Here are 15 family summer fun ideas on how everyone can enjoy the summer together!
Summer is here and you want some awesome ideas that are fun and easy for your family.
There's a saying that really struck a chord with me and it goes something like this:
You think you only have 18 years with your kids before they grow up. But in reality, you only have 18 summers with them.
Bam! Did it hit you yet? Summer is a time for families to connect. With only 18 summers, creating memories that will last a lifetime can feel intimidating. Don't worry though, we got you covered with some amazing family activities for the summer!
The 15 family summer fun ideas for your family are tried tested and true! We got all our kids involved in these awesome ideas in previous summers. Some memories we created are something they still talk about till this day!
Remember, each year that passes they become more of their little human self. Constantly as parents we are playing catch up to their yearly transformation of who they are.
We got great family summer fun ideas to cover every kind of little human out there. Have a great summer this year, and try our 15 family summer fun ideas! Leaving out the phones and all electronic devices so we can focus on quality time together. They are inexpensive and fun!
Let's explore the 15 family summer fun ideas for you and your family!
1. Simple Meal Preparation
A fun summer activity at home! Getting the kids to be more involved with their food is great fun for them. They learn how to read instructions and use their mathematic skills to convert measurements. It's a proud experience for them when they cook to feed the family. Just remember to put on a smile when you try their food - whatever it tastes like!
While I get my kids involved in the kitchen, I love talking to them about the benefits of the food. I talk to them about how Vitamin C is like the 'warriors' in our body that fights viruses (the bad guys). Today, they love to learn the benefits of all sorts of food. And honestly, I have to Google for some answers.
An easy recipe I can recommend to you for a fun summer menu idea is Easy Oatmeal Pancakes. Requires minimal cleanup and you just put everything in the blender and that's it! It's super delicious and super yummy! Check it out!
2. Reading Projects
Learning how to read plays a major impact in their education. Reading is essential, and the summer is a great time to review everything they learned in school! Giving children the leg up on their reading skills plays a vital impact in their confidence at school.
Great places to find books:
- Visit your local library - a vast collection of different books your kids can choose from. Let them choose what they want to read, to encourage interest in books. Walk to the library if it is within walking distance.
- Reading apps - I know we said we are leaving out the electronics, but this one is an exception because we love using this reading app called Epic!
What we love about Epic! is that it has a large library of books with various topics to cover. Some books are read along and that is a great help for kids who are just starting to learn how to read. The app is free, however, the free app only gives you one free book per day. With the subscription, you get unlimited access to over 40,000+ books to read.
3. Outdoor Walks
Walking in the morning encourages a great habit for the kids. It's been scientifically proven that it gives a natural boost of energy and it makes them feel good. Not to mention, it leaves them calmer during the day and easier to focus on things. Now, who wouldn't want that for their kids?
For us, we enjoy our first walk before breakfast. The kids always bring a bag with them for treasure hunting. They like to pick up leaves, and flowers to make an art piece later in the day.
I find my kids are unlikely to misbehave once they get their morning walks in.
Things to encourage during the morning walks
- Cover conversational topics about the earth, environment, recycling, weather, seasons, and biodiversity. The importance of insects, and the benefits of exercise.
- Walk with your pets: only if you have one. Dog walking subconsciously teaches them about empathy responsibilities.
- Bring a bag: Kids love picking up branches and leaves. Let their creative mind go free and see what they can create when they bring it back home.
4. Camping
Great fun for both kids and parents. It is a great opportunity to work on skill-building and following instructions. There is undeniable fun when children get to interact with nature, meet new friends at the campsite, and sleep under the stars.
This is by far our favourite thing to do in the summer! My best memories as a child are always camping outdoor-related. Beyond the fun and fresh air, camping can teach kids valuable life lessons about taking risks, respecting nature and being active.
Here is a list of my favourites campsites in British Columbia:
- Klahanie Campground - Squamish
- Stawamus Chief Provincial Park Campsite - Squamish
- Garibaldi Campsite - Whistler
- Bella Pacifica Campground - Tofino
5. Visit a local museum
There are plenty of museums open in the summer to entertain children and it's a great summer activity for kids. During the summertime, museums always have something special planned for kids. They tend to have more shows and exhibits that cater to children more.
Visit your local museum website and learn what they are doing for the month and what special events happening. In Puebla, my two favourite museums has been the natural museum and the space museum. The links are below.
6. Hike
Another great summer ideas for family! Hiking is another awesome activity for the kids in the summer because it gets them moving. Plus, being active has repeatedly been proven beneficial to both kids and adults alike.
In Vancouver, there are tons of trails to hike with family or with dogs. You can find out more at Vancouver Trails for more details.
