If you’re anything like us you’ll half-dread the summer holidays, because kids are not great at entertaining themselves (if you’ve got a child who takes themselves off for hours quietly to make something out of Lego, hats off to you). Summer holiday activities ideas can sometimes involve spending money, being distracted from work or constantly taking the kids out. However, our ideas for the summer holidays avoid unnecessary cost and hassle, and get the kids to entertain themselves. Sounds good, right?
Over the next month you will probably hear the words ‘I’m bored’ a hundred times. It’s vital, therefore, to have an arsenal of things to do to answer that question. So here, dear readers, is the answer to your prayers: 101 ideas of things for kids to do over the summer. You’re welcome. Stick it on the fridge and let the kids pick an idea whenever they’re at a loss of what to do.
- Bake cakes
- Build a den
- Build something out of Lego
- Clean the car
- Collect some stones and decorate them
- Copy a picture in a book
- Create a family flag or coat of arms
- Dance
- Do a good deed
- Do a puzzle
- Try a science experiment
- Do brain teasers
- Do gymnastics
- Do some colouring in
- Do some exercises (try Joe Wicks on YouTube)
- Do some maths
- Draw a family portrait
- Draw a picture while blindfolded
- Draw an alien
- Draw an animal
- Draw our house
- Dress up
- Try face painting
- Find a recipe and cook a meal together
- Find five toys to donate to charity
- Find out five facts about a country
- Find out five facts about an animal
- Find something in your house that starts with every letter of the alphabet
- Go bug hunting
- Go for a walk
- Go swimming
- Go to the £1 shop and choose 1 item
- Spend a few pounds on items in a charity shop
- Go to the library
- Go to the park
- Have a picnic- indoor or outdoor
- Have a quiz
- Interview someone
- Invent a new language
- Invent your own board game
- Learn a magic trick
- Learn origami
- Learn ten words in a different language
- Learn the words to a song
- Look at old photos
- Make a card for someone
- Make a collage
- Make a healthy snack buffet
- Make a musical instrument
- Make a pasta necklace
- Make a paper doll and clothes
- Make a present for someone
- Make a sock puppet
- Make a treasure hunt
- Make a video
- Make an obstacle course
- Make friendship bracelets
- Make homemade ice lollies
- Make up a story
- Organise your toys
- Paint a picture
- Phone a relative
- Plan a trip
- Play a ball game
- Play a board game
- Play a card game
- Play a memory game
- Play a musical instrument
- Play hide and seek
- Play I Spy
- Play schools
- Make your own shop out of toys and food from the kitchen
- Play skipping games
- Play tag
- Play the alphabet game
- Play with a toy you haven’t played with in a while
- Play with dolls
- Play with playdough
- Write a family newsletter
- Press flowers
- Put on a sock puppet show
- Put together a time capsule
- Read a book
- Ride your bike
- Roller skate
- Sew something
- Sort out a drawer
- Sort out your wardrobe
- Spelling quiz
- Take photos
- Tidy your bedroom
- Write a birthday list
- Walk the dog
- Play with your pet
- Have a water fight
- Water the plants
- Write to a family member
- Write to a friend
- Write a play
- Write a poem
- Write and illustrate a cartoon or story.
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Click here for a free downloadable kid’s boredom buster activity book!