How to Have a Creative Summer With Kids

Your kiddos are out of school, the days are longer, and the warm weather inspires you to try new things. You desperately want to find fun and unique ways to have a creative summer with your kids, but the same old ideas keep flooding your mind. Sure, finger painting at the kitchen table is great, but you want something that can’t necessarily be done year round- something unique to the summer.

Well, you’ve come to the right place!

Mama Tested-Mama Approved Creative Summer Ideas

As part of my “Mama Tested-Mama Approved” series, I polled a collection of moms to ask how they best get creative in the summertime with their children and was most excited to add their amazing answers to my existing list. (Do you want to be a part of the polls in the future and receive the chance to win amazing giveaways in the process? You can join the free Facebook group here.)

With a wide variety of creative and unique ideas, these 40 creative summer suggestions are sure to keep your kiddos entertained the whole summer through!

* Affiliate links are included in this post. All this means, is that if you click on one of those links and purchase something, I may receive a small commission. However, you will not pay a penny more- promise!

1. Set up and operate a lemonade or cookie stand. (This adorable lemonade stand card table cover is ideal!)(Hint: are you part of a neighborhood Facebook group? If so, be sure to post a photo sharing that the stand is up and running!)
2. Have a park/playground day. Pack lunches and take off right after breakfast. Take the kiddos from park to park throughout town, stopping only to have a picnic lunch.
3. Take out that sidewalk chalk and create an entire village. This wold be a fun way to include neighborhood kids as well. Design streets, homes, stores, etc. and have it span the entire driveway and sidewalk. (Get this jumbo pack and include everyone!)
4. Have a neighborhood Olympics. Have your kiddos help decide games and activities. Craft signs, invitations, etc. (Wow them with these Olympic medals for the winners.)
5. Go on an adventure searching for small flowers, leaves, etc. Then assemble into crowns and necklaces.
6. Use cardboard boxes, Kleenex boxes, and paper towel rolls to create musical instruments (i.e. guitar, horn, etc.). Then set up a stage and host a concert.
7. Go rock collecting. Then come home and paint the rocks. Add inspirational quotes and hide them around town for others to find. (I find these paints to work best.)
8. Play Pictionary with sidewalk chalk.
9. Use existing toys and bring them outdoors to create a fun obstacle course.
10. Go strawberry picking and together make jam afterwards.
11. Create your own miniature beach. Grab a large bowl or tub, fill with sand, seashells, miniature toys, etc. and create your own beach. (Don’t have a beach nearby? Here is cheap decorative real sand to use.)
12. Plant a garden and care for it daily. Turn it into a challenge with who’s vegetable turns out best!
13. Go for nightly family walks and come up with one new item to spot on your walk every night.
14. Go to the zoo. Afterwards come home and craft a picture of your favorite animal you spotted while there.
15. Spend a day at the beach having sand castle competitions. (Amateur sand castle builder?- this mold is awesome.)
16. Find LIVE music at a local restaurant or festival. Bring your musical instruments (as noted in #6) along to participate and pick out your favorite dancing outfit.
17. Hang a white sheet in the backyard, then project your favorite movie for outdoor movie fun. (Want an actual outdoor screen? This Outdoor Projector Screen is great!)
18. Send out a camping invitation to family or friends, but instead set up numerous tents in your backyard for a local camping event.
19. Go to the Farmer’s Market and turn your findings into an opportunity to have a bake off between friends and family.
20. Make personalized pizzas and cook them outside on the grill or over a campfire. (This pizza campfire grill works great)
21. Have a s’more competition. (These kid-safe extra long s’more sticks are highly recommended).
22. Create a star craft during the day and then lay outside looking at the stars at night.
23. Make homemade ice cream and root beer floats.
24. Create an outdoor treasure hunt for your children to enjoy. (Here is a collection of the perfect treasures to hide.)
25. Fill water balloons with paint and throw them at canvases outdoors to create one-of-a-kind artwork.
26. Assign a fruit-a-day and see how many activities you can do with the one fruit. (i.e. watermelon craft, watermelon seed spitting contest, create watermelon popsicles, etc.)
27. Use lunch bags, socks, etc. to create puppets. Then host an outdoor puppet show.
28. Go on a nature walk collecting fun items (leaves, rocks, flowers, etc.) Then come home and create unique artwork with the collection.
29. Get dressed up and go to a parade.
30. Have a bubble day. Create giant bubbles, small bubbles, bubble art, etc.
31. Host a neighborhood luau. Create or buy leis, make food, and turn on the music.
32. Host a neighborhood carwash and set up your own business.
33. Have a selfless day. Bake cookies for a neighbor, wash a neighbor’s car, cut a neighbor’s grass, make dinner for a neighbor, etc.
34. Make paper airplanes and have a competition.
35. Go on a bug hunt.
36. Make a fun bird feeder.
37. Play night games outside in the dark or around the neighborhood.
38. Create your own outdoor waterpark. Slip n’ Slide, sprinkler, small inflatable pool, obstacles courses, etc.
39. Take a short road trip to a local place you have never been.
40. Print off photos from fun summer days and create a scrapbook.

Do you have more fun and creative ideas to add to the list? I’d love to hear them in the comments!