How to Survive Summer Break with Kids at Home
Summer is here, school is out, and it’s time to figure out how to survive summer with the kids home all day. The good news is that there are a lot of activities that can be done, many with little planning or prep! Here, you’ll find a list of family-friendly activities that will keep everyone entertained and happy.
I know what you’re thinking: How are we going to make it through 2+ months of summer break with the kids at home each day?
Since you don’t want them sitting around on electronics all day, or listen to them tell you “I’m bored” a hundred times a day, you’re going to need some ideas to save everyone’s sanity.
The good news is that the summer months don’t have to be stressful – they can actually be a lot of fun! Having a few plans in your back pocket will keep summer break fun and enjoyable for everyone.
These tips, tricks, and ideas below will show you that you can easily go from surviving with the kids during the summer – to thriving and making memories that count!
Grab these FREE tools:
Printable June-July-August Calendar
Free Summer Daily Schedules
Get Crafty
Crafts are not only great for creativity, but they’re perfect for working on fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination and keeping the kids learning.
Summer is the perfect time for nature-inspired crafts like this hot-rock melted crayon masterpiece that is pretty enough to give as a gift.
Pipe cleaner crafts are also a lot of fun too because the possibilities are endless and you can get over 100 of them for less than 5 bucks at Walmart.
Take advantage of a cool summer morning to go outside and create sidewalk chalk art and games. Add onto them over the course of a few days or turn on the sprinkler to wash them away.
Summertime is the perfect time to use YouTube to Learn How to Draw! They can develop a skill and their creativity at the same time!
Brighten someone’s day with a Box of Sunshine can be the perfect way to be creative! Fill a box with yellow gifts, treats, and snacks and drop it on a friends porch, or mail it to a family member.
Get Outside
Just because the temperatures are higher during the summer months doesn’t mean that the kids can’t get outside. Once those four walls start closing in, shoo them out the door for a bit!
Create a backyard scavenger hunt by having them look for certain objects around the yard. The first to find them all wins!
Pack a picnic lunch and go for a hike. This is a great way to enjoy nature and entice the kids with food.
Take your tire pump and go on a bike ride as a family. Going fast on the bike creates the perfect breeze to combat the heat.
Get Moving
Who’s up for a family fitness challenge? It doesn’t have to be anything super competitive, but just a few things to get everyone moving and excited.
Believe it or not, but having the kids help with chores is a great way for them to not only help around the house, but also move their body! This Summer Chore Chart breaks it down into a totally simple process.
Have an old, neglected trampoline in the backyard? Try out these trampoline games that involve jumping, energy, and competition to get them enjoying it again.
Too much time on the couch? Break up the day with these YouTube Brain Break Videos to get the kids up and moving. From Yoga to Freeze Dance, there’s something for everyone.
Running out of ideas? Use this list of indoor boredom busters for other great ideas. The summer months should be anything but boring – and the kids will love having plenty of options.
Growing up in the 80’s and 90’s my friends and I spent hours jumproping. Teach your kiddos these classic jump rope songs and watch them try to master them.
Get Cooking
This 4th of July No Bake Cake is so much fun to have the kids help make – and you don’t even have to turn on the oven!
Let the kids be responsible for making breakfast on their own. Not only does this teach independence and important life skills, but it will free up some of your time to get yourself together each day.
Get everyone in the kitchen with these kid-friendly summer dinner ideas for families! Have a crew that prepares the meal while the others set the table and clean up. It’s a family affair!
Get Together
Kick-off summer with a family meeting to set family goals for the summer months. It’s the perfect way to get everyone on the same page and make sure the days don’t pass without memories being made.
Bond with your kids in any way that you can. Listen to them, talk to them, go on walks with them, drive them around, call or text them, and spend time laughing at silly jokes together. Summer is a great time to enjoy every moment with your child.
Have a movie night and watch family movies into the early morning hours. There’s no school the next day – so why not?
Play board games for prizes! Game prizes are not only fun to play, but they’re a great way to work the brain without feeling like you’re actually working the brain.
Get Silly
Nothing says summer like, having a sleepover! Put the sleeping bags in the living room and have everyone camp out for the night. Don’t forget the snacks.
Speaking of nighttime, check out these evening activities to do with kids . Channel your inner child and let the nighttime be hours of fun! A great way to beat the heat.
Play truth or dare with the kids! This is also a great way to open up the lines of communication.
These hand clapping games are a lot of fun, and who knows…maybe you and the kids will create your own secret handshake as well!
Work on calming activities when the stress levels get too high. Just remember that this moment will pass, take a deep breath, and breathe through the chaos.
Adults and kids can easily play Simon Says – but who will be victorious? The one who slows down and listens will be!
Things to do in the Summer to Survive the Kids Being Home
I hope this Summer Survival Guide has given you plenty of ideas to help make the next few months fun and enjoyable for the whole family. From spending time together, to gaining new skills the dog days of summer are there for us to take advantage of before our kids are grown and on their own.
