If you’ve suddenly realized that school is out and you are now responsible for filling your children’s days with activities, don’t panic! With just a little planning and brainstorming together you’ll be able to have a summer you’ll be sad to see end. I spent the morning planning and scheduling out my family’s summer activities the other day and I can’t wait to get started! Here are some tips for planning out your summer and ideas of things you can do. 

Things to do in Summer

First, remember that boredom is not bad. One of my favorite blogs, The Workspace for Children, explained boredom this way - “Some of the best ideas are born from boredom. Creativity thrives after a period of boredom. Our children need the opportunity to hear their own thoughts. That listening happens after a period of ‘boredom.’” Don’t feel like you need to plan out and schedule every moment of every day! You don’t want that and chances are your kids don’t either.

Here’s how I scheduled our summer.

I started by picking two days a week for scheduled activities. Tuesdays we are going to a new park or splash pad and Thursdays we will do an adventure outing. This might be an entire day spent in a city farther from home or it might be a short hike. This leaves the rest of the week for spontaneous playdates, park trips, errands, house chores, and downtime.

Next, I made a list of everything I wanted to do this summer. My kids are too small to have an opinion right now, so I did this part alone. If your kids are older though, have a planning session with them involved. It’ll get everyone excited and brainstorming together. If someone isn’t excited about an activity, show them that they have a say in other things you’ll be doing this summer.

Finally, I pulled out my calendar and schedule in our activities. Actually writing them down will help you plan for them and make it happen!

Take a look at this list for some things to do this summer to help get you started!

• Run through sprinklers
• Visit the zoo
• Go hiking
• Have a picnic in the mountains
• Go camping
• Have a water balloon fight
• Go on a road trip
• Visit an amusement park
• Watch an outdoor movie
• Go swimming
• Find a new splash pad
• Watch fireworks
• Go to a baseball game
• Find a new playground
• Cook a dutch oven dinner
• See a parade
• Go on a long bike ride
• Swim in a lake
• Library storytimes
• Go to a farmers market
• Eat snow cones
• Have a lemonade stand
• Tye-dye shirts
• Visit a museum
• Fly kites
• Go to the movies
• Camp in your backyard
• Play laser tag
• Feed the ducks
• Go out for milkshakes
• Finger painting
• Do an art project
• Go to the State Fair
• Make homemade pizzas
• Take a picnic to the park
• Go to a water park
• Go bowling
• Play mini golf
• Movie in the park

What are you going to put on your list of things to do this summer?