suWhen school’s out, kids are ready to unwind. That means parents start looking for ways to keep their young learners active and entertained. However, summer doesn’t need to mean a total break from growth. With the right summer activities for kids, your child can enjoy their vacation while staying curious, creative, and engaged.
Whether you’re looking for ways to encourage exploration, spark imagination, or just spend some quality time together, these summer activities for kids can help.
Outdoor Adventures with a Learning Twist
Summer is made for sunshine, and the outdoors offers endless opportunities for discovery!
- Nature Scavenger Hunts: Head to a local park or nature trail with a list of items to find. Think pinecones, wildflowers, animal tracks, or specific leaves. It’s a great way to build observation skills while having fun outdoors.
- Backyard Science Experiments: Try simple experiments like making a homemade volcano, creating a DIY water cycle model, or using solar ovens to cook s’mores. These hands-on projects combine play with early STEM learning.
- Gardening Projects: Plant a small garden together and let your child help care for it. Whether you’re growing vegetables or wildflowers, it’s a great way to teach responsibility, patience, and basic biology.
Creative Indoor Summer Activities for Kids
What’s a parent to do when it’s too hot to play outside or, even worse, it’s raining cats and dogs? Here are a few indoor summer activities for kids to stay entertained when the weather refuses to cooperate.
- DIY Arts and Crafts: Set up a creative station with paints, markers, glue, and recycled materials. Projects like paper mosaics or handmade cards give your child space to express themselves and develop fine motor skills.
- Cooking Simple Recipes: Invite your child into the kitchen to help prepare snacks or meals. Measuring ingredients, reading directions, and following steps support both math and reading comprehension.
- Building Challenges: Use blocks, LEGOs, or cardboard boxes to construct buildings, bridges, or mazes. You’ll foster critical thinking and creativity in a way that feels more like play than learning.
Virtual Learning Opportunities
You want your young learners to have a well-deserved break during summer vacation, but that doesn’t mean you want to wrangle with learning loss when the new school year rolls around. Since virtual learners thrive when they know how to make the most of digital tools, here are a few online options to consider.
- Online Educational Games: Look for websites that offer interactive challenges in subjects like math, science, or language arts. These games often make practicing skills feel like play.
- Virtual Museum Tours: Many museums now offer free virtual tours. Walk through an art gallery, explore space exhibits, or learn about world history, all from the comfort of home.
- Storytime Sessions: Join virtual read-alouds hosted by libraries or authors. They’re a great way to keep literacy skills fresh and discover new favorite books.
Community Engagement
Even with more learning happening online, connecting with your local community can add an important social element to your child’s summer.
- Library Summer Reading Programs: Encourage your child to set reading goals and earn prizes along the way. These programs promote a lifelong love of books while offering structure to summer reading.
- Local Workshops or Camps: From art classes to coding boot camps, local organizations often offer short-term programs that are both fun and skill-building.
- Volunteer Opportunities: Age-appropriate volunteer activities like helping at a community garden or assembling care kits can teach empathy and give kids a sense of purpose.
Supporting Your Virtual Learner All Summer Long
As a virtual public charter school serving students across Wisconsin, Wisconsin Virtual Learning (WVL) knows the value of keeping students active over the summer. Whether your family prefers outdoor adventures, creative projects, or screen-based exploration, you’ll find plenty of summer activities for kids to keep learning going without making it feel too much like schoolwork.
WVL offers year-round support for families looking to make the most of online learning. Check out the resources available through the school or reach out with questions about keeping your student engaged during break.