200+ Outdoor Summer Activities for Kids

200+ Outdoor Summer Activities for Kids

It’s summer time! 🙂 

Which means awesome outdoor summer activities for kids, outdoor games and more!

I love summer time, don’t you? 

Warm sunny days, the beach, water balloons and fun outdoor play loaded with snacks all constitute for an awesome hot day! 

I’ll be sharing below all the awesomeness that summer can bring.

Simple water games, the best water tables and more! 

Be sure to bookmark this page to come back to each year – it’s going to be epic.

Looking for Easy Summer Activities?

Check out this Summer Bucket List for Kids: 

I love a good set of outdoor summer activities for kids!

A great way to incorporate fun activities for the summer months are: 

• ball painting

• a fun water balloon fight

• a stroll or nature walk at a local park for the entire family

• sidewalk chalk

• an outdoor treasure hunt for kids of all ages

• toy cars and washable paint 

• family bike ride

• mini sports leagues game backyard activity

• small toys in a sensory bin

• homemade popsicles for warm weather

• play balloon tennis

• creative ways to play ball toss

• water balloon painting

• a magnifying glass for exploring the outdoors

• water guns for an epic gross motor activity

and, more! 

Our Favorite Summer Learning Folder Printable: 

What are some great summer activities you’ve tried out? 

I’d love to learn any backyard activities you may have or are thinking of trying out. 

Share them with me below! 

Rainy days in Summer time?

Here’s a Free Bug Preschool Theme Freebie for you: 

Here is a list of our previous month activities: 

• Halloween Activities for Kids

• Thanksgiving Activities for Kids

• Christmas Activities for Kids

• Winter Activities for Kids

• Valentines Activities for Kids

• St. Patricks Day Activities for Kids

• Easter Activities for Kids

• Spring Activities for Kids

And now it’s summer time!

Here are over 200 Outdoor Summer Activities for Kids you can try with your littles! 

Note: Don’t forget to check out spring games for preschoolers and Spring Activities for Kids as some of those activities will still work throughout summer time as well! 😀

Summer Craft Activities + More Below: 

Kids activities for summer

I’ve added each of our favorite summer activities into groups. 

Here are the kid activities for a hot summer day…

I’ve categorized them as follows: 

• Toddler Summer Activities

• Summer Activities for Preschoolers

• Kindergarten Summer Activities

• Outdoor Summer Activities for Kids

• Sensory Summer Activities for Kids

• Summer Crafts for Kids

I hope this list allows for some easy ideas for little ones, big kids and all kids. 🙂

Sometimes a great place to set up an easy activity at no extra cost is in your own living room or backyard. 

These are where the memories are made with a simple board game, sensory bin, scavenger hunt..

I try to keep the categories relevant and helpful.

I hope you enjoy the plethora of fun ideas and easy outdoor activities to they out with the whole family. 

Related: Looking for a fun way to learn with printables for June? Here is one of our favorites!

Activities to do in summer

Growing up I super enjoyed the summer season… 

It was fun to go outside.

I’d enjoy the different ways I could play in my own backyard. 

It was all such a great time attempting a simple art and craft or running through the summer breeze and collecting seashells at the beach

You can incorporate some of these ideas as fun things to try in large group activities for preschoolers, toddlers and for kids! 

Here are some creative ideas to try out for the end of the school year:

• nature trails scavenger hunt

• making tie-dye shirts

• attending your local library

• going to a state park and learning something new

• easy paper plate crafts for summer

• glow in the dark bowling

• work on brain development with a sensory play idea

• collect dollar store items for and easy outdoor play ideas

• plastic sheeting for a DIY slip and slide

I’ve included preschool art ideas and sensory ideas as well.

I hope they are super helpful.  

Related: Are you looking for water table ideas? Here are over 70 water table ideas!

Looking for an easy way to incorporate fun summer activities that include camping? 

For those longer days, a camping theme activity for kids is fun. 

Here is a fun sensory summer camp idea that was loads of fun.

This sensory bin is a perfect way to incorporate physical activity (running) and enjoy sensory play with older kids/family member. 

Pro Tip: Bring out the board games for entertaining outdoors. 

We love to include small bites, fruits, crackers and bbq.

We love enjoying with our close team members – family. 🙂 

Add a bit of your favorite local fresh ingredient pizza (or local Pizza Hut) for an epic time outdoors. 

Here are some of our favorite yummy treats from Dash Bakes the Greats.

Dash Bakes the Greats creates the most delicious recipes and is the most fantastic little chef!

Over 55+ Water Games for Kids for Summer: 

Let’s get into the Outdoor Summer Activities for Kids, shall we? 

Summer Activities for Toddlers

Looking for summer activities for toddlers? You’re in the right place! Check out these toddler summer activities 🙂 

Duck and Frog Pond Sensory Bin – Active Littles

Ice Smash Easy Summer Activity – Busy Toddler

Fishing for Numbers – Buggy and Buddy

Pool Noodle Threading – Play Teach Repeat 

Alphabet Soup – Raising Dragons

Nature Soup – Happily Ever Mom

Summer Fun with Plastic Balls – Engaging Littles

Pool Noodle Pour Station – Raising Dragons

Ice Bowling – Learn Play Imagine

Homemade Bubbles – Playground Park Bench 

Flower Sensory Bin – Twitchetts 

Summer Snowball Fight – Fireflies and Mud Pies

Bubble Wrap Starfish – No Time for Flashcards

Summer Activities for Preschool 

Here are summer themes for preschool and summer activities you can try with your preschooler! 

Summer Counting Mats – Active Littles

Garden Sensory Play – Active Littles

Ocean and Beach Pretend Play – Fun at Home with Kids

Beach Ball ABC – Raising Dragons

STEAM Pool Noodle Play – Little Bins for Little Hands

Ice Cream Playdough Tray – Engaging Littles

Summer Unicorn Craft – Little Pine Learners

Colors and Counting Ice Cream Activity – Happy Tot Shelf

Ice Cream Kit – Mama Papa Bubba 

Beach Inspired Nature Study – Montessori from the Heart

Color Mixing Activity – No Time for Flashcards

Car Truck Park in a Garage – How Wee Learn

Calming Lavender Scented Bubbles – The Chaos and the Clutter

Squirt Gun Painting – Fireflies and Mud Pies

Summer Activities for Kindergarten 

Looking for kindergarten activities? These are epic and fun! 

Summer Word Search Activity – Active Littles

Alphabet Stone Activity – Little Pine Learners 

Paper Mache Summer Fruit Bowls – Red Ted Art

Summer Lego Projects – Frugal Fun 4 Boys 

Summer Journal for Kids – Playdough to Plato 

Playdough Shells Fossil Activity – Messy Little Monster

Summer themed unit study – Montessori from the Heart 

Summer Writing Prompts – 123 Homeschool 4 Me

Summer Long E Puzzle – Playdough to Plato

Summer Fun Jar – Coffee Cups and Crayons 

Clay Boat Craft – Messy Little Monster

Floating Soap Boats – Fireflies and Mud Pies

Summer Scented Playdough Recipe – Frugal Fun 4 Boys

Planet Earth Big World Play – Happy Toddler Playtime

Outdoor Summer Activities for Kids

Looking for outside activities for preschool and for kids? Here are some ideas that may be super helpful! Here are outdoor play activities for preschoolers and for kids…

Water Table Activity – Active Littles 

Water Table Activities for Summer – Active Littles

Backyard Obstacle Course – Happy Toddler Playtime

Chalk Puzzle – Happily Ever Mom

Shaving Cream Cloud Art – Play Teach Repeat 

Outdoor Window Painting – Simple Fun for Kids

Pool Noodle Water Wall – Teaching Mama

Simple Water Play for Kids – Hands on as we Grow

Ocean Water Slide Outdoor Play – Happy Toddler Playtime

Giant Bubbles – Make and Takes

Water Balloon Hunt – Mess for Less

Musical Scavenger Hunt – Days with Grey

Paint the Car – Fun a Day 

Water Balloon Pinata – Red Ted Art

Sensory Summer Activities for Kids

Sensory play is awesome! Here are some fun sensory play ideas that incorporate a bit of summer as well! 

Summer Camp Sensory Rice – Active Littles

Watermelon Oobleck – Gift of Curiosity

Giant Homemade Bubbles – Happy Hooligans

Ocean Slime Recipe – Little Bins for Little Hands

Mud Kitchen Sensory Station – Busy Toddler

Flower Sensory Soup – Simple Fun for Kids

Ocean Bin – Days with Grey 

Pom Pom Ice Cream Sensory Bag – Happy Tot Shelf

Ice Fish Play – Messy Little Monster 

Summer Sensory Bin – Teaching 2 and 3 year olds

Watermelon Slime Recipe – Learn Play Imagine

Pineapple Textured Craft – Kids Craft Room

Bubble Blow – Hello Wonderful 

Ocean Sensory Bottles – Active Littles

Ocean Sensory Bags – Active Littles

Summer Crafts for Kids 

Summer art for toddlers, preschool and for kids! Here are some ideas that can be helpful art activities for summer! 

Popsicle Resist Art – Fun at Home with Kids

Sponge Paint Ice Cream Art – Fantastic Fun and Learning

Egg Carton Baby Bee Craft – Buggy and Buddy

Seashell Painting – Mama Papa Bubba

Pool Noodle Painting – Fun a Day 

Chalk art for kids – How Wee Learn

Summer Sky Craft – Coffee Cups and Crayons

Paper Weaving Fish Craft – Kids Craft Room

DIY Alphabet Rocks – Hello Wonderful 

Paper Plate Swimming Jelly Fish – I Heart Crafty Things

Paper Angelfish Craft – Buggy and Buddy

I hope you try some of the activities out and if you try an activity for summer from this list, share below which one you tried! 🙂

Summer Bucket List for Kids

Here are over 100+ Summer Bucket List Ideas that are awesome!! 

• Splash Pad Fun 

• Water Balloon Throw

• DIY Lemonade stand 

• Catch butterflies and release

• Picnic in backyard

• Road trip fun 

• Take a trip to the museum

• Fly a kite

• Go to the beach

• Build a sand castle

• Roast marshmallows 

• Bring out the water table

• Watch a movie outdoors

• Make homemade Ice cream

• Camping trip

• Summer Library books

• BBQ in the backyard

• Make S’mores

• Kid-friendly festival

• Summer STEM experiment

• Summer sensory bin

• Bike ride

• Collect seashells

• Play in the sprinklers

• Play with the hose

• Ice Sensory Bin

• Make pineapple Pizza 

• Pool Noodle Art

• Jump in rain puddles

• Dance in the rain

• Swimming fun

• DIY popsicles 

• Watch fireworks

• Go to local farmers market

• Pick strawberries

• Kid- friendly hike

• Make a delicious dessert

• Water table sensory table

• Create summer crafts

• Dance under the stars

• Star gaze in a tent in the backyard

• Cook a delicious wholesome meal

• Trip to the beach

• Bake summer cookies

• Alphabet sensory bin

• Build an outdoor fort

• Summer paper plate craft

• Homemade lemonade

• Plant a seed

• Garden sensory bin 

• Chalkboard paint on sidewalk 

• Spray bottle on chalkboard ABC’s

• Make a card for loved ones

• Summer crafts

• Make Kool Aid playdough

• Make Watermelon Slime 

• Jump in the pool

• DIY water maze

• DIY Slip and slide

• Use a frisbee

• Watch the sunset 

• Paint rocks

• Count rocks

• Fishing trip

• Outdoor Play

• Campfire Sensory Bin 

• Create a game with cones

• Outdoor Water Play

• Take a trip to a water park 

• Create an ocean sensory bottle

• Create and ocean Sensory bag

• Fish Craft for Kids

• Outdoor Sensory bin 

• Draw a sun and the ocean

• Create an epic Kinetic Sand Slime

• Make a Rainbow Sensory Bottle

• Tape Resist Activity 

• Outdoor race 

• Outdoor ABC hose clean

• DIY bubbles 

• Flashlight animal shadows 

• Giant Bubbles with Karo Syrup

• Outdoor Wash the animals Sensory Bin 

• Learn birds by their chirp

• Visit your local art store 

• Summer craft 

• Make Goop

• Sponge Water Bomb Play

• Frozen Goop 

• Taste Safe Sand Sensory Bin

• Create Foam Soap 

• Window Paint Activity

• Window Foam ABC match

• Pom Pom Water Play

• Pouring Play Sensory Bin 

• Beach Letter Dig Up 

• Colorful Water Sensory Bin 

• Frozen Water Beads Sensory Play

• DIY Frozen Lego Blocks

• Outdoor Flower Sensory Bin 100

• DIY Pool Noodle Pom Pom Ball Run 

• Flower Color Hunt Activity 

• Watch a parade

• Create a Paper Mache Craft

• Face Painting

Over 70+ Water Table Ideas Below:

Get the Summer Bucket List printable for FREE below