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 Activities, Recreation, and Experiences (11–20)
Shaved ice making
When the temperature rises in summer, you can’t help but crave something cold, right? As a fun activity to enjoy chilly treats, making shaved ice is highly recommended.
If you prepare plenty of syrups, everyone can sample different flavors like at a buffet, which really livens things up.
Shaved ice you make with your own hands offers a special thrill that’s a bit different from what you usually eat, so kids are sure to love it.
Find the Snacks! Treasure Hunt Game
Work together with your teammates to crack the codes and find the snacks! Introducing a treasure-hunt game that’s perfect for building teamwork and deduction skills.
Everyone puts their heads together to solve the ciphers, and the journey to finally uncover the treats is thrilling.
Even in tense moments, players learn to stay calm and interpret clues, and by cooperating toward a shared goal, they naturally develop coordination and communication skills for group activities.
With clever cipher designs, the fun of puzzle-solving doubles!
Field Bingo
Bingo is a classic recreation game, but have you heard of field bingo, which you can enjoy in nature? You fill the blank squares with things, sounds, and phenomena you can find outdoors.
For example, you might write down bird calls, insects like ants or grasshoppers, something with a fragrance, nuts or fruit showing signs that animals have eaten them, or spiderwebs.
Then, take the card with you on a nature walk—whenever you find an item, mark it, and just like regular bingo, you complete the game when you get a line vertically, horizontally, or diagonally.
After you’re done, share your thoughts—what you noticed, what you found fun—and get everyone excited talking about it.
Playing in the mud in the rice field
Mud play that’s hard to do once you’re an adult—something only kids can truly enjoy! Rice paddies are the perfect place for muddy fun.
When you sink your feet into the mud, you feel a softness unlike anything you usually experience, and it’s strangely delightful.
That slightly stuck feeling as you try to pull your feet out is fun too and gets you excited.
You can also encounter tiny insects you don’t usually see, letting you feel close to nature.
Just be sure to wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty when you play in the mud!
flowing somen (nagashi-somen)
Somen is probably the number-one dish to appear on summer dining tables.
But just eating it plain isn’t much fun, so how about trying nagashi-somen to make some summer vacation memories? The familiar style is to split a bamboo stalk in half and send the noodles down it with running water.
That’s usually done outdoors, but if the heat puts you off, there are nagashi-somen kits you can use at home! There are lots of options, from ones shaped like a pool waterslide to models where the noodles swirl around like conveyor-belt sushi.
fishing
Fishing is usually something only Dad goes off to do.
But it’s summer vacation—why not try going fishing with him for a change? Put bait on the rod, and when the bobber goes under, reel in quickly…
Even if you’ve done it in a game, real-life fishing can be pretty tricky.
Still, by asking Dad, Mom, or others around you and actually giving it a try, you’ll make some great memories.
Kids Will Love It! Summer Vacation Games, Recreational Activities, and Experiences (21–30)
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.
