50 Things to Do With Kids Before Summer Ends

Some of life’s best memories are created during the lazy days of summer.

Here are 50 ideas for how to create some great memories before the school bell rings.

1. Go on a mystery drive. Jump in the car, set the timer and every 5 minutes, pick a direction (left, right or straight). Stop when you discover something fun!
2. Have a chalk and bubbles party. Cover the driveway with art and then dance around it while blowing bubbles!
3. Camp out in the backyard. It’s an adventure, but you still have a bathroom and a bed if you get scared.
4. Go peach picking (or whatever is ripe in your area). Picking your own fruit is fun and teaches kids about where food comes from
5. Go to a splash pad or water park. There is nothing quite as fun as playing in water on a hot day.
6. Take a hike. Find a local forest or trail. Bring along a magnifying glass and a bag for your treasures.
7. Find a new playground. Kids LOVE the playground. Find a new one. It’s free and it’s fun!
8. Dance walk. Grab your mobile, crank up the music and dance down the street.
9. Find a charity where you can donate school supplies. As long as you are shopping for your kids, grab some extras for a family who needs them. Be sure to involve your child.
10. Eat ice cream outside. Nothing says summer like ice cream.
11. Go geocaching and go on a treasure hunt in your own town.
12. Have a water balloon fight in the yard.
13. Put on dresses and dine al fresco (even if it’s just a sandwich…you can still be fancy)
14. Plant seeds and grow some new flowers.
15. Visit the Farmer’s Market and get some wonderful in-season produce
16. Go window shopping at an outdoor mall.
17. Visit the library. Bring a big bag and bring home lots of books. Spread out a blanket in the yard and read and imagine.
18. Look at the clouds
19. Look at the stars and make wishes on them
20. Plant a tree to remember this summer
21. Decorate a tree with yarn or ornaments
22. Catch fireflies (and let them go)
23. Paint the sidewalks with water
24. Have a dance party in the rain
25. Go on a scavenger hunt in nature
26. Collect rocks and paint them
27. Invite some friends over for an ice cream sundae party
28. Collect bugs
29. Climb a tree
30. Have a picnic at the park
31. Put on rainboots and jump in puddles (yep…go ahead…get wet!)
32. Catch frogs. Name them. Let them go.
33. Visit a local museum
34. Build something at Home Depot
35. Give your kid a camera and let them capture what summer looks like to them
36. Watch a movie outside at a local park or drive in
37. Grill out
38. Throw a penny in a fountain
39. Skim rocks across a pond
40. Play catch
41. Go horseback riding
42. Make popsicles by freezing juice in dixie cups
43. Decorate bikes and have a kids parade around the neighborhood
44. Visit the local pool
45. Attend an outdoor concert or play
46. Road trip to a nearby town
47. Go to a baseball game, professional or at the local park
48. Sit on the front porch and talk
49. Paint your toenails then walk through the grass barefoot
50. Capture your memories – in words, pictures and video

Image by Ano Lobb