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School is out, and while the kids are ecstatic to be free from the classroom, parents may need help figuring out how to entertain them during the hot summer days. Our advice? Unplug from all devices and take things outside with these creative and fun outdoor activities for kids.
This list has something for kids of all ages, from flower pressing, water games, and mud play to tie-dye ideas for teens and head-scratching scavenger hunts for preschoolers and kindergarteners. We also found a few inexpensive outdoor toys you can easily buy online if the DIY route isn't really your/their cup of tea. This list isn't just for parents, though — summer school teachers or teachers who work in warmer climates can also use a lot of these outdoor activity ideas for future recess or classroom fun. The important thing is, no matter what they like to do outside, picking an activity from this list is a double-win for parents: it means less screen time and more healthy activity under the sunshine.
Now, ready to head out? Let the outdoors be their summer playground, encourage their creativity, and you can't go wrong. Here's to a summer they'll remember forever.
1
Summer Scavenger Hunt
Print out a few of these scavenger hunt pages and let the kids scour the backyard for everything on the list. And if you'd rather play at this at the beach or on a family road trip, there's a scavenger hunt list for those, too.
Get the full Summer Scavenger Hunt cards from Crafts by Amanda.
RELATED: The Beach Essentials Checklist for Packing
2
Glow-in-the-Dark Water Bottles
If you'd rather wait until things cool down, head outdoors after the sun sets and make use of these glow-in-the-dark water bottles. Use them as bases for a nighttime game of kickball or light up a path in your driveway.
Get the full Glow-in-the-Dark Water Bottles tutorial from Crafts by Amanda.
3
Painted Watermelon Summer Sign
Older kids will love making this wooden watermelon sign for their room. Everything you need to make it can be found at your local craft store.
Get the full Painted Watermelon Summer Sign tutorial from Crafting Cheerfully.
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4
Regrow Veggie Scraps
Give the kids a basic gardening lesson and keep their little hands busy by planting repurposed veggie scraps. You'd be surprised how much food you can keep out of a landfill.
Get the full Regrow Veggie Scraps tutorial from A Piece of Rainbow.
RELATED: How to Throw an Outdoor Garden Party
5
Outdoor Movie Night
Take movie night outdoors with the perfect setup from Savvy Mama, where a simple white sheet serves as the screen. Don't forget the popcorn!
Get the full Outdoor Movie Night tutorial from Savvy Mama Lifestyle.
Here's a great opportunity to play in the dark. Fire up these light-up frisbees for some fun after sunset. That's one way to get the wiggles out before bedtime.
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7
Backyard Restaurant Mud Play
Take mud play to the next level with The Crafting Chicks' Sea Side Restaurant set up. Each item on the menu is made from (you guessed it) mud. Your little one will love serving up plates to you and your friends. Remember, just pretend to eat it.
Get the full Backyard Restaurant Mud Play tutorial from The Crafting Chicks.
8
Two-Ingredient Slime
Slime is a messy venture, which is why it makes for the perfect outdoor activity. Throw down a tarp in the yard or on your patio table and let the kids go to town. Bonus: This recipe calls for just two ingredients, making it an especially easy thing to whip up.
Get the full Two-Ingredient Slime tutorial from Hello, Wonderful.
9
Human Ring Toss
You've heard of a ring toss, but what about a human ring toss? It's just what it sounds like, with inner tubes taking the place of smaller rings. Fun, right?
Get the full Human Ring Toss game tutorial from Kid Friendly Things to Do.
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10
Flower Fairies
Be one with nature and gather materials for these precious flower fairies. Don't forget the wings!
Get the full Flower Fairies tutorial from Meaningful Mama.
11
Beachball Relay Race
Spur a bit of healthy competition with a beach ball relay race. The whole family can take part in this one. Make things more difficult by adding on various challenges and making everyone rotate and use different-sized balls.
Get the full Beachball Relay Race tutorial at Kid Friendly Things to Do.
12
Rainbow Tie-Dye Pants
Turn your bright whites into a rainbow-colored work of art. While tie-dye is fun for tweens and teens, the mess (and the chance of spills) qualifies it as an outdoor activity.
Get the full Rainbow Tie-Dye Pants tutorial from Oh Yay Studio.
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13
Sponge Water Bombs
Water balloons create lots of plastic mess. Keep water play more eco-friendly with this sponge water bomb tutorial. Kids will love soaking the bombs in cold water and then tossing them around for some relief from the summer heat.
Get the full Sponge Water Bombs tutorial from Crafts by Amanda.
14
Homemade Ring Toss Game
With just three items (paint, paper plates, and a ruler), you can create your own ring toss, which is just as fun as playing the game itself.
Get the full Paper Plate Ring Toss tutorial from Kid Friendly Things to Do.
15
Flower Pressing
Picked flowers only last so long, but if you press them, they can last a lifetime. Learn how to press flowers and create a lasting keepsake of your summer together.
Get the full Flower Pressing tutorial from The House That Lars Built.
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16
Outdoor Tic-tac-toe Craft
Find the perfect rocks to create this DIY outdoor tic-tac-toe game. Paint the rocks whatever colors you like, or follow Typically Simple's lead by creating bee- and ladybug-themed game pieces.
Get the full Outdoor Tic-tac-toe Craft tutorial from Typically Simple.
17
Rock Family
Paint rocks with bright colors of your choice and add funny faces with markers or stickers. While Oh Yay Studio uses a Cricut, you can use a Sharpie too.
Get the full Rock Family tutorial at Oh Yay Studio.
18
DIY Mason Jar Bird Feeder
Help the birds have a great summer by creating this homemade mason jar bird feeder. Camp out with some binoculars and watch as your new bird friends enjoy their treats.
Get the full DIY Mason Jar Bird Feeder tutorial from Let's DIY It All.
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19
Bigfoot Races
If you have a few shoe boxes lying around, try your luck at some Big Foot races. Kids will love clomping around in these fun kicks all around the yard.
Get the full Big Foot Races tutorial from Meaningful Mama.
20
DIY Backyard Plinko Board
Grown-ups may remember Plinko from The Price Is Right. Introduce the kids to this fun game of chance by creating your own outdoor Plinko board for hours of fun family game time.
Get the full DIY Backyard Plinko Board tutorial from Happiness is Homemade.
Christina Montoya Fiedler
Christina Montoya Fiedler is a Los Angeles-based freelancer with over 15 years of experience writing for online publications. Her work can be seen in Good Housekeeping and Woman's Day, where she covers everything from gift guides to personal essays. She holds a B.A. in English from Chapman University and is working toward her Early Childhood Education teaching credentials. She is proud to be of Native American (Ohkay Owingeh) and Mexican American descent.
