Summer activity ideas for kids don’t have to cost a lot of money or require a trip somewhere. There are plenty of fun things for kids to do at home that will keep their minds engaged and their bodies active. Try some of these ideas when your kids inevitably tell you that they are bored this summer.

Art Activities

  1. Draw the outline of kids laying down on the sidewalk, and then let them color themselves in.
  2. Cut potatoes in half and carve shapes in them, dip in paint and create stamp art.
  3. Decorate rocks with colorful paint and then walk around your neighborhood and hide them for others to discover.

Science Activities

  1. Freeze small plastic toys (like dinosaurs) in ice, and let them use kid-safe tools to chip it out like an archaeologist. Pair this with looking up information about the dinosaur.
  2. Let kids fill pots with dirt and plant seeds, water them, and check on them all summer for growth.
  3. Make easy kitchen chemistry for play with vinegar and baking soda fizz, cornstarch and water goo and easy salt dough.

Physical Activities

  1. Scavenger hunt for small plastic toys hidden either in the house or in the yard. Make it extra fun after dark using flashlights.
  2. Give kids a bucket of water and a paintbrush to “paint the driveway” with their designs in water.
  3. Create an obstacle course in your yard using whatever you have to run around, jump over or crawl under.