Kids will love it! Summer vacation games, recreation, and hands-on activities
Summer vacation feels really long, doesn’t it? Even kids who are happy to have every day off may start to feel their playtime getting a bit monotonous when the break goes on and on.
When they say things like, “I’m tired of going to the pool every day!” or “I’m bored—there’s nothing to do!” it can leave you wondering what to do next.
In this article, we’ve gathered summertime play ideas and activities that kids will love.
If you’re a parent thinking, “What should we do tomorrow…?” please use this as a reference.
From everyday play to activities perfect for special days like during trips, there are plenty of recommendations!
- Play ideas kids can enjoy from 1st to 6th grade [indoors & outdoors]
- Indoor games and recreational activities recommended for summer
- [List] A roundup of games and recreational activities kids love
- [For Kids] Today's Recommended Recreation Idea Collection
- Liven up your children’s club event! A collection of ideas everyone can enjoy
- Games that liven up festivals. Ideas that children can enjoy.
- [Make with Kids] Handmade Outdoor Play Toy Special
- [For Kids] Exciting Class-vs-Class Games: Team Competition Activities
- A big hit at after-school childcare! A special feature on group games and activities you can play without any equipment
- Fun! Spring activities for children: recreation and hands-on play
- Recommended for upper elementary grades! Exciting indoor recreation and games
- [Summer Vacation Crafts] Not just make-and-done! A collection of practical ideas you can use every day
- [Enjoy Summer to the Fullest] A Roundup of Games and Recreational Activities at the Sea and on the Beach
Kids Will Love It! Summer Vacation Games, Recreational Activities, and Experiences (61–70)
sumo
Sumo may be Japan’s national sport, but you can play it casually in a park without formal stances.
Keep the rules simple—no slapping, and you win by pushing your opponent out.
It’s a game that favors bigger, stronger bodies.
Since there’s body-to-body contact, be careful to avoid injuries.
Insect showdown
Boys love insects like rhinoceros beetles and stag beetles! If you’re looking for play ideas for such boys, how about trying a bug battle? If catching real bugs is difficult, we recommend toys that let you have bug battles.
These toys are shaped like insects and can be operated like remote-controlled cars.
Since it’s a collaboration of two things boys love—RC toys and insects—it really gets them excited.
Fish catching (by hand)
When summer gets hot, you can’t help but want some cool recreation, right? If you’re looking for something like that, how about catching fish by hand? These days, more and more places like campgrounds and fishing ponds offer hands-on fish-catching experiences.
Since we rarely get the chance to touch live fish in everyday life, it’s sure to be a huge hit with kids.
draining
It’s a game where you throw a stone onto the water and enjoy watching it skip across the surface.
Until you get the hang of it, the stone doesn’t skip very well, so it’s frustrating and you can’t help getting absorbed in it.
Flatter stones skip more easily, so try looking for those.
Treasure Hunt with Water Balloons
Make water play at home even more exciting! Here’s a treasure hunt idea using water balloons.
All you need are water balloons and a permanent marker.
Put the water balloons in a kiddie pool.
Mark just one of them with the permanent marker, and have the kids try to find it—it’s a game! It’s perfect for hot summer days and highly recommended for loads of fun.
Using water balloons combines coolness with excitement, helping kids stay focused while getting absorbed in the game.
Give it a try!
Water Athletics
When you think of summer, you think of water play! But once kids reach about elementary school age, many of them aren’t satisfied with a small pool at home anymore, right? That’s where “water athletics” come in! Just like the name suggests, it’s an obstacle course floating on water.
You play on it like a regular playground course, but underneath is water—so if you fall, you’ll get totally soaked! Still, it’s summer, so getting wet is part of the fun.
You can move your whole body to the fullest, and even kids who aren’t strong swimmers can enjoy it.
Be sure to try “water athletics” at least once!
Twister game
Recent summers have been so hot that it can often be dangerous to go outside and play due to the risk of heatstroke.
In times like these, if you’re looking for indoor recreational activities, Twister is a great choice.
It’s a classic game that’s been around for years, but paradoxically people don’t play it as much these days, so it feels fresh to kids.
It’s also perfect for getting some physical exercise.