Ah, summer. Sunny days, grilling out, and fireflies at dusk. Longer days and summer vacations also mean more downtime, play time, and hopefully more family time!
A while back we started the tradition of creating an annual summer bucket list. Even if we don’t do them all (the list is getting long), this summertime family tradition is a great way to remember what we’ve enjoyed in the past as well as think of some new fun summer ideas to try.
More on what we came up with for this year in a bit…
How to Make a Fun Summer Bucket List
Even though we homeschool, summer means a more relaxed schedule (in the name of time at the beach!). It’s inevitable though that when the routine changes, eventually I hear… “Mom I’m booored.” (I’m sure this sounds familiar?)
We’ve come up with a few different solutions to this over the years, but one of the best is to write down a physical summer bucket list. It really motivates us to think of a few new things to try that are out of the norm and bring back a few old favorites. And when boredom strikes, it’s the perfect time to point to the list.
A word of advice: make a first draft of a summer bucket list before involving the kids. That way you’re clear on priorities before the kids add their “contributions.” (And there will be many!)
Summer Bucket List Brainstorming
Some questions to get the ball rolling are:
- What are our favorite things to do? What leaves us feeling recharged? How can we do more of those things this summer?
- What are our least favorite things to do? What do we need a break from? How can we minimize or manage those things this summer?
- Which skills or subjects do we want to learn? What do we need to get started? (I like this question for kids in particular so they can learn what goes into executing their ideas.)
- I also keep a running note in my phone of all our favorite activities, so we can revisit old favorites.
From here my husband and I narrow down to the ones that fit our current family priorities. This is the list we take to the kids so we can add their ideas (some of them, anyway).
We write the final list and put it on the fridge for everyone to see.
Find a Theme
Sometimes as we look over the list a theme emerges. If that’s the case for you, consider coming up with a simple word or phrase that captures your goals for the summer. Display the word around the house to build excitement and remind you to look at the list!
Think Through Summer Routines
Studies show that routines increase a child’s sense sense of independence and control. It also cuts down on parental nagging. This is one big reason we do the summer bucket list.
Sitting down to plan the summer is a great time to think through new routines and put a few visual reminders in place. Here are some we’ve used or want to try:
- A simple and to-the-point checklist for screen time control
- Behavior and goal-setting charts for a variety of ages and needs
- Inspirational or character-building quotes around the house or a morning TED talk to give food for thought
- A morning routine board for littles
- Help kids learn to take responsibility for their own entertainment by setting up a boredom jar
The above will definitely vary depending on what ages you have in the house. I’m soon to have teenagers, so I’d love your ideas on that front!
On to the summer bucket list…
Summer Activities Checklist for Families
Here’s our ultimate summer buck list, with a few new ones added for this year. The best part? Most of these are free or very low cost.
Of course, the kids suggest more than a few things that aren’t realistic (“buy a horse” comes to mind), but with a little redirection they come up with some really great ideas!
If your family is the competitive type, check out this adventure points system to go along with your summer bucket list. It keeps kids motivated to try and do new things on their own.
Our Ultimate Summer Bucket List:
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- Hike a new trail.
- Create a scavenger hunt.
- Try a new food at the farmer’s market.
- Visit a nearby nature center.
- Camp in the treehouse.
- Finally go check out the state parks near our house that we’ve never visited.
- Build a sandcastle as a family (and enter a sandcastle contest if we can find one!).
- Have our version of a water balloon fight in the backyard (using sponges, not balloons, to avoid choking hazards and plastic waste).
- Go to a matinee or drive-in movie.
- Pre-make a bunch of frozen meals for friends who are expecting babies.
- Put bubble solution in a kids’ pool and use a hula hoop to be inside a giant bubble!
- Make a lemonade stand.
- Catch fireflies.
- Make popsicles from fruit and chia seeds.
- Have a luau for neighbors and friends.
- A projector + outdoor wall = outdoor movie!
- Teach the kids to make homemade ice cream (handy when the ice cream truck rolls around).
- Have a picnic.
- Get in on the fairy garden craze. (Challenge: Make as much as we can from natural materials!)
- Look up local outdoor concerts (many of these are free.)
- Stay up late and try to find constellations. (Have you stargazed with an app yet? Gamechanger!)
- Go wildcrafting for herbs and plants with a local expert.
- Collect seashells at the beach.
- Make real-food snow cones. (May invest in a snow cone machine this year!)
- Go fishing and learn how to clean the fish.
- Visit a local museum (these are usually free) and learn about the history of our town/neighborhood.
