I have created a bucket list with 100 things you can do with your kids this summer.
100 KIDS SUMMER ACTIVITIES ON A DIME
1) WATER GUN FIGHT/WATER BALLOON FIGHT
2) MAKE BUBBLE SNAKES
https://entertainkidsonadime.com/2014/05/12/bubble-snakes-outdoor-activity/
3) MAKE A LIFE SIZE INDOOR BOARD GAME
http://www.toddlerapproved.com/2011/07/escape-volcano-shape-game.html?m=1
4) HOT CAR CRAYON MAKER
http://www.cometogetherkids.com/2011/07/hot-car-crayons.html?m=1
5) MAKE SOAP CLOUDS
http://ourbestbites.com/2012/04/kitchen-craft-soap-clouds-and-homemade-kiddie-tub-soaps/
6) CRAYON SAND PAPER T-SHIRTS
http://alphamom.com/family-fun/crafts/sandpaper-printed-t-shirt/
7) GLOW STICKS DANCE PARTY
Go to the Dollar Store and buy some fun glow sticks, turn off the lights, and blast some music!
8) MAKE BALLOON ROCKETS
http://discoverexplorelearn.com/balloon-rockets/
9) FAMILY CAR RACE
http://tpcraft.blogspot.ca/2011/02/toilet-paper-roll-race-car.html?m=1
10) MAKE A MARSHMALLOW SHOOTER
http://www.cometogetherkids.com/2011/09/mini-marshmallow-shooters-or-pom-pom.html?m=1
11) STORY STONES
http://www.creativefamilyfun.net/2011/08/story-stones.html?m=1
12) MAKE PLAYDOUGH MATS
This will keep the little ones busy for a long time!
http://picklebums.com/2014/07/22/fun-food-play-dough-mats/#_a5y_p=2110571
13) ACTION DICE GAME
http://teachingmama.org/pool-noodle-water-wall/
14) MAKE ICE VOLCANOS
http://www.readingconfetti.com/2013/08/ice-volcanoes.html
15) POPCORN OLYMPICS
http://m.orsoshesays.com/06d5fln/articles/34077/The-Popcorn-Olympics-Fun-Activity-for-Kids-she-Veronica-
16) WATCH A FREE OUTDOOR MOVIE
Search online your city and movies in the park and you should find something close by.
17) MAKE A RETRO THEME DAY
https://entertainkidsonadime.com/2015/06/04/80s-retro-day-at-home/
18) MAKE A LEMONADE STAND
Kids will be busy decorating the signs and making the lemonade. Ask you neighbours come out and support your kids.
19) FROZEN ICE PLAY
http://theimaginationtree.com/2013/07/ocean-sensory-tray-with-frozen-rice.html
20) OUTDOOR WATER ART
http://www.serving-pink-lemonade.com/2013/06/water-art.html
21) TIC TAC TOWEL
Take a plain towel and make a Tic Tac Toe board out of tape.
Kids can use sea shells or rocks as the pieces.
22) PUT ON A MAGIC SHOW
Learn magic tricks and show family and friends.
http://www.funology.com/magic-tricks/
23) BALLOON POP ROCKS EXPERIMENT
Do the Balloon Fizz Science Experiment
https://entertainkidsonadime.com/2014/07/22/balloon-pop-rocks-experiment/
23) MAKE CUPCAKES
24) HIDE AND GO SEEK IN THE DARK
Play Hide & Seek with the lights off using glow bracelets.
25) MOCK CAMPING TRIP
Make a mock camping trip
Use a play tent, sleeping bags or blankets, and flash lights. You can eat dinner out side and sing camp songs.
26) MAKE A “RESTAURANT” DINNER
Have your kids help you make dinner. Create menus with them to decorate and serve your spouse or neighbours.
27) DIY GIANT PAPER AIRPLANE
http://m.instructables.com/id/Giant-Paper-Airplane/
28) MAKE A COLLAGE
Make a collage with magazine pages or family photos.
29) MAKE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Find items around the house and construct different instruments. This teaches kids how to recycle waste into something useful and fun.
https://makingmulticulturalmusic.wordpress.com/2012/04/10/14-world-music-instruments-that-can-be-made-from-recycled-materials/
30) Make Alien Bubbles
http://familylicious.com/alien-bubbles-science/
31) SALAD SPINNER ART
You can purchase a salad spinner at The Dollar Store.
http://theimaginationtree.com/2010/09/salad-spinner-art.html
32) MAKE HOMEMADE JAM
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1511719/homemade-raspberry-jam
33) MAKE A TIME CAPSULE
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Time-Capsule-Resources-255339
34) DO A JIGSAW PUZZLES
You can purchase puzzles at The Dollar Store.
35) MAKE A SUN CATCHER
http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/16045/glass-gem-sun-catcher-craft
36) WATCH HOME MOVIES
37) DECORATE WITH PUFFY PAINT
The Dollarama sells Puffy Paint in the art section and you can purchase a top or a hat to decorate.
Make sure you let it completely dry before wearing it.
38) HAVE A PICNIC
39) MAKE ICE CREAM IN A BAG
https://entertainkidsonadime.com/2014/06/16/homemade-ice-cream-in-a-bag/
40) POOL NOODLE HOCKEY
http://www.sportingadvantage.com.au/news/team-building-learn-to-play-noodle-hockey
41) POTATO STAMPING
http://www.firstpalette.com/Craft_themes/Colors/Potato_Stamps/Potato_Stamps.html
42) BUILD A VILLAGE OUT OF BLOCKS OR LEGO
43) MAKE A DEEJAY DANCE PARTY
Go to the dollar store and get glow sticks! Dress your kids in light colours. Close the blinds and the lights and activate their glow sticks. Put on their favourite songs and have them dance. This one is good when they have friends come over.
44) MAKE A SUMMER SCRAP BOOK
45) SPONGE WATER GAMES
http://www.mamaslikeme.com/2012/07/fun-water-games-for-kids.html?m=1
46) PAPER PLATE MARBLE TRACK
http://frugalfun4boys.com/2012/09/05/paper-plate-marble-track/
47) JUMP ROPE GAMES
http://www.jumpropeinstitute.com/kids.htm
48) CHINESE JUMP ROPE GAMES
http://www.gameskidsplay.net/games/other_games/chinese_jump_rope.htm
49) MAKE ICE EGGS
http://alittlelearningfortwo.blogspot.ca/2011/09/ice-eggs.html?m=1
50) MAKE A FELT PLAY MAT
http://www.mydeliciousambiguity.com/2011/01/diy-felt-play-mats-construction-trains.html?m=1
51) AIRPLANE WATCHING
Take your kids over to Pearson Airport and watch the planes take off and land.
52) FREE CONCERT IN THE PARK
53) DIY KID “CAR” WASH
http://www.lowes.com/creative-ideas/kids-and-baby/kids-car-wash-sprinkler/project
54) VISIT IKEA
Kids meals are $2.99 and there is a free drop off kids play area while you shop. Need I say more …
55) MAKE A LUA
You can purchase leis, grass skirts and decorations at the Dollar Store. You can also make fruity virgin colada drinks for the kids.
56) GO TO A FLEA MARKET
http://www.fleamarketlist.com/CanadaFleamMarkets/Canadian_Flea_Market08.htm
57) DIY GIANT SLIP & SLIDE with a painter’s tarp and shaving cream.
58) MAKE A SCAVENGER HUNT
https://www.care.com/a/8-scavenger-hunt-ideas-for-kids-131030133254
59) MAKE A WATER BLOB
This one is cheap and a lot of fun!
https://entertainkidsonadime.com/2014/07/08/large-sensory-blob/
60) WASH YOUR CAR
Put the kids in a swim suit and give them the hose, some sponges and a bucket full of soap. They will have a ball.
61) BOARD GAME NIGHT
62) PLAY WITH SIDE WALK CHALK
(Have a Colouring Contest, Mini Art Gallery, or create games like Hop Scotch and Tic Tac Toe)
63) OUTDOOR GIANT BOARD GAME
http://www.the36thavenue.com/kid-activities-backyard-game-board/
64) CATCH FIRE FLIES
65) TRIP TO THE PET STORE
66) PLAY IN THE SPRINKLER
67) FLOWER POT CRAFT
https://entertainkidsonadime.com/tag/flower-pot/
68) MAKE A VIDEO
Whether you have one of those little FLIP videos, a camera, or your cell phone, get your children to make a play.
