A Project A Day Keeps the Boredom at Bay: Ideas for Summer Fun

— by Christina Katz

Camp, road trips, and family visits do a great job of keeping everyone engaged throughout summer. But what about those days at the end of summer when you’re running out of ideas and nothing is planned? Every parent wants to enjoy kicking back when school is out, but too much lollygagging can lead to listlessness, and even squabbling.

Staying engaged this summer does not have to mean over-spending. Galvanize attention by keeping a fun list of summer projects that can be done with scant money and planning. Many of these projects encourage upcycling household items or picking up a few inexpensive items up at the dollar store or resale market.

Consider any projects that may interest your children, and print out instructions you find online. Then pull all your projects into a folder, make a list of supplies, and pick them up to have on hand. Once the first chorus of “I’m bored” begins, you’ll be ready to dive into plenty of hands-on summer fun ideas.

1. Make a beanbag toss ladder game for playing after dinner.

2. Have your kids done any summer reading? Purchase some age-appropriate books in stores or online; or borrow from your local library.

3. Grab binoculars, a guidebook, and a notepad and take a bird watch walk.

4. Bake homemade granola for energizing yet economical breakfasts.

5. Create an ultimate croquet game with obstacles impeding each wicket.

6. Make a bug, worm, and caterpillar circus for the day, and then let them all go.

7. Make sock puppets and construct a theater for performing with them.

8. Blow bubbles with kitchen items and homemade bubble formula.

9. Create bedroom window banners with craft supplies you have on hand.

10. Pack a picnic, a blanket, and some outdoor toys to take to a new park.

11. Purchase a bag of birdseed to make fresh bird treats to hang in your backyard.

12. Pull some ho-hum wooden furniture outside and give it a colorful makeover.

13. Host a neighborhood bad minton competition.

14.Mix up a batch of strawberry shortcake biscuits and serve with homemade whipped cream.

15. Put a hinged box in a cool place and make a worm box.

16. Give outdoor mani-pedis on lawn chairs in the yard while listening to summery tunes.

17. Start a homemade instrument band.

18. Paint colorful garden rocks and encircle the house with them.

19. Create grab-and-go tote bags with engaging activities for each family member.

20. Gather items that signify your era and bury them in a time capsule.

21. Export table, chairs, and china to host an outdoor tea party.

22. Add water to dirt piles and see who can get the muddiest puddle jumping.

23. After you get dirty, wash the cars, the dogs, and yourself.

24. Melt old crayons into rainbow crayons using muffin tins.

25. Make a watch-me-grow-up slideshow and send it to faraway relatives.

26. Gather seashells from old beach trips and embellish thrift store frames and mirrors.

27. Make enough desserts one morning to last a full week.

28. Research totem animals and paint faces and bodies to match.

29. Plan, price and construct a tree house or outdoor fort.

30. Have pets pose for photos you can use to paint watercolor portraits.

31. Construct a composter for turning grass, leaves, kitchen scraps, and twigs into potent fertilizer.

32. Have a paper airplane making and flying competition.

33. Camp out overnight in the yard. (Don’t forget bug repellent!).

34. Recycle whimsical items into a fairy garden in a shady spot.

35. Make homemade ice cream in a creative way.

36. Spray a glow-in-the-dark maze onto the lawn for evening fun.

37. Put on an outdoor play — original or adapted.

38. When a rainstorm is forecasted, don old bathing suits and swim goggles for a squirt gun fight with washable paints.

39. Pack up juice boxes and snacks for a long, leisurely bike ride.

40. Make a simple a lemonade stand with tables, signs, and everything for sale made from scratch.

41. Spend the day learning to juggle.

42. Lay on blankets in the yard and read books of poetry from the library out loud.

43. Make muffins or coffee cake with fresh blueberries and share some with an elderly neighbor.

44.Fill the wading pool, make fresh fruit slushies, and have a tropical beach party.

45. Wile away the day making models from kits on a porch or patio.

46.Plan a hydrated hike destination you can reach from home, then rest, then back.

47. Have a good, old-fashioned water balloon fight with the whole family.

48. Gather up white clothing and shoes, then tie-die them or decorate them with Sharpies.

49. Come up with a fantastic family vacation, then start a vision board you can add to over time.

50.

Research, practice

and put on a magic show complete with hats and capes.

51. Build a little library by the curb and put your old books in it, so neighbors can trade you for theirs.

52.Decorate bikes by day for a sunset bike parade.

53.Make found-object wind chimes to hang by front and back doors.

54. Grab a couple ladders, pool noodles, and folding lawn chairs and construct an over-under obstacle course.

55. Pick up a putter, sink some plastic cups, and turn your yard into a mini golf course.

56. Lay on blankets by day and study the constellations you will watch for by night.

57. Make masks, scrubs, and lotions and have a botanical spa afternoon.

58. Make homemade pizzas from scratch with your fresh veggies and herbs.

59. Make origami with waterproof paper and hang them from tree branches in the yard.

60. Practice colorful cookie, cake, or cupcake decorating.

61. Design and make kites for fall winds.

62.Make your yard into an impromptu water park using all the water toys you have on hand.

63. Make mosaic stepping stones customized to each family member.

64. Brainstorm holiday teacher and coach gift ideas, then make non-perishable items.

65. Share what you appreciated about summer vacation with your family over freshly made pie.

Author, journalist, and writing coach Christina Katz remembers summer as a time when lazy days inspired imagination, creativity, and bliss, in the days long before cell phones.