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, Recreation, and Activities (1–10)
fireworks water gun
https://www.tiktok.com/@my.living.home4/video/7513079713909263617You can splash around to your heart’s content outside—and even enjoy fireworks too! How about making the most of summer with a “firework water gun”? You can buy firework water guns from online shops and the like.
Unlike regular water guns that shoot a straight stream, a firework water gun sprays thin streams in a circular pattern, making it look like fireworks bursting overhead.
You can have fun with different shapes by shaking or spinning it, but since it’s basically used pointed upward, make sure to wear clothes that can get wet.
Also, be careful to ensure there’s no one nearby.
Pool play
Speaking of summer, it’s all about the pool! Many of us probably went countless times as kids during the season.
From pools with lots of athletic attractions to the local community pool, you can find them everywhere.
Many schools also open their pools on certain days, so you can even get in for free sometimes! With lazy rivers, wave pools, and water slides, you can spend the whole day there without getting bored.
It’s also great for going regularly to practice your swimming!
home vegetable garden
Isn’t a home garden the perfect place to observe how plants grow and experience the joy of harvesting? It’s also great for a summer vacation science project! Why not choose plants, vegetables, or fruits your child loves? Summer vegetables are relatively easy to grow, so give it a try together as a parent-child activity! You can even start from soil preparation, tailored to your child’s age.
Your child will be excited to see how plants sprout and grow.
By keeping an observation diary and taking charge of daily watering, not only the plants—but your child, too—will surely grow!
Kids Will Love It! Summer Vacation Activities, Recreation, and Experiences (11–20)
Insect collecting
They’ve caught bugs in video games, but never real ones—that kind of child is apparently becoming more common.
With so many ways to play nowadays, chances to go insect collecting in nature may have decreased quite a bit.
But it’s such a waste to spend summer—when you can encounter all kinds of insects—just playing games! Lure them with syrup or fruit, sprint after flying bugs, and observe the ones you catch.
How about heading out into nature once in a while?
fireworks
Fireworks are a quintessential symbol of summer.
Going to a fireworks festival is fun, but if you want something easy to enjoy with your kids, handheld fireworks are the way to go! These days there are many types of handheld fireworks: in addition to classics like “Susuki fireworks” and “senko hanabi” (sparkler-style fireworks), there are powerful “tezutsu” fireworks with strong flames, color-changing fireworks, and “snake” fireworks that are fun to watch.
Rocket fireworks and spinning “nezumi” fireworks require consideration of age and location, but most handheld fireworks can be enjoyed in your own yard.
They’ll make wonderful summer memories for your children, so give them a try!
Making Mysterious Slime
https://www.tiktok.com/@sachimama_asobi/video/7387381736503627026Let’s make and play with slime, a popular children’s toy.
The slime we’re introducing here is different from ordinary slime: although it’s gooey and liquid-like, it turns firm when you hit or squeeze it—mysterious, right? To make it, just mix 200 grams of potato starch with about 120 cc of water.
You might wonder, “Can it really be that easy?” It can! By the way, this phenomenon—where it solidifies when gripped and becomes liquid when released—is called the dilatancy phenomenon.
Enjoy this new kind of tactile play with a slime that feels totally different from the usual.
Watermelon splitting
When it comes to classic summer activities, this is the one—suikawari, or watermelon splitting! You’re blindfolded, handed a stick, and guided by the voices around you toward the watermelon.
When you think you’ve found the spot, bring the stick down—if the watermelon cracks, you’ve succeeded.
Watermelons are tougher than you’d expect, so swing with confidence.
If you want to make it easier to split or get a cleaner break, score the rind with some hidden cuts beforehand.
It’s a classic for a reason—beloved for years and a surefire way to get kids excited!