Fun Summer Activities for Kids ~ Planning Guide

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Summer is a wonderful time of year.  Summer days just seem to have a lot more flexibility than during the school year. We have time to relax, go on adventures, and try new things.  This planning guide makes sure you always have intentional fun summer activities for kids.

I strive for a balanced summer schedule.  I enjoy many of the typical summer fun activities with my children.  Park outings.  Baking treats. Picnics.  Pools.

I do NOT enjoy playing cruise director for my family, though.  It isn’t fun for me, and quite frankly, it isn’t good for my kids.  They need time to use their imaginations, run around with the neighborhood kids, build forts, and be bored.

I want to intentionally give lots of free time while also sprinkling in fun summer activities for kids.  

This year I put together a summer planning guide to help remind me to plan a little summer fun.

Each week I will plan one outing, one activity, and one book as part of our summer activities for kids.

This gets us out of the house a little bit, but it also ensures we do not become over-scheduled.

Summer is a respite from the busyness of the school year!

Weeks that I’m feeling a little extra-motivated, otherwise known as well-rested, I might plan the activities around a common theme.  

Coming up with themes doesn’t have to be complicated. Remember, we are trying to intentionally choose one outing, one activity, and one book. That is all.  If you want to do more than that, great!  But be careful to avoid the slippery slope of playing cruise director.

Here are a few fun summer activities for kids themes that Hannah and I came up with in just a few minutes.

Fun Summer Activities for Kids Themes

Theme: Blueberries

Somewhere to GO: Support a local farm by going blueberry picking.

Something to DO: Bake a blueberry treat.

Something to READ: Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey

Last update on 2026-09-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Theme: 80’s summer

Somewhere to GO: Run through a sprinkler and slide down a slip n slide. (This is cheating a bit by staying home, but it is definitely something kids enjoy. The idea is to intentionally create some fun so adapt it as you need.)

Something to DO: Make popsicles.

Something to READ:  Superfudge by Judy Blume

Last update on 2026-09-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Theme: Animals

Somewhere to GO:  Visit your local zoo. (Too rainy?  Check the animals out via webcam!  Check out the list of animal webcams.)

Something to DO: Make a bird feeder.

Something to READ:  The Day Jimmy’s Boa Ate the Wash by Trinka Hakes Noble

Last update on 2026-09-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Theme: Harry Potter

Somewhere to GO:  Check out a magic show.  Many rec centers and libraries host magicians in the summer so be sure the check your local calendars.

Something to DO:  Try a few chemistry experiments

Something to READ:  Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling (This book is pretty long.  We chose to listen to it on cd.)

Last update on 2026-09-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Theme: Butterflies

Somewhere to GO:  Tour a butterfly garden

Something to DO:  Watch caterpillars turn into butterflies with this butterfly kit.

Something to READ:The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Last update on 2026-09-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Theme: Outer Space

Somewhere to GO:  Go check out a planetarium

Something to DO:  Make galaxy slime

Something to READ:  The Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System by Joanna Cole

Last update on 2026-09-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Many of our summer weeks will not have a theme.  We will just choose somewhere to go, something to do, and something to read.  That is good enough.

I’m striving for intentional fun summer activities for kids, not a perfect plan.

Are you tired of playing cruise director too?  You are in luck!  You can download and print my fun summer activities for kids planning guide template and ideas just by joining my mailing list below!

The download includes the template to keep you organized as well as 20 Somewhere to Go suggestions, 20 Something to DO suggestions, and 20 Something to READ suggestions!  

All you need to do is pull an idea from each page and you are ready to have fun!

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