3 Fun Summer Activities for Kids

As a teacher, I was always looking for ways to support families as summer rolled in. I knew how important it was to keep kids’ minds active while still giving them space to enjoy the season. These summer activities for kids were perfect to send home during the last week of school or even use during summer programs, camps, or enrichment sessions. Let's take a look at 3 fun summer activities for kids that I know you'll love!

Start Summer Strong with Purposeful Summer Activities for Kids

Think summer. Think sunshine. Think creative ways to keep kids thinking! Summer offers the perfect opportunity to blend fun and learning. These summer activities for kids were the type of resources I loved sending home with students as the year wrapped up.

From critical thinking challenges to math and reading bingo to hands-on bucket list adventures, each activity gave my kids something to look forward to. It was also a way to stay engaged long after the final bell.

Keep Minds Moving with a Summer Bucket List for Kids

One thing I sent home before break was a summer bucket list. It was a great way to help my kiddos brainstorm how they wanted to spend their time. This wasn’t just a list of chores or homework. The summer bucket list included fun experiences, a few academic tie-ins, and lots of memory-making.

My kiddos loved checking off each item. Families appreciated having a visual to guide summer adventures. Some of my students even created a new list each month and turned it into a summer-long challenge.

Grab the updated freebie here: Download the Fun in the Sun Bucket List

Reinforce Skills with Summer Bingo Cards for Kids

Another favorite I sent home was a bingo-style challenge. It gave my students fun, manageable ways to practice both math and reading skills throughout the summer. 

Summer activities for kids like this didn’t feel like work, but more like a game. Each square encouraged my kids to read in new places, solve real-life math problems, or play games with family members.

It's so easy to use, too! Just copy one or both of the bingo cards and send them home with students at the end of the school year. You might even offer a small prize for anyone who returns them to you when the new year begins.

If you'd like to grab these FREE Bingo Cards to use with your students, just enter your first name and email address below. I'll send the summer learning bingo cards directly to your inbox.

Challenge Creativity with Divergent Thinking Summer Activities for Kids

When I wanted my students to stay engaged with creative tasks during summer break, I reached for open-ended activities like this divergent thinking packet. These summer activities for kids gave them the freedom to imagine, design, and explore without needing a lot of directions or supplies. I loved calling it a “puzzle packet” because each page felt like a new challenge, but in a playful, stress-free way.

Here’s what was included:

What Do You See?

In this activity, my kiddos were given sets of summer-themed objects. Think pool floaties, flip-flops, popsicles, and sunglasses. Then, they were asked to generate as many unique and creative designs as they could using the shapes provided. This activity stretched their imaginations and pushed them to think beyond the obvious.

Complete the Picture

These activities encouraged my students to take a partially drawn image and turn it into a full scene or idea. After they finished their drawing, they had space to write about their creation, which brought in a little ELA integration. I found this especially helpful for reluctant writers because the visuals gave them a natural starting point.

These two types of pages were simple to print and pack into a summer folder or use as early finisher work during those last few days of school. Best of all, they worked across a wide range of skill levels and could be enjoyed independently at home.

These were the kind of summer activities for kids that encouraged creativity, made room for choice, and sparked ideas that went far beyond the page.

Kick off Summer with a Smile with These Summer Activities

These summer activities for kids helped me send students off with purpose and a bit of fun. Whether it was building a bucket list, completing a math bingo challenge, or stretching their thinking with creative puzzles, these ideas gave my kids structure and enjoyment at the same time.

If you're prepping for the end of the year, I hope these ideas help you wrap things up in a meaningful way. Don’t forget to grab the freebies so your students head into summer with excitement and curiosity!

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