Screen Free Summer: 100+ Things Your Kids Can Do This Summer!

School is out and you're not sure what to do with your kids. Or your kids are crying "I'm bored!" It's easy to get trapped in routines and when the same routine kids activities aren't interesting anymore, what can you do? My ultimate guide to screen free summer kids activities to the rescue!

Why screen free activities are important

I know that when I'm feeling desperate to get something done, I will sometimes resort to letting my kids play on the tablets or watch a movie just so I can get an hour where nobody needs me to help them every five minutes. While this is fine occasionally, I don't want this to be my go-to every day. There is a growing body of evidence that exposure to too much screen time is hurting our kids. 

We only get 18 summers with our kids at home - I don't want them to spend those plugged into screens. Need some suggestions for what to do? I've got your back! From outdoor activities, crafts to things that you can do inside on rainy, days I have more than 100 great ideas for kid activities to keep your kiddos busy this summer without needing to resort to screen-based entertainment.

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Looking for more activities for kids to do this summer?

Get more ideas to keep kids busy outside with this article from outdoor family specialist, Nicky Omohundro >> 25 Outdoor Activities to Do Outside with Your Kids This Summer

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100 Screen Free Summer Activity Ideas to Keep Kids Busy This Summer!

Screen Free Things Kids Can Do Outside This Summer

1. Ride a bike (don't forget your helmet!)
2. Climb a tree
3. Draw with chalk on the sidewalk (this is my favorite!)
4. Race with friends or siblings
5. Blow bubbles
6. Fly a kite
7. Catch bugs (try making this cute bug jar!)

8. Plant a garden
9. Go for a walk
10. Play at the park
11. Jump in puddles
12. Run through the sprinkler
13. Go on a scavenger hunt
14. Play yard games (learn how to make an easy yard jenga set here)
15. Make fairy bracelets (learn how here!)

16. Go letterboxing
17. Hide painted rocks at the park
18. Pick up garbage (turn it into a game to see who can pick up the most!)
19. Berry picking
20. Wash the car
21. Hide and seek
22. Make a daisy chain flower crown

23. Have a squirt gun fight

24. Build a fort with empty boxes
25. Jump on a trampoline
26. Have a picnic
27. Built houses for the fairies out of sticks
28. Go for a hike
29. Go fishing
30. Hopscotch
31. Collect pinecones and sticks for crafts

32. Have a picnic
33. Pitch a tent
34. Make mud pies
35. Create squirt gun art
36. Visit a splash pad
37. Build an obstacle course
38. Go to the zoo
39. Visit a farm
40. Walk the dog
41. Bubble snakes
41. Go to the farmer's market

Easy Summer Crafts for Kids to Make

1. Paint rocks (get lots of great rock painting ideas from I Love Painted Rocks)
2. Make a fairy garden
3. Tie dye (this tie dye project from DoodleCraft is perfect!)
4. Make Play-dough
5. Make slime
6. Make a LEGO fidget spinner

7.Make a LEGO key organizer
8. Make water bottle wind spirals
9. Decorate headbands
10. Easy straw and bead necklaces
11. Egg carton caterpillars
12. Turn a T-Shirt into a bag

13. Make egg carton ladybugs
14. Transform an empty container into a bug jar
15. Turn pinecones into roses
16. Make cardboard fairy wings
17. Turn an old egg carton into a collection of aliens
18. Make musical instruments from recycling bin finds
19. Make friendship bracelets
20. Easy glow stick lanterns

21. Make cloth napkins
22. Fruit and veggie stamping
23. Make bouncy balls
24. Build something with popsicle sticks
25. Make a sock puppet
26. Create a bird feeder
27. Make a suncatcher

Screen Free Things to Do Inside

1. Have a tea party
2. Do a craft project (see above!)
3. Write a letter to a friend or grandparent
4. Make postcards from empty boxes
5. Build a blanket fort
6. Coloring books
7. Play a board game
8. Read a book
9. Put on a play
10. Make smoothies or smoothie bowls

11. Play dress up
12. Organize stuffed animals

13. Turn all the artwork from school into a book
14. Learn to sew (I love this Klutz kit!)
15. Make crafts from items in the recycling bin
16. Put together a puzzle
17. Play a card game
18. Play an instrument
19. Make popsicles

20. Paint a picture
21. Build with LEGOs
22. Play doctor
23. Learn to Cook (this book is my favorite!)
24. Play teacher
25. Draw a picture
26. Make superhero capes
27. Make a scrapbook
28. Write a story
29. Work on activity books
30. Sculpt with clay
31. Origami
32. Tic tac toe

About the Author:

Carissa is a green lifestyle advocate and mom of two active boys. The owner and lead writer at Creative Green Living, she won the Craftys Award for the "Best Craft Blogger" category in 2016 and the ShiftCon award for "Best DIY Blogger" in 2018.

Her goal is to empower families to make easy projects and healthier choices that are beautiful and delicious! She is also the author of the hardcover cookbook, Beautiful Smoothie Bowls (Skyhorse, 2017) and several ebooks. Her projects have been featured in magazines like Kids Crafts 1-2-3, Capper's Farmer and Urban Farm Magazine. Follow her on Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter or join the Creative Green Living Tribe on Facebook.

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