100+ Fun & Simple Ideas for a Summer Bucket List for Kids (2024)

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Summer can be filled with a lot of free time for kids being out of school. If you are planning to hear, “Mom, I’m bored” then we have the perfect summer activity for you. Here is asummer bucket list for kids with over 100 ideas to get you started! Print this off and get your kids excited to check off some of these fun ideas!

RELATED: Indoor Activities for Kids

Summer Bucket List

What is a bucket list?It’s a list of experiences you want to achieve in a lifetime or in this case, during the summer. We really love them for summer as it helps to overcome the teen or kid boredom that often arises. It can empower kids to make or plan their own fun!

A lot of these bucket list ideas are great for getting kids outdoors! Some of our favorite outdoor activities include:

  • Go fishing
  • Go rock hunting
  • Go on a nature walk
  • Blow bubbles – then make some bubble art!
  • Stargaze
  • Build a sandcastle
  • Fly a kite
  • Have a picnic

There are also so many arts and crafts ideas including:

  • Make Homemade Slime
  • Make Homemade Playdough
  • Paint Pet Rocks
  • Make recycled crayons
  • Make handprint art
  • Make suncatchers
  • Color with sidewalk chalk
  • Finger Paint
  • Make paper bag puppets
  • Make Tie-Dye Shirts
  • Make paper boats
  • Make Story Stones
  • Make A Bird Feeder
  • Write a Story and Illustrate It
  • Make Friendship Bracelets

There are also a lot of fun outdoor activities, including:

  • Go fishing
  • Go rock hunting
  • Go on a nature walk
  • Stargaze
  • Build a sandcastle
  • Fly a kite
  • Have a picnic
  • Catch Fireflies (catch and release)
  • Play At The Park with Friends
  • Blow Bubbles
  • Watch Fireworks
  • Dance In The Rain
  • Play Frisbee
  • Watch The Sunset At the Beach
  • Watch A Thunderstorm
  • Collect Seashells
  • Bonfire and S’mores
  • Fly A Kite
  • Watch The Sunrise At the Beach
  • Make Wishes on Dandelions
  • Climb A Tree
  • Plant Flowers
  • Build A Sand Castle
  • Jump in Puddles
  • Plant Vegetables
  • Go Cloud Watching
  • Jump on A Trampoline
  • Go Fishing
  • Go Kayaking
  • Bury A Time Capsule

Who doesn’t love a fun excursion in the summer? Have fun checking these ideas off your summer bucket list!

  • Drive-in Movie Theatre
  • Visit an aquarium
  • Go to a children’s museum
  • Go to a water park
  • Go To the Library
  • Visit national monuments
  • Visit A Farmer’s Market
  • Visit Mom or Dad at Work
  • Go Camping
  • Go on a Nature Walk
  • Visit A Water Park
  • Visit A Zoo
  • Attend A Free Kids Workshop
  • Go To A Children’s Museum
  • Ride Your Bike on a Trail
  • Go Mini Golfing
  • Go Bowling
  • Go Rock Hunting
  • Go To Chuck E Cheese
  • Visit An Aquarium
  • Ride a Ferris Wheel

Summer wouldn’t be summer without some fun water activities. These are all high on our to-do list!

  • Marco Polo
  • Run Through Sprinklers
  • Water Balloon Fight
  • Make Sponge Water Bombs
  • Go Swimming
  • Wash the Family Car
  • Make and Sail Paper Boats
  • Play on a Slip ‘n Slide
  • Have a Water Fight

There’s nothing better than fresh lemonade and ice cream. We had to include some treats on this list:

  • Make Homemade Ice Cream
  • Eat Watermelon
  • Roast Marshmallows
  • Eat A Snowcone
  • Make Root beer Floats
  • Eat Breakfast For Dinner
  • Eat Popsicles
  • Help Cook Dinner
  • Make Fresh Lemonade
  • Make Homemade Pizza
  • Drink A Slurpee
  • Buy From the Ice Cream Truck

Summer is time off of school but kids will still love these learning activities and challenges:

  • Read At Least 10 Books
  • Do A Science Project
  • Learn Origami
  • Attend a Free Kids Art Class

These are some of our favorite summer games and activities:

  • Play Hide And Seek
  • Play Dodgeball
  • Play Flashlight Tag
  • Play Messy Twister
  • Play Tag with Friends
  • Family Game Night
  • Play Bingo
  • Play Capture the Flag
  • Have A Slumber Party
  • Have a Pillow Fight
  • Host A Scavenger Hunt
  • PJ Movie Day
  • Start a Blessings Jar
  • Make A Blanket Fort
  • Start A Summer Journal

And don’t forget to give back to your community. We love these easy ideas to help others:

  • Random Acts of Kindness
  • Donate To An Animal Shelter
  • Write a Soldier a Letter
  • Visit A Nursing Home
  • Make Cookies For A Neighbor

Over 100 ideas are included in this summer bucket list for kidsfree printable. Get the PDF printable delivered straight to your inbox as a gift for subscribing to our newsletter. You can sign up at the bottom of this post.

100+ Fun & Simple Ideas for a Summer Bucket List for Kids (3)

We hope you have fun checking off these fun summer bucket list ideas! We’d love to know after the summer is over, which one was your favorite?

More fun summer craft ideas and activities:

Sidewalk chalk ideas and activities

100 Would You Rather Questions for Kids (with printable cards which are great for road trips!)

Looking for more fun summer ideas with the kids?

– This DIY sidewalk paint is so fun to make and play with!

