Summer Break and Kids!
In this article we have six summer time activities at home that your children (or you) may enjoy all summer long!
The summer break is here, and while it’s a time for kids to relax and recharge, many parents wonder how to keep their children engaged without resorting to endless screen time.
Enter our Summertime Activity Cards and Weekly Planner! Designed to inspire hands-on learning, creativity, and outdoor exploration, this resource offers parents a simple way to organize a fun, educational summer filled with activities that will keep kids active and curious.
Summer Activity Time Card and Weekly Planner
Now that we have a list of six main activities to choose from how can we build a schedule of activities during the week? The timing of your schedule and the duration of each activities can be adjusted to suit the age levels of your children.
Download your copy of our summer activities planner guide here!
Why Screen-Free Activities Matter
In a digital world, it’s tempting for kids to turn to tablets, phones, and computers as a main source of entertainment. While technology can be educational, there’s a growing body of research showing the benefits of limiting screen time for children. Engaging in activities that involve creativity, physical movement, and problem-solving helps boost cognitive development, social skills, and physical health.
Our activity cards encourage children to learn, play, and explore without the use of screens. From making art projects to conducting simple science experiments, every card offers an opportunity to build new skills and make lasting memories.
Building Creative Minds All Summer Long
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What’s Inside the Summertime Activity Cards and Planner?
Our Summertime Activity Cards and Weekly Planner is packed with ideas that span across subjects, ensuring there’s something for every interest and age:
- Musical Activities: These can include musical games or learning how to play musical instruments.
- Physical Activities: These can include outdoor scavenger hunts, obstacle courses, and nature walks keep kids moving and enjoying the fresh air.
- Research Activities: Why not have kids explore easy-to-follow experiments with household items to spark curiosity and allow them to become mini scientists right in your kitchen.
- School Type Activities: Have students explore creative exercises like making nature collages or painting rock art give kids a chance to express themselves and bring home beautiful creations.
- Reading and Language Activities: These could include word games, mini book clubs, and storytelling to help strengthen language skills and encourage a love for reading.
- Kitchen Activities: Kids can explore cooking and baking projects that introduce basic math and science skills while giving kids the joy of creating their own snacks and treats.
Paired with our weekly planner, parents can schedule these activities, helping kids look forward to each day’s adventure. You can even mix and match activities based on weather, energy levels, and your child’s interests.
The Benefits of Structured Planning
Having a structure during the summer can reduce the chances of boredom, making it easier for kids to focus on meaningful activities rather than falling into screen time as a default. Our weekly planner also gives kids a sense of ownership over their day, teaching them how to balance different types of activities and take pride in their accomplishments.
With our planner, parents can customize a balanced schedule that combines independent play, family bonding, and learning moments. Planning also allows children to set small goals, feel a sense of accomplishment, and practice self-discipline—all valuable life skills that will benefit them year-round.
You will find our recommend list of the kinds of activities you can do each day using our free downloadable summer activities planner guide.
Six Summer Time Activities At Home Kids Will Love
Below you will find our recommended list of activities to keep you busy all summer long!
I. Simple Physical Activities
We encourage children to include some simple physical activities in their day to keep their energy levels high.
The benefits to physical activities is plentiful as it builds muscles and maintains the body and mind in good health.
Simple physical activities around the house could be as simple as running around in the back yard, or running through the water sprinkler to play games with house hold garden items.
Other physical activities could be as simple as going for a simple walk, run, or hike.
Daily visits to the nearby dry or water parks encourage children to explore what the park has to offer, as well improving their critical thinking skills in looking to discover new things.
The goal with physical activities is to get the mind and body energized!
Keeping the mind active could also mean learning a new language!
II. Learning a New Language
What are the benefits of learning a new language?
It expands your own language skills and teaches us to other connect languages together.
Studies show that learning more than one language greatly improves memory skills and makes it easier to learn any subject, such as science or math.
In building language skills it is important to recognize how to improve on each skill.
It starts with listening skills, encourage your children to build their listening skills with games and activities.
You can encourage learning new languages through play acting as well.
Other ways to build language skills include
- board games such as Scrabble!
- reading books
- word puzzles
- an app called Duolingo to help build language skills each day (no affiliation here, we just like it!)
Why not turn the skills we are using in language activities and become musical?
III. Musical Activities
Research has shown that playing a musical instrument increases your critical thinking skills as well as memory skills.
Playing an instrument may not be an affordable past time, however, thanks to the internet we can use certain apps that help teach us how to play certain instruments.
Being musical could also mean learning how to sing. Learning a musical talent can be seen as an educational activity.
Learning a musical talent can be seen as an educational activity.
IV. Educational / V. Research Activities
Now wait, I know what you’re thinking, most of us don’t want to hear the word educational during summer months.
True, but when we say educational it doesn’t have to mean going to school.
Do you (or your children) ask questions or ever wonder what it is out there; such as with space or the oceans of the world?
Why not take a little time out of your day to research a topic that you may find interesting to learn more about and share it with others!
Educational activities in summer pretty much means ways to doing any activity that improves life skills.
We mean here
- playing board games (which can help improve math skills)
- visiting the local library
- exploring the arts through crafts, playwriting, or drawing
- exploring science by making your own airplane crafts
- helping in and around the house with chores or cooking.
Why not encourage your children to help make new recipes in the kitchen?
VI. Kitchen Activities
Learning to cook or bake is a life skill that most people would appreciate having in their aprons. The level of creativities that can result from cooking remain endless.
If you consider how much learning goes on in the kitchen, we can see how that same learning helps build confidence in the classroom.
Ready to Get Started?
Head over to our blog for additional tips on using our activity cards and planner, or visit our Teachers Pay Teachers (TpT) store to access the full guide and other fun summer activities! This summer, you can help your kids discover new interests, stay active, and make memories that don’t involve screens.
Let’s make this summer a season of creativity, adventure, and growth!
Homeschooling parents may also enjoy this food planner and activity summer guide we have put together that offers guides on planning your day as a home care provider for children outside your family!
Related Topics
Connect to our other pages as you navigate through our website. Explore what these pages have to offer you and you will be glad you did!
- Why Physical Health in Education is Important
- Educational Strategies to Transform Homeschool Learning
- Parents Reflect on Education Policy in the Homeschool Classroom
- Connect Laughter and Learning in the Homeschool Classroom
- The Role Parents Can Play In The Online Classroom
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Final Thoughts…
You will note that we do include a time for electronics as it is inevitable that children would want some electronics time. However, it is important to keep it no more than the recommended daily amount (when possible!)
Both parents and children found that, due to online learning becoming a necessity in 2020 and beyond, electronics weren’t only for relaxation and so this made the stresses of learning even more challenging.
In our blog section you will also find ways for both parents and students to cope with the stresses that came with learning online. Click on the highlighted words to learn more.
Click here for our blogs focusing on learning online.
And finally, some of the best ways to wind down the day is with family. Some simple activities could include family movie night, or story time just before bed. One last point to mention is to include laughter in your daily to make any challenges that come your way a little easier to handle.
We hope you found this article useful and will be of help in making this summer a more enjoyable one for both you and your family!
Share Your Thoughts
Comment below to let us know if you have any other interesting tips for making summer time more fun!
