101 Fun Activities to Keep Teens Engaged this Summer
Oh, the anticipation of summer! Long warm days, open schedules and endless possibilities.
Until day three strikes when your teen turns to you and says, ” I’m so bored!”
If you’re like me, a busy working mom who planned my children’s summers with day camps, enrichment programs, play dates and fun outdoor activities, you may be discovering it gets more difficult as your kids become teenagers.
When this began to happen for my teens, I turned to two strategies that could provide a flexible yet reliable solution to our summer boredom dilemma that didn’t involve screens, and got them moving and mentally stimulated.
Make a Summer Bucket List Calendar
It first began with the bucket list concept: a wish list of things we hope to do in life.
Next, I tapped into my planning and scheduling skills to ensure a consistent pipeline of activities we all could rely on.
With these in hand, I sat down with my teens and together we brainstormed each of their ideal bucket lists. Then, using a calendar, we began scheduling their top wish list activities to carve out their ideal summer of activities.
The result was a clearly mapped plan of fun yet flexible ideas we could all feel good about, rely on, and look back upon with fond memories.
If that sounds good and you want to be prepared with a full summer schedule or just prefer a last-minute emergency list of ideas, you’ll want to bookmark or print this list for easy reference.
The beauty of this method is it centers around activities your teen selects and provides a week by week outlook they can look forward to without it turning into a rigid or overloaded schedule. With the exception of a date-specific or paid events, we design it to be flexible so we can still be spontaneous when the mood or occasion occurs.
Most of all for us parents, it reduces chaos, last minute disruptions for conjuring up “something” to do, and provides a schedule the whole family can plan around.
The result of my summer plan creation was a fun flexible plan my teens looked forward to, and I could rely on when I was busy with work.
Less complaints of boredom and nothing to do and more both mental and physical stimulation for the kids.
A win-win summer all around!
If you’re on board, continue reading and feel free to print or bookmark the list for future.
Start with Categories of Activities to Build a Diverse Schedule
Games
Whether it’s a weekly family game night or games your teen organizes with friends, they’re a fantastic way to build strategy, enhance social skills, and foster greater connectedness with others. Creating a weekly game day with friends, designating a different host and game each week can be a fresh approach to keep it interesting and fun.
Organize a board game tournament.
Host a video game marathon.
Play outdoor scavenger hunts.
Create an escape room at home.
Participate in a neighborhood capture the flag game.
Try geocaching.
Play paintball or laser tag.
Have a water balloon fight or water balloon toss
Set up a backyard obstacle course.
Play a new outdoor game each week - like ultimate frisbee, frisbee golf, pickleball, Spikeball, corn hole, bocce ball, sardines, or capture the flag.
Crafts & Hobbies
Teens don’t have to be artsy by nature to gain benefit from doing crafts or taking up a new hobby. From traditional at-home crafts to more unique and inventive ideas, there’s an option for everyone, regardless of skill level.
11. Make tie-dye shirts.
12. Create friendship bracelets.
13. Paint rocks for garden decoration.
14. Try pottery or clay sculpting.
15. Start a scrapbook.
16. Design and sew your own clothes.
17. Make homemade candles.
18. Create a vision board.
19. Build a birdhouse.
20. Try out origami.
Sports
Sports are great for teenagers for both physical and mental health and they don’t need to be part of an organized league or program. In fact, keeping sports activities unstructured and fun is ideal for summer. Especially if you have a teenager who’s reluctant to try sports, there’s so many fun and casual forms they can benefit from. For teens already involved in an organized sport throughout the year, participating in a new physical activity during the summer can add variety, new skills, and a fresh change of pace.
21. Join a local sports league.
22. Go swimming.
23. Try stand-up paddleboarding.
24. Play beach volleyball.
25. Go mountain biking or trail riding
26. Learn to skateboard.
27. Play tennis or pickleball.
28. Practice yoga in the park.
29. Go kayaking or canoeing.
30. Try rock climbing.
Fun Learning Experiences
Learning in the summer doesn’t have to be boring or feel like an extension of school. Find experiential opportunities that take learning to a new level.
