Fun Activities to Do During Summer Vacation

Key takeaways

Keep yourself active and healthy by taking care of your body and mind;
Mix enjoyment and education find a way to balance enjoyable activities with chances to learn new skills; and don't let your vacation pass you by.
Take up new things – the best answer to “how to spend summer vacation for students” is to step out of your comfort zone.
Combine fun and learning – add a tadka of learning to fun activities so that the vacation is memorable as well as informative.
Don’t let time slip away – plan each day and try something new.

Summer vacation is not just a break from studies for students, it is the best time of the year where the alarm clock is on vacation, the school bag gets a rest, and the day is licensed to have fun.

If you are wondering, "What can I do in summer vacation?" or "Things to do in summer vacation", then this is the perfect time to immerse yourself in new experiences, fun activities, and golden opportunities to learn. For children, it is the time to give wings to their creativity, and for parents, it is an opportunity to spend quality time with their children.

Whether you want to know "How to spend summer vacation for students" or are looking for "Summer vacation tips for students" this article will give you such a combo of fun, learning, and memories that you will say, "Now the vacation will be truly memorable!

Why Summer Vacation Matters for Students

Summer vacation is not just a break from studying — it's your golden ticket to fun, freedom and new adventures!

For students, it's the most fun time of the year when

the alarm clock gets a break,

the school bag rests,

And if you too are wondering, "What should I do in summer vacation?" or you are looking for things to do in summer vacation that are fun and memorable, then let's know why this sunny season is so special and how to make it double the fun + double the memories!

Say goodbye to boring routine!

No rush to get up early in the morning, no pressure of homework! Summer vacation gives you the opportunity to decorate your day in your own way - whether it is sports, a hobby of painting, or an exciting trip with friends.

Pick up some fun new skills

Whether it’s painting your first masterpiece, baking delicious cupcakes, learning to strum a guitar, or coding a simple game — one of the best summer vacation tips is to dive into something new.

Family fun time

From movie nights and long drives to road trips and cooking together in the kitchen these little moments turn into treasured memories for both kids and parents.

Learning beyond the classroom

Visiting a museum, diving into new storybooks, or volunteering for a cause these experiences can teach lessons that go far beyond what you’d find in a textbook.

Benefits of summer camp activities for kids

An active and involved childhood is crucial to nourishing a child’s growth. As parents, we often feel guilty about not spending enough time with our kids, but we don’t realise that even a little time spent with them doing the things they love can go a long way in building a strong relationship with them and boosting their confidence. The most important thing we must do as parents is to model good behaviour.

When our kids have free time during their summer vacation, we must encourage them to try out new activities and acquire new life skills. We must try to get involved in these activities with them, even if it means for a short while in a day, so that they build a sense of self-worth, confidence, and independence.

It's important to allow children to explore summer holiday activities that interest them so that they put their best foot forward in trying them out. Such activities are important for children's personality development and allow them to gain practical knowledge, experience, and life skills.

Even though practising specific skill sets is essential, brain development occurs more when free play is allowed during preschool and elementary school. Allowing children to engage in safe and fun free play daily will promote the development of their creativity, resulting in improved brain function.

List of things to do on summer vacation for kids

Check out this list of summer kids activities that you can try out with your kids at home and make their vacations memorable. Join in the fun and watch your kid beam with pride.

This list of things to do in summer vacation can serve as a summer bucket list, or you can pick a few of your favourite activities from it.

Take time out of your busy schedules to play with your kids and get the rest of your family involved, too. Rest assured, when it’s time to return to school, you’ll feel stronger as a family and will thank us for our fun suggestions.

1. Keep your child engaged in physical activities.

A break from school results in less physical activity for children. However, every child must spend at least 60 minutes engaged in physical activity. Therefore, enrolling your little angels in swimming classes, karate, yoga, or other sports is a good way to keep them busy and engaged. A healthy child is a happy child.

2. Encourage your child to read

Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body. If engaging in physical activities keeps a child healthy, then reading keeps his mind busy and active. Encourage your child in vacation activities where they spend at least an hour reading every day because there is no better way to increase vocabulary, grammar, speech, and writing skills and develop imagination and empathy than by reading books. Let your child pick up a book of his choice, then make a reading nook for him. You can even check out these cute lamps online to create a cosy reading environment and watch him dive deep into magical and fantastic worlds.

