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

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 ’em 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.

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 the Girls Can! Crate  service offers activities designed specifically for girls.

Up next: Ideas for creative kids