10 summertime ideas with the kiddos

Summertime is here, and if you have kiddos at home, you know the days can be long and tiring! The best way to make the most of summer and time with the kiddos is by being intentional with your time. Making a plan week by week is the best way to ensure that the kids have fun and you are not scrambling for ideas and exhausted at the end of the day.

Just a few ideas to share from our home that may result in a delightful afternoon in your home too! Some of these are great for rainy days when we are stuck inside!

Paint a masterpiece

Literally! Pick up a few watercolor supplies online or at your local art or craft store to get started. See my list of beginner supplies here. Grab your device and search Matisse, Picasso, van Gogh (or any others) and find a painting you love! Next, lightly sketch the painting on the watercolor paper to give them a guide to follow. Then, let your little get to work painting the picture. For kids, this is no different than using crayons to color in a coloring book. Do not let them be intimidated, encourage them to just have fun and see what happens!

Teach them to cook a family favorite treat

These thumbprint cookies have been a delightful little treat in our home this summer and the kids love to help make them! They are colorful and delicious, and the mint is so refreshing! These chocolate chip cookies are also THE BEST and do not last long in our home!

BONUS: Deliver your homemade treat to a sweet friend and make their day!

Scout out a new (to you) local park or playground

Why not try a new park in your neighborhood or one close by? You may meet new friends and find another play area that the kids enjoy. Bring a friend along to make the adventure even more fun!

Catch fireflies at dusk

This one never gets old! The kids squeal with delight at the sight of fireflies, who doesn’t really?! Trying to catch them is even more fun.

BONUS: End the catch with homemade smores. You can even cook them in the oven :)!

Set up a lemonade stand on your street

Who doesn’t love a good old lemonade stand?! If the thought of it is overwhelming to you, try this — purchase good store bought lemonade, lemons and cups and limit your entrepreneurial adventure to one hour. If your street doesn’t get good traffic, pop up shop a few streets over and give it a go!

BONUS: Donate all or a portion of the proceeds to a non-profit of your children’s choice. Give them three to choose from and hand deliver the donation for a lasting impression.

Jump in sprinklers in your backyard

We recently moved from a house with a pool to one without. My kiddos squeal with delight over the sprinklers and haven’t (yet) missed the pool for a minute.

Visit your local or nearby museum

You never know what your children will be drawn to and let’s be honest, art is cool. Pick up an ice cream on the way home and call it a win!

Schedule a dinner and kickball game with friends

A sweet friend of mine recently coordinated a dinner and kickball game with our boys and it was SO MUCH FUN! Boys against the moms, and I’m sure you can guess who won! It was a fun time for everyone.

Pop a tent in your backyard (or playroom) for an overnight adventure

You don’t have to go far to have fun! :) There is something about a small confined space that children love. This may be one for the dads so you can take a bath and read a book in peace for an evening!

Make your own bucket list

Ask the kiddos what THEY want to do, grab a big piece of paper and get to listing! Post your list in your family area (we use the pantry) and as you make your way through your list, mark them off. It’s fun to work your way through the list, and by the end of the summer, you will have accomplished so much (even things you didn’t remember doing!). And, whenever you run out of ideas, you will have a list waiting on you to reference!

The most important thing to remember is to have fun! Summers are for adventures and fun! Enjoy!