3. Take your kid on a trip

There is no better way to push your children out of their comfort zone than by taking them on an adventure. Plan a trip with your children during the summer vacation and let them discover the world around them. Encourage them to try out new foods, talk to new people, and adapt their culture to appreciate the diversity of the world they live in. You will create memories for a lifetime on this trip, and your kids will fondly look back on these days even after growing up.

Check This Out : Dress Your Daughter for Summer Activities

4. Go stargazing

You can go stargazing during the summer season when the stars come out at night in their full splendour. It is a wonderful way to teach children how to appreciate our natural world. You can enjoy the night sky while snuggling under a blanket with your family on your rooftop or book a public park that allows one to stargaze on the grass.

5. Teach them gardening.

Gardening allows kids to come closer to nature. When they plant seeds in the soil, water them, and watch the saplings grow, they appreciate the process of nature and also acknowledge the hard work that farmers do to bring food to our plates.

6. Organise a cooking session

Cooking is an essential life skill that everyone must learn in their lives. So start your kids early. Engage your kids in the kitchen with yourself when you cook. Guide them through the process of simple, fire-free cooking and watch them squeal with delight as they put together a meal for everyone.

7. Motivate your children to learn arts and crafts

Learning new things through art and craft will improve your children's creative skills. Using single materials to create different objects will fuel their imagination and teach them how to use resources judiciously.

8. Room cleaning race

Turn a boring task into a fun game. Set a time limit for each chore, and challenge your kids to complete their tasks within that period.

For example, challenge them to fold all the clothes lying on the chair in under 10 minutes, or ask them to put back their toys in the basket in two minutes. You can later reward the winner to motivate them for the future.

9. General knowledge quiz

Prepare questions from geography, history, or any other subject your kids have recently been taught in school. Turn it into a competition and reward the winner. This is a great way to revise before the schools open.

10. Organize a Treasure Hunt in your home

Treasure Hunt is another fun activity that the entire family can come together to play. Divide your family into teams and ask them to decode clues, one after the other, to find the hidden treasure before the other team does. To make the evening even more fun, you could ask the losing team to cook dinner for everybody.

11. Visit the library

Many libraries organise programs or camps for students during the summer vacation that focus on developing various skills. These programs could focus on personality development, or they could be art and craft workshops or even spell bee competitions. Get your child involved in them and watch him learn something new every day.

Explore Now : Interesting Outdoor Games For Kids

12. Play with science

While schools do conduct science experiments in their labs, there are many other cool and fun experiments that children can safely conduct at home themselves during their summer break. Simply Google an age-appropriate list of fun science activities for your kids to do. It is a must-have plan in your vacation activities list.

13. Take extracurricular classes

Summer vacations are a good time for kids to indulge themselves in exploring and developing new hobbies and interests. Based on their preferences, you could send your child to drawing classes or enrol him in dance/music classes. If he is linguistically gifted, you could teach him a new language too.

14. Go for swimming sessions

The most fun activity to do in summer vacation is swimming. Beat the scorching heat with fun swimming sessions. Go to a nearby swimming pool with your friends and have a relaxed time in the pool. You can also play fun water activities with everyone.

15. Maintain a journal every day.

Encourage your kids to maintain a journal. Ask them to write about their day in it—what they did, what they ate, who they met, and how they felt. It is important to teach them about introspection and about letting their feelings out on paper.

16. Have movie nights

Use your home theatre and create a fun playlist of movies to watch with your kids. Get their friends along, and it's a party!

17. Go to nearby parks

Take your kids to parks near your home and let them enjoy the fun slides and swings. It is also a good way for kids to socialise. They can meet other kids at the park and make new friends.

18. Tell kids about their family

Summer vacation is the perfect time for kids to learn about their families. Inform them about their relationship with other relatives and family members whom they don’t know or have not met. To make this session more interesting, they can make a family tree on paper or on the computer.

19. Grandparents’ bonding time

Let your child grow up listening to the many stories their grandparents have in store for them. From life lessons to funny incidents, grandparents will keep your little ones entertained, and children, in turn, will learn to respect their elders for the struggle and patience they’ve shown in their lives.

20. Visit the local farmers' market

Take your children to a local farmers' market and show them the different coloured fruits and veggies on display. You could even take them on a farm and show them how farming is done or how cattle are kept. Make them interact with some farmers for a more educational session.

21. Go on a picnic

Pack your favourite food, put on your best dress, and take your little ones on a picnic. Organise some games like hopscotch or hide and seek and revel in an evening of pure fun. Make sure your kids wear cool and comfortable outfits for their day out. They can get boys’ and girls’ shorts along with some cool caps.

