Summer holidays are here which means it’s the perfect time to throw open the doors, head into the great outdoors, and fill your days with outdoor activities and adventures that your kids will remember long after the popsicles melt.

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering how to keep the whole family off screens, moving their bodies, and genuinely connecting with each other, this list of activities is an answer. Think simple ideas, lots of natural materials, and different ways to keep every family member, from young kids to older children, engaged.

Some of these fun ideas you can do right in your backyard, while others are a great way to explore your local park, nature preserve, or even that wide open space at the edge of your neighborhood. Grab a piece of paper, jot down your top picks, and get ready for some extra fun this summer.

1. Shaving Cream Shenanigans — Sensory Play in the Great Outdoors

Messy play is a classic for a reason. Shaving cream is a household item that transforms an ordinary summer afternoon into a giggly, squishy masterpiece.

• Set up a table in your backyard or your favorite spot in the garden. Add bowls, spatulas, and rubber bands for extra fine motor skills fun. Your kids will love making shapes and sculptures. Have fun making “snow mountains” in July

• For older kids, hide tiny nature finds like shells, stones, or even different flowers inside the shaving cream for a mini sensory treasure hunt.

• Encourage them to draw swirls or letters with their fingers. It’s an excellent way to boost hand-eye coordination and pre-writing skills.

The best part? Clean-up is easy. Just hose everything down. Watching kids delight in the mess is a perfect way to build a strong connection through outdoor learning.

2. Living Room Obstacle Course — Classic Games with a Twist

On a rainy day or when you just want a break from the great outdoors, transform your living room into an adventure course. It’s a great activity for kids of all ages to build gross motor and cognitive skills while having so much fun.

• Use pillows, blankets, chairs, and other household items to create tunnels, jumps, and balance beams.

• Add a nature element by bringing in sticks or logs (wipe them down first!) or make it more physical with jumping jacks between obstacles.

• Encourage family members to time each other or add challenges that build social skills, like cheering each other on or helping younger siblings navigate tricky spots.

This indoor adventure builds brain development and physical activity in a super fun, screen-free way.

3. Big Binge & Takeout Night — The Perfect Time for Connection

Okay, sometimes the best summer activities involve indoor fun too. One of my favorite family memories is piling up on the couch (or in a mountain of blankets on the floor) for a movie marathon with way too much food. It’s the best thing when you want lazy days that still bring the whole family together.

• Pick up a party sub or order Chinese takeout with extra fortune cookies for the win.

• Make homemade popcorn on the stove and let kids listen for the first pop. Simple joys are the best part. Indoor s’mores are also a hit! In a cast-iron skillet or small square baking dish, melt a bit of butter in the bottom, then add chocolate chips (24 oz) and cover the top with marshmallows. Bake until the marshmallows are toasted, then dip graham crackers into the gooey goodness.

• In between episodes (movies), you can chat about anything relevant to the show. Start a fun debate. It’s a sneaky way to build communication skills and social skills while you laugh at your favorite scenes.

Who says screen time can’t be meaningful when done right?

4. Craft Something You Love, Too — Nature Arts with Heart

Crafting is one of those summer activities that can feel like a chore unless you find easy ways that you genuinely enjoy. It’s also a great way to boost fine motor skills and creativity.

• Gather natural materials like sticks, leaves, or flowers during a nature walk. Then use them to make beautiful nature art pieces back at home.

• Pull out paints and make big watercolor sheets in the yard.

• Try finger knitting under the shade of your favorite tree. It’s an excellent way to keep little fingers busy while chatting and connecting.

• For older kids, jewelry making or watercolors can be a great activity that gives them a chance to develop new skills and a strong connection to their creative side.

• Use natural settings as your inspiration. Paint different flowers, gather shells for a nature mobile, or make leaf prints. The natural world is the best craft store ever.

5. Balloon Bonanza — Classic Fun with a Modern Twist

Balloons are a great way to add extra fun to any summer holiday. With just a few balloons and some creative ways to play, you can entertain kids for hours.

• Don’t-Let-It-Touch-The-Ground: Great physical activity that builds hand-eye coordination.

• Balloon Tennis: Make paddles with paper plates and rubber bands attached to sticks for your own backyard Wimbledon.

