Fun Activities to Keep Your Kids Busy Every Summer

We all know what summer means - it’s when kids have their much-awaited vacations!

Kids will now have ample time to travel to different places, experiment with new toys, play tons of games at their leisure, and engage in their favourite pastimes.

For parents, this will all come down to planning everything in advance. What needs to be on your travel checklist? What kind of toys will your kids like? What are some simple and fun summer activities that will keep your kids entertained for hours?

We have listed down a few fun activity ideas that are a hit with kids every summer:

Outdoor Activities:

1. Go to an amusement park.

How about a day of screaming from rollercoasters, swimming in pools, and going down big slides? Even us adults would want to spend our summers like that!

2. Head over to the nearest beach!

Have a beach not too far from your place? That's the easiest option for kids to have fun and frolic around this summer! They can run around, build sandcastles, collect seashells, and do things that they see kids doing in the movies!

3. Take a road trip.

Who wouldn't want to go on a road trip, feel the breeze, and take in some breathtaking views on the way? For kids, such experiences would only serve to strengthen their bond with their families. Even if it's a long road trip, there are tons of ways to keep kids engaged.

4. Have a picnic!

It might sound simple, but picnics can be a very endearing way to bond with your kids this summer. Choose a local park or a playground or even set everything up in your backyard - being together is what ultimately makes the difference. The change of scenery is also bound to lift everyone's mood!

5. Cycle around together.

Cycling is super-fun, and it can be even more delightful to do it with your kids! It is also the perfect opportunity for you to explore new trails, stay active, and create some precious family memories!

6. Play simple outdoor games

Play a game of catch, frisbee, tag, or football, around your house or in a park. You can even create competitions around each game.

7. Attend a kids' event

Summer means there'll be tons of kids' events coming up everywhere. Some of these events will have specific spaces for kids to play, have fun, and make new friends too. You can look them up online and take your kids there.

Summer is ripe with fun local carnivals and state/county fairs. Attend one and try out some of the traditional foods (funnel cake and lemon shake-ups) or the crazy food (fried Snickers bars?!). Play some games, ride the rides and have a great day of fun!

8. Rock Climbing and Rappelling

• Strength
• Coordination
• Perseverance

Three skills to check off your little adventurer’s list.

As they climb towering rocks, defying gravity, and rappel down cliffs with a fearless grin, these three skills equip them to move forward with courage and confidence.

9. Go for Wildlife and Cultural Camps Exploring Indian Heritage

India is a land of diverse natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. Many wildlife and cultural camps across the length and breadth of India offer a melting pot of adventure with learning about local traditions, giving your child a taste of our vibrant country's offerings.

From spotting majestic animals in their natural habitats to understanding ancient art forms, these camps offer truly immersive experiences that will make your kids come back for more.

10. Go Fruit-picking

Summer is the peak time to visit a local orchard. Lots of places let kids pick-your-own fruits, veggies and flowers. Our summertime favorite picks are strawberries, blackberries, peaches, tomatoes, herbs, blueberries, zucchini, watermelons and sunflowers.

11. Go on a clean-up hike

Next time you’re out exploring your favorite local trail (or even going for a walk around your neighborhood), take along a garbage bag and make an effort to clean up any trash or rubbish you find along the way. Chances are, you’ll be (unpleasantly) surprised at just how much trash has been discarded. Set a good example for your kids by cleaning up and explaining to them the importance of taking care of our surroundings and the environment.

12. Fly a kite

Flying a kite is one of those quintessential childhood activities that everyone should try at least once! Grab a kite from a store or try your hand at making your own! Choose a location with a wide open space, like a football field, park or the beach. See how high you can get the kite and who can make it do acrobatic tricks!

13.  Canoe/kayak/paddleboard

Going for a boat ride is such a classic summer adventure. If you can, take your kids on a canoe trip, a kayak outing or out paddleboarding. You’ll be pleasantly surprised just how fun and entertaining being on the water can be for everyone. Here’s a super helpful post on how to get started stand-up paddleboarding with kids. 

Indoor Activities:

1. Build a pillow fort!

It'll never not be fun to build pillow forts. It's low-effort, fun, and intimate. To top it off, you can even use it as a reading nook or conduct a mini-storytelling session for them.

2. Set up an indoor treasure hunt.

Oooh, the good old treasure hunt! You can take inspiration from your kid's favourite stories or characters and totally DIY this. All you have to do is sprinkle clues related to the story around the house and have them lead up to an exciting gift!

3. Organise a family game night!

Another fun way to keep your kids engaged while also being involved yourself as a parent is to organise a weekly family game night where you play a bunch of fun games, like Bingo, Dumb Charades, Heads Up, or some board games.

4. Teach them a new skill or language

If your child is open to learning a new skill, you could teach them something like cooking - you can start with simple dishes or drinks and have them move their way up gradually. The same goes for other life skills or even learning a new language.

5. Get them books to read

Summers are the perfect time to get lost in the world of books. If your kid is averse to reading, try getting them used to audio content; you could start off with an app like Vobble, where they can get a really immersive experience through its extensive content library.

6. Put together a crafts box

Get some art supplies & stationery and put them all together in one place so that your kids can dig into it whenever they feel like drawing, colouring, or making crafts.

7. Play Frozen ice dino dig

Freeze some plastic dinosaurs or other small toys or treasures in a giant block of ice. Give the kids tools to help them chip away at the ice to get to the treasure. This is a great way to stay cool on a hot day!

Through this all, remember that the best memories are made when you get to spend a lot of quality time together as a family. Relish the summer break and do what your kids love WITH them.