60 Family Fun Summer Ideas

As June is coming to a close,the weather is getting hot and summer vacation is upon us! I will soon be hearing the “I’m bored,” sighs and complaints from my children. Over the years, I’ve learned that by having a back up plan for boredom is much better than listening to the complaints and it makes a much better household. (I do think it’s alright to be bored though, that is usually when they are most creative!)

June is always extremely busy in our household but after it’s over and there are no more ball games, VBS is over, and swimming lessons are finished so there is more time for them to entertain themselves. I wanted to come up with some extra ideas before I heard their complaints! July brings our County Fair which means it’s time to finish up 4-H projects but that can only consume so much of our time before we all go crazy! I hope that there might be a few new ideas in this list for your family to enjoy!

Go to the playground or park
Have a picnic
Feed the ducks
Take advantage of free events at the park such as plays, movies, or other recreational activities
Have a no electronics night!
Make a family meal together. Everyone can take part in cooking dinner (and a fun dessert) and cleaning the mess. As a reward for all the hard work, sit at your clean table and have a family game night. This would be fun to do once a week!
Have a “Lego Day” where everyone sits down and builds together.
Make a homemade pizza, pop some popcorn and have a family movie night
Go tubing or tanking down the river
Give the family some card board boxes, duct tape and let the creative juices flow!
Put up a big sheet outside and create a drive in movie with lawn chairs.
Go for a hike
Roast marshmallows and make S’mores
Invite some friends over for a pot luck meal and yard games
Plant the tops & seeds from fruit & veggies that you’ve saved
Go camping
Have a dance party
Play glow in the dark tag with glow sticks or necklaces
Have a family puzzle night or afternoon
Have a read aloud story afternoon
Go for a bike ride
Visit a museum on free days
Check out books or DVDs from the library
Throw a summer party. Use up all of your extra birthday party supplies and have a blast!
Make crafts together
Complete a family project
Serve the community together
Put on a play
Make cookies
Teach your kids how to play card games you played as a child such as tic tac toe, checkers, or chess
Go to a nature center
Go fishing
Go berry picking
Horseback riding
Do some home school activities. My kids love doing school at home and it keeps their little minds fresh
Make mud pies
Catch fireflies or lightning bugs
Build a tree house or fort
Make a tent out of blankets in your living room
Make homemade play-doh, puffy paint, or other fun art supplies for the kids to have a blast with
Make your own bubble solution and blow bubbles
Run through the sprinkler
Go to the pool
Visit family
Have a water balloon fight
Go to the beach or a near by lake
Visit the Farmer’s Market
Play hopscotch
Go to the zoo
Fly kites
Paint each other’s faces
Paint rocks
Have a meal eating only what you grew in your garden
Mini golf
View surrounding community fire works
Wash the car together
Make sand castles together
Go to the children’s museum
Go mini golfing or bowling
Go to the movie theater