25+ Fun Screen Free Summer Activities for Kids
Trying to reduce the time kids are on the tablets? These 25+ screen free activities are perfect for summer! There’s something here for all ages, including toddlers and preschoolers. Our collection includes easy ideas both for indoors and outdoors.
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Once school gets out, kids have lots of free time which usually leads to more time on the iPad. But today I am giving TONS of ideas so that doesn’t happen! Be sure to also grab the Summer Rules Screen Time Chart (Free Printable) to make a schedule.
We also have Summer Bingo (Includes 60 Unique Cards!) and Summer Family Feud – Includes 46 Questions & Answers that are great especially if you are looking for something fun with a larger group of kids.
🌟Don’t Leave Before You Check Out These Seasonal Ideas!🌟
Farmers Market Dramatic Play Printables
Turn your classroom or playroom into a bustling farmers’ market with these adorable printable sets! Kids can practice counting money, sorting fruits and vegetables, and role-playing as vendors and shoppers. The colorful signs, play money, and product labels make pretend play even more engaging and educational.
Dramatic Play Ice Cream Shop Printables
Talk about summer fun! Meet the sweet ice cream parlor that comes to life using our adorable printables! Kids will love running their own pretend shop with menu boards, order forms, play money, and all the fun props they need to scoop up imaginative play. It’s the perfect way to encourage role-playing, social skills, and early math concepts while having a blast.
Easy Homemade Play Dough Recipes
Making homemade play dough is easier than you think with these simple recipes that use ingredients you already have in your kitchen! The collection walks you through multiple variations, including classic salt dough and no-cook options, so you can whip up batches in minutes. Your kids will love the bright colors and squishy texture, plus you’ll save money compared to store-bought versions.
Easy DIY Slime Recipes
Looking for a fun afternoon activity with the kids? This roundup of simple slime recipes makes it super easy to get started with ingredients you probably already have at home.
DIY Bubble Wands
Looking for a fun outdoor activity? Kids can learn how to make their own bubble wands at home using beads and pipe cleaners.
Summer Sensory Bins and Activities
Looking for ways to keep little ones engaged this summer? These sensory bin ideas are perfect for hot days when you need indoor activities that are both fun and educational. From water play to texture exploration, you’ll find creative setups that encourage hands-on learning while keeping kids happily occupied for hours, without screens!
Rainbow Color Wheel Skittles Experiment for Kids
Experience the rainbow using just Skittles and water! Makes an easy indoor or outdoor activity where kids will forget all about their tablets!
Bug Hunt Fine Motor Activity by Growing Hands-On Kids
This bug hunt is incredibly simple to set up and easy to do again and again, making it a perfect go-to activity. With just a few plastic bugs and a couple of tools, kids will stay happily searching and exploring until it’s finally time to head inside.
DIY Sidewalk Chalk Paint by Rock Your Homeschool
Take a classic childhood activity that is decades old, and give it a new coat of paint with this brilliant outdoor pastime. Sidewalk chalk paint is super simple to make, loads of messy fun, and rinses right off with a hose or the next rainstorm.
Ice Tie Dye by AB Crafty
Pretty much everybody knows tie-dyeing, but this method comes as a surprise. Ice tie dye offers wild, wavy patterns that don’t look anything like the traditional spirals and swirls from the basic process.
Painting with Water by Messy Little Monster
Painting with water is a really fun, interesting way for kids to have a little cooling outdoor fun. Plus, it’s virtually mess-free, since they really are only using water to “paint” with.
Erupting Watermelon Science Activity by Natural Beach Living
Why waste the watermelon rind after making a fruit salad? The bowl shape is perfect for a little outdoor baking soda and vinegar volcano action.
Giant Bubble Recipe by Red Ted Art
While homemade bubble soap is a pretty basic recipe, that doesn’t mean it can’t be improved. This option has a secret ingredient that allows for giant bubbles that won’t immediately burst.
DIY Floating Spoon Flowers by Ann’s Entitled Life
Get the backyard ready for a little fun with this cute craft idea. Turn spoons into floating “flowers” and add a tea light for some really pretty lighting.
How to make Fireworks in a Glass by Finding Myself Young
This activity combines a science lesson, basic home materials, and a summer tradition all in one. Kids can make their very own fireworks show with this simple, fun project.
Vinegar and Baking Soda Rocket Science Experiment by 123 Homeschool 4 Me
Master the power of baking soda and vinegar in a whole new way. Using standard household items, kids can make a rocket that really blasts off for a wild backyard adventure.
DIY Ball Run by And Next Comes L
This activity takes the classic marble run idea, and blows it up for the backyard. Use some old scraps and whatever is laying around to make a ball run that will span the entire lawn.
Summer Scavenger Hunt by Mommy Made That
Need an activity that will keep kids busy outside, but doesn’t take all day to set up? This summer scavenger hunt is just a quick printable away from loads of backyard fun.
Create an Epic Summer Shaving Cream Battle by Fireflies & Mud Pies
This screen-free summer activity is going to be a lot of mess, but it’s super easy to clean up. Goggles and shaving cream cans are all it takes for an epic shaving cream battle, and everything washes away with the garden hose.
DIY Solar Oven by Little Bins for Little Hands
Few activities feel as timeless as making s’mores, but this version adds a clever twist. With a simple hand-built solar oven, kids can use the power of the sun to melt their treats, turning a classic snack into a fun experiment.
Letter Fishing Kids Activity by Kids Activity Zone
Fill a wading pool with water and magnetic floating letters. Kids then catch the letters with a magnetic fishing pole, and complete different challenges based on age and skill level.
Build a Shelter from the Sun and Test it with UV-Sensitive Beads by Buggy and Buddy
Get kids involved in STEM and demonstrate an important summer safety lesson at the same time. Kids have to design and build a shelter to keep UV-sensitive beads from changing color when left out all day.
Bubbling Shell Craft by Mess for Less
One thing any good beach trip results in is tons of seashells. Put them to good use with this fun, foamy seashell painting activity.
Trampoline Sidewalk Chalk Learning Game by The Mindful Toddler
Anyone with a backyard trampoline knows that they are loads of fun. But take that fun through the stratosphere by adding in sidewalk chalk challenges, drawn right on the trampoline!
Nile River Kids Summer Water Activity by Kids Activities
This Nile river activity is easy to set up, but loads of fun. Kids will love learning all the trivia about this famous river, presented alongside the instructions on how to make it.
Camp Themed Lego Challenge Cards by The Crazy Outdoor Mama
Any LEGO-obsessed kids will jump at these fun printables. Each one features a picture of a camping-themed build for kids to try.
Color Matching Popsicle Craft by My Joy-Filled Life
Summer is all about popsicles, and so is this activity. Kids can practice color matching with the foam popsicles and the popsicle sticks, then reward them with the real thing if they get their colors right.
