Summer is upon us and that means the kids are out of school and going to be coming to you looking for something to do. If they don’t do that then you are one lucky parent! I wanted to be prepared with list of fun things to do with kids so I went on a hunt for summer activities for kids. I came up with a great list of games to play for my girls! Some do need my involvement – but that’s even better.

101 Summer Activities for Kids

I was particularly looking for outdoor activities for kids and games to play outside, but did happen upon a few indoors games as well. After all, some summer days, especially here in Texas, can get downright hot. So, when it’s time for the kids to come in and cool down, they can still find ways to have fun. Or, if they want to stay outside, grab the sunblock and take part in some water activities for kids.

Family field day
Set up a backyard carnival
Put together a time capsule and bury it
Create a summer bucket list
Make summer luminaries
Perform a random act of kindness
Go to a local splash park
Have a picnic
Take a neighbor a surprise
Family photo tree craft
Have a fashion show
Go for a drive
Sandbox treasure hunt
Enjoy an ice cream sandwich cake
Have a dance party
Attend a car show
Record a fun family video
Sidewalk Chalk Games
Play hopscotch
Go on a nature walk
Wash the cars
Start a backyard garden
Make a cardboard city
Keep a summer journal
Family game night
Q-Tip Painting
Shop at an outside market
Read a book
Take a short road trip
Exercise together
Paint a room
Go geocaching
Have a family movie night
Write a song
Make gooey slime
Have a backyard campout
Study moon phases
Alphabet adventure scavenger hunt
Make your own ice cream
Sign up for a class at your local rec center
Attend Vacation Bible School
Make your own kool-aid playdough
Watch airplanes take off and land
Make homemade freezer pops
Get out and discover your city
Play freeze tag
Find local free events to attend
Backyard mini golf
Sing karaoke
Have fun with glow sticks
Create an obstacle course
Go on a hike
Have a water balloon launch
Host a tea party
Put on a puppet show
Family talent show
Take a walk
Pick wildflowers
Have your own art class
Fly a kite
Build a fort
Play cards
Make your own magnets
Play in a sprinkler
Go on a bike ride
Visit a local museum
Make sponge balls
Volunteer as a family
Make a volcano
Have a lemonade stand
DIY pasta beads
Go roller skating
Create a family scrapbook
Make magic mud
Star gaze
Watch a movie under the stars
Do weather experiments
Have a hula hoop contest
Spend the day crafting
DIY Drive-In Movie
Jump rope
Go fishing
Make s’mores
Enjoy a themed staycation
Repurpose t-shirts
Take a swim
Bake cookies
Frozen watercolors
Host a BBQ
Visit the arboretum
Memorize and recite a poem
Make a solar oven
Tie-dye shirts
Create thumbprint pictures
Make finger puppets
Bake cupcakes
Visit a local petting zoo
Go on a “bear hunt“
Put together a house band
Create a bubble snake maker
Play super heroes for an entire day

Whew! Okay, most of these are completely budget-friendly and require nothing more than a little creativity. Who doesn’t love a long list of fun, free activities for kids! Not to mention, I think these 101 summer activities for kids are all totally doable. So… get outside and start playing!