Summer is here and before the kids start talking about how bored they are, it’s a good time to plan ahead. So here are some of my favorite summer bucket list ideas for the whole family. No matter what, we are determined to make this summer the best one yet!
First things first, if your family likes to keep a routine, even during summer, these routine charts for kids are free to print and are super cute. Having a routine chart can bring a sense of normalcy when the schedule has changed so much. Take your child’s routine one step further with a planner like this digital one: My Magic Planner.
If you don’t intentionally set a routine, life will set one for you. A routine chart or planner can help you and your kiddo be more intentional with your days. After all, that’s kind of the point to a summer bucket list, right?
An Unforgettable Thanksgiving Starts with premium turkey and ham, sides and desserts from Perdue Farms!Why Have A Summer Bucket List?
Bucket lists for summer are a great way to maximize your summer. It’s making a list of the goals and dreams you have for the summer to help make sure you actually achieve some of them. You know, it’s amazing what we can accomplish when we simply plan to do things.
Having a summer bucket list is an excellent way to plan to do all the things you want to do. You can make it as busy or laid back as you’d like and really customize it to your life. Maybe this is the summer you travel a lot. Maybe it’s the summer you’re so busy you find new ways to enjoy the little things at home instead. No matter your schedule or budget, a summer bucket list can help you make the best of summer.
What Is The Most Popular Summer Activity?
The jury is still out on this one. Swimming is the most popular summer activity in my house. But for many others, it’s travel. Some travel long distances by airplane while others load up the camper and travel much closer to home.
Summer is the perfect time for camping in much of the United States. One thing I want to do next time we go camping is try a little birdwatching. My kids are nature obsessed and birds are no exception. I’m a firm believer in really exploring our world, they love wildlife, birdwatching seems like a win for us all.
Become a Good Sam member Today! Let Us Make Camping a Breeze.
I read this guide about birdwatching while camping and am excited to see which birds we find next time we head out into the great outdoors. Don’t forget to make your own bug spray before you head out to camp. This stuff smells great and will keep the bugs away!
No matter where you’re traveling to, check out these summer travel tips from Fun Country Life. Packing a first aid kit is important, but there are many others on the list as well! I typically plan for medical emergencies whenever we travel. Even just a quick glance at where some hospitals or urgent care clinics are along the way is helpful in case of emergency.
My dad was actually an LVAD patient. (That’s a whole other story for another time.) That meant that when he traveled, we planned our route based on hospitals that were equipped to handle his level of care. Basically, we had to be within an hour of a hospital that could handle his LVAD at all times on our trip.
Thankfully, he had an amazing team of doctors and nurses at home that helped us by calling facilities and checking everything ahead of time. But, there was extra preparation on our end, as well. Being a caregiver on vacation with the person you’re caring for can make for some unexpected adventures and circumstances.
Thanks to a nasty double ear infection, we have actually had to use an urgent care while on vacation with our kids, too. Since then, I have always planned ahead and checked for convenient health care locations before we leave. But enough about that, back to the traveling!
National Parks are always on our list for summer or really any kind of travel. I love a good National Park! Not only because the yearly passes are affordable, but because no matter where you are in the country, you can drive and find a National Park to visit! I found this list of National Parks to visit and have already added a few more to our list.
My friends over at Coast2CoastwithKids are actually on a National Park tour this summer. They are having a ton of fun visiting so many National Parks! I am definitely considering an adventure of that sort in the future!
What Should I Put On My Summer Bucket List?
Eating a ton of good food with good people is a must on my bucket lists for summer. I love all the freshness of foods in the summertime and the discounted prices you find in season produce certainly doesn’t hurt anything. If you’ve been around here a while, you know how much I love fresh cut produce as a side dish at any meal.
For a quick, healthy breakfast or snack on the go, try this simple and refreshing blue smoothie bowl recipe. The kids will enjoy making their own, adding fruits and granola, and of course everyone loves the fact that it’s blue! 🙂
We are kicking off summer with some healthy treats, but you know after a week or two, we’re all craving something sweet. Here are some fun summer desserts to add to your “must try” list! Of course, you can’t go wrong with a classic s’more!
I talked about our s’mores near mishap in my 5 Cheap Ways to Celebrate the Fourth of July post. The kids wanted s’mores but we didn’t have the right stuff. But, my shelf cooking brain wasn’t going to let them go without, so we created a new variation of s’mores: NutterButter S’mores. It was an accidental creation that we have had again on purpose.
Related: How To Save Money on Groceries Without Coupons
We all love donuts, but they can get expensive, so why not make them at home? This is a great donut recipe that your kids will enjoy making and eating. They’re inexpensive to make and you can customize them with different toppings. Think shelf cooking and clean out that baking bin by using leftover chocolate chips or sprinkles. You’ll be able to get creative while satisfying those sweet cravings!
Do your kids love blueberries? Mine do! I’m allergic, but my kiddos love them! This delicious cast iron blueberry crisp is perfect for summer. You can use fresh or frozen blueberries to create that sweet and tart taste we crave so much during the warmer months, or really all the time if you’re me. Think frugal and use fresh blueberries if they’re in season or opt for frozen to save money when they’re not.
