The dog days of summer are coming to a steady close as August marks its return, and kids begin to gear up for the school year. In the remaining weeks, little and big ones begin to get restless and keeping them occupied is the only way you’ll survive as a parent.
So we’ve compiled a list of 50 fun family activities that are sure to keep everyone busy and happy until the upcoming school year.
- Hike a new trail/explore a new park.
- Create a nature scavenger hunt
- Have a water fight in the backyard
- Go to a drive-in movie
- Create a healthy & homemade lemonade stand
- Have a picnic – kids help prepare the food
- Go fishing
- Visit a local museum
- Have a dance party in your living room
- Go to a baseball game
- Learn a new sport
- Make homemade ice cream
- Play with sidewalk chalk
- Create sock puppets and put on a show
- Go to the zoo
- Visit a retirement or nursing home and create crafts together
- Go to a lake or river
- Learn new card or board games
- Have a backyard campout
- Take a nap and enjoy some relaxation
- Fly a kite at the beach
- Build a pillow fort
- Climb trees
- Let the kids plan and cook dinner (or assist if they’re little)
- Learn how to crochet or knit
- Learn to walk a slackline
- Try rock climbing
- Visit a farmer’s market
- Plant an herb garden
- Clean up trash at your local park or beach
- Pretend to be pirates for a day — dress up in costumes, plan a treasure hunt, and talk like pirates
- Visit an aquarium
- Go horseback riding
- Stage your own Summer Olympics
- Go to a flea market
- Paint canvas sneakers with fabric paint pens or acrylic paint
- Have a fancy tea party
- Play capture the flag
- Go to an amusement park
- Go fossil hunting
- Read classics
- Visit the beach and collect shells
- Learn how to surf
- Have a craft party
- Learn magic tricks
- Volunteer at a local animal shelter
- Spend more time with your extended family
- Make a new friend
- Create a dream travel list
- Write down goals for the new school year
