Big List of Summer Fun Activities for Teens
If you’re like many parents, you understand the benefits of our technology, but don’t want to see your teens spend every waking moment on their smartphone. Here is a big list of summer fun ideas for teens. You’ll find outdoor activities, indoor activities, and even some ideas your motivated teen can do to plan ahead for their future!
Download a free printable list from my resource library and post it on the fridge or a bulletin board for your teen to reference when they’re bored and have no idea what to do with themselves.
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(Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you click a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I use and love or would love to use! For full disclosure details, click here.)
Outside Activities
1. Plant a garden
Depending on their interest, this can be anything from a few flower pots to a full raised bed vegetable garden.
2. Have a picnic
Invite a few friends to walk to a park or hang out in the backyard with a blanket and a picnic basket. Go for classic picnic fare like cold salads, cheese and crackers, berries, and sparkling water, or get creative with your menu.
3. Cloud watching
Not just for the littles, an hour of lying on the grass and watching the clouds drift by is relaxing and creatively stimulating.
4. Water balloon toss
Perfect on those extra hot days, water games are endlessly entertaining. Have your teens fill up a kiddie pool with water balloons and make up their own rules.
5. Squirt gun fight
Another great activity to beat the heat, fill up a couple of kiddie pools with water and let the games begin.
6. Run through sprinklers
No matter how old, running through sprinklers is just plain fun.
7. Slip ‘n slide
Classic summer fun. Find great DIY slip and slide instructions from A Beautiful Mess.
8. Classic backyard games
Think badminton, volleyball, croquet, ring toss, horseshoes, or cornhole.
9. Giant Throw Throw Burrito
This game has provided hours of fun for my teens. Make sure you have plenty of patches if you have any blackberry bushes nearby!
Throw Throw Burrito Extreme Outdoor Edition
10. Oversize lawn games
These are fun no matter your age. Lawn Jenga, Checkers, Connect Four, or Yardzee are popular options.
11. Bike ride
Make it a family activity or encourage your teens to try out a local bike trail.
12. Jump rope
Whether it’s part of a cardio routine or your teen learns some fancy tricks, jumping rope is simple but satisfying.
13. Make an obstacle course
You can buy a obstacle or agility course kit, or have your teen get creative and use household items to set up a challenging course that has them crawling, jumping, and climbing through the yard.
14. Hold a backyard Olympics
If you’re a sporty family, make it as challenging as your kids want, or keep it silly with events like a crab walk race or hula hoop contest.
Read: How to Hold a Family Olympics
15. Choreograph a dance routine
Your teen might like the idea of creating their own dance moves to a favorite or trendy summer song. Or, there’s always Just Dance.
16. Try a new fitness activity
For kids who aren’t playing sports through the summer, maybe they can try a new fitness activity: yoga, martial arts, running. YouTube has loads of options to check out HIIT workouts, Zumba, Pilates, strength workouts, Tabata, and lots more!
17. Learn to do a handstand, a backflip on the trampoline, or the splits
Those lazy days of summer can be a great time to focus on accomplishing a specific physical goal.
18. Play frisbee
Play frisbee with friends, family, or even your dog.
19. Play tennis, pickleball, or ping pong
No pressure to join a team, league, or get competitive. Summer is perfect to try out a racket or paddle sport.
20. Train for a race in the fall (5k, 10k, triathlon)
Search for races happening in your area later in the summer or fall, look up a training program (Couch to 5K), and start jogging.
21. Challenge yourself to get outside
Join a challenge to spend more time outside this summer. You can search “outside challenge
1000 hours outside has an app to track the hours you spend outside all year.
Do a 30-day challenge focused on getting outside:
- get outside to watch the sunrise
- eat lunch outside every day
- go for a walk outside every day
- spend 15 minutes barefoot on the grass every day
Read: 30-Day Challenges to Try This Year
22. Chalk art
There are tutorials for creating amazing chalk art pictures that go far beyond a simple sun or heart. Your artistic teen can learn to blend, mix with water, and even create illusions on your sidewalk or driveway. Sure to put a smile on someone’s face as they pass by!
