Tons of Ideas to Make Summer Fun for Kids!

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I don’t know about you, but I tend to need ideas to make Summer fun for my kids.  I can get lost in my To Do lists if I don’t plan ahead.  So, every Summer I grab a calendar and start planning in some simple and fun ways to spend time with my kids.  I like to ask my kids for their ideas and a “wishlist” of activities they would like to include.

With my calendar in hand I schedule the necessary things first (like doctors appointments) and I block off our vacation days if we are taking one. Next I go to work on adding the fun things we have thought of.  I like to include one fun thing each day.  For days when you have a lot of other stuff going on, pick something quick and easy. Here are some of the things on our Summer Fun list this year:

  • Water Day (water balloon fights, sprinkler and slip n slide play)
  • Go to the Library. Then have a contest to see who can read the most pages in a day (the younger ones can do picture books or have books read to them)
  • Visiting the local Farmer’s Market and try some new fruits and veggies
  • What makes me special Day (highlighting each child and what are the things you love about them. Everyone can join in.)
  • Write and perform a (short) skit
  • Decorate your room Day (use items you already have, make something or splurge on something new)
  • Go to a field or park and have a family soccer game
  • Make Homemade ice cream
  • Have a shaving cream fight in the backyard and then run through the sprinklers
  • Write and illustrate your own book
  • Make a homemade version of your favorite candy bar
  • Art Day. Paint, draw, color, and then send your kids creations to their adoring fans (a.k.a. grandma and grandpa)
  • Baking/cooking class (making a favorite treat or simple meal)
  • A Visit to a local art museum
  • Have a reading hour everyday at the same time
  • Have a Lego building contest
  • Buy solid t-shirts and decorate them with fabric paint or tie dye
  • Picnic at a favorite park (or try a new one)
  • Taking those who serve you often (mailman, firemen, local police dept, etc…) a “Thank you” treat (cookies or brownies)
  • Pajama Day
  • Kids in charge Day (this one takes a brave mom!)
  • Play board games
  • Plant your own flowers or herbs Day
  • Make homemade play dough
  • Have a book or clothing swap with your kids friends.  Make it into a party
  • Explore local places that you have always wanted to go to (museums, parks, stores, etc…)
 There are many more ideas but you get the picture.  Next I put on the calendar things that I want to spend time working with my children on.  Some of these repeat in my calendar.  Even though these things take work I am trying my best to make these things fun too. Here are some of those ideas:
  • Tying shoes
  • Name writing and handwriting practice
  • Spelling
  • Grammar rules practice
  • Learning Bible Verses
  • Learning the Books of the Bible
  • Manners
  • Etiquette

For even MORE ideas follow my Summertime Fun board on Pinterest.  I’ll be adding ideas throughout the Summer.  Have an idea I should add? Leave me a link in the comments to add it.

What are your ideas for a fun Summertime with your kids? I’d love to hear!

Next, I’ll share with you some ideas for lunch and snack plans.  I hope you have a wonderful Summer with your kids that is full of wonderful memories!!

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Summertime Lunch & Snack Ideas

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So now that you have some ideas to put on your calendar for ways to have some fun with your kids this Summer what are you going to feed everyone?  Here are some ideas for fun snacks and lunches to include of your calendar.

Lunch Foods:

  • Make your own (a.k.a healthier) Lunchables (crackers, cheese, turkey slices, and fruit)
  • Mac N Cheese
  • Grilled Cheese
  • Bean and cheese burritos
  • Make your own bagel pizzas
  • PB&J
  • Build your own salad (lettuce, shredded cheese, veggie toppings, dressing)
  • Homemade chicken breast nuggets with sweet potato oven-baked fries
  • Chicken salad sandwiches
  • Baked Potatoes (with choice of toppings)
  • Waffle sandwiches (waffles, eggs, cheese and sausage)
  • Taco Salad

Snack foods:

  • ants on a log (celery sticks with peanut butter or cream cheese spread on them and raisins on top)
  • Fresh popped popcorn (lots of seasoning possibilities: ranch seasoning, cheese, Cajun seasoning, cinnamon sugar, carmel corn, etc…)
  • Smoothies (endless possibilities)
  • Oatmeal cookies
  • Fruit salad
  • Homemade soft pretzels
  • Sliced apples with peanut butter
  • Cheese slices and grapes
  • Carrots and ranch dip
  • Homemade yogurt Popsicles (use strawberry, or another flavor, organic yogurt in popsicle molds)
  • Nuts, raisins, and chocolate chips mix
  • Fruit kabobs with strawberry yogurt for dipping sauce
  • Homemade Granola Bars
  • Deviled egg chicks
  • Animal Cracker snack mix (animal crackers, nuts, candy coated chocolate Sundrops and pretzels)

Do you have any more ideas? I’d love to hear them! I’ll post recipes as I can.  I hope you are enjoying your Summer!

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Great Ideas for Summer Fun for You & Your Kids

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Need some ideas for fun things to do with your kids this Summer?  Grab a calendar and start planning in some simple and fun ways to spend time with your kids.  Ask your kids for their best ideas and include them as well.

Below are some of the fun things we are adding to our calendar this Summer.  First I blocked off time for doctors and dentist appointments because I know we need to get those done.  Then I made sure our vacation time was blocked off.  Next I went to work adding the fun things I had thought of and the things my kids had suggested.  Here are some of those things:

  • Water Day (water balloon fights, sprinkler and slip n slide play)
  • Go to the Library. Then have a contest to see who can read the most pages in a day (the younger ones can do picture books or have books read to them)
  • Visiting the local Farmer’s Market
  • What makes me special Day (highlighting each child and what are the things you love about them)
  • Write and perform a (short) skit
  • Decorate your room Day
  • Make Homemade ice cream
  • Write and illustrate your own book
  • Make a homemade version of your favorite candy bar
  • Baking/cooking class (making a favorite treat or simple meal)
  • A Visit to a local art museum
  • Picnic at a favorite park
  • Taking those who serve you often a “Thank you” treat (mailman, firemen, local police dept, etc… This idea thanks to MOPS)
  • Pajama Day
  • Kids in charge Day (this one takes a brave mom!)
  • Plant your own flowers or herbs Day
  • Have a book or clothing swap with your kids friends.  Make it into a party.

 There are many more ideas but you get the picture.  Next I put on the calendar things that I want to spend time working with my children on.  Some of these repeat in my calendar.  Even though these things take work I am trying my best to make these things fun too. Here are some of those ideas: 
  • Tying shoes
  • Name writing and handwriting practice
  • Grammar rules practice
  • Learning the 10 Commandments
  • Learning the Books of the Bible
  • Phone etiquette
  • Manners
  • Etiquette

What are your ideas for a fun Summertime with your kids? I’d love to hear!

Next, I’ll share with you some ideas for lunch and snack plans.  I hope you have a wonderful Summer with your kids that is full of wonderful memories!!  

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    Kids Bowl for Free All Summer!

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    This summer, your children 16 and under can bowl for free at your local AMF. Sound too good to be true? It’s not! Just register your children to get weekly coupons via email for two free games per child per day all summer long. Kids enjoy bowling; it’s fun, active, social and local and – best of all – now it’s FREE! 
    Free Bowling is from May 30th- September 5th until 8:00 P.M. seven days a week. This does not cover the cost of shoe rentals.
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