Okay–I know that it seems strange that I (a woman whose children are now in their early 20’s) am writing a post about how to keep children entertained during the summer. I realize that this is no longer an issue that I, personally, have to deal with, however; I still, to this day, have PTSD from the many summers of trying desperately to keep two busy little boys entertained during the long, hot days of summer vacation.

So, in an effort to help those of you who are still in the trenches; I’ve put together a list of some of the activities that my boys enjoyed back in the day, and have combined those suggestions with other ideas that I have found through research and by chatting with friends of mine who still have school aged kiddos. Hopefully this list will give you a few ideas that you haven’t tried yet, or spur your own creativity to come up with additional suggestions. I have to confess, some of these ideas sound super fun. I may want to try them…even without kids!

50 FabYOUlous Ways to Entertain Your Kiddos this Summer

1. Start a scrapbook–let your kids select the photos and decorate the pages with stickers, drawings etc.
2. Volunteer at an animal shelter–the critters will love the attention from your kiddos and vice versa.
3. Start a jigsaw puzzle that will take a while to complete–do it on a large piece of foam core board so that the puzzle can be moved out of the way when it isn’t being worked on
4. Plant a garden–your kids might just eat their veggies if they grew them themselves
5. Check out the kid’s workshops at Home Depot–visit their website to see what projects are being offered.
6. Roast marshmallows over a fire pit in the backyard–if your kids don’t spook easily, you can even throw in a ghost story or two.
7. Learn to tie-dye some groovy fashions–for a simple “how-to”, click here.
8. Have an alphabet scavenger hunt–your kiddos must find one item that begins with every letter of the alphabet.
9. Make a giant Twister game or Hopscotch in the backyard or driveway–if in the yard, use spray paint. If in the driveway, used colored sidewalk chalk.
10. Bake cookies to deliver to the neighbors–and watch your family become the most popular family on the block. If it’s too hot to bake, try some no-bake cookies.
11. Have a water balloon fight–outdoors…obviously.
12. Go stargazing–learn about a few constellations and then see if you can point them out in the night sky.
13. Visit a zoo or aquarium–make it an educational experience by learning about the animals you visit.
14. Visit a retirement home–and have your kiddos read stories to the residents.
15. Let kids paint each other with washable Tempera paint–and then wash it off by running through the sprinklers in the backyard.
16. Take your kids to a baseball game–bonus points if you teach them how to keep a scorecard.
17. Set up a tent in the backyard and go “camping”–this one was a fave with my boys when they were younger.
18. Make good use of nearby parks–we’d go to a park almost every day when my boys were little.
19. Take a hike–we live in beautiful Colorado where the hiking trails are endless, so this is another fave of ours–even now that my boys are older.
20. Join a summer reading club–click here for suggestions on where to find these clubs.
21. Join a Junior Ranger Program–many national and state parks have these fun and educational programs.
22. Have a garage sale–your kids can earn some spending money by getting rid of items they no longer want/use.
23. Make ice eggs–on the night before an especially warm day, fill balloons with water and then slip a small toy inside the balloon as well. Put the balloons in the freezer and then send the kids outside with their “eggs” the next day. When the eggs melt, the toys will be revealed. For extra fun–add food coloring to the water to make colored ice eggs.
24. Visit a local police or fire station–since most departments don’t have set visiting hours, be sure to call ahead to set up a time. For added fun, take some homemade treats to your local heroes.
25. Organize a neighborhood kick-ball tournament–a fun way to bring neighbors together for a little friendly competition.
26. Make some goop–create a mysterious matter that kids can shape into balls or let ooze from their fingers. Here’s how:
    * Pour one cup water into a large mixing bowl.
    * Add a few drops of food coloring (any color).
    * Slowly stir in two cups of cornstarch (use a spoon at first, but you may eventually find it’s easier with your hands).
27. Enroll in summer craft class–most Michael’s or Joann’s Fabrics stores have summer classes for kids.
28. Host a toy swap–invite your kid’s friends to bring over a few toys that they no longer play with and have a swap. Everyone leaves with a toy that’s “new” to them.
29. Make homemade ice cream–because let’s face it, homemade tastes best.
30. Make tin-can stilts–remember those? So much fun!
31. Craft some wind chimes–click here for instructions.
32. Make a fairy garden–it’s simple, click here to learn how.
33. Visit a farmer’s market–and bring home some fresh produce.
34. Play tourist in your own town–staycations truly can be a lot of fun if you view your hometown through tourist eyes.
35. Learn how to double dutch jumprope–or…start with a single rope if necessary.
36. Play a nighttime game of flashlight tag at a local park or backyard–while you’re at it, keep your eyes open for fireflies.
37. Build a birdhouse–or a bat house!
38. Go to a drive-in movie–Especially fun if you own a pick-up truck and lots of pillows and blankets.
39. Go fly a kite–I’m a grown up and I still love flying kites.
40. Host an ice cream sundae bar–heck, have ice cream sundaes for dinner just once.
41. Paint pet rocks–they require a lot less care and maintenance than a real pet.
42. Make popsicles–all you need is some fruit juice, dixie cups and popsicle sticks. Easy peasy.
43. Create a bicycle obstacle course–don’t forget the helmets!
44. Make root beer floats for your kids and the neighborhood kids–maybe for the neighborhood adults too.
45. Set up a lemonade stand–an oldie but a goodie.
46. Learn origami–for simple tutorials, click here.
47. Learn Pig Latin together–it’s like your own secret language.
48. Learn some simple magic tricks–and then put together a magic show. Here are some beginner tricks to get you started.
49. Go geocaching–lots of fun for older kiddos. Click here for an introduction.
50. Study insects with a magnifying glass–just be sure that the sun is not shining through the glass…the object here is to study the insects, not fry them.

Yes, having the kids home from school does require a bit more planning and preparation, but it also means more freedom and fun. Be sure to make time to enjoy your kids–they grow up SO fast, but happy summer memories will stay with them forever.