70 Summer Theme Days: Activities for an Unforgettable Summer Break

I love summer break. My kids are huge fans of the extra free time, sleeping in a little later, and being allowed to play until their hearts’ content. That is, for the first week or two. They may say they like a break from our organized school days, but after a few weeks, they start to wilt. It’s only a matter of time before they utter that dreaded sentence, “Mom, I’m bored!”

While I’d love to make them do chores when they say that (Hello, have you seen the baseboards?), I know it’s not fair to make them spend their entire summer break cleaning the house. My kids need a balance between enjoying unstructured time, keeping up with regular responsibilities, and having intentional activities. It’s important to keep them active and learning during summer, even if we’re done with the official school year. 

That’s why I started implementing summer themed days! I plan a different activity every day of the week with each day assigned a different theme. Make Something Monday, Take a Trip Tuesday… you get the idea. Having summer themed days for each day of the week makes it easy to keep the activities intentional, fun, and even educational. My kids have a structure for the day, but still feel like they’re getting a full summer break. If you’re still worried about those baseboards, you can include Project Clean as part of your summer activities too!

Here are the categories and activity ideas I came up with!

70 Summer Theme Days: Activities for an Unforgettable Summer Break

Make Something Monday

Put your kids’ brilliant minds to work creating something new! My kids are so creative and love to make things. They’re always begging to sew something or mold a piece of art out of clay. These ideas help them explore new means of arts and crafts and realize making things doesn’t always have to include paper and glue.

Ideas for younger kids:

• Start a craft project.
• Paint with watercolors.
• Work on a STEM project.
• Build a giant castle with blocks.
• Construct a bird feeder.
• Make a lemonade stand. (This is a great opportunity to go through our Making Lemonade study too!)
• Make and play with play-dough.
• Decorate cupcakes.

Ideas for older kids:

• Bake something new.
• Build something with LEGO bricks.
• Design a costume or outfit.
• Sew, crochet, or knit.
• Try out some writing prompts. (Check out our creative writing curriculum to get started!)
• Make a family scrapbook.
• Journal.
• Try basic pottery.
• Try some drawing prompts.

Take a Trip Tuesday

Get out of the house and explore what’s around you! Pretend to be a tourist in your own town and look at everything with new eyes. You may find hidden gems, fall in love again with an old location, or realize where you live is far more exciting than you ever gave it credit for. Don’t forget to pack water and snacks for your adventures!

Ideas for the whole family:

• Check out a park.
• Visit a museum.
• Explore your closest aquarium.
• Try a new flavor at an ice cream shop.
• Go bowling.
• Visit a local fair or carnival.

Ideas for younger kids:

• Sit in on your library’s story time. (Don’t forget your Bible bookmark to save the place of any books you check out!)
• Check out a farm.
• Spend the morning at a kids’ play gym.

Ideas for older kids:

• Go to a bookstore. (It’s even more exciting if a local author is doing a book signing there!)
• Find something unique at the thrift store.
• Visit a local battlefield or historic site.
• Jump at a trampoline park.

Water Fun Wednesday

Beat the heat and get your kids active at the same time! I love taking my kids out to play in the water and wearing them out. Few things are more satisfying than seeing them fall asleep in the backseat on our car rides home from the beach. Just don’t forget the towels!

Ideas for the whole family:

• Swim in the pool. (If your kiddos are afraid of the water, it may be a great opportunity to go through our Fear Not Bible study!)
• Hang out by the lake.
• Visit the beach.
• Check out the springs.

Ideas for younger kids:

• Enjoy water balloon activities.
• Have a huge water gun fight.
• Run through the sprinkler.
• Slide on a Slip-n-slide.
• Visit a splash pad.

Ideas for older kids:

• Go canoeing or kayaking.
• Try paddle-boarding.
• Enjoy a local water park.
• Play water balloon dodgeball.
• Go tubing in a river.

Take it outside Thursday

Summertime is perfect for enjoying the sunshine and fresh air. My kids would spend all day outside if I let them. Explore the cool locations in your area, but don’t forget that there is so much to discover in your own backyard too! As you’re journeying to a fun outdoor location, check out one of our audio dramas to inspire character and imagination.

Ideas for the whole family:

• Go on a picnic.
• Try backyard camping.
• Find a dark zone and go stargazing.
• Go to a drive-in movie.
• Walk a nature trail.
• Visit a botanical garden.
• Try fishing.
• Check out a national park.

Ideas for younger kids:

• Plan a backyard scavenger hunt.
• Go birdwatching.
• Catch fireflies or butterflies.
• Visit a new playground.
• Draw with sidewalk chalk.

Ideas for older kids:

• Go miniature golfing.
• Bike ride to a new place.
• Take a hike.

If you live in Florida or are planning on taking a trip there, check out our South Florida Adventure Guide to see all the incredible outdoor sights. Florida is so much more than an amusement park destination!

Friendly Friday

From fostering connections with each other to blessing a stranger, lead your kids in kindness with these ideas! This helps your kids take the focus off themselves and grow in loving others. This is also a great opportunity to go through the My Brother’s Keeper Bible study, all about the purpose of sibling relationships.

Ideas for younger kids:

• Host a play date.
• Take a treat to community servants.
• Bless others with random acts of kindness.
• Play the Sibling Challenge Game.
• Help a neighbor.
• Make a card for someone. (Check out some of our amazing stickers to really make that card pop!)

Ideas for older kids:

• Clean up a park or beach.
• Make or bake a treat for community servants.
• Bless an older member of your church.
• Visit a nursing home. (These scripture cards are a great item to bring along and share with the residents!)
• Write a letter.
• Play the Books of the Bible Game with a friend or sibling.

Summer Theme Days Printable

To make planning all these activities easier, we made this handy printable! Fill it out on a Sunday evening and get your family excited for all the week’s adventures. Which of these ideas do you think will be their favorite?

Sign-up to receive the printable!