Community Corner

5 Creative Summer Family Fun Ideas

Summer is one of the best times to get outdoors, have some fun, and make memories with the kids. In fact, summer is all about making memories for your family.

Written by Sue Kirchner

Summer vacations, backyard campouts, and outdoor movie nights are just a few of the ways to break from the ordinary and have a blast together. The hard part is even though the kids are off a lot of parents still have to work and that makes it tough to plan as much fun as possible. No worries! You can still have a ton of fun without a whole lot of heavy planning. Here are 5 of my favorite ways to get outside and have fun with the kids this summer.

1. Host a Backyard Olympics. Using items you have in your garage or basement, create a day of amazing feats and contests sure to have everyone giggling.  Read how to host your ownBackyard Olympic Games.  Here are some super easy Olympics-themed treats to make as well.

2. Enjoy a Nature Scavenger Hunt. Don’t just go for a walk after dinner to take advantage of the long summer nights. Have an adventure instead. Head out to your local forest preserve and turn your walk into an adventure with these easy ideas to plan aSummer Nature Scavenger Hunt.

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3. Throw a Family Friendly Beach Party. If you aren’t headed to the beach this summer, you can still create a beach experience. Invite the neighbors over and host an easy Beach Party to get everyone in a festive mood.

4. Build your own Miniature Golf Course. Be as creative as you can with items in your garage and basement to build obstacles for a mini golf course in your yard or get the neighbors involved and have each house design a “hole.” Here’s what you need to Build Your Own Mini Golf Course.

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5. Night Bowling. Grab 10 empty water bottles, fill them with water and put 3 or 4 glow sticks inside to create luminous bowling pins. Set them up on the grass and use a small beach ball, volleyball, or even a bocce ball to knock the pins down.

For more summer family activity ideas, check out 51 Summer Family Fun Ideas or you’re welcome to see all of the fun ideas I’ve pinned in my Summer Family Fun Activities board on Pinterest.

What fun but easy and inexpensive ideas do you like to do with your family in the summer? I’d love to get a big list going so please take a second and share your idea.

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Sue Kirchner is a family fun coach, blogger, kids party planner, and weekly contributor to Patch.com. Sue and her family fun ideas have been featured on TV, newspapers, magazines, blogs, as well as her own family fun site ChocolateCakeMoments.com.


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