As summer unfolds, the excitement of school being out can often be coupled with a hint of anxiety about keeping your kids entertained for an entire 10 weeks. Even if you’ve signed them up for camps or planned a vacation, you’ll still have plenty of time together. The duration of this “together time” can feel different depending on your perspective.
While a relaxed summer sounds ideal, kids typically can only handle unstructured time for a short period before they start expressing their desire for screens. Although screen time can be a helpful break for parents, overindulgence during the summer is something many wish to avoid.
The key to minimizing screen time is to have an exciting list of alternative activities ready. While familiar outings like library story time, zoo visits, or beach days are great, they can quickly become monotonous. Instead, consider trying out some unique and engaging activities that require varying levels of adult involvement while allowing kids to explore on their own.
Here are 40 screen-free ideas to inspire your summer adventures:
- Create an insect observation kit to watch caterpillars metamorphose into butterflies or examine ants at work.
- Participate in a Summer Walking Challenge, or design your own.
- Take a Rainbow Walk, capturing items in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple with colored pencils.
- Engage in the Kindness Rocks Project by painting smooth rocks with uplifting messages and leaving them for others to find.
- Sign up for a monthly art or science project subscription box—check out options at KiwiCo for inspiration.
- Spend an afternoon ice skating.
- Make homemade lemonade and sell it at a stand.
- Bake treats for your neighbors.
- Spend a day exploring a working farm.
- Conduct simple science experiments using common kitchen ingredients.
- Start a vegetable garden and track its growth each week.
- Cook a meal using ingredients harvested from your garden.
- Craft fairy houses from natural materials like pinecones and sticks.
- Disassemble old devices like clocks or rotary phones to see their inner workings.
- Create an art book by collaging a hardcover book with photos, letters, and other materials.
- Organize a scavenger hunt in your backyard, at the beach, or in nature.
- Revamp old furniture with a fresh coat of paint.
- Enjoy the simple pleasure of bubble wrap.
- Get rid of weeds in the garden.
- Publish a family newspaper using traditional methods.
- Spend quality time with an elderly neighbor.
- Wash the family car together.
- Learn a new skill like knitting or sewing.
- Volunteer to walk dogs in your neighborhood.
- Create a mural on your driveway with chalk.
- Camp out in your backyard or even indoors.
- Write and perform a play.
- Build a fort and keep it up for the summer.
- Visit a quirky museum you’ve never explored.
- Go stargazing during a picnic at night.
- Take a dip in the pool or go night swimming.
- Embark on a food tour of your town, awarding “Best” titles to your favorites.
- Choose a non-traditional mode of transport for the day, such as biking or taking the bus.
- Roll out butcher paper and illustrate a city scene.
- Invent your own board game.
- Set up an obstacle course in your yard.
- Create a mud pit for some messy fun.
- Learn something new together, like rock climbing or a card game.
- Experiment with creating your own recipes.
- Pick a destination and have your child chart a route using a real map from AAA.
These 40 activities can help you craft a memorable summer that steers clear of screens. For additional insights into family planning and pregnancy, you may find valuable information on resources like the CDC. If you’re interested in home insemination options, check out this post about our home insemination kit. For the best practices on supplements, including vitamin E, visit this trusted authority.
Summary:
This article provides a diverse list of 40 screen-free activities to enrich your summer, encouraging creativity, exploration, and family bonding. From nature walks to backyard camps, these ideas promote engagement and reduce reliance on screens.