Make your own homemade playdough this summer!

Related Ideas:

Activities

Cloud Dough

Sensory

The BEST Playdough Recipe

Slime

How to Make Slime With Contact Solution

Christmas

50+ Christmas Crafts for Kids

100+ Fun & Simple Ideas for a Summer Bucket List for Kids (2024)

FAQs

How do I keep my 12 year old busy this summer? ›

10-12 year old summer activities ideas
  1. Go to camp (instead of just sitting at home) ...
  2. Take a class (not just watch a show) ...
  3. Design something (instead of just doodling) ...
  4. Create an online brand (not just operate a lemonade stand) ...
  5. Sell clothes online or donate them (not just playing dress up)
May 7, 2023

How do I entertain my kids all summer? ›

How to Keep Kids Busy During the Summer
  1. Create a chore chart. Summer time is a great opportunity for children to learn hard work and responsibility while parents are away at work. ...
  2. Try a new craft. ...
  3. Get outside (while staying safe!) ...
  4. Take advantage of your local library's online options. ...
  5. Play games together.

What's on your bucket list this summer? ›

Here's everything to have on your summer bucket list:
  • Watch the sunset on the beach.
  • Go to an outdoor movie screening.
  • Take a road trip.
  • Go on a hike.
  • Have a picnic in the park.
  • Learn a new language.
  • Attend a music festival.
  • Go camping.
Apr 25, 2023

How do I make a simple bucket list? ›

  1. 1) Find Accountability.
  2. 2) Have multiple things you can do on a random Saturday.
  3. 3) Have other things that will take you years to accomplish.
  4. 4) Tell EVERYONE about your new bucket list goals.
  5. 5) Postcards don't always make the best bucket list items.
  6. 6) Think about all facets of life.
  7. 7) Add Something You've Already Done.
Apr 7, 2023

What are 12 and 13 year olds interested in? ›

Young teens begin leaning into their peer groups and connecting over the things they enjoy, like hobbies or sports. Interests vary widely among 13-year-olds, from sports and outdoor games to arts, crafting, baking, and everything in between.

What can a 13 year old do in summer? ›

Things for Teens to Do Outside During Summer

Try out a new sport (frisbee golf, bocce ball, kanjam). Make and fly a kite. Play crazy golf.

How do you make a boring summer fun? ›

Boredom Busters
  1. Swim, play tag, toss a ball, dance or jump rope.
  2. Go on a bike ride, walk the dog, go to the park or go on a jog.
  3. Make your celebrations active by going on a hike, playing Frisbee or organizing a volleyball or soccer game.

How can I enjoy summer without spending too much? ›

Whatever your situation, here are 13 fun things to do that don't cost money with friends and family:
  1. Go on a picnic. ...
  2. Go to no-cost museum and zoo days. ...
  3. Give geocaching a try. ...
  4. Leverage your chamber of commerce.
Feb 14, 2024

How do you entertain kids all day? ›

How can I keep my kids entertained at home?
  1. Play board games together.
  2. Show them board games they can play alone.
  3. Give them fun activities to do in the backyard.
  4. Set them up with a craft.
  5. Teach them to cook.
  6. Give them an activity book.
  7. Let Alexa entertain them.

What is 1 thing on your bucket list? ›

55 bucket list ideas to help you live your life to the fullest
  • Sleep under the stars. seksan Mongkhonkhamsao / Getty Images. ...
  • Visit your dream destination. France? ...
  • Go back to school. ...
  • Learn how to paint. ...
  • Read 100 books in a year. ...
  • Jump out of a plane. ...
  • Go on the most romantic date ever. ...
  • Bake a cake from scratch.

What is a bucket list trip? ›

The term 'bucket list' is derived from the phrase 'kick the bucket', which is an English expression for dying. A travel bucket list is your personal list of destinations and experiences you want to of visiting and accomplish in your lifetime.

What is a bucket item list? ›

A bucket list is a list of the experiences or achievements that a person hopes to have or accomplish during their lifetime.

How to make a dream bucket list? ›

How to Make a Bucket List Journal in 5 Steps
  1. Self Reflection and Brainstorming. ...
  2. Organize Your Unique Bucket List Ideas. ...
  3. Trim It Down and Set a Time Frame. ...
  4. Share Your Bucket List Goals. ...
  5. Start Checking Things Off and Keep It Updated.
Feb 13, 2023

How to decide on a bucket list? ›

How to make a bucket list
  1. Start with the easy stuff. ...
  2. Think about the things you wanted to do when you were a kid. ...
  3. Add some predictable stuff. ...
  4. Add some weird stuff. ...
  5. Think about the overall experience you want. ...
  6. Decide what's super important and move that to the top of your list. ...
  7. Ask friends for their suggestions.
Oct 18, 2012

Can a bucket list be anything? ›

How to create a bucket list. Include anything you like on your bucket list. List career goals, travel destinations, health, finance, or relationship goals. It can be as long or as short as you want.

What to do when 12 year old runs away? ›

1. Call the Police Immediately. As soon as you learn that your child has run away, report them as missing to your local police. Ask your police agency to conduct a search within a mile radius of where your child was last seen or believed to have gone.

How do you cure boredom in the summer? ›

Boredom Busters
  1. Swim, play tag, toss a ball, dance or jump rope.
  2. Go on a bike ride, walk the dog, go to the park or go on a jog.
  3. Make your celebrations active by going on a hike, playing Frisbee or organizing a volleyball or soccer game.

References

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