No Summer Camp? Here Are Tons of Activities to Keep Kids Busy

When my kids were young, summer break could be a complicated time to navigate. I was always more than ready for a break from busy mornings, packing school lunches and homework negotiations. My kids were ready for a change too, and for the first week or so our relaxed new schedule was enough to keep us all happy.

But the summer is long, and the novelty of our free and relaxed days wore off. Camps are fun and engaging, but the cost meant that my kids only attended two to three weeks of camps each summer. That left a lot of time to fill! However, with a little planning, I found plenty of creative ways to keep my kids entertained.

I’ve collected some of my favorite ideas for both indoor and outdoor summer activities for kids. Best of all, these activities are all free (or pretty close to it) — a total win! I’ve also included free or low-cost online resources to help you get through the summer at home with kids.

Summer activities for kids who love science

Home is the perfect place to experiment with science and see how it relates to everyday life. Sometimes the simple and fun experiments are the ones that can teach the most, as kids are far more likely to engage with them.

Ideas to get you started

• For your mini engineer, try these nine simple flying contraptions that are easy enough to make with things you find around the house.
• Making elephant toothpaste, an ice volcano and rain in a jar are just the kind of fun STEAM projects to get kids excited about science.
• Create squirt gun volcanoes, assemble a lemon battery, hatch dinosaur eggs and more with these awesome backyard science experiments.
• Start a worm bin, go on an owl prowl and watch science in action with these hands-on activities for kids who love bugs, birds and other critters. 

Tips for success

Depending on their age, kids will need some help from the grown-ups with many of these types of projects. Keep them safe and make them feel the part by investing in some safety glasses.

More resources

The internet is full of science experiments for children. Visit Science Buddies to explore tons of ideas and kits. The American Chemical Society offers free and interesting ideas for experiments using safe household ingredients.

Looking for inspiration? Check out these captivating books about science for kids of every age. 

There are also lots of excellent free science shows on YouTube. Check out highly rated shows, grouped by age.

Try an awesome activity kit that encourages independent play and discovery. 

If you still need more, you could invest in STEM subscription boxes for some extra stuff to do. Bitsbox introduces a new computer science concept every month and KiwiCo offers creative STEM activities for kids ages 0–18 years old.

Summer activities for creative kids

If you have a creative kid, the first thing to do is equip them with the right supplies and assign them a dedicated workspace. We’ve got some simple ideas for creating a makerspace in your home: Hopefully, this will encourage your kids to be creative — and limit the mess to one specific area!

Ideas to get you started:

• If your kid has a passion that is filling your house with baked good or handmade items, help them find a way to turn their passion project into a volunteer opportunity.
• Discover eight outdoor art projects that can be created in your backyard and cleaned up with a swish from your garden hose.
• If you’ve got young tweens or teens, consult our list of trendy tutorial craft sites, which show kids how to make tassel earrings, macramé handbags, woven wall art and many more fashion accessories.
• Check out websites such as The Artful Parent, which is chock-full of hands-on projects, or Red Ted Art on YouTube.
• For kids who love performing, try these clever improv games to encourage your little thespians.
• If your kid loves games, adventure and storytelling, help them discover the joys of a group game that will keep them entertained for years. 

Tips for success

Keep in mind that some days will be creative and other days will be downright messy. Agree with your kid on what’s acceptable and what’s just plain hazardous.

More resources

For little ones, consider investing in a few clever craft kits, or try subscription boxes from ArtSnacks or KiwiCo’s Doodle Crate.

Go to the library and check out some good books, such as “Children’s Book of Art” or “My Art Book,” which both offer loads of inspiration and activities to try.

Summer activities for kids who love cooking

Cooking is an important life skill to learn, and summer is a great time to encourage your budding chef to take a little more responsibility in the kitchen. Parents will need to be on hand to teach kids the basics, help weigh ingredients and operate the stove.

Ideas to get you started: 

• If you are cooking with a preschooler, be sure to read our tips for success (with less mess!) and recipes for easy bakes.
• For slightly older kids, try simple lunch recipes that are all deliciously achievable with a little help from parents.
• Tweens and teens will love making impressive celebration treats — maybe funfetti cinnamon rolls? — or Instagram-worthy recipes.
• Once they have mastered some of the basics, have them tackle a “build your own” dinner.

Tips for success

Invest in some kid-safe nylon knives for tot chefs and a cute but functional apron set.

Kids who love cooking should also check out the monthly theme-based recipe contest put on by Kids Cooking Activities.

More resources

Invest in a subscription to Raddish Kids to get monthly culinary activities delivered to your doorstep.

Outdoor summer activities for kids

When the weather is good, there is nothing better than playing outside. Here are a few ideas to amp up the fun in your own backyard. 

Ideas to get you started

• Pick up some of these backyard items to make your space into an epic playground that will keep kids busy all summer.
• Make camping at home a thing with these tips and tricks for hosting an unforgettable campout in your own backyard.
• Encourage your kids to burn up some energy and let loose with awesome obstacle course ideas.
• Try some of these fun old-school backyard activities such as sponge bombs, DIY slip and slide, critter studies and more.
• Summer camp can feel like one endless party; why not replicate the outdoor party atmosphere and head to a free outdoor movie? Watch classic summer camp movies together and play some fun campfire games. 

Tips for success

Be prepared for rain and days when they can’t spend the whole day outside. Encourage them to read, journal or listen to a podcast if they complain about being bored. There are so many resources out there, you just need to find the one that captures their imagination.

More resources

It’s always a good time to invest in some cool new yard games to make outside time extra fun. 

Editor’s note: This article was originally published in July 2021, and was updated most recently with new activities on June 27, 2025, by ParentMap’s associate editor, Kari Hanson. This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase products through links on our site, ParentMap may earn an affiliate commission.