23. Roll of paper mural
Grab a roll of paper, spread it out on a table or staple it to a piece of plywood and use acrylic paint, oil pastels, charcoal pencils, or colored pencils for hours of entertainment.
24. Geocaching
While most of these activities are purposely screen free, geocaching requires the use of GPS, but it’s a great way to use technology productively.
25. Science experiments
Send all those messy science experiments outside this summer.
26. Have a lemonade/snack stand
Lemonade stands don’t have to be run by 6-year-olds! Your teen can set up a juice stand or coffee stand and even sell baked goods or snacks. We have blueberries on our property and my kids have picked and sold berries at their stand.
27. Paint rocks
Painting rocks has become a popular craft activity for kids of all ages, but I’ve seen some intricate and beautiful designs at craft shows that are intended to be displayed as garden art.
28. Make a fairy garden
Rustic or fantastical, a fairy garden offers free reign to your teen’s creativity.
29. Learn to identify flowers or trees
Grab a guidebook or use an app to learn the names of flowers, shrubs, and trees in your area. Summer is peak bloom time.
30. Train a pet to do a trick
If your teen has patience and is motivated, this is a fun activity that requires a few treats and lots of consistency.
31. Learn to skip rocks
Teens who live near a river or lake can challenge themselves with this age-old pastime.
32. Make a flower crown or bracelet
From dandelions to daisies, flower crowns are adorable. Your teen could even learn to make flower crowns to sell!
33. Scavenger hunt
Turn it into a contest with prizes for your teens. You can make this as simple or extravagant as you wish. The internet is full of printable options. A photo scavenger hunt at an outdoor mall can be loads of fun for a group of teens!
Download a simple household scavenger hunt from my resource library. This works great as an individual competition to be the first to gather everything on the list.
34. Make a bird feeder
It doesn’t have to be a peanut butter pinecone bird feeder. There are tons of inventive DIY bird feeder ideas to choose from: tea cups, oranges, and mason jars all get repurposed to feed the birds.
35. Dry and press flowers
For your teen who loves flowers, have them learn to dry and/or press flowers to make bookmarks, potpourri, or shadow box art.
36 Wash something
Of all the household chores that must be done, teens might prefer those that involve a hose more than most. Put your teen in charge of washing a car, your garbage and recycling bins, the dog, or even the outside of windows.
37. Take pictures
Teens are probably selfie experts, but those skills can come in handy for family reunions, birthday parties, or vacations. Ask your teen to take pictures of special events, making it clear you want to have a variety of shots to record important memories. They feel valued for their contribution and you know you’ll have plenty of snapshots and video that capture your summer events.
38. Tie dye t-shirts
Still fun after all these years.
39. Have a minute-to-win-it contest
This one is always a hit.
40. Sit in the sun and daydream
Yup, let your teen do nothing. No phone, no TV, no Switch. Just a light breeze, a clear day, and a comfy spot to lounge—hammocks encouraged!
41. Start a business
Even if your teen isn’t old enough for a “real job,” they can earn money by mowing neighborhood lawns, dog walking, babysitting, selling cupcakes, or even opening their own Etsy shop.
42. Have paper airplane races
This website, Fold ‘N Fly, offers step-by-step instructions for a huge variety of paper airplanes. Grab a stack of paper and see what they can do.
43. Do a woodworking project or try woodburning
Teens who like to build things might enjoy using scrap wood to make something useful. There are loads of ideas for projects to build with wooden pallets if your teen needs inspiration.
Alternatively, a woodburning kit is compact and can be a fun activity to try over the summer.
44. Attempt to set or break a Guinness World Record
For competitive teens or teens who have a particular skill, challenge them to set or break a Guinness World Record. The Guinness people have a beginner’s guide and information about the application process on their website.
Inside Activities
45. Make a summer wish list
Start the summer with a list of wishes. Your teen can be intentional about what he or she wants to do, see, and accomplish this summer.
