50 Free Family Activities for Summer

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Summer is such a wonderful time of year, but it can get BORING for everyone especially by the time mid-summer rolls around. The lazy days of summer are fading, however, and spending time with your family is so important before the hustle and bustle of the school year gets started again.

Before you send your kids off on another busy school year, schedule some of these FREE family activities that are good for all ages.

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Some of these take little to no planning at all!

star gaze
find shapes in the clouds
finger paint, even the big kids!
gather the neighborhood kids for some outdoor games
go for a walk or bike ride
color together, that means you, too
have a lemonade stand
have a family game night once a week
read their book of choice – a classic
make root beer floats
look at old pictures together
watch their favorite movie or show together
play an active game together like Simon Says
make a fort out of sheets and blankets
sing songs together
write a story together, with illustrations
host a movie night for your kids and their friends
play in the rain
put on some music and have your own dance party
have a scavenger hunt in the neighborhood
have a campfire with s’mores
go on a picnic
have a water balloon fight
fly a kite
go to a playground
make homemade playdough, and then play with it
have a foot race
fly paper airplanes together
play chinese jumprope
visit the library every week and do some reading
play hide and seek in the dark
make homemade popcorn and then eat it
make a craft together
do some yard work and make it fun
have a puppet show
first, trace your handprints and then use them to make something memorable
have a pillow fight
have a water gun fight
create a picture collage and put it in a frame
do some physical training…push ups, sit ups, jumping jacks etc.
plant some flowers
sleep out in a tent in the backyard
wash the car
pick some fresh flowers from along the road
make a treat to bring to the fire station
go on a tour of the fire station
collect a few toys to donate
write a thank you note to Dad
chase fireflies
run through the sprinkler

Don’t let the summer pass you by without having some good old fashioned fun together as a family. Even if life is busy, take some time to have some fun and make memories together that will last all winter long!