31. Visit a museum or art gallery.
32. Take a cooking class.
33. Learn a new language or try sign language
34. Attend a science camp.
35. Explore astronomy and stargaze.
36. Visit historical sites in your area.
37. Take a photography class.
38. Attend a theater workshop.
39. Research and create a family tree
40. Learn gardening and start a small garden.
Skills Development
The sky’s the limit on this one in terms of which skills your teen would like to develop. Talk to them about their interests, passions and natural abilities to find something that’s uniquely theirs. Teenagers today have so much pressure to be the same to fit in that focusing on a personal skill or passion, gives them an outlet to express who they really are inside.
41. Take up a musical instrument.
42. Learn to play chess.
43. Practice creative writing, poetry, song writing, or write a play or movie.
44. Develop graphic design skills.
45. Learn to bake, cook, decorate, or create their own recipes.
46. Try woodworking, carpentry, glass-blowing, or sculpting.
47. Take an online course in a subject of interest.
48. Learn first aid and CPR.
49. Improve public speaking skills.
50. Get a part-time job or internship.
Interpersonal Connections
Social media has it’s benefits but interpersonal connections is not necessarily one of them. Plan in-person events with different peers and mentors to expand friends and create deeper connections.
51. Host a movie night with friends.
52. Plan a game day in the park.
53. Volunteer at a local charity or event.
54. Organize a beach cleanup.
55. Start a book club.
56. Plan a camping trip with friends.
57. Attend a music festival.
58. Host a themed costume party.
59. Take a road trip with stops to visit family and friends
60. Join a youth group or club.
Personal Growth Experiences
The teen years are full of growth, which can become overwhelming at times. Summer is an ideal time, when daily demands are less, to introduce experiences that can help guide positive mindset and establish healthy habits that support wellbeing.
61. Meditate and practice mindfulness.
62. Set personal goals and work towards them.
63. Start a daily journal.
64. Read self-improvement books.
65. Get involved in community service projects.
66. Try solo travel or a solo day trip.
67. Participate in a leadership camp.
68. Practice sustainable living.
69. Explore different career options and shadow professionals.
70. Take on a personal project, like writing a novel or creating an app.
Creative and Artistic Activities
Helping a teen find their inner creativity not only promotes individual thinking, it also encourages innovation and develops problem-solving skills.
71. Paint a mural.
72. Write and perform a short play.
73. Make a short film.
74. Start a YouTube channel or blog.
75. Learn graphic design.
76. Compose a song or make a summer playlist
77. Create a podcast.
78. Develop a comic strip or graphic novel.
79. Take a dance class.
80. Practice photography.
Outdoors and Adventure
Summer was made for the great outdoors and adventure. There are countless amazing benefits for teens, from skills development like orienteering, exploration, discovery, survival, and decision making, to receiving mental health benefits from nature and open spaces. This category is a cornerstone of our summer plans each year.
81. Go for a hike.
82. Go on a camping trip.
83. Try zip-lining or a ropes course.
84. Explore local nature trails or visit a botanical garden.
85. Go fishing.
86. Ride bikes on a scenic route.
87. Try horseback riding.
88. Build and fly a kite.
89. Participate in a fun run or charity walk.
90. Visit a national park.
Miscellaneous
When you’re needing a few additional ideas to fill the gaps, think out of the box and towards the unusal to find options that appeal to your teenager.
91. Start a collection (stamps, coins, etc.).
92. Learn to juggle.
93. Train a pet or learn animal care.
94. Create a DIY project or redecorate their bedroom
95. Make a time capsule.
96. Try a lost art like calligraphy or hand lettering.
97. Host a yard sale or visit a flea market.
98. Explore virtual reality experiences.
99. Plan and cook a fun and quirky themed dinner party.
100. Create and maintain a blog or vlog documenting summer adventures.
101. Contact a distant relative and ask them about their life growing up. Write about it.
Summer Fun for Teens - Key Takeaways
Avoid summer boredom blues with a customized bucket list and a weekly calendar to map out a fun and flexible plan that the whole family can benefit from.
Mix up the activities and themes so each week is fresh and different.
When last minute changes need to happen, go with the flow and make memories the whole family will look fondly upon.