You can use paper invitations to spread the word. Encourage everyone to create their own piece of art, whether it's a painting, sculpture, or even a photograph.
On the day of the event, set up tables or easels for people to display their artwork. Make sure to provide enough space for everyone and have some refreshments on hand. You could even have a contest and give out prizes for the most creative, unique, or beautiful pieces.
Don't forget to create a welcoming and festive atmosphere by playing some music, hanging up decorations, and encouraging people to mingle and chat with each other. This is a great opportunity for your neighborhood to get to know each other better and appreciate each other's talents.
24. Stargaze and learn the constellations for your area.
25. Plan a fun backyard carnival! Include several games to keep everyone entertained. For instance, you could have a ring toss, a button plate, a sponge throw, a three-legged race, a balance walk, and a fire line.
For the fire line game, divide into teams, and each team member will have a large cup. The first person in the line will fill their cup and pour it over the top of their head to the person behind them. The next person must catch as much water as possible in their cup and then pour it over their head into the cup behind them. This process will continue until the last person in the line has a bowl they are trying to fill. The team with the first filled bowl will be the winner!
Neighborhood families will have a blast at this backyard carnival.
26. Host a cozy campfire in your backyard, and enjoy the delightful experience of roasting s'mores, singing songs, and sharing stories! It's a wonderful way to create cherished memories with family and friends. Don't forget to check the weather and follow safety guidelines. So gather around the fire, and let the fun begin.
27.Pack a picnic and go watch a fireworks display.
As a homeschooling mom and mentor, I encourage families to create meaningful memories together. One great idea is to pack a delicious picnic and head out to watch a fireworks display. It's a wonderful opportunity to bond as a family while enjoying the beautiful pyrotechnics. So, don't forget to bring some yummy treats and blankets to sit on. Make some unforgettable memories!
28. Come together as a family and prepare for a 5k run/walk, covering a distance of about 3 miles. Once you've practiced enough, sign up and participate in a run/walk event as a family. Alternatively, you can organize a run/walk event for your friends and family and conclude it with a potluck party. This is a great way to bond and have fun while promoting a healthy lifestyle.
29. Go swimming together as a family. Spending time together in the water can provide an excellent opportunity to connect with each other while getting some exercise and having fun.
30. Shopping at a farmer's market with your children or visiting a 'you-pick-it' farm as a family are wonderful experiences that can create lasting memories.
31. Create a batch of delicious homemade ice cream and extend a warm invitation to our dear friends to join us for a delightful evening of sweet treats!
32. Have a neighborhood squirt bottle fight.
33. Make and fly kites in an area with no aerial electrical lines, or at a park or area with no aerial electrical lines.
34. Set up a family camp in your backyard, but be mindful to relocate your tent every 2-3 days to avoid harming the perennial roots of your lawn.
35.If you're able to rent a projection unit, why not make some popcorn and host a neighborhood or family-to-family outdoor movie night in your backyard?
36. Car rides can be challenging for children. However, you can make them more enjoyable by playing car games or singing fun songs while traveling to your destination.
37. Make a movie as a family! Invite friends to do the same and then have your very own movie festival. Create your own star walk with sidewalk chalk. Make popcorn and have fun. How exciting! It's a great way to bond as a family and also share your creative talents with others. So, gather your family and friends, and get started on making some unforgettable memories together!"
38. Have a family game night.
39. Design and make a family T- shirt.
40. Make bubbles and create monster bubbles.
41. Go hiking as a family.
42. Do sparklers on the 4th of July.
43. Prepare something to enter into the county fair. My husband's family grew irises. My sister-in-law made candy. There are all kinds of divisions at the county fairs and state fairs.
44. Do the garage sale circuit and find something to reupholster, repaint, refinish, or repurpose. Then bring it home and do it!
45. Have a yard sale.
46. Play hopscotch.
47. Have a sunrise breakfast!
48. Grill pizza.
49. Shop at a flea market or antique shop.
50. Build a Sundial.
51. As a family, serve an elderly or shut-in neighbor. Mow and trim their lawn, bring in a meal, and tend the children so a new mom can rest.
52. Visit your state Capitol.
53. Visit local and nearby historic places.
54. Play flashlight tag.
55. Take a glow stick or lantern moonlight walk.
56. Skip stones on a lake.
557. Take a nature walk each week and keep a nature notebook.
58. Prepare and eat veggies from your own garden.
59. Go to a parade.
60. Visit an art gallery.
61. Have a hula hoop contest.
62. Build a fort in the backyard. We used to build temporary forts of blankets and sheets in the backyard.
63. With a few magnifying glasses go on a neighborhood bug walk and see what a bug's life is really about!
64. Play in a kiddie pool.
65. Plant flowers in your front yard.
66. Build a birdhouse or birdbath.
67. Create wind chimes.
60. Visit an art gallery.
68. Go to a library storytime or host your own family or neighborhood storytime.
69. Play balloon volleyball.
70. Make cookies and then turn them into ice cream sandwiches.
71. Have a neighborhood luau.
72. Have a tea party with family or friends.
73. Make a windsock or whirligig windmill.
74. Make a weather station and keep a weather log.
75. Make homemade salsa and homemade tortillas.
76. Sun-dry Tomatoes.
77. Make shorts from old jeans (yours or second hand).
78. Check out a local farm.
79. Have a neighborhood BBQ cook-off.
80. Collect seashells or rocks.
81. Make Strawberry or Raspberry Lemonade.
82. If you live near fireflies, make a firefly lantern.
83. Create a butterfly or bee garden.
84. Create and put on an outdoor play. Base the play on a book you have read. Make costumes and props. Create play passes and refreshments.
85. Ride a ferris wheel at the state fair, a carnival, or an amusement park.
86. Go to a playground and do a family olympics.
87. Take a mini one to two day road-trip.
88. Play hide and seek.
89. Visit a planetarium.
90. If you live near a beach or can drive to one, build a sandcastle, draw and write in the sand.
91. Do leaf rubbings and add them to a nature notebook, nature journal or frame the art. You can also extend a clothesline on the wall and hang pictures with clothespins.
92. Go to a cemetery and do rubbings of interesting grave markers. If they are distant relatives' grave markers find out about them and write a story about them.
93. Make homemade pizzas, in the oven or on the grill.
94. Get up early on a weekend and watch hot air balloons.
95. Roast hot dogs on a stick.
96. Have a New Testament Read-a-thon. Prepare quick food, invite other families and read aloud the New Testament in a Day. With lots of readers, this can be easy.
97. Plant a herb garden.
98. Make melt-and-stir soap with fruits or herbs.
99. Learn a Bible verse a week.
100. Have an end-of-summer party.
101. Make and send postcards!
102. Make paper airplanes and have a competition...the one that flies the furthest, the highest, stays in the air the longest and is the most unique.
103. Make little boats of cans, wood, paper, etc. have a boat race in a small stream, gutter, baby pool, or rain gutter.
104. Create a bucket list of field trips and activities for the fall and winter!
105. Take lots of pictures of activities. Create a Mom and Dad's Great Adventure Summer Year Book. You have about 12 to 14 weeks of summer. Photo books can be made for under $20, you can add words and add pages!
So, what are you waiting for?
"Dreaded Summer Words 'Mommy, I'm Bored 1.0' " was our first newsletter, published in 2015, and had only twenty-five activities. They are included and amplified in this newsletter.
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