My favourite trails that are family-friendly are:
- Lighthouse Park - West Vancouver
- Sea to Sky Gondola (take the gondola and find trails at the top) - Squamish
- Alice Lake Loop - Squamish
- Coquitlam Lake View Point - Coquitlam
7. Picnic
Always a great family bonding moment to eat and catch up with each other. Parents are not distracted by what they need to do on their computer or housework but focus on the kids. I have some easy picnic meals below for your next picnic adventure:
8. Road Trip
After COVID, traveling by plane has gotten expensive and chaotic. Why not do a road trip? A family fun summer vacation idea is taking a road trip. It's affordable for the whole family, and you can stop anytime if you see something cool while traveling.
You also get to plan how long you want to travel as well. Find a local destination and do a small road trip with the kids. Play their favourite songs, and let the scenery of the trip take their little mind to places.
Find a local destination around your hometown and plan your trip with your kids. They will learn how to plan and execute it. No road trip ever comes out the way you plan, so they learn also learn how to be flexible and how to be problem solvers.
9. Entrepreneur Project
Why not make a pretty penny while they are on vacation? Another fun home summer activity. Teaching the kids how to make money is a great way to get them thinking about money management. Learning how to make money, invest, and manage is something they need to learn as a grown-up.
And giving them the chance to learn all that at a young age gets them thinking in more dimensions. Once they make the money don't just stop there! Teach them how to reinvest in their business or invest in other business entrepreneur projects.
For example, at the lemonade stand, they can reinvest in a professional lemon juicer so they can make drinks quicker and consequently improve customer service as well.
Ideas for entrepreneur shop for kids:
- lemonade stand
- making and selling cookies
- wash cars for neighbours
- walk dogs for friends and family
- sell soda at a football stand
- collect recyclables
10. Art Projects
Do you know that art has shown great benefits for children? Art stimulates creativity and problem-solving. It helps with self-esteem, self-expression, and fine motor skill development. It's a great activity for hot summer days and stay indoors with the AC.
Family fun craft ideas for the summer:
- Build a family picture frame together
- Paint a large canvas together using only fingerprints
- Assemble some easy DIY projects like a planter and paint them together
11. Planting and Gardening
I think every kid secretly loves gardening. Learning how to plant seeds can enrich their lives. Planting and gardening is a great way for them to learn new skills like: responsibility - caring for plants. Understanding - cause and effect of watering.
We love growing plants from seeds, and this project will never get old since we change our seeds regularly.
Once the vegetables or plants are ready to be picked, I let my kids harvest their plants. I also let them cook their vegetables and trust me, they eat it! We've grown Green peas, lettuce, okra, and guess what? They ate everything! It encourages them to eat healthier.
Where to buy seeds? We love to buy our seeds online at Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. Go and see all their variety of vegetables and plants. Shipping is free in both the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Or you can always use Amazon.
12. Giving Back
As a kid, I think it's essential to teach them kindness. In the future people aren't hiring who has the most impressive resume, but rather on their kindness. Teach them early on how to be kind and to be a team player.
Here are some examples of what giving back can look like:
- participate in a senior home
- randomly gifting something at a grocery store (whatever your budget is)
- helping grandparents without asking
- baking a cake for a family member
- releasing insects or animals back into the wild
- planting a tree in the wilderness
- buying dog food to a local SPCA
- donating money to something they care about
13. Board Game Night
We are a board game family. Board game night is a fun summer activity to do with the family and it's a lot of fun because we always have tons of snacks and drinks at the table when we play. We learn to laugh at one another and ourselves teaching ourselves to not take things so seriously because life itself is a game as well.
Board games we love:
- Risks (for teenagers)
- Hungry Hungry Hippos
- Taco VS Burrito
- UNO
- pick up sticks
- Catan
- Carcassonne
- Ticket to Ride
- cards against maturity
14. Movie with the Family
Cuddling is probably one of my favourite thing to do with the kids. It's such a cozy feeling getting to watch a movie while holding them and enjoying some popcorn. Sometimes the best moment share is the ones when we are not talking.
During our downtime, we watch TV. We treat our screen time as treats - we don't do it regularly, but as a prize for the kids if they hehave well during the day. Renting movies is so passe now. Some TV streaming services we have are:
- Netflix
- HBO Max
- Prime Video
- Disney Plus
15. Enjoy the Simple Moments
All the summer ideas we recommend are ideas to be enjoyed, so remember to enjoy them. I get it there are some logistics to each recommendation but remember to enjoy the journey while doing so.
In conclusion, it's really the small and insignificant moments in our lives that make the difference. Whether it is watching those small lips curve into a smile, or the quirky way our little one dances. Embrace it and enjoy it.
After all, we only have 18 summers with them, or maybe even less.
