While kids may be thrilled about summer break, parents are wondering how to keep them occupied all summer long. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to keep kids busy and entertained, from activities to toys and games.
These are our 10 top ideas for how to keep kids busy all summer, whether you’ve got a preschooler, elementary school kid, or a pre-teen or teen. These are easy to set up and perfect for kids to do with minimal supervision while you’re cooking dinner or answering emails. Whatever your summer routine, we’ve got you covered with fun and engaging ways to keep your kids occupied all summer long.
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Activities and Toys to Keep Preschoolers Busy All Summer
Sensory bins. Fill a large plastic bin with rice, beans, or sand and add toys, cups, and spoons to encourage exploration and sensory play.
Outdoor play. Set up a kiddie pool, jungle gym, or sprinkler so kids can burn off energy and play outside while developing gross motor skills. Want something you can bring indoors after summer is over? Check out indoor jungle gyms from EZPlay.
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Playdough fun. Make homemade playdough or buy a set and let your child create shapes, animals, and other designs using cutters and tools.
Sticker books. Provide your preschooler with a sticker book and let them decorate the pages with stickers. This activity can help develop fine motor skills and creativity. Melissa & Doug has some great options for ID.me members.
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Puzzles. Provide your preschooler with a simple puzzle and let them solve it independently. This activity can help develop problem-solving skills and hand-eye coordination.
Pipe cleaner crafts. Provide your preschooler with colorful pipe cleaners and let them make their own creations, like a flower or a bracelet.
Dress-up. Provide your preschooler with a box of dress-up clothes and let them pretend to be a princess, superhero, or firefighter. This activity can help develop imagination and storytelling skills.
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DIY instrument. Provide your preschooler with a few household items, such as pots and pans, and let them make their own musical instruments.
Building blocks. Provide your preschooler with building blocks and let them create their own towers or buildings. This activity can help develop fine motor skills and problem-solving skills.
Match and sort. Provide your preschooler with a set of objects, such as buttons or beads, and let them match or sort them based on size or color. This activity can help develop early math skills.
Games and Toys for Elementary School Kids Over Summer Break
Scavenger hunts. Provide your child with a list of items to find in the house or backyard and let them go on a scavenger hunt. This activity can help develop observation and problem-solving skills. Quickhunts lets you make a printable custom scavenger hunt for free.
Games and kits. Provide your child with a selection of age-appropriate board games, science kits, mazes, or building toys, and let them play independently or with siblings. This activity can help develop social and strategic thinking skills. Check out MindWare for lots of award-winning options with an ID.me discount.
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Reading challenge. Provide your child with a list of books to read and let them participate in a reading challenge. This activity can help develop literacy skills and encourage a love of reading. Your local library is the perfect place to pick up a pile of books, or check out Kidsbooks.com and use your ID.me discount.
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Photography. Provide your child with a camera or smartphone and let them take pictures of things that interest them. This activity can help develop artistic skills and encourage observation and exploration.
Coding. Provide your child with age-appropriate coding resources and let them learn to code independently. This activity can help develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Check out some of these popular coding tools for the elementary school level.
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Virtual field trips. Provide your child with virtual field trip resources, such as virtual museum tours or virtual zoo visits, and let them explore and learn about the world from the comfort of their own home. This activity can help develop curiosity and knowledge. We Are Teachers lists some great options, like the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the San Diego Zoo.
Art projects. Provide your child with art supplies and let them create their own art projects, such as painting or drawing. This activity can help develop creativity and self-expression.
Writing stories. Provide your child with writing prompts or story starters and let them write their own stories or books. This activity can help develop writing skills, imagination, and storytelling ability. These 100 options from 3P Learning will keep your kid busy all summer!
Gardening. Provide your child with gardening tools and let them plant and care for their own garden. This activity can help develop responsibility, patience, and an appreciation for nature. You can use your ID.me membership for a discount on one of Ferry-Morse’s gardening kits to get started.
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Music lessons. Provide your child with music lessons, either in-person or online, and let them learn to play an instrument or sing. This activity can help develop musical skills and a love for music.
Summer Activities for Middle Schoolers and Up
Summer Reading Program – Encourage your child to participate in a local or online summer reading program to keep their reading skills sharp and encourage a love of reading. This activity can help develop literacy skills and encourage intellectual curiosity. Visit your local library for books or check Book Outlet for ID.me deals.
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Outdoor sports and games. Provide your child with sports equipment, such as a basketball hoop or soccer ball, and let them play outdoor sports and games with friends or siblings. This activity can help develop physical fitness and teamwork skills.
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DIY home improvement projects. Provide your child with DIY home improvement instructions and materials and let them work on simple projects such as painting a room or building a bookshelf. This activity can help develop problem-solving and construction skills.
Photography and video editing. Provide your child with a camera or smartphone and let them take pictures or record videos of their summer experiences. Encourage them to edit and create a video of their summer memories. This activity can help develop creativity and technological skills.
Cooking and baking. Provide your child with simple recipes and let them cook or bake their own meals or snacks. Encourage them to try new ingredients and cuisines. This activity can help develop culinary skills and healthy eating habits.
Coding and robotics. Provide your child with coding or robotics resources, such as online courses or kits, and let them learn and build independently. This activity can help develop technical skills and problem-solving abilities. Check out these options from the STEM Education Guide.
Language learning. Encourage your child to learn a new language through online courses or language exchange programs. This activity can help develop cultural awareness and communication skills. ID.me offers discounts for several language learning platforms, like Mondly.
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Art, kits, and puzzles. Provide your child with art supplies and let them create their own art projects, such as drawing or painting. Art kits are also a great idea, like the 3D mechanical models you can find at UGears. Or encourage your child to solve some puzzles.
Music lessons and jam sessions. Provide your child with music lessons, either in-person or online, and let them learn to play an instrument or sing. Encourage them to jam with friends or siblings. This activity can help develop musical skills and a love for music.
Online gaming. Encourage your child to play age-appropriate online games with friends or siblings. This activity can help develop strategic thinking and social skills. ID.me offers discounts at many gaming stores, including GameFly and GameStop. Or surprise your kid with something new like Gameboard, which gives the tactile feel of a physical board game with an immersive digital experience.
If you’ve struggled to figure out how to keep kids busy over the summer break, you’re not alone. Every parent hears “I’m bored!” from time to time. Give these activities a try. You’re likely to find something that will keep your child’s hands busy and mind occupied so you can let your mind and body relax … at least for a little while.
