I don't know about you, but I want our summers to be as screen-free as possible. Kids should get outside and play instead of plopping down in front of a television or spending hours on the iPad. With childhood obesity on the rise, it's more important than ever to get kids off the couch. I've gathered up some of the best Screen-free Summer Activities for Kids to keep your kids occupied and having fun while making the most of the summer. Whether it's playing in the sprinkler or blowing bubbles, summer time should be full of fun!
100 Screen-Free Summer Activities for Kids
1. Go geocaching
2. Take a nature walk (Don't forget to take a nature walk bag with you! Need ideas for what to do on a nature walk? Here are 100 Easy and Fun Creative Nature Walk Ideas.)
3. Run through the sprinkler
4. Blow bubbles
5. Play in a rainbow rice sensory bin
6. Build a blanket fort and read by flashlight
7. Play a board game
8. Zoom a Balloon Rocket across the room
9. Ride bikes
10. Build with straws and pipe cleaners
11. Play with vinegar and baking soda to have some Fizzy Fine Motor Fun
12. Shoot water guns
13. Throw water balloons (These rapid fill water balloons are the best!)
14. Play at a park. Try a new one to keep things interesting
15. Make a worm observation jar
16. Draw with chalk pastels (Our favorite chalk art tutorials are from You Are an Artist.)
17. Play tic-tac-toe
18. Make homemade playdough
19. Do a Random Act of Kindness. Here's a list of 100 Random Acts of Kindness for Kids to give you some ideas
20. Make a lightbulb light up with a balloon with the coolest science experiment there is--The Magic Lightbulb Balloon Science Experiment
21. Set up a treasure hunt
22. Dress up in costumes (Here are some creative dress-up ideas for boys and girls.)
23. Have a paper airplane competition
24. Have a picnic
25. Make a puppet show
26. Blow up a balloon with sugar and yeast
27. Blow up a balloon with vinegar and baking soda
28. Create a comic book
29. Make an obstacle course
30. Play in a Soap Foam Sensory Bin
31. Pretend you are an archaeologist digging in the sand
32. Paint flower pots and plant some flowers
33. Read a book. Here are some great books for kids
34. Play a bean bag tossing game with homemade bean bags
35. Make a Viking Ship Craft
36. Make a maze and challenge someone to complete it
37. Make a Torn Paper Nest Craft
38. Play hide and seek
39. Make a volcano
40. Create a cardboard rocketship and pretend you're an astronaut
41. Make a sundial
42. Create sock puppets
43. Go on a letter hunt
44. Make marble art with shaving cream and food coloring
45. Get some hammering practice in and play Pound the Sound
46. Make a knight shield
47. Play Letter Stomp
48. Make a scrapbook from your summer vacation
49. Make paper plate masks
50. Play croquet
51. Create clay sculptures
52. Create paper bag puppets
53. Catch fireflies
54. Make moon craters in flour
55. Play badminton
56. Shoot slingshots
57. Have fun with Sidewalk Paint Rockets
58. Make Gelatin Birdseed Feeders and watch the birds (Don't forget the binoculars!)
59. Play in the mud
60. Build a solar oven and bake a treat in it
61. Make a picture with stickers and write a story about it
62. Make Tin Can Stilts and walk around
63. Make friendship bracelets
64. Fly a kite
65. Catch bugs and observe them
66. Draw a picture in a summer journal
67. Fingerpaint a masterpiece
68. Go for a swim
69. Jump rope
70. Make slime (Use The Ultimate Slime Guide for some tips!)
71. Create kindness rocks and hide them in your neighborhood
72. Paint with watercolors
73. Write a letter and mail it (Try some fun stationary!)
74. Play flashlight hide and seek one night
75. Go stargazing
76. Make a project using items from the recycling bin
78. Do a puzzle
79. Turn on some music and practice your dance moves
80. Wash the car
81. Watch a sunset
82. Use a camera, not your phone, to take pictures of what interests you (It's a little pricey, but kids love Polaroids!)
83. Take a bubble bath and play
84. Go fishing
85. Play card games
86. Do a Mad Lib
87. Sing karaoke
88. Learn how to cook (We use the Kids Cook Real Food Course and love it!)
89. Help in the garden (Here are some garden tools for kids)
90. Do origami
91. Sell lemonade
92. Lay in the grass and cloud watch
93. Draw a self-portrait
94. Build with Legos
95. Play hopscotch
96. Have toy car races
97. Make leaf rubbings
98. Go to storytime at the library or bookstore
99. Have a tea party
100. Do a science experiment