- Play frisbee.
- Turn on some oldies and have a dance party in the living room.
- Make a slip and slide in the backyard.
- Go to a baseball game.
- Run through sprinklers on a hot day (Mom and Dad too).
- Play wiffle ball in the backyard.
- Learn how to make simple origami.
- Take a road trip somewhere we haven’t been.
- Finger paint outside.
- Draw with sidewalk chalk.
- Have a puppet show.
- Make necklaces with homemade clay beads.
- Make a birdhouse.
- And a bat house.
- Visit the fire station.
- Make slime.
- Go to the zoo.
- Play in the sprinklers.
- Visit a retirement or nursing home and make cards for the residents.
- Learn how to score a baseball game.
- Make a DIY beauty recipe and have a spa night.
- Go to the lake.
- Ride a ferris wheel.
- Try out a free kids’ workshop at your local home improvement store.
- Learn new card games.
- Have a backyard campout.
- Teach kids how to jump rope (and practice it myself… yikes).
- Make some healthy ice cream sandwiches.
- Take a nap! (Maybe in a hammock?)
- Fly a kite.
- Build a fort.
- Play Capture the Flag.
- Climb trees.
- Join the library’s summer reading club.
- Make paper airplanes and race them.
- Let the kids plan and cook dinner.
- Pick an empty wall in the garage and paint a family mural. (Or in the house for other braver/more artistic parents!)
- Play flashlight tag.
- Make root beer from scratch.
- Learn how to crochet or knit.
- Try an online class from Udemy.com and learn a new skill (many are only $10).
- Learn to walk a slackline.
- Find a maker’s space or attend a mini-maker’s faire.
- Go to a fruit farm U-pick and make homemade freezer jam.
Have Fun!
Making a summer bucket list is always fun and never a chore. The important part is to look at it as family inspiration and not a “to-do” list. Even if we don’t get to all of our wish list, this summer bucket list reminds us to spend quality time together and try new things, whether we’re out adventuring or at home.
I’ve shared mine… I’d love to see yours! What will your family be up to this summer?
this is awesome, i am bookmarking this for future reference!
What is a makerspace?
Play outside in the rain is a good one – it’s been far too long since a rainy day feels like anything more than a nuisance! It’s always nice to turn a negative into a positive 🙂
Draw or write on the driveway or sidewalk with water pistols. You have to work fast before the water evaporates. Take pictures to preserve the artwork.
Make nature collages with collected materials such as leaves, twigs, grass, bark, flowers, etc. My grandson likes to make animal shapes (leaves for elephant ears, bark for legs, grass or burrs for tails, and elaborate frames made of repeating elements).
Prepare homemade bubble solution and invent new and interesting “bubble wands”. For instance, we like those open-grid green plastic strawberry baskets from the supermarket, dipped in a broad shallow dish of “bubble stuff.” Makes many, many tiny bubbles.
Make popsicles from fruit juice or yogurt in small plastic cups. If you use paper cups, you won’t need sticks because you can squeeze them up from the bottom and most of the mess stays in the cup. Eat them far enough away from the house to avoid attracting ants. This goes for the bubble projects too if you use corn syrup and/or gelatin.
Write and perform rap, plays, etc. Add song and dance and put on a variety show for the parents.
Look up safe summer science projects for kids and do them outdoors.
Okay, too many to mention. Use your imagination, photograph [or video] everything, write about it, and make a Summer 2017 album or scrapbook. Make several and present them to the grandparents too.
Early morning bike rides (before eating breakfast),
Go to a local splash pad
Visit a puppy store – and play with them
Go paddle boating
Find caterpillar eggs on a milkweed plant and raise and release it
Listen to the Chronicles of Narnia on audio cd.
See a 4d show at our zoo
Learn how to make your own breakfast
Learn how to tie your shoes (for the 6 yr old)
Learn 1 scripture put to song each week
Great ideas …….. But please add more ideas as most of these aren’t possible for me to try ^_^
Super helpful! Thanks for the almost immediate response! You rock and God bless!
Thanks for the ideas Katie! Do you have a post or suggestions about a summer routine. This is my first summer as a stay at home mom and want to have some daily structure and routine. Anything you recommend we incorporate each day or things you take a break from with your kids over the summer?
This is an old post which I’ll be updating soon, but it has some ideas you could try: https://wellnessmama.com/55187/morning-routine/
Great! Thanks!……………..
Hi Katie. Got any ideas for fall/winter activities now that it is coming.
It’s in the works…