Invited to a BBQ or potluck! Need a dish to bring? These crowd-pleasers are sure to get you invited again and again. Whenever I take a dish to a potluck, I try to take it in a cheap plastic dish that can be reused. They’re more sturdy than the disposable options, but if I forget to bring it home, it’s okay.
What’s more classic than potato salad? This dish is the perfect side for any summer cookout or picnic. Not only is it easy to make, but it also tastes great! Make this simple red potato salad that will be sure to impress your friends and family.
Related: How To Go Grocery Shopping Online and Save Money
Kids are always asking for a drink, and of course they want fun drinks, not just water. I love these lemonade shooters. You can make them with or without alcohol. Yum! Perfect for any get together.
Kids Summer Bucket List Ideas
Traveling and eating have permanent spots on my summer bucket list. But what about the kids? What might they put on their summer bucket list? Get the whole family involved in these fun and frugal crafts and activities.
Looking for a quiet day inside, because it’s raining or maybe it’s just too dang hot? I love hands-on activities like making play dough without flour. The special needs mama in me loves anything that will get those hand muscles working extra. Let’s build that grip strength and improve those fine motor skills while having fun together, sound good?
For some extra fine motor skills work, try hiding small toys like beads or balls in the play dough. Have the kiddos search through the dough with their fingers to find all the goodies. Turn it into a race and you have yourself a game, too!
Each of these film canister rockets cost less than a dollar to make. They are not the most dangerous thing you can launch, but they are fun for kids and adults alike! The best part is that this activity will keep your family entertained for hours (or at least long enough to get through supper)!
Do you have a child who loves playing outside? Make beautiful flower painted rocks that will be sure to brighten up any day! All it takes is some paint, water, and rocks. You can use different colors depending on the look or theme of the rock or just one color if simplicity is what you’re after.
It’s tradition at our house for my kids to make fairy gardens with their Nana every summer. These painted rocks would go perfect in their gardens. Again, another summer activity that will keep them entertained for a while and cross multiple activities off our list.
Glow in the dark bowling is a fun way to spend time with your family. All you need is some glow sticks and some water bottles, and you’re ready for some good clean fun! This game can be played indoors or outdoors, so get creative with where you play. You can even set up an obstacle course that will make it more challenging and exciting for everyone involved.
Summer Learning Activities for Kids
I don’t know about you, but I like to keep my kids learning throughout summer. As part of their daily routine, my kids must complete one math activity and one additional activity. I have done this with my older kids since their first summers out of school.
This year, we’re utilizing the free Kahn Academy programs. Kahn Academy has a cool course for each grade level that is designed to prepare kids for the upcoming grade. It’s super educational, the lessons are quick, it doesn’t cost anything, and I can track their progress so I know they’re learning something.
Related: Last Minute Summer Activities – Frugal Back to School Prep (coming soon)
This summer, my kids chose to learn a new language as their extra activity. It’s something that has been on our minds for years and this year, we finally decided to do it. We’re using Duolingo to learn Spanish. My kids are just using the free version, but they do have a membership option, as well. Again, it’s super educational, the lessons are quick, it doesn’t cost anything, and I can track their progress so I know they’re learning something!
Here’s some other educational ideas for you:
- Have a reading challenge! Set a goal to read a certain number of pages or books by the end of summer make it extra fun by doing the challenge yourself. Designate a special reward for completing the challenge! Maybe try to read an entire series during summer.
- Learn a new hobby together. This one depends on your child and your family’s schedule, but the options are endless.
- Teach your child to play chess.
- Learn to read or improve reading skills. Children Learning Reading or Reading Head Start are both well reviewed programs for teaching young kiddos to read or helping the older kiddos improve their reading skills.
- ABC Mouse or Adventure Academy or something similar. Set a timer each day and let the kids “play.” We have used both in the past and my kids love both. We switched to Kahn Academy and Kahn Kids simply because they’re free and very similar, plus my older kids’ teachers use Kahn Academy in the classroom.
- Do daily math flashcards. Maybe set a goal to get a certain number correct each week and celebrate your child’s success with an ice cream or new book or game!
- Write letters to family or friends.
- Plant a garden.
- Science projects. Maybe do one science project a week, or short ones a couple times each week. Making brownies together totally counts as a science project!
- Budgeting. For older kids, have them help you meal plan and figure your grocery budget each week.
- Museum or Zoo trip. Take the time to read the facts and really learn about what you’re looking at in the museum or at the zoo.
Keeping your kid’s brain stimulated over summer doesn’t have to take a lot of time or money. There are plenty of good quality, frugal options that offer quick, fun lessons so your child doesn’t even realize they’re learning! Learning any new task or having them refresh their brains of things they’ve already learned will keep their minds sharp all throughout summer!
Related: How To Save Money on School Supplies
What do I want to do this summer?
That’s easy. I just want to spend quality time with my kids. We could travel the country or rarely leave the house, it really doesn’t matter to me. This roundup of summer bucket list ideas is packed with so many activities that offer just that: quality time. No matter your budget or schedule, I hope you find time to simply be together this summer.
What’s on your kids summer bucket list? I’d love to hear how you plan to spend your summer and what fun activities you’ve discovered.
Until next time,
Stay Courageous!
