50 ideas for summer vacation

It's summer vacation again.  My favorite time of the year (and sometimes worse...when I listen to others complain about how much they hate their kids being home and how much they fight). They fight because they're BORED!  That's the reason I started this blog in the first place...to help parents get ideas for summer activities.

Read previous posts and watch for new ones as the kids and I enjoy another "fight-free" summer.

First of all, this is how the kids "earn" their fun time:

1.   In the a.m. (because that's when it works best), they have a set academic activity/activities.  Each child gets 15 - 30 minutes with me 1 on 1.  While I'm with one child, the other is on the computer using spellingcity.com, monstermathfacts.com, destination success for reading and math, or any other great academic website I find.  If either child gives me a hard time, refuses (which has never happened, thank goodness), or doesn't cooperate, they lose a fun activity for the week.  They also have an additional 15 minutes of "on your own" silent reading time.  This year they will be going into 3rd grade so I'm starting with 15 minutes and then bumping it up to 20 on week 2.  I'll keep it at 20 for a few weeks, but want to get them up to 30 before school starts (It will just make the difficult transition from 2nd to 3rd much easier).

2.  Chores - both kids also have chores to do.  These are simple things like folding all the towels, setting/washing the table, etc.--you know what I'm talking about!  If the don't help out, they don't get the fun stuff!

I have tried to compile a list of free and cheap activities to help get you started.  My first list will be for anyone, anywhere.  My second list will be an addition to the first with added activities in and around the Tampa Bay area.

1. Silly Spray Wars - This one is fun for anyone, but I know the boys just LOVE it!  You can purchase cans of silly spray at the dollar store.  One rule - you can only aim from the chest down!
2. Library Days - make a habit of going to your local library every week.  Let the kids check out as many books as they want as long as they get at least one on their reading level.  Also check your local library for summer fun events.  The events are usually FREE!
3. Spray Parks - many areas have small spray parks where the kids can run around in water geysers and cool off!
4. ABC Scavenger Photo Hunt - Give your child a journal or clipboard/paper labeled a - z.  Give your child a "throw away" camera or if they have their own digital camera that works too.  Go to a local park and take a nature walk. Find things in nature to take a picture of.  Find the letter of the alphabet that it goes with and write it down on that letter.  This could be done over a few different days and a few different parks.  When pictures have been taken for all letters, print out and make a book of the items found on your scavenger hunts.
5. Scavenger Hunt - Make a list of items to find and collect at the local park (yellow flower, pine cone, etc.)  Take along a few friends and see who can find everything on the list.
6. Make homemade ice cream in a bag.  You can find easy recipes online. (uses math and science skills)
7. Check your local movie theaters for free or $1 summer movies.
8. Go to the beach.
9. Go fishing.
10. Cook with your kids. (let them plan it, shop for ingredients, and be a part of the entire activity).
11. Play Frisbee golf.
12. Go fly a kite.
13. Make sock puppets.
14. Set up a lemonade stand.
15. Hide small toys (cars, mini animals, etc.) in a sand pit and have an excavation.
16. Conduct simple science experiments.
17. Make a slip-n-slide. (garbage bags, dish soap, water)
18. Bubbles, bubbles, bubbles
19. Go on a bike ride.
20. Go bowling.
21. Visit a petting zoo or local farm.
22. Lego building - put a huge tarp on the ground, dump a ton of legos, and have a lego building contest.
23. Make wind chimes - use pony beads, fill muffin trays, melt beads in oven...an adult will need to drill holes...then tie the objects with string and attach to a dowel or tree branch.
24. Go on a picnic.
25. Make a bird feeder with pine cones and peanut butter.
26. Attend a local Vacation Bible School.
27. Make play-doh sculptures.
28. Collect seashells and then use them to create a piece of art.
29. Have a sports day at the park - play football, basketball, kickball...
30. Make oobleck.
31. Have a sandcastle building contest.
32. Take the kids out for pizza and ask if you can get a tour of the pizzeria.
33. Make boats out of pvc pipe and lego boards.  Race them.
34. Make pet rocks by painting them or adding "bling".
35. Rainy Day?!? - Have a pajama party with games, movies, popcorn, etc.
36. Make balloon animals.
37. Have a Nerf gun war.
38. Create your own board game.
39. Visit a museum.
40. Check for local children's author book signings. (We met Tony Dungy doing this).
41. Check for FREE local sport clinics.  (We got to play football with Mike Alstott doing this.)
42. Go to a local Farmer's Market.
43. Go kayaking.
44. Try paddle boarding.
45. Take swimming lessons.
46. Check your local mall for indoor playgrounds.
47. Take a bike ride.
48. Tour a local fire department.
49. Gather friends and have a kickball game.
50. Have fun!