Have them practice it a bunch of times. Find or make some costumes and have them perform their play on the video.
You can put it on the computer for them to watch.
69) CARD BOARD BOX CREATIONS
Take your children to the grocery or drug store and ask for extra used boxes.
Here are some cool ideas your can do with card board boxes:
http://www.designdazzle.com/2013/09/15-cardboard-creations-to-make-for-kids/
70) GO TO THE BEACH
71) NATURE ART
Take your kids to a local park or nature trail and have them pick out items (ie. leaves, sticks, rocks, flowers).
Give them bristol board and glue and have them make abstract art using their findings.
72) MAKE SMORES
Using a microwave or a real fire pit, you can get into the camping spirit!
73) MAKE A PLAYING CARD CASTLE
74) MAKE PIZZA
75) SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/experiments.html
76) OUTDOOR COMPETITIONS
Get the neighbour hood kids over and host a competition.
Split the kids in fair teams.
You can create some games to play:
* Potato Sack Races (using garbage bags or pillow cases)
* 3 Legged Race using Socks or Shoe Laces
* Water Balloon Toss
* Spoon Race (holding a ping pong ball or egg)
77) MAKE EDIBLE PLAYDOUGH
https://entertainkidsonadime.com/2014/03/26/easy-play-dough-recipes/
78) MAKE A BOAT PATH
http://www.crumbbums.com/?p=2842
79) MAKE AN AQUARIUM
All you need is two paper plates (cut out the middle of one), glue, googly eyes, foam, blue paint, saran wrap and rocks from outside.
80) HOME MADE TAP SHOES
Tape nickels to the bottom of your kid’s running shoes and you’ve got a pair of tap shoes.
81) GO TO A TOWN MAIN STREET
Go for a walk down the street. Grab an ice cream cone.
Suggested Place: Unionville Main Street in Markham is a great choice. Any Cottage Country down town strip will do the trick.
82) MAKE ART ON THE LAWN
http://www.callmemamaleisha.com/2011/07/art-on-lawn.html
83) MAKE A HOMEMADE SLIP AND SLIDE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMEpizMzWM8
84) BURY A TIME CAPSULE
http://www.familiesonlinemagazine.com/timecapsulejak.htm
85) GROW FRUIT OR VEGETABLES
86) GO TO A FARMER’S MARKET
87) VISIT A PET STORE
88) MAKE AN OBSTACLE COURSE
https://entertainkidsonadime.com/tag/diy-obstacle-course/
89) PLAY SHARK
All you need is a folded ironing board to be your boat. Keep the kids on the boat. If they fall off, they get “eaten” by the Shark, which Mom or Dad can play!
90) GO TO A SPLASH PAD
91) MAKE A WATER BALLOON SLIP AND SLIDE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbjD7rerj6E
92) MAKE SAND BUCKET MINIONS
http://frugalfun4boys.com/2015/05/13/minions-sand-buckets-with-a-free-printable-pattern/
93) HAVE A CARD GAME TOURNAMENT
http://www.todaysparent.com/family/activities/10-kid-friendly-card-games/
94) MAKE A HIGH TEA PARTY
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/how-throw-afternoon-tea-party
95) GO GEOCACHING
https://www.geocaching.com/play
96) MAKE YOUR OWN MAD LIBS
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Your-Own-Mad-Lib
97) EXPLODING BAGS EXPERIMENT
This one is messy but a lot of fun!
https://entertainkidsonadime.com/2014/05/21/exploding-bags-fun-science-experiment/
98) MAKE A PET ROCK
Pick a rock outside. Let the kids paint them, decorate them
99) SUMO WRESTLING MATCH
Make the kids are supervised during this one.
http://allfortheboys.com/home/2012/2/2/sumo-boys.html
100) MAKE A LEGO NIGHT LIGHT
http://frugalfun4boys.com/2015/05/07/how-to-build-a-lego-night-light/