How to Make a Fun Summer Bucket List for Families

Growing up, summer was always my favorite season. I loved sleeping in, hanging out with friends, and enjoying long, lazy beach days.

It wasn’t until we became parents that summer felt more important—it was a chance to slow down and enjoy time together without all the usual routines. That’s when we started making a summer bucket list. We didn’t call it that back then, but that’s what it was!

Our kids attended a year-round school, so our official “summer break” was just five short weeks. But that didn’t stop us from making the most of every day. We filled those weeks with pool days, beach trips, campfires with s’mores, one big summer adventure, and plenty of daily fun.

We didn’t schedule every moment, but having a summer bucket list helped. It wasn’t a checklist or something else to