49 Free Summer Activities for Kids

49 free activities for kids to try during the summer.

• 2 min read
• child development
• custody

School is out for the summer, and here it comes, the dreaded whine of, “I’m bored.” It can be challenging for parents to entertain their kids every second of the day, especially in co-parenting situations.

Co-parents must agree on whether their child will stay home or enroll in summer camps and activities

Co-parents are also charged with figuring out which parent will provide transportation, and who will pay for what. Summer is a wonderful time to nurture your child’s creative juices and help boost their development. You can do this without getting into a conflict with your co-parent or breaking the bank. Encourage your child to try some of these free, fun summer activities:

1. Shoot funny home videos singing, dancing, or just acting goofy.
2. Write and act out a play.
3. Read a book.
4. Write a story. Illustrate it.
5. Listen to music.
6. Dance.
7. Create a scavenger hunt.
8. Play a board game.
9. Make a homemade board game.
10. Write letters to friends or relatives.

11. Make homemade cards.
12. Play hide-and-go-seek.
13. Camp out in the backyard.
14. Make snow cones out of crushed ice.
15. Take a walk…or better yet, walk the dog.
16. Ride a bike.
17. Make a mud pie.
18. Learn to make origami.
19. Learn almost any new skill…YouTube has an infinite supply of do-it-yourself videos.
20. Run through the sprinkler.

21. Paint with water on the patio or deck.
22. Paint rocks.
23. Set up a backyard obstacle course.
24. Make crafts out of paper.
25. Play hopscotch.
26. Create shadow puppets.
27. Rearrange your room.
28. Learn string games.
29. Watch old home movies.
30. Build a fort.

31. Make a necklace out of pasta or cereal.
32. Climb a tree.
33. Solve a crossword or word search.
34. Play free online games.
35. Make a pet rock.
36. Learn to speak Pig Latin.
37. Have a fashion show.
38. Research careers.
39. Jump rope.
40. Blow bubbles.

41. Make your own Play-Doh or slime.
42. Finger paint.
43. Decorate a T-shirt.
44. Watch the clouds.
45. Wash the car.
46. Wash the dog.
47. Collect bugs.
48. Play with sidewalk chalk.
49. Bake a cake.

Make time to do some of these activities with your child. If you and your co-parent do plan to enroll your child in summer camps and activities, have a conversation beforehand. It is beneficial to set a schedule and budget ahead of time.

TalkingParents can help you and your co-parent communicate about your child’s summer plans in a safe and secure way. Learn more about how the TalkingParents app can assist you.