I love summer. Usually. Some times, it gets a little crazy, but that’s why I put together a fun Summer Boredom Buster Jar full of kids activities for my boys (and me!) to use when things were just a little too relaxed.

Or we’re a little too tired and it’s not quite nap or bed time yet. Or when things get a little too wrestle-y. Because… boys.

It saved my bacon more than once last summer.

I have plans this summer and our kids activities jar has a starring role in my attack on unruly boys. I divided the activities into seven categories.

If you’re looking for some fun things to do this summer, take a look at this huge list and then make your own Summer Boredom Buster Jar with the ideas.

168 KIDS ACTIVITIES TO TRY THIS SUMMER

FUN WITH FOOD KIDS ACTIVITIES:

– Make popsicles.  Get as creative as you little heart desires.
– Banana Boats in the fire pit.  Don’t know what banana boats are, check out the link.
– Make ice cream in a bag
– Fruit Loop necklaces
– Make peanut butter play dough
– Make S’mores

– Decorate cupcakes
– Make colorful cookies
– Create a new smoothie flavor
– Make Jell-O
– Build with marshmallows
– Make popcorn necklaces
– Create the ultimate ice cream sundae!
– Edible finger painting

– Make slushies
– Make Jell-O play dough
– Roast hot dogs over a fire
– Make candy bars
– Make a banana split

QUIET TIME KIDS ACTIVITIES:

– Story stones or tiles
– Write letters
– Felt fishing game math practice
– Googly eye drawings
– Write in your story journal
– Movie Marathon!
– Illustrate a picture book
– Get a new ebook or learning app – Our favorite ABC apps, preschool apps

– Play with blocks.  Creation Blocks, Tinkertoys, Cardboard Blocks and our Wooden Blocks are time-tested favorites.

– Do a practice worksheet.
– Play with Water Beads
– Do puzzles
– M&M math practice.  Add and subtract with the candies.  You can also practice colors.  Of course, you’re finished when you’ve eaten all the candies.
– Draw with the Window Markers
– Play learning games on the tablet
– Make a straw bead necklace
– Build with sponge building blocks – cut several sponges into strips and stack them
– Read stories with Mom
– ABC match game
– Practice with the lacing cards

OUTSIDE KIDS ACTIVITIES:

– Make a fun obstacle course with PVC pipe sprinklers
– Water gun tin can target practice
– Water balloon towel toss
– Garden for letters: dig & spell
– Target sponge toss
– Have a picnic on the swing
– Go on a walk
– Have a bike wash.  A car wash… for bikes.
– Make mud pies
– Create a water wall with plastic bottles
– Water balloon pinata
– Create a tin foil river.  Float paper boats in them.
– Water balloon fight!
– Blow bubbles
– Go on a nature scavenger hunt
– Ride bikes

– Sand box treasure hunt
– Create a chalk maze
– Ice boat races
– Sponge water fight
– Play in the pool
– Ice block toy rescue
– Play in the sprinklers
– Draw with chalk on the sidewalk

ENERGY BURNING KIDS ACTIVITIES:

– Glow balloon ping pong
– Paper plate ring toss

– Masking tape bean bag toss (or paper plate toss)
– Sing songs!
– Dinosaur fossil hunt
– Super chore race!
– Masking tape maze
– Paper plate frisbee

– Make a mini golf course
– Dance Party!
– Duck, duck, goose
– Go on a treasure hunt
– Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
– Build an obstacle course
– Put on a circus
– Nerf gun wars
– Glow in the dark bowling

THINGS TO MAKE KIDS ACTIVITIES:

– Make a wind chime
– Construct a city for your cars from cardboard boxes
– Paper Airplane Races
– Make Olliblocks

– Make a rain stick
– Make DIY paint with water pages
– Tin can telephones
– Make a musical instrument
– Make a lemonade stand
– Bow & Arrow practice.  Not a real bow an arrow.  There’s lots of fun ideas for DIY toys.
– Make sugar cube castles
– Q-tip painting.
– Make an I Love You chain
– Make a shoe box shape sorter for a baby
– Draw a treasure map!
– Make a marble maze
– Make pet rocks
– Masking tape city and roads
– Trace around your body and make a “Flat Me”
– Make toilet paper tube race cars

– Use old crayons and make sun catchers
– Make straw rockets
– Masking tape maze
– Macaroni noodle necklace
– Make constellation cans
– Make slime!
– Use popsicle sticks to make puppets.  Have a puppet show.
– Make shadow box piggy banks
– Make Gak

– Cardboard box cars
– Paint rocks for the garden
– Salt painting
– Make paper
– Build something with a box
– Corn syrup paintings
– Make paper dolls

THINGS TO DO KIDS ACTIVITIES:

– Go on a monster hunt
– Learn some words in a new language
– Mess-free finger painting
– Make “potions”
– Play with letter magnets (these are my favorite, though kinda pricey)
– Build a fort!
– Clean something

– Play with the felt fishing game
– Have a science day
– Dress Up!
– Bathtub fishing
– Balloon Rocket Races
– Shaving cream bath tub painting
– String maze
– Photo booth
– ABC scavenger hunt
– Play with the Gizmos
– Play with the Pattern Blocks
– Make a life-size board game.
– Pajama Day!
– Take photos for an ABC book

– Do a science experiment
– Ivory soap clouds
– Write invisible letters and mail them
– Stay/day-cation
– Play with Legos
– Make and play with a sensory bin
– Camp out in the family room
– Act out a story
– Play on the Wii
– Make shadow puppets
– Play a board game. Junior Suspend is one of our favorites!

FAMILY ACTIVITIES (this is great for weekends!):

– Make pretzels
– Movie night on the big screen
– Go bowling!
– Launch rockets
– Have a fire and star gaze
– Go to the drive-in
– Go to the marina or river park.
– See a movie at the theater
– Go to the Discovery Museum

– Have a popcorn bar!
– Play in the fountains
– Fly a kite
– Star gazing
– Go to the library
– Camping
– Go to the beach
– Go to Sonic!
– Get ice cream
– Go to the splash pad

You can check out some of our favorite summer products on Amazon. These are all things we own and love and can’t live without when the days are long, the air is hot and the sky is sunny!

What’s your favorite summer time kids activities? I’m always looking to add to our collection.  Leave a comment and let me know!