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:

• 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

The Amazing Square Bubble

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: