7 Fun and Engaging Summer Activities for Kids

May 1, 2025

When school’s out and the sun is shining, it’s the perfect time to let kids explore, play, and enjoy the great outdoors. But keeping little ones entertained over the long break can be a challenge.

That’s where this list comes in. Whether you’ve got a curious four-year-old or a high-energy eleven-year-old, these fun things to do in the summer are designed to keep minds active and bodies moving. 

From creative crafts to garden adventures, here are 7 engaging kids’ summer activities that are low-cost, easy to set up, and packed with fun.

1. Nature Scavenger Hunt

A nature scavenger hunt is a brilliant way to turn a simple walk into an exciting adventure. All you need is a list of things to find; think pinecones, feathers, smooth stones, or insects, and a basket or bag to collect your treasures.

Why kids love it:

• Encourages exploration and attention to detail
• Can be done in the garden, local park, or woods
• Adaptable for all ages with picture-based lists for younger children
  

Make it more exciting by timing the hunt, adding themed challenges (like “something red” or “something that smells nice”), or turning it into a team competition.

2. Build a Den or Fort

One of the most classic and creative kids summer activities, building a den never goes out of style. Use cushions, blankets, and chairs indoors, or branches, logs, and garden furniture outside, to build a secret hideaway.

Ideas to try:

• Jungle Explorer Base Camp
• Knight’s castle or fairy fort
• Reading nook or quiet space
  

Dens encourage imaginative play, teamwork, and engineering skills (without kids even realising it). Let them decorate it with drawings, toys, or signs to make it their own.

3. DIY Water Play Station

When the temperature rises, there’s nothing better than water play. And you don’t need a fancy paddling pool to make a splash, just a few containers and a bit of imagination.

Try this:

• Set up a pouring station with plastic cups, funnels, and jugs
• Play sponge toss or water balloon catch
• Use old paintbrushes to “paint” the patio with water
  

Water play is not only fun and refreshing, but it also supports motor skills, science learning, and sensory development, especially for younger children.

4. Mini Gardeners: Grow Something Together

Gardening is a fantastic summer activity that teaches patience, responsibility, and respect for nature. Let your children plant something simple, like sunflower seeds, salad leaves, or strawberries in pots.

Top tips:

• Choose fast-growing plants to keep interest high
• Let kids decorate plant markers or pots
• Encourage them to water and check progress daily

It’s a great long-term project to revisit throughout the summer, and harvesting something they’ve grown themselves is a big moment of pride.

5. Summer Craft Station

For quieter days, a DIY craft area gives children a chance to get creative. Stock it with safe scissors, glue, paper, chalk, and items from nature like leaves and sticks.

Craft ideas to spark imagination:

• Nature collages or sun prints
• Homemade wind chimes
• Painted rocks to hide around the neighbourhood

Crafting is a calming activity that helps develop fine motor skills and gives kids a sense of achievement.

6. Adventure Obstacle Course

Looking for energetic things to do in the summer? Create your own obstacle course using garden toys, cones, hula hoops, or even cardboard boxes.

Include activities like:

• Crawling under a chair tunnel
• Jumping over cushions or cones
• Balancing along a line of sticks or string
• Running back to the start for a timed challenge

This is a great way to burn off energy and practise coordination. Let your children help design the course for added ownership and creativity.

7. Storytelling Picnic

Combine fresh air, food, and imagination with a storytelling picnic. Spread a blanket in the garden or park, bring a few books, and read aloud together, or make up your own stories.

To add a little magic:

• Bring props or puppets to act out tales
• Let kids create their own story and perform it
• Pack themed snacks to match your chosen book

This peaceful and bonding activity is perfect for winding down after more energetic play.

Enjoy the Summer with JCB Explore

Summer doesn’t need to be packed with expensive outings or non-stop schedules. Sometimes, the best memories are made with simple, thoughtful activities that spark imagination, movement, and laughter. These fun things to do in the summer are designed for all kinds of children, whether they love crafting, exploring, building, or running wild.

So this summer, unplug from the screens, grab some basic supplies, and create lasting moments with your little adventurers. Whether you try one idea or all seven, these kids’ summer activities will help turn any ordinary day into an extraordinary one.