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22. Play in the dirt

Even though this activity is messy, it is fun and will bring a big, wide smile to your kids’ faces. Moreover, it will benefit them physically, as it will boost their immune system and help with an influx of vitamin D.

23. Make a bird feeder

You can make a kid-friendly bird feeder by spreading peanut butter on toilet paper rolls and rolling birdseed in them. Then, you can hang it on a branch so that your kids are able to watch the birds feed on it all day.

24. Paint rocks

Create funny faces and designs with paint on the rock. Make a collection of these rocks and use them as decor items or as paperweights!

25. Record your vacation

Use your camera and record the kids doing fun activities and enjoying themselves during their summer vacations. You can watch these videos when they are older and laugh together!

26. Water Fun

Playing with water will help you beat the heat! You can run through sprinklers in your backyard, swim in pools, and splash around at the beach. It's an incredible way to enjoy summertime with your children.

27. Visit Museums and Zoos

Explore interesting places like museums, zoos, or aquariums. Children can see cool things like dinosaur bones, exotic animals, or colourful fish. It's a fun way to learn new things and have adventures.

28. Music and Dance

Listen to music and dance around. Have dance parties in your living room or even teach children how to play musical instruments like drums or the piano. It's a fun way to groove to their favourite tunes and express themselves through music.

29. Volunteering

Teach children the importance of helping others and making a difference in the community. Ask them to do small acts of kindness like picking up trash at the park, donating toys to charity, or helping your neighbours.

30. Creative Writing

Encourage kids to unleash their creativity through writing stories, poems, or journals. Provide prompts or themes to inspire their imagination and help them develop their writing skills.

31. Outdoor Yoga and Meditation

Practice yoga and meditation outdoors to connect with nature and promote relaxation and mindfulness. Find a quiet spot in the garden or park and encourage your child to stretch, breathe, and unwind surrounded by nature.

32. Starlit Camping

Set up a tent in the backyard and spend a night camping under the stars. Listen to the sounds of nature, tell stories around the campfire, and gaze at the stars before falling asleep, surrounded by the beauty of the night sky.

33. Nature Crafts

Collect natural materials like leaves, flowers, and sticks and use them to make crafts like leaf rubbings, flower crowns, and twig sculptures. It's a fun way to get creative with materials found in the great outdoors.

34. Create a Summer Scrapbook

Encourage your child to document their summer adventures by creating a scrapbook filled with photos, drawings, tickets, and other mementoes. It's a creative way to preserve memories and reflect on fun times.

35. Build a Fort with Natural Materials

Use branches, leaves, and other natural materials to build a fort or shelter in the backyard. It's a fun way to encourage creativity and outdoor exploration.

36. Outdoor Concerts and Performances

Attend outdoor concerts, theatre productions, or dance performances in local parks or community venues. It's a fun way to enjoy live entertainment while soaking up the summer atmosphere.

37. Nature Walks

Enjoy relaxing walks through nature reserves or wooded areas to watch wildlife, including birds and insects. Bring along binoculars and guidebooks to identify different species and learn about their habitats.

38. Day Trips to Nearby Attractions

Explore nearby attractions like amusement parks, water parks, zoos, or historical landmarks for a day of adventure and excitement. Plan and pack snacks and supplies for a memorable day trip.

39. Bike or Scooter Adventure

Explore new neighbourhoods or trails on bikes or scooters. Pack a picnic and make a day of discovering hidden gems along the way.

40. Make Homemade Ice Cream

Whip up a batch of homemade ice cream using simple ingredients like cream, sugar, and flavourings. Kids can take turns churning the mixture and enjoy the sweet rewards afterwards.

41. Do a Charity Drive

Organise a charity drive where kids can collect clothes, toys, or food to donate to those in need. It’s a great way to teach them about empathy and giving back to the community. This is one of the best things to do in summer vacation with kids.

42. Join a Summer Camp

Enroll kids in a summer camp to help them explore new activities, develop social skills. Whether it’s sports, arts, or nature-focused, summer vacation activities for students give a fun and educational experience.

43. Math & Logic Puzzle Games

Engage kids in math and logic puzzle games to develop problem-solving skills and mental agility. These fun challenges can be done with board games, online apps, or simple DIY puzzles.

44. Learn a New Language

Summer is an ideal time to introduce kids to a new language through fun lessons and summer vacation activities for students. Use games, apps, or even virtual language exchange programs to help them learn in a relaxed, interactive environment.

45. Go Fruit Picking

Wondering what to do in summer vacation at home? Take the kids on a fruit-picking adventure to local farms, where they can learn about different fruits and how they grow. It’s a hands-on way to enjoy nature and teach them about healthy eating.

46. Bird or butterfly counting with kids

Search for colourful birds or butterflies — stay connected to nature, be environmentally conscious, and have fun.This game makes them aware and sensitive towards the environment. Counting also improves their attention power and observation skills.

This way children learn and also enjoy playing in the open air.

47. Upcycled accessories (DIY Bird Feeders, Seed Bombs etc.)

Carry-bags from old t-shirts, nature journals from leaves, eco-bricks from waste — a blend of creativity and environmental consciousness.For children, making new useful objects from old things is a fun and creative experience. For example, preparing bags from old T-shirts, making nature diaries from leaves or turning waste into eco-bricks.

They make feeders for birds with their own hands and help spread greenery by preparing seed bombs. Such activities not only enhance the creative thinking of children but also give them the message of saving the environment.

While playing, they understand that even small efforts can bring big changes.

48. Pressed flower art

Flower pressing is a simple and calming way to preserve the beauty around you — put into books or frames.This activity teaches them patience, attention and creativity. ✨

Also, they can collect different flowers according to the season and preserve their beauty for a long time.

This increases children's attachment towards nature and makes them habitual of recognizing small joys of the environment.

49. Write cheerful messages on rocks (Kind Rock Painting)

Write positive words in a rock painting, and leave it somewhere someone will find it and smile.This shows children that even a little art can touch someone’s heart and that the biggest treat of life is sharing, and making others happy. Messages in nature like this also add to everyone’s inspiration and use of nature. This is not only a game for children, but a lesson for life, spreading love and positivity.

Conclusion

Summer holidays are not just a time to relax, but also a golden opportunity to create new stories, learn new things and have lots of fun. The real "Summer vacation tips for students" is to make every day a little adventure—sometimes outing with friends, sometimes fun in the kitchen with family, or sometimes practicing a new skill. And when school reopens, you will not have homework, but stories that will make everyone smile. Make it fun, make it memorable and make it a little learning too.The books will wait, but the memories will never return.

And yes, vacations can be filled with not just stories, but style too.

So get ready—this summer, to turn every day into a story and every story into a memory

So don't let your holidays go to waste this time - make them fun, memorable and a little educational too. And yes, don't forget to add a touch of style - with cool, comfortable and trendy kids outfits from One Friday!

FAQS on Vacation Activities List

What to do on summer vacation at home for kids?

You can get help from our 23+ Activities to Do During Summer Vacation guide can help you find the best activities for your kids during summer vacation at home.

How do I plan a summer vacation for my child?

Plan a trip or do some fun activities to make summer vacation enjoyable, or ask your child what they want to do during their summer vacation and make plans accordingly.

How can I entertain my child at home during vacations?

Make a list of things to do at home during summer vacation and ask your child what they want to do to have a fun vacation. You can also try arts and crafts, cooking challenges, or other fun activities at home.

Which is the most fun activity to do with my kids during the break?

The most fun activity to do with your kids during the break can vary depending on their interests and preferences. You can involve them in the decision-making process by asking what they enjoy the most, whether it's playing board games, exploring nature, cooking, or engaging in creative projects.

What are some fun educational activities for kids?

Science experiments, nature walks, cooking and baking, puzzle solving, and board games are educational activities for kids to do during summer vacation.

What are some educational activities for summer vacation?

Some summer vacation activities for students include nature walks to learn about plants and animals, and engaging in DIY science experiments. Reading books, visiting museums, and learning a new skill or hobby like painting or coding are also some things to learn in summer vacation for kids.

How can I limit screen time during summer?

To limit screen time during summer for kids, set clear daily limits for device use and encourage outdoor activities like biking, hiking, or playing sports. You can let them plan family games, crafts, or reading sessions to keep kids engaged without screens.

Author Bio

The One Friday Editorial Team brings years of experience in children's fashion and retail to deliver well-researched, trustworthy content. We carefully curate style tips, product insights, and practical advice to help parents make informed choices for their children's wardrobes. Dedicated to quality and authenticity, we ensure every post reflects One Friday's commitment to comfort, style, and the evolving needs of families.

49 Activities to Do During Summer Vacation