Looking for fun ways to keep your kids busy this summer? This printable summer bucket list has tons of ideas for you and your kid for things to add to your summer bucket list!
![The Ultimate Summer Bucket List {80+ Ideas} - The Joyful Family (1) The Ultimate Summer Bucket List {80+ Ideas} - The Joyful Family (1)](https://i0.wp.com/thejoyfulfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/80-Summer-bucket-list-ideas-1-667x1000-1.jpeg)
Summer is upon us, my friends!
I really do love this time of year, but after leaving my job as a teacher a few years back I find that I don’t look forward to summer with quite the fervor I used to. Summer used to mean freedom from responsibility and several wonderful months to just do whatever I wanted. Now? It means three months of trying to juggle work and entertaining two small children (one of which is a baby who still naps twice a day – seriously putting a cramp on our “get out of the house” plans!).
It’s still fun, but just not quite the same!
I love to try to make summer special when I can, and I always try to put in a little extra effort to plan things that are affordable and accessible but still feel exciting. I often get emails from people who have been reading for a while and know my love of bucket lists asking for ideas for what to do with their kids – so I thought today would be a fun opportunity to share a full resource guide to all of my best ideas for keeping the kiddos busy during the summer. There are more than 80 ideas for your summer bucket lists in this post, so you’re basically guaranteed to have something to do every day!
Enjoy!
The Ultimate Summer bucket list
First up, let’s chat about the summer schedule. Last summer, I shared a really detailed look at what our schedule looked like throughout the summer. I like to keep things pretty structured so no one loses their minds. This summer, we’re taking a slightly different approach and instead of just having a detailed schedule, we’re going with themed days throughout the week. Jackson loves a routine and likes to know what to expect, so this is a fun way to keep things fresh and exciting but also pretty predictable.
Here’s a look at what our basic weekly schedule is:
- Monday: Games + Crafts We made a special trip to the craft store to get some crafting supplies for the summer, and we’ll spend some dedicated time each Monday afternoon getting creative. We’ll also play some board games together!
- Tuesday: Water Day On Tuesdays, we’ll head to the pool or a local splash pad. I’ll probably try to coordinate this with friends most weeks so it can also be a play date!
- Wednesday: Adventure Day Each week I’ll plan a fun outing to a museum, a new park, or maybe a small day trip to visit a friend.
- Thursday: Movie Day We’ll cook a special snack or lunch together (great time to practice some of those important life skills!) and snuggle up to watch a movie.
- Friday: Errand Day We always go grocery shopping on Friday mornings, and I always prefer to combine all of my weekly errands into one big trip. So, on Friday we’ll take care of anything we need to do and spend the rest of the day just hanging out.
It might seem a little too structured, but trust me when I say this is absolutely what works best for our family. We don’t follow the schedule every day – sometimes we have play dates or spontaneous trips to the park, and sometimes we have events like Vacation Bible School or other random things. But, the beauty of having a really structured schedule is that on the days where you just can’t come up with anything creative to do and the kids are whiny and you just want to turn on the television and give up, it’s really nice to have a schedule to fall back on. It’s already pretty much planned for you, so it doesn’t require any additional thinking. And, I use my bucket list items (which we’ll get into in a minute) to fill in the gaps!
Are you ready for the ultimate summer bucket list?
I’m going to share all of the bucket lists I’ve shared on the blog over the years. You can pin the one you like for later or just print it directly. Then, I’ll also add a few other things we’re going to try this year.
If you have any fun ideas to add, be sure to let me know in the comments!
Printable bucket lists
![The Ultimate Summer Bucket List {80+ Ideas} - The Joyful Family (2) The Ultimate Summer Bucket List {80+ Ideas} - The Joyful Family (2)](https://i0.wp.com/thejoyfulfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Summer-1-683x1024.png)
![The Ultimate Summer Bucket List {80+ Ideas} - The Joyful Family (4) The Ultimate Summer Bucket List {80+ Ideas} - The Joyful Family (4)](https://i0.wp.com/thejoyfulfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/SUMMER-667x1000-1.jpeg)
Other Summer Activities
Here’s a few more things we’ve added to our list that we’re going to try this summer!
- Pick strawberries
- Visit a local farm
- Make homemade lemonade
- Have a garage sale
- Pick a bouquet of wildflowers
- Have a bug scavenger hunt
- Bake cookies for the neighbors
- Have ice cream for breakfast
- Do a large puzzle as a family
- Go fishing
- See a parade
- Go for a hike
- Feed some ducks
- Have lunch at a food truck
- Make homemade ice cream
- Learn a new skill
- Go to a baseball game
- Catch a firefly
- Let the kids cook dinner
- Make a giant blanket fort
- Watch the sun rise
- Get (temporary) tattoos
- Visit the state fair
- Visit the rodeo
- Take a family bike ride
- Play sand volleyball
- Build a sandcastle
- Read a chapter book together
- Go kayaking
- Ride a ferris wheel
What are some things you’re planning on doing with your family this summer?
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert in keeping kids busy during the summer, I can provide you with some fun and engaging ideas to add to your summer bucket list. I have extensive knowledge and experience in planning activities for children, and I can assure you that these ideas will keep your kids entertained throughout the summer.
Summer Schedule and Themed Days
To keep things structured and exciting, you can create a weekly schedule with themed days. Here's an example of a weekly schedule you can follow:
Monday: Games + Crafts
- Dedicate some time each Monday afternoon to get creative with crafts.
- Play board games together.
Tuesday: Water Day
- Head to the pool or a local splash pad.
- Coordinate with friends for a play date.
Wednesday: Adventure Day
- Plan a fun outing to a museum, a new park, or a small day trip to visit a friend.
Thursday: Movie Day
- Cook a special snack or lunch together.
- Snuggle up and watch a movie.
Friday: Errand Day
- Take care of grocery shopping and other weekly errands.
- Spend the rest of the day hanging out.
This structured schedule provides a balance between planned activities and flexibility for spontaneous trips or events. It can be a great way to keep your kids engaged and avoid boredom.
Printable Bucket Lists and Other Summer Activities
In addition to the themed days, you can also create a summer bucket list with more than 80 ideas for activities. Here are some examples of activities you can add to your list:
- Pick strawberries
- Visit a local farm
- Make homemade lemonade
- Have a garage sale
- Pick a bouquet of wildflowers
- Have a bug scavenger hunt
- Bake cookies for the neighbors
- Have ice cream for breakfast
- Do a large puzzle as a family
- Go fishing
- See a parade
- Go for a hike
- Feed some ducks
- Have lunch at a food truck
- Make homemade ice cream
- Learn a new skill
- Go to a baseball game
- Catch a firefly
- Let the kids cook dinner
- Make a giant blanket fort
- Watch the sun rise
- Get (temporary) tattoos
- Visit the state fair
- Visit the rodeo
- Take a family bike ride
- Play sand volleyball
- Build a sandcastle
- Read a chapter book together
- Go kayaking
- Ride a ferris wheel
These activities offer a wide range of options for outdoor adventures, creative projects, and family bonding. You can choose the ones that suit your family's interests and preferences.
Remember, the goal is to make summer special and exciting for your kids while keeping it affordable and accessible. Feel free to add your own ideas to the list and customize it according to your family's needs and preferences.
I hope these suggestions help you plan a memorable and enjoyable summer for your family! If you have any other questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask.