10 Screen-Free Summer Activites for Kids

Whether you're headed to the park, the beach, or just the backyard, a scavenger hunt is a guaranteed hit.

Grab my free printable summer scavenger hunt to make it easy (and exciting!).

👉 Download the Free Scavenger Hunt Printable Here!

Want even more themed versions like beach, road trip, or rainy day?
Check out my Summer Scavenger Hunt Pack!

No pool? No problem. A pack of water balloons can fuel hours of screen-free fun. However, if the thought of filling up tons of water balloons makes you want to fake your own death and disappear, I recommend these reusable water balloons or these splash balls.

A few fun ideas:

• Water balloon toss

• Freeze tag with a splashy twist

• Target practice on chalk-drawn bullseyes

Got a pile of Amazon boxes you've been putting off breaking down for recycling? Let your kids loose with some markers, crayons, and/or paint. Castles, rocket ships, lemonade stands — the possibilities are endless and creativity-filled! We really like these washable paint sticks for use on cardboard.

Take a walk and challenge your kids to spot things in every color of the rainbow — red flowers, green leaves, blue skies, etc.

Bonus: bring along a clipboard and crayons to check off colors as you go!

Set up an interactive path with arrows, hopscotch, zig-zags, balance beams, and fun commands like “do a spin!” or “do your best lion roar!”

This one's great for practicing gross motor skills, which help lay the foundation in the brain for reading, writing, and other more complex tasks.

Pack a basket of snacks and some favorite books. Lay out a blanket in the shade and read together outside — it’s calm, cozy, and magical. We like to keep a blanket like this in the car for impromptu outings.

Collect leaves, twigs, flower petals, and pebbles on your next walk, then glue them into a collage when you get home.

Tip: Use paper plates or cardstock as the base.

Set up a mini summer camp experience:

• DIY friendship bracelets

• Simple obstacle course

• Campfire storytelling (or flashlight circle indoors)

Invite a few neighborhood kids or cousins to make it extra fun!

Turn your kitchen into a summer lab with easy edible experiments:

• Make popsicles with fruit juice + molds

• Try a baking soda + vinegar volcano

• Build snack skewers in rainbow color order

Let kids create their own board game with paper, markers, and dice.
Add silly rules like “hop like a frog 3 spaces” or “sing your favorite song before moving!”

Alternatively, check out some of these great games you can purchase:

• Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza - the original is great, but there's even a waterproof version!

• Race to the Treasure - this one is great for younger kiddos, especially

• The Fidget Game - a fun educational option

Perfect for a rainy afternoon.