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
- [Summer Vacation Crafts] Not just make-and-done! A collection of practical ideas you can use every day
- Recommended for upper elementary grades! Exciting indoor recreation and games
- [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 (31–40)
home camping
@tiaraizmiyola Camping di rumah menikmati malam bersama keluarga kecilku #CapCut#camping#family#camp#night#fyp#love#husband#wife#daughter#son#thankyou#happylife
♬ suara asli – bukangrace – bukangrace
When you think of summer, camping is a classic outdoor activity.
But if the weather doesn’t cooperate or you have small children, it can be hard to spend the time the way you’d hoped.
So how about trying “at-home camping”? Pitch a tent indoors, grill meat and vegetables on a hot plate, and serve them on paper plates.
At night, use a home planetarium to stargaze.
You could even use sleeping bags and sleep side by side like a family.
With a bit of creativity, you can have a great time right at home.
Water mat play
@mitinoko Let's play with a handmade water mat 🏝#Michinoko Nursery School#Nursery schoolChildcareNursery teacher / Childcare workerChildcareNursery school teacher#Indoor PlayHandmade waterbed#Futon compressionRecommendation#DaycareThatWantsToGoViral#IWantToBeOnTheRecommendations
♬ The Little Mermaid (Marimba Remix) – Harry Goes Boom!
For summer indoor play, a homemade water mat is recommended.
Prepare a large, clear ziplock bag.
Put beads, small toys, and water inside, then seal the opening and reinforce it with vinyl tape to prevent leaks.
If you want to color the water, add some food coloring.
Jumping on it may cause leaks, so play by sitting and touching it, peeking into the water, or rolling the water mat itself.
Enjoy the cool sensation of the water mat.
Fake snow play
https://www.tiktok.com/@n.annlee321/video/7118699908567256322Introducing “fake snow,” a non-melting snow you can play with even in summer.
There are many types of fake snow products, and most of them only require adding water.
When you add water to the powder that becomes the base of the snow, it expands and turns into fake snow.
You can play with it using sandbox tools, or even make a small snowman.
Add food coloring to enjoy pretending to run a shaved ice stand.
With fake snow, there’s no need to worry about catching a cold, so give it a try!
sleepover
If your child has a close friend, why not try hosting sleepovers at each other’s homes? Bring snacks and toys to play with, eat meals together, and share bath time and bedtime.
Spending an entire day together with a good friend is great fun and will make wonderful memories.
Even in a familiar home, having a friend over can turn it into a special time.
It may be a bit more work for the family when there are more kids around, but through their interactions, you might catch a side of your child that you don’t usually see.
Soap bubble play
Soap bubbles are a classic kids’ pastime.
At 100-yen shops, you can find not only bubble solution but all kinds of blowers—camera-shaped, animal-shaped, sword-shaped, gun-shaped—just choosing one is part of the fun.
When you play in front of your house or at the park during summer vacation, be sure to try bubble play.
Besides simply making bubbles, you can catch the ones that float your way or even pop them on purpose—there are more ways to enjoy them than you might think.
You can make bubble solution by mixing water with dish soap, and you can substitute straws or pipe cleaners for blowers.
Making jelly
Jelly is a classic kids’ snack! Here’s a simple homemade jelly recipe.
Prepare your favorite juice, pour it into a heatproof container, and warm it at 600W for 30 seconds.
Meanwhile, bloom powdered gelatin in water and warm that for 30 seconds as well.
Add the gelatin to the warmed juice and stir, then pour into molds or containers and chill in the refrigerator for 3 hours.
With just three steps—heat, mix, and chill—it’s perfect for cooking time with your child.
barbecue
Eating outside can be such a refreshing change of pace, right? So how about planning a barbecue to make some summer memories? When you grill meat, vegetables, or rice balls on a hotplate, even everyday foods taste especially delicious.
That said, preparing ingredients and starting the fire can be unexpectedly challenging when you have kids.
In that case, book a plan where everything is prepared for you! All you have to do is go, grill, and eat—so even families with little kids can enjoy a barbecue with ease.
Hot plate rice
If you want to enjoy a quick touch of the extraordinary, how about “hot plate meals”? When it comes to hot plate menus, yakisoba and okonomiyaki are classics, but you can actually make a surprising variety of dishes like pizza, bibimbap, and paella.
Try gathering around the hot plate to cook together and enjoy your meal.
Just be careful of burns since the hot plate gets very hot, and have fun cooking with your kids.
ball pit
https://www.tiktok.com/@shinbaby.tok/video/7371628843251158290Get kids excited! Here are some ball pit ideas.
Children love colorful balls, don’t they? Gather about 500 color balls in one spot and enjoy a ball pit.
Even the cool sensation of the balls against their skin is stimulating, and you can almost hear their adorable voices.
You can also sort the balls by color to play, or throw them like a snowball fight—there are so many ways to have fun.
Give it a try!
Making a Sand Vessel
Here’s a game I’ve always wanted to try: making a sand bowl! You can’t actually use the bowl, but it looks like a lot of fun.
First, make a mound of sand and poke a hole in the top with your finger.
Pour water from a plastic bottle into the hole.
Be careful not to let the water overflow, and don’t add too much! When you’re done adding water, gently remove the surrounding sand.
You’ll end up with a bowl-shaped form made of sand that’s been moistened and hardened by the water.
Give it a try on a beach with fine, dry sand!