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!
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Kids Will Love It! Summer Vacation Games, Recreational Activities, and Experiences (21–30)
Playing in the fountain
Playing in the water is a summer staple, isn’t it? Kids often get hot easily, so cool water play in summer is sure to get them excited.
If there’s a fountain at a nearby park, it’s a great place to play.
When you go, be sure to bring swimsuits and a change of clothes, or it can get troublesome.
Since it’s outdoor play, having a hat and similar items will give you peace of mind.
Exercise play you can enjoy at home
Even when you can’t play outside, you still want to move your body! In times like that, let’s enjoy some active play at home.
For infants and toddlers, try baby massage or touch-and-play activities.
For preschoolers through elementary school kids, how about a spy game with a treasure hunt or a round of table tennis on the table? For the spy game, setting up obstacles around the room and preparing a treasure map can really liven things up.
For table tennis, you can substitute household items: a tissue box for the net, a pot lid for the paddle, and a super ball for the ball.
Fun music play in nature
Let’s move our bodies together and enjoy playful music activities in nature while taking in the scenery and sounds around us.
Placing ourselves in nature and listening to the wind and the sounds of insects stimulates the five senses and helps refresh the mind and body.
As we sing, let’s wave colorful scarves and try moving them while imagining what the wind might sound like.
It’s also fun to sway the scarves with varying strengths, like a gentle breeze or a strong gust.
One of the charms of this play is being able to move freely and express yourself while sensing a variety of sounds—like leaves rustling and water flowing.
countryside experience
If your hometown is surrounded by mountains and rivers and rich in nature—somewhere you can return to the countryside whenever you like—you might not find this particularly appealing.
But many children only know the countryside from TV or stories.
So how about letting them enjoy a rural experience? You could visit a relative’s home you know, or choose a hands-on stay plan in a satoyama area.
Foraging for wild plants, harvesting vegetables from a field and eating them for dinner—these out-of-the-ordinary experiences are sure to enrich children’s sensitivity.
playing on the rocky shore
If you live near the sea or have chances to visit the beach, be sure to try rock-pooling! The shoreline is usually calm, so even small children can play safely.
Rocky areas do require careful footing, but with a guardian’s support, kids can enjoy themselves all day long.
In the rocks you’ll encounter plenty of marine life—fish, shellfish, crabs—and in places with tide pools, you can even swim.
For younger children, using diving goggles like those worn by ama (traditional female divers) to observe creatures is also recommended.
A rock-pooling experience by the seaside will undoubtedly contribute to your child’s growth!
Treasure hunting by the riverbank
A treasure hunt held on a riverbank can be enjoyable even for adults, thanks to the wide playing field.
You can hide small treasures among the stones in advance, or, for young children, make a game of seeing how many brightly colored or interestingly shaped stones they can find.
Also, toy metal detectors are sold nowadays, so it might be fun to search for real treasure.
However, since uneven ground can be hazardous just to walk on, adults should keep a close eye on children while they play.
Making a bead coaster
Making beaded coasters is a perfect craft for spending time at home during summer vacation.
It’s also great for summer homework or independent projects! The method is simple: arrange your favorite beads in an aluminum dish so they don’t overlap, then just bake them in the oven at 250°C.
Plastic beads from a 100-yen shop work fine.
The heat melts the beads so they fuse together, creating a clear, sparkly coaster.
Since there will be a melted plastic smell while baking, make sure to ventilate the area well.
The amount of beads and the placement of colors can create many different looks, so your kids are sure to be excited!
Giant water balloon on a trampoline
How about trying something a little different: playing with a giant water balloon—so big you can sit or even bounce on it without it bursting—instead of the small ones you usually see? The thrill of “Will it pop if I get on it?” and the strange, squishy sensation are sure to get kids super excited! These extra-large balloons are surprisingly affordable on online shops, so it might be worth giving them a try.
A huge, unpoppable water balloon you can jump on or lie down on—bring it out when the kids are getting bored with the usual kiddie pool and water guns!
clam digging
Although clam digging is often associated with spring, you can actually do it year-round.
The key is to aim for low tide, when the water recedes.
You can take the clams you catch home, or cook and eat them on the spot—it’s great fun.
If the campground is near the sea, it’s highly recommended!
Independent study at the play park
A play park where children can fully immerse themselves in nature is perfect for a hands-on independent study project.
It’s packed with activities that are hard to experience in everyday life, such as tree climbing, chopping firewood, and making campfires.
Rather than just spending a day playing and calling it done, you can turn it into a solid research project by recording what activities you did, what you enjoyed, and what ingenuity you used, together with photos or drawings.
It’s important to summarize in your own words what you learned and felt through play.
Learning how to use tools, paying attention to safety, and understanding how to interact with nature can also be part of the project.
This is an action-observation style idea that lets you deepen your experience by engaging all five senses.
