Hot days, relaxed schedules, and loads of free time…these are all the reasons why you need this GIANT list of summer activities for kids!
I LOVE summer! I’m not a hot weather kinda person BUT I love the freedom that summer offers families and the chance to connect and have fun together after the busy school year wraps up. Yes, the days are long and it is a challenge to pry that iPad out of your kids’ hands when there is no homework or schedule to maintain. So I created this enormous list of awesome summer fun with an educational twist….yup, this summer I encourage you to explore the magic of STEAM with your kids!
New to STEAM? Here’s a quick primer: The acronym STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. Here’s what STEAM projects are and why they are perfect summer fun for families:
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- STEAM projects are cross disciplinary. STEAM activities ask kids to combine two or more subjects in one project. This usually means they are a bit magical and very engaging because kids kids can start to see connections in the world around them that they might not have noticed before.
- STEAM encourages teamwork. Kids work together and learn from each other, perfect for strengthening those sibling relationships
- STEAM projects develop problem solving skills. If you are a parent that wants your kid brains to stay sharp over the summer STEAM projects will help you do that without being overtly educational. In stead of handing your child a summer skills book why not set out some invitations for them to create?
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Looking for more of a guided STEAM experience this summer? Check out our DIY Camp STEAM, a week’s worth of STEAM activities, game and snack ideas + a success guide for creating a DIY camp in your own backyard!
The Best Summer Activities for Kids
Water Play
Nothing says summer like water play! This collection of water based activities is the perfect way to cool off in the blazing heat!
Water Wall
Ice Painting
Safe Drinking Water Lab
Pouring Pearls
Rain Gutter Rivers
Archimedes Screw
PVC Water Shooter
Tie-Dye Bookmarks
Ice Sculptures
Exploring Electronics
Another reason to love summer? Many of those more involved projects you just can’t find time for during the school year are the perfect way to fill up a summer afternoon! If you have been hankering to get your kids started with electronics now is the time!
Circuit Bugs
Circuit Flower
Steady Hand Game
Flower Card Circuit
Origami Firefly Circuit
Lumos Magic Wands
Engineering Challenges
Engineering challenges are great relationship builders. They are a good way to encourage siblings to work together rather than bicker over the remote control!
Balance Hearts
Hydraulic Elevator
Pool Noodle Engineering Wall
100 Invitations to Build
Exploring Ramps
Engineering Challenges
Playground Marble Run
Make It Move
Spin, it launch it, fly it….these movement based summer activities for kids are the perfect way to incorporate some physical activity into creative exploration!
Bottle Rockets
Pinwheel Helicopters
Inertia Zoom Ball
Magnetic Marble Mazes
Make a Paper Kite
Rubber Band Paddle Boats
Make a Tyvek Kite
Op-Art Pinwheels
Paper Boomerang
DIY Summer Camp: Camp STEAM
Scopes
So.many.scopes… scopes bring out the magic in the world by helping kids see thing s differently…literally!
Pool Noodle Periscope
Teleidoscopes
DIY Spectroscope
DIY Water Scope
Make a Stethoscope
Make a Water Microscope
Solar STEAM
It wouldn’t be summer without ample sunshine! Learn how to harness the power of the sun for cooking, creating, and more!
Make Sun Prints
Solar Lights
Solar Oven
Exploring Solar Heat
Sun Shelter
Paper Sundials
Human Sundials
Slime Suncatchers
Bubbles
Did you ever think bubbles could be educational? There’s actually a lot of amazing things to learn through bubble making!
Bubble Patterns
Bubble Shooter
DIY Bubble Blowing machine
Bubble Painting
Tensile Bubbles
Chemistry Concoctions
Use science to create toys, paper and art supplies!
Homemade Paints
Slime
Chalkboard Slime
Exploding Baggies
How to Make Paper
DIY Bouncy Balls
Outdoor Adventures
Explore your backyard, the park, the beach and more with these outdoor games and challenges!
Nerf Battlefield
DIY Outdoor Explorer Kit
Senses Detective
Nature Scale
Outdoor Scavenger Hunt
Balancing Rock Sculptures
Are you ready to tackle some STEAM this summer? I hope these 50+ summer activities for kids will keep your family entertained, learning, and bonding over the long, hot summer vacation.
More Summer STEAM
And if you want to take the next step and host your own DIY backyard camp this summer for your kids, neighbors and friends check out the digital version of Camp STEAM. It contain two volumes: Camp Activity Guide with 5 days full of planned activities, games, and snacks and our Success Guide which outlines strategies for where and how to hold camp, easy ways to gather supplies, and best practices for working with kids. See more of Camp STEAM here:
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