• Water Balloon Piñata: Hang balloons from a tree in a wide open space. Let kids take turns trying to pop them. Bonus points for adding a magnifying glass hunt to find tiny insects or flowers in between swings.

Outdoor activities like this use natural elements and encourage lots of movement. Perfect for burning off that summer energy.

6. Emotional Intelligence Games — Build New Skills in Fun Ways

Summer is a great time to help your kids develop emotional intelligence while having fun. It’s also the perfect way to strengthen communication skills and create memories they’ll carry for life.

• Feelings Charades: A classic game with a twist. Act out emotions and guess what they are.

• Compliment Circle: Sit in a circle outside in the great outdoors and have each family member say something kind about the next person.

• Emotions Jar: Use a piece of paper for each feeling word, draw a face, and talk about when you’ve felt that way.

• Emotion Story Swap: This is one of my favorite activities. Start a silly story with an emotion like, “One day, Happy Hippo found a magic hat,” then pass it around. Each person adds a new character and feeling. Watch the plot twist and turn with every emotion. It’s simple, silly, and builds those big-hearted muscles. It’s a creative way to build social skills and brain development while giggling under the sun.

7. Classic Charades — Good Time Guaranteed

Charades is a classic for a reason. It works with kids of all ages and needs zero prep.

• Write words on pieces of paper: animals, outdoor activities, favorite things, inside family jokes, or funny summer themes.

• Act them out in your local park, your backyard, or even during a picnic at your favorite nature preserve.

• It’s a great way to build communication skills and keep the whole family laughing.

The best part? It can be as simple or as silly as you like.

8. Nature Games with Little to No Equipment — Outdoor Adventures Await

This is my favorite section because it’s where the great outdoors does all the heavy lifting. Outdoor nature activities are the best summer activities for building a strong connection to the natural world.

• Nature Scavenger Hunts: Bring a magnifying glass and go on a nature walk to spot bugs, birds, and interesting plants.

• Shadow Tag: Extra fun on sunny days and the perfect outdoor activity that needs no gear.

• Stick Tic-Tac-Toe: Use sticks, stones, or natural materials as a creative way to play a classic game.

• Animal Moves: A great way for physical activity and gross motor play. Hop like a bunny, crawl like a bear, or flap like a bird.

• Quiet Listening: Lie in a wide open space and listen for nature sounds. Who hears the most? It’s great for developing cognitive skills and appreciation for natural elements. First one to giggle loses.

You can do these at a local park, a nature preserve, or even a patch of grass near your home. There are so many different ways to connect with nature and have a lot of fun.

9. Build a Bug Hotel — Tiny Architects at Work

Want an outdoor activity that’s a great way to teach new skills and help the natural world? Build a bug hotel. This fun DIY project can be done over a few weeks. Your child can do hands-on research on what insects live around you and what environments those insects like. It’s great for critical thinking and empathy building.

• Use household items like old wood, sticks, pinecones, and rubber bands to build little hideouts for insects.

• Place them in a quiet corner of your garden or local park. It’s a perfect spot for your young kids to observe nature up close.

• Use a magnifying glass to check who moved in.

Bug hotels are a fantastic way for outdoor learning and boost problem-solving skills and curiosity all in one.

10. Gather Nature Finds & Make Art — The Perfect Way to Wrap Up a Day

After a nature walk or scavenger hunt, gather shells, rocks, sticks, and different flowers. Bring them home to make simple crafts.

• Use a piece of paper to press flowers or leaves.

• Create a collage with natural elements that’s great for fine motor skills and brain development.

• Or turn your finds into fairy houses for an extra fun outdoor activity for older kids and young kids alike.

Keep It Simple, Keep It Fun

There are so many different ways to make summer the best part of the year for your kids. The secret? Keep it easy, keep it outdoors as much as possible, and say “yes” to mess, giggles, and natural settings.

So whether you’re playing classic games in your living room, exploring a local park, building bug hotels, or soaking up the sun on a nature scavenger hunt, remember this: you don’t need a Pinterest-perfect plan. You just need the willingness to show up, have fun, and make memories in the great outdoors.

Here’s to lazy days, wild plays, and a whole family summer that feels like sunshine on your shoulders. 

Ready to trade screen time for sunshine?
Save this list, pick your top picks, and enjoy the best summer activities your kids will actually love. You’ve got this. Go make it the best summer ever!