101 Fantastic Ideas for Screen-Free Summer Activities

Emily Manning

Emily Manning

June 29, 2019

101 Screen Free Activities for Kids

Like this? Share it with your network!

Like this? Share it with your network!

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Whatsapp

Are you looking for some fun ideas to do with the kids this summer? We’ve got just the thing with 101 ideas for screen-free summer activities – plus a FREE checklist you can download!

My list is a mix that mainly comprises quick, free, local ideas that don’t require any unusual equipment or a vast budget. And the best part? The memories your child will have of all the fun you had this summer!

Screen-Free Summer Activities for Kids

If you’re anything like me, the summer holidays start with a tentative plan of events and then the days just start blending together! Surprisingly, I absolutely love the lack of routine and apart from a week or two of summer camps and activities, the rest of the 8-week break is usually a spontaneous mix of everything and nothing. That said, it’s nice to have a few activities up your sleeve that can be called on when the need arises.

Over the last few years, my daughter and I compiled a list of summer activities we wanted to do. We make a bingo chart and fill them all in. Once an activity has been done, we mark it off and a completed line means we go for ice cream or buy a new book.

Some of the ideas are things we would really do anyway (go to the playground, go swimming, arts and crafts, make pizza, etc) but the list usually challenges us to try something new as well – this year, we’ve added ‘learn to cook something by myself’, ‘try a yoga class’ and ‘make unicorn ice cream’.

You Have Mail!

Get our best content direct to your inbox! You’ll receive quick and easy recipes, fun ideas to entertain the kids, parenting tips, great competitions, as well as offers from brands we trust.

Free Checklist to Download

You’ll find more information on some of our summer ideas below, and you can also download our screen-free summer activities checklist here. Just print it off and let’s get started!

  1. Draw a self-portrait
  2. Create a secret code
  3. Visit the library
  4. Create an obstacle course
  5. Have a picnic
  6. Make a sun catcher
  7. Do a word search
  8. Go for a cycle, skate or scoot
  9. Make a bird feeder
  10. Research your family tree
  11. Go bowling
  12. Read a book or try a summer reading challenge
  13. Design your own comic book
  14. Make playdough
  15. Go on a treasure hunt
  16. Learn some new jokes
  17. Donate 5 things to charity
  18. Conduct a science experiment
  19. Practice face painting
  20. Play hide and seek
  21. Make giant bubbles in the garden
  22. Do some gardening
  23. Design paper airplanes
  24. Learn how to make an omelette
  25. Look at the stars
  26. Teach the dog a new trick
  27. Make a collage
  28. Listen to a podcast
  29. Learn to hula hoop
  30. Build a bug hotel
  31. Play in the sprinkler
  32. Go to a funfair or festival
  33. Make origami animals
  34. Decorate cupcakes
  35. Make a time capsule
  36. Collect shells at the beach
  37. Make sock puppets
  38. Go geocaching
  39. Learn a magic trick
  40. Do a random act of kindness
  41. Make homemade pizza
  42. Play a board game
  43. Learn to juggle
  44. Visit a museum
  45. Climb a tree
  46. Play a card game
  47. Go berry picking
  48. Make bead jewellery
  49. Draw or paint a picture
  50. Make a friendship bracelet
  51. Go to a concert
  52. Have an at-home spa day and paint your nails
  53. Learn how to count to 10 in French
  54. Go for a walk in the woods
  55. Visit a family member
  56. Tie-dye a t-shirt
  57. Have a family game night
  58. Go for a walk or run
  59. Make ice cream sundaes
  60. Have a water balloon fight
  61. Go to the playground – or try a new one
  62. Write a letter to someone
  63. Make salt dough ornaments
  64. Build a sandcastle
  65. Make a summer scrapbook
  66. Have a teddy bear’s tea party
  67. Make your own stop-motion animation movie
  68. Go swimming
  69. Make slime
  70. Visit an art gallery
  71. Write a story
  72. Design a fairy garden
  73. Do a puzzle
  74. Visit a farm
  75. Do some chalk drawings
  76. Play a ball game
  77. Take a road trip
  78. Make smoothies
  79. Try yoga
  80. Build a fort
  81. Visit a theme park
  82. Bake a cake
  83. Learn to knit
  84. Put on a show
  85. Tidy your room
  86. Play frisbee
  87. Camp in the backyard
  88. Have a sleepover
  89. Make s’mores
  90. Play hopscotch
  91. Try a new hobby
  92. Make a marble run
  93. Fly a kite
  94. Plant a pizza garden
  95. Paint rocks
  96. Visit the zoo
  97. Make pancakes
  98. Go on a train ride
  99. Have a disco
  100. Watch the sunrise
  101. Go horse-riding

Download

Download our 101 Screen-free summer activities checklist for lots of great ideas to enjoy this summer.

101 Ideas for a Screen Free Summer
101 Fantastic Ideas for Screen-Free Summer Activities

Like this? Share it with your network!

Like this? Share it with your network!

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Whatsapp
Published On: June 29th, 2019 / Categories: Things To Do / Last Updated: May 4th, 2023 / Tags: , , , /

About the Author: Emily Manning

Emily Manning
Emily is the coffee-loving Editor of MyKidsTime. Mum of one daughter and two naughty Tibetan Terriers, she is particularly partial to Curly Wurlys and unable to resist pretty stationery and new cookbooks. As an avid foodie and domestic goddess-wannabe, she is most likely to be found in the kitchen.

You’ve Got Mail!

Get our best content direct to your inbox! You’ll receive quick and easy recipes, fun ideas to entertain the kids, parenting tips, competitions, as well as offers from brands we trust.