Showing posts with label summer activities for kids. Show all posts
Showing posts with label summer activities for kids. Show all posts

Summer Checklist 2022 🌞 50 Fun Activites for Families

I love summer, and one of my favourite summer traditions is creating a summer checklist with my boys. We make a list of 50 fantastic summer activities, we print out a copy of the list, and we use it as a blueprint for summer fun! Today, I'm sharing my 2022 summer checklist... including a FREE copy you can print for your own family. Fun, right?!?




Here are the items we have on this year's list:

1) Celebrate Canada Day

2) Watch fireworks or play with sparklers

3) Have an outdoor picnic or BBQ

4) Swim in a pool, at a lake, or in the ocean

5) Buy a meal from a food truck or local restaurant

6) Paint a rock and leave it on a trail for someone to find

7) Read a book outside

8) Have a water fight or NERF gun battle

9) Have a movie night outside or go to a drive in

10) Play a boardgame outside

11) Eat donuts from a string (with no hands)

12) Have a “one on one” date with mom (kid’s choice… under $20 & less than 2 hours)

13) Have a “one on one” date with dad (kid’s choice… under $20 & less than 2 hours)

14) Make a craft (design a t-shirt, personalize a water bottle or have a "paint night")

15) Learn a new dance move

16) Get ice cream in PJs (drive throughs are OK)

17) Play catch, basketball, tennis and street hockey

18) Make a homemade ice cream cake or milkshakes

19) Go for a bike ride

20) Decorate a cake or bake cookies

21) Spend time at a cottage, beach or park

22) Do a science experiment

23) Sing around a campfire

24) Go geo-caching

25) Have a "kids pick the meals" day

26) Play chocolate bar BINGO (like regular BINGO, but with chocolate bar prizes)

27) Play golf or mini golf

28) Do a “trick shot” or learn a magic trick

29) Try a new food or a new recipe

30) Have a theme day ("spend our gift cards" day is a fun one)

31) Camp at a campground, in the backyard or in the living room

32) Spend an afternoon in PJs, eating snacks, and watching a movie

33) Build a large puzzle

34) Make a video and post it on YouTube or Tik Tok

35) Fly a kite

36) Have a dance party or sing karaoke

37) Go on a scavenger hunt

38) Organize a drawer, closet or room

39) Play with water balloons

40) Do a good deed or raise money for charity

41) Go on a road trip to another city or town

42) Go on a hike or a short walk in the rain

43) Roast marshmallows, make s'mores or cook a different campfire treat

44) Write and mail a letter or postcard

45) Visit at least 5 different ice cream stands

46) Go stargazing

47) Celebrate Owen and Jack's birthdays

48) Go to PEI

49) Go to Toronto

50) HAVE ICE CREAM FOR SUPPER! 


To download a copy of the list for your family: click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8x10 photo




I also have a blank one you can print and add your own activities.




We put our summer checklist in a dollar store frame, and check off the items as we complete them.



Do you have a summer checklist / summer bucket list in your home? I hope our list inspires you to add a couple new things to your "to do" list this summer.


Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

50 Old Fashioned (1970s/80s) Summer Vacation Ideas

Organized sports, camps, scheduled vacations, and parent-organized playdates are great summer activities, but don't we all miss the slower, free-range summers of our childhoods?

The “lazy” days of summer provide the perfect opportunity for kids to assert their independence and engage in free play. Parents benefit from being able to take a break from planning and entertaining, and kids learn decision making skills, negotiating skills, how to build relationships, and how to use their imaginations and foster their creativity. An old-fashioned summer can be good for everyone’s physical and mental well-being.




Here are 50 “old school” 70s/80s summer ideas:
  1. no schedule
  2. neighbourhood freedom
  3. no electronics
  4. play outside
  5. spend time with cousins
  6. swim
  7. bike
  8. play hide and seek until dusk
  9. play flashlight tag
  10. build forts
  11. fish
  12. dance in the rain in bathing suits
  13. splash in puddles and plastic pools
  14. blow bubbles
  15. make mud pies
  16. read books outside
  17. cloud watch
  18. star gaze
  19. hang out in someone’s shed / clubhouse
  20. trade stickers
  21. tent in the yard
  22. catch fireflies
  23. slip and slide in the backyard
  24. roller skate
  25. catch frogs
  26. play old school lawn darts
  27. play hop scotch
  28. enjoy family meals
  29. drink from the hose
  30. have watermelon seed spitting contests
  31. eat boiled hot dogs
  32. eat bologna or PB&J sandwiches
  33. make homemade ice cream and popsicles in plastic molds
  34. make frozen chocolate covered bananas
  35. drink kool aid and tang
  36. drink lemonade in Styrofoam cups
  37. eat half cooked cakes made in easy bake ovens
  38. walk to the store and buy candy
  39. eat rocket popsicles
  40. wash your hair with shampoo in the lake (which totally counts as a bath)
  41. have a bon fire 
  42. pick berries
  43. learn jump rope rhymes
  44. play with neighbourhood kids
  45. buy ice cream from a guy on a bike
  46. play Red Rover
  47. play Simon Says
  48. listen to the radio on the back deck
  49. play clapping games like “Miss Mary Mac”
  50. parents holler when it's time to come home... when the street lights come on




Do any of these things remind you of your childhood? What would you add to my list?


♥ 
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)


You may also be interested in these FIFTY ideas for summer fun!

Summer Checklist for Older Kids

Every year my family puts together a summer checklist of 50 of our favourite summer activities, and we spend our vacation checking items off the list. When my kids were small, we had a lot of simple crafts and low effort activities on our list... but as my boys got older, we started adding more sophisticated adventures. Below, you will find a FREE printable version of our 2021 summer checklist, as well as some really helpful links.




To download our 2021 checklist: click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8x10 photo.






Then, check out the links below for more helpful hints, tutorials, recipes, and ideas.



1) Celebrate Canada Day - Don't forget to plan a BBQ and a red and white dessert buffet. Full bellies make for happy tweens and teens!





2) Watch fireworks or play with sparklers - You're never too old for sparklers!



3) Have an outdoor picnic or BBQ - I highly recommend trying grilled donuts too. You can find the recipe here.




4) Swim in a pool, at a lake, or in the ocean - Try visiting a new location (or bringing along a paddle board or snorkeling gear) for added fun.


5) Buy a meal from a food truck or local restaurant - A take out picnic is a lot of fun... and there are no dishes to clean up. Win... win!



6) Paint a rock and leave it on a trail for someone to find - Painting rocks is fun for all ages. Search online for simple designs or check out the ones we made here.



7) Read a book outside - Reading outside is a wonderful (mom-approved) activity. You can find some great recommendations for older kids here.



8) Have a water fight or NERF gun battle - You are never too old for a good water fight on a hot day!




9) Have a movie night outside or go to a drive in



10) Do an “at home” escape room or play a boardgame outside - You can use store-bought games, or you can make your own inexpensive outdoor games like we did here.


11) Eat donuts from a string (with no hands) - My boys have been enjoying this activity since they were little, and they still think it's hilarious. I don't think they'll ever let me leave this activity off our summer list!



12) Have a “one on one” date with mom (kid’s choice… under $20 and 2 hours) - It doesn't need to be fancy. It's really about the time spent together. A lunch date and a walk is a fantastic option.



13) Have a “one on one” date with dad (kid’s choice… under $20 and 2 hours) - Again... it doesn't need to be fancy... it's about the time spent together. My boys enjoy a trip to the driving range or a round of mini golf with their dad.



14) Make a craft (design a t-shirt, personalize a water bottle, or have a "paint night" - Crafts aren't just for young kids. The key is to provide older kids with more sophisticated craft materials. If you need inspiration, check out my top craft ideas for tweens and teens here.




15) Plant something and watch it grow - My boys and I planted a garden all there favourite fruit and vegetable snacks... but planting flowers is fun too. You can even make this adorable planter using the tutorial you can find here.



16) Get ice cream in PJs - Drive throughs are OK!



17) Play catch, basketball or street hockey


18) Make homemade ice cream or make milkshakes - This is a fun way to get older kids into the kitchen. They'll love all the recipes here.



19) Go for a bike ride - My boys learned to ride bikes at an early age, and it's still one of their favourite activities. Older kids will enjoy packing a lunch and going on a long ride... or experimenting with riding on rougher terrain.



20) Decorate a cake or bake cookies - Allowing older kids to experiment in the kitchen is fun... but it also helps teach them an important life skill. Check out some of my family's favourite recipes for sweet treats here.




21) Spend time at a cottage, beach or park



22) Do a science experiment - Science experiments are fun and educational... the perfect way to spend a rainy summer afternoon. Find OVER 15 science experiments here.



23) Sing around a campfire 



24) Go geo-caching



25) Have a "kids pick the meals" day - We make the rule that everyone needs to agree on each meal, so I don't go crazy in the kitchen. I also let the kids pick one meal out. Fun, right?



26) Play chocolate bar BINGO (like regular BINGO, but with chocolate bar prizes) - You can do it for your family, or you can invite some friends to join in the fun.




27) Play golf or mini golf



28) Learn a “trick shot” or magic trick - You should check out a few examples below.



29) Try a new food or a new recipe



30) Have a theme day ("spend our gift cards" day is a fun one)



31) Camp at a campground, in the backyard or in the living room



32) Have a PJ day - We started PJ days whem my kids were small, but there really is no age limit. Who doesn't want to spend a rainy summer day in their PJs, watching movies, and eating popcorn?



33) Build a large puzzle



34) Make a video and post it on YouTube or Tic Tok



35) Fly a kite




36) Have a dance party or sing karaoke



37) Go on a scavenger hunt - A simple scavenger hunt is a great way to get the kids outside and running around. Check out the one I put together for my boys here.




38) Organize a drawer, closet or room - Kids can learn the joy of being able to find their favourite shirt... and what could be better than that? lol



39) Play with water balloons - Everyone loves a water balloon on a hot day. There really is no age limit on water balloon fun.



40) Do a good deed or raise money for charity - A good deed is it's own reward, and kids will love the feeling they get from doing something to help others. Yard sales and lemonade stands are great options, but kids can use whatever talents they have.



41) Go on a road trip to another city or town




42) Go on a hike or go for a walk in the rain - Try a new trail or try to find a waterfall.




43) Roast marshmallows, make s'mores or cook a different campfire treat - You can find some of our favourite treats here.




44) Write and mail a letter or postcard - Writing old fashioned letters is becoming a lost art, so it's a great activity for kids.



45) Visit at least 5 different ice cream stands - The last couple of years, we have done an "ice cream stand challenge", and it's been a lot of fun. Summer and ice cream are the perfect match.


46) Go stargazing - Lay a blanket on the ground, stare up at the sky, and try and find constellations and shooting stars. It's a simple activity... and the perfect way to spend a quiet summer evening.



47) Pick your own



48) Pick your own



49) Pick your own


50) HAVE ICE CREAM FOR SUPPER! - This is the way we celebrate the completion of our checklist every year... and it is always a lot of fun. You can find some of our favourite ice cream recipes here.




Creating and completing a summer checklist really is one of my favourite family traditions. 

Does your family have a summer checklist? Are you planning to print mine? If you feel like 50 items is a lot, you can just choose your 10 or 20 of your favourites. Have fun!


Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)



You might also be interested in the summer DIY decor ideas here.

Don't miss any of the fun....