With school coming to an end but the summer still in a state of uncertainty, the question on everyone’s mind is, “What are we going to do this summer?” There are many lists out there that are filled with great summer fun ideas, but they include going to the beach, a water park, or a grand vacation. These ideas are great, but don’t really work for a summer during a pandemic. So I sat down to compile a list of fun summer activities, all of which can get done without having to leave your own backyard. Join Every Day Mom this summer as we complete many of these activities ourselves.
Things to do this summer at home:
- Have a water balloon fight
- Have a water gun war
- Paint rocks
- Paint with water on the sidewalk
- Sleep under the stars
- Camp out in a tent in the backyard
- Make s’mores
- Go star gazing
- Wash the car
- Play Frisbee
- Have a picnic
- Cook a meal over the open fire
- Make homemade lemonade
- Make ice cream
- Have fun with glow sticks
- Catch fireflies
- Build a fort (inside or outside)
- Have a paper airplane contest
- Tie-dye something
- Play in the sprinkler
- Dance in the rain
- Watch a thunderstorm from your covered porch
- Eat ice cream sundaes for dinner
- Make cards and mail them to loved ones
- Play flashlight tag
- Make your own bubbles
- Hatch butterflies
- Learn a new skill
- Read a book in a fun location (Tent, treehouse, hammock)
- Create your own fairy garden
- Grow your own veggies
- Make your own sidewalk chalk
- Try a new recipe
- Design your own boats and float them in a pool or tub
- Backyard movie night
- Complete a backyard nature scavenger hunt
- Complete a photo shoot
- Host an art show (invite family and friends to join you virtually)
- Make and bury a time capsule
- Make homemade popsicles
- Journal
- Make or buy a kite to fly
- Have a PJ Day
- Have a day of colors (ex: Blue Day- dress in blue, eat blue foods, make art with blue supplies)
- Trace shadows
- Celebrate the National Day of________
- Make a summer scrapbook
- Take long exposure pictures
- Dress up for a fancy family dinner
- Have a family board game night
- Create a piece of art as a family
- Look for shapes in the clouds
- Have a dance party
- Set up carnival games in the backyard
- Create your own mini golf course
- Clean and rearrange a room
- Create backyard bowling
- Wake up to watch the sunrise
- Learn a new card game
- Purchase a new coloring book
- Watch a classic movie
- Watch a movie series (Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Marvel Movies, Star Wars)
- Surprise a friend with a box of fun in the mail or left on their doorstep
- Participate in a virtual VBS
- Set a reading goal
- Read a book then watch the movie
- Buy fresh fruit from a local source (or pick your own) and make a new recipe
- Read your favorite childhood book to your children
- Create an obstacle course
- Host your own backyard Olympics
- Have family luau
- Make your own rockets
- Create Americana Art for the 4th of July
- Re-purpose something in your home
- Make friendship bracelets
- Make a no bake dessert
- Make grilled pizza
- Create (or buy) and Play life size games (Jenga, Scrabble, Angry Birds…)
- Complete a National Park Junior Range Program at home
- Listen to a family friendly podcast
- Listen to an audiobook while doing household chores (mowing, cleaning a room or your car…)
- Let the kids take turns helping to make dinner
- Host a family brunch
- Eat breakfast outside
- Get up before the rest of your family and enjoy coffee outside
- Have a home spa day
- Have a game show night (trivia, name that tune, Pictionary)
- Make your own board game
- Hide a prize and create a map to find it (or clues)
- Random Acts of Kindness day (be a secret server)
- Create a summer playlist
- DIY Summer 2020 t-shirts
- Complete a STEM project, class, or subscription kit
- Squirt gun art
- Make a bird feeder and an observation guide record your visitors
- Make something messy (slime, playdough, mud pies)
- Play a new board game (trade one of yours with a friend)
- Make a signature summer smoothie, milkshake, cocktail, mocktail…
- Set a goal (reading; exercise; miles of walking, biking, running…)
- Let your kids take the pictures for a day.
Joy Martin
I am Joy and I love my life! I am one half of a dynamic duo. As a couple we take on the world and are raising three awesome children. Every day I have the privilege of being teacher, therapist, personal chef, housekeeper, chauffeur, and travel agent. I got my degree in education but never imagined I would use it to homeschool my own children. Growing up I had a soft spot for special education but never thought special needs would be as personally relevant as it is for my daughter Lydia. I love to travel, moving at our own pace, continually learning as we go. Pack my family into the car with a full tank of gas, make a quick stop at the Starbucks drive-thru, give me the open road, and I am a happy woman!