46. Board games
Have a tournament, play Monopoly all the way through, or play a new game every week.
47. Card games
If your teen isn’t into board games, maybe card games are more their style.
Read: 25 Card Games for Family Game Night
48. Jigsaw puzzles
Set up a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle somewhere in the house and challenge your family to complete it by the end of summer.
49. Sudoku, crossword, word search, mad libs, brainteasers
Not just for grandmas, your teen may enjoy logic or word games, too.
50. Solve a Rubix cube
Maybe for personal satisfaction, maybe for bragging rights.
51. Play 10,000 dice game
All you need is six dice and you’re set! There are variations in scoring, so choose a set of 10,000 dice game rules and have everyone agree up front.
52. Learn to draw with charcoal
Louise D’Alise charcoal tutorial playlist
53. Practice watercolor
Watercolor channels on YouTube:
Emma Jane Lefebvre Watercolor Studio
Let’s Make Art watercolor tutorials
Emily Lex Studio watercolor workbooks
54. Make your own coloring pages
Your doodling teen can create their own simple or complex coloring pages. Try geometric designs or floral backdrops to inspirational quotes.
55. Practice hand lettering (create a new font!)
Visit my resource library to download a free lettering page
56. Make jewelry
A creative teen might enjoy making jewelry. YouTube is your friend for tutorials on beaded necklaces, wrap wire rings, or polymer clay earrings.
57. Rainbow loom creations
Younger kids might have churned out simple bracelets using these tiny plastic bands, but there’s a whole world of creativity to explore with rainbow loom. Teens can make charms in the likeness of their favorite Starbucks frappuccino, a sushi roll, or a popcorn bucket!
58. Make slime or putty
Part science experiment, part art project, part relaxation technique—somehow DIY slime or putty is fun for kids.
59. Make doll clothes for younger siblings or to sell
A crafty teen can turn clothing intended for donation into doll clothes for American Girl size dolls or Barbies.
60. Create clothing designs
Grab a sketchbook or download free croquis (templates to use for designing clothing)
61. Diamond art painting
Beachy landscapes or modern aesthetic—diamond art comes in all styles. Best for teens with plenty of patience!
62. String art
Buy a string art kit (string art cactus) or buy a wooden plank and nails at a craft store and let your teen create their own design.
63. Read an entire book series
Power through Harry Potter, Lisa Tawn Bergren’s River of Time series, or a classic like L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables series or C.S. Lewis’ Narnia series.
64. Host a book club
Invite a few friends, or even siblings, choose a book to read and search up book club questions to use as discussion starters.
65. Make your own comic book
Graphic novels have gained popularity in recent years. Your teen can write and draw their own comic book based on their life experiences, or invent a purely fantasy world.
Visit my resource library to download a free comic book template
66. Learn to bake bread
Your teen can start off with a simple Irish soda bread recipe, or try their hand at artisanal breadmaking.
67. Set up a “Chopped” style cooking contest with a few ingredients
Take your cue from the Food Network show, “Chopped,” and choose a few random ingredients that must be used in every dish.
68. Choose a “fancy” dinner menu and learn to make it as your signature meal
Whether your teen enjoys cooking already or thinks they’ll live off takeout and ice cream, having a go-to meal they know how to make is something they can be proud of. They’ll be able to bust out their signature dinner to impress friends and feel confident in their ability to cook from scratch.
69. Make homemade granola bars
Store-bought granola bars are usually loaded with sugar and artificial ingredients. They’re easy to make and require minimal ingredients.
70. Make ice cream or popsicles
The perfect summer treat, made even better when you make it yourself.
71. Learn to make your favorite coffee drinks or smoothies
Find copycat recipes for your favorite coffee shop drinks and learn to make them at home. Even better if you reduce the sugar!
72. Make homemade pizza
What teen doesn’t love pizza!? Homemade pizza can be super easy using premade dough available in many grocery store, or go all in and make the dough yourself.
73. Cake or cupcake decorating
Challenge your teen to get creative with cake or cupcake decorating. If they like it and have a knack for it, they can make money selling their creations to moms who are always looking for unique birthday cakes.
74. Build a challenging Lego creation
LEGO has lots of grown up kits with thousands of pieces, but your teen can just as easily come up with their own unique design using the LEGOs you already have.
75. Perform a play
For your theater kid, have them write and perform a play. Invite friends and family if they love an audience.
76. Do a puppet show for neighborhood kids
Teens can get creative with sock puppets, paper bag puppets, even finger puppets and make up fun puppet shows for neighborhood kids. Maybe they can even market their talent for birthday parties!
77. Have a talent show
Your teens can organize a talent show showcasing their serious skills—think musical instruments, dance, singing—or keep it silly with talents designed to induce a laugh.
78. Practice (or learn) an instrument
Piano, drums, clarinet, ukelele, harmonica, guitar.
79. Learn how to do different hairstyles
Tutorials abound for fancy braids and buns.
80. Give yourself a manicure or pedicure
Make it a DIY spa day and pamper those fingers and toes.
81. Start learning a new language
Even if they don’t take a formal class over the summer, your teen can learn with Rosetta Stone or Duolingo.
82. Make a time capsule
Grab a box and add a note about your current likes and dislikes, hopes for the future. Put in a picture and a few items that represent your life right now.
83. Start a collection
Make it easy for grandparents to give the perfect gift! You might collect cheetahs, unique kitchen gadgets, coasters, lip gloss, Star Wars memorabilia. Whatever you’re interested in enough to want a collection of items.
84. Clean out a closet
I know it sounds boring, but if you clean it out, you know what you have. Sell clothing in good used condition on Poshmark, eBay, or ThredUp. Or donate it—that works too.
85. Make your own movie
Make a documentary-style movie of your summer. Make sure you get permission to film friends and family. You’ll have a fantastic memory to look back on later.
86. Have a tea party
Dress up, brew some tea, and make finger sandwiches for a fun tea party. Invite older relatives—think grandma, aunt, or mom—for a special summer memory.
87. Have a dance party
Turn up the tunes and dance the day away.
88. Have a paint party
Buy a few canvasses and set up a still life object to paint or follow a beginner YouTube tutorial that everyone paints together.
89. Start a wishes for life journal
Use a journal or notebook to write down all the wishes for your life. Add specific things you want to do and places you want to go like you would on any bucket list, but also include descriptions of what you’d like your life to look like and what kind of person you’d like to be. As the years go by and you look back at your journal, you’ll see how you’ve changed, along with how much you’ve accomplished that you set out to do.
90. Make a scrapbook
Paper or digital, scrapbooks are a fun way to memorialize a period of time.
91. Make paper crafts
Paper crafts can be cool enough for teens! Paper cityscapes are completely adorable and flextangles are the perfect DIY fidget.
92. Make a model of your dream house or bedroom
Turn one of those Amazon boxes into a model of your dream house, apartment, or bedroom. Create a layout of windows and doors, design and build your furniture, add texture to walls and floors.
93. Make lip balm, candles, or lotion using essential oils
DIY whipped coconut oil lotion
94. Arrange flowers into pretty floral designs
Go on a hunt for wildflowers, buy flowers at a farmer’s market, or grow your own flowers to cut. Your teen can learn to create beautiful floral designs. Fake flowers work for this also. Check out thrift stores for an inexpensive source of fake flowers..
95. Do origami
Start with an easy origami animal or flower and you just might get hooked.
96. Make crafts from toilet paper/paper towel rolls
97. Make a collage or vision board
Go for the typical posterboard version, use a journal, bulletin board, or make a digital version of your vision board.
98. Learn quilling
Quilling is a process where strips of paper are rolled, glued, and arranged to create art.
Paper Quilling for Beginners from HGTV Handmade
99. Make paper flowers
How to Make Paper Flowers with Free Templates
100. Make plant markers
If your teen is into gardening, DIY plant markers are a great summer activity. The Micro Gardener has a helpful list of ideas: 20 Creative DIY Plant Label Markers.
101. Organize a drawer
It doesn’t have to be the junk drawer. Your teen can feel good about organizing a desk drawer, bathroom drawer, or dresser drawer. You don’t even need to go buy special organizing trays. Household boxes can be painted or wrapped in cute paper to create DIY organizers.
102. Write a stand-up monologue and perform
For the teen who’s always cracking jokes, give them a microphone and encourage them to perform.
103. Write a letter to far-away relatives
Encourage your teen to write an actual letter to distant relatives. Ask questions and they just might get a reply.
104. Write a letter to your favorite author or athlete
If your teen is a fan of a specific author, athlete, singer, or other well-known public figure, a handwritten note may result in an autograph or personal response.
105. Learn some sign language
Start with the letters of the alphabet and learn a few simple signs for everyday words and phrases.
106. Play charades
The classic game of charades never gets old.
107. Decorate your bedroom
Rearrange furniture, paint a wall, add new artwork or accessories.
108. Learn to tie knots
This skill will prove surprisingly useful.
109. Look at family photo albums
Take a trip down memory lane and look through old family photo albums. You might even ask to see albums when visiting grandparents. They’ll be thrilled to share memories!
110. Write a song
All that teen angst has to go somewhere.
111. Sing karaoke
YouTube has plenty of song options. Belt it out!
112. Learn to knit, crochet, embroider, or sew
Useful, relaxing, and creatively fulfilling, you’ll never regret learning to make something yourself.
113. Learn to use a 3D printer or Cricut
Check out printables.com or thingiverse for downloadable 3D printing files.
114. Memorize a poem, quote, or scripture
It’s amazing what you can memorize given enough repetition. Spend a few minutes every day memorizing a famous poem, quote, or scripture passage.
115. Read a magazine
Your local library has lots of magazines your teen may enjoy. Check out a stack that look interesting and learn something new.
116. Listen to a podcast
You can find podcasts on almost any topic your teen is into.
117. Paint a piece of furniture
Transform a table, shelf, or chair with a new coat of paint!
118. Learn a magic trick
Perfect to pull out of your hat, learn some kind of magic trick. My personal favorite is the 21 card trick!
119. Have a fashion show
Have your teen go through her fall clothing to choose outfits and present a fashion show. That should make it easier to figure out what she really needs for next season!
120. Take a class
Try Outschool, Udemy, The Great Courses, your local science museum or art gallery.
121. Make a terrarium
Check out some unique terrarium ideas and jump on the bandwagon.
122. Learn how to take better pictures with your smartphone
Go through a series of tutorials designed to help you make the most of the amazing camera built into your phone. You’ll find lots of helpful videos containing iPhone photography tips on YouTube.
123. Do a Bible study
Summer is a great time to do a short Bible study focused on a specific topic, like identity, or do a New Testament read through.
124. Learn to use technology
It might sound odd to encourage your teen to use technology when you don’t want them glued to a screen all day. However, learning specific software or technical skills is a skillset far different from mindlessly scrolling TikTok.
Your teen might know the basics, but proficiency in using a variety of software is highly valuable. Your teen may choose to dig into Google Sheets, learn to build a database, play around with graphic design in Canva, or begin learning a CAD program.
- typing
- word processing (Microsoft Word, Google Docs)
- spreadsheets (Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets)
- design (Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, CAD)
- coding
- video editing
- web design
125. Create a family or neighborhood newsletter/newspaper
Your teen may enjoy creating a print or digital newsletter complete with human interest stories and current events.
126. Set up a domino train
Challenge your teen to set up an elaborate domino train just for fun!
127. Create a brochure of attractions/restaurants/fun facts about your town
You teen can create a brochure or booklet of local attractions, restaurants, and fun facts about your town or area. This can be a great resource for family and friends visiting or your teen may even sell it to local merchants or Airbnb operators as a source of information for tourists.
128. Recreate a childhood photo
Have fun recreating a childhood photo with siblings or in a specific location.
129. Start a blog
Take your journaling online and learn a useful skill by starting a blog this summer. Alternatively, focus your blog on a specific area of interest.
130. Challenge yourself to try new foods
Summer is the perfect time to try fruits and vegetables you’ve never had before.
131. Learn to play chess
All those hours with nothing to do. Put them to good use learning to play chess.
Thinking Ahead Activities
132. Study the driver’s manual to prepare for your driving permit test
For teens who are looking forward to getting their driver’s permit, take some time this summer to study for the test.
133. Plan your routine for when school starts in September
Think through your schedule of school and activities and consider how you would choose to order your time.
- morning routine
- during the school day
- after school routine
- evening routine
134. Start a list of meal ideas for next school year
Make a list of breakfast ideas, lunch ideas, or favorite dinners. Your mom will thank you! Be prepared with quick and easy breakfast ideas, prep-ahead lunches, and even healthy snacks so you don’t grab junk food.
135. Make a list of fall/winter clothing you will need next season
Go through your closet and inventory what you need for next season. Make a shopping list now and look for deals throughout the summer.
136. Make a reading list for next school year
Plan ahead and make a list of books to read next school year. Pick books that you’ve been wanting to read for a long time, or look up suggested reading lists and choose one book to read each month. By next June, you’ll have finished 9-10 books you intentionally wanted to read.
137. Make a focused study playlist for next fall
If your teen works well with background music, summer is a great time to make a few playlists. Try out different types of music—make a classical list, a chill instrumental list, or a playlist of favorite songs that are familiar but not distracting.
138. Make a fall bucket list
It’s already summer—plan ahead and make a fall bucket list of experiences or activities that would make the season memorable.
139. Make birthday cards for everyone in your family
Make a birthday card for each member of your family and put them in a place you’ll remember to look. You may need to set a reminder on your phone so you don’t forget you made the card and where it is! If you get inspired, you could make additional cards to use for friends, extended family, teachers, or coaches throughout the year.
140. Brainstorm Halloween costume ideas
Don’t wait for the last minute. Do a little brainstorming to come up with fun Halloween costume ideas. You can even shop in advance if you decide on something specific.
141. Brainstorm birthday celebration ideas for your next birthday
Give some thought to how you want to celebrate your next birthday.
Read: 10 Ways to Celebrate a Birthday Well
142. Make a Christmas gift list
Start a list of people you want to give Christmas gifts to and add gift ideas whenever you think of them.
143. Make Christmas gifts
Get an early start and make some Christmas gifts over the summer. There are loads of tutorials for making homemade DIY gifts—spice mixes, cutting boards, candles, mugs.
144. Make Christmas cards
Along the same lines, make decorative Christmas cards now, ready to give to friends during the holiday season.
145. Make Christmas gift tags
One more Christmas preparation you can do over the summer is to make gift tags ready for all those Christmas packages. You make even want to make extra and try to sell them as the Christmas season approaches.
146. Brainstorm April Fools Day pranks and start a list of funny ideas now
Think way ahead and brainstorm funny April Fools Day pranks.
147. Start a list of prospective colleges and college majors
College bound teens can start a list of prospective colleges and college majors they may wish to consider.
148. Scholarship research and applications
Use some of your free time this summer to research scholarship opportunities and submit applications for any eligible scholarships.
149. Study for SAT/ACT tests
Repeated exposure is generally better than cramming all at once, so set aside small chunks of time on a regular basis over the summer to study for SAT or ACT tests.
150. Create a resumé
Spend a bit of time creating or updating your resumé.
Summer Fun Activities to Engage Teens
Whether your teen is into athletics, academics, art, or anything else, a little intention can go a long way to making summer fun and memorable.
Encourage your teen to look through this list or brainstorm their own ideas for ways to spend the hazy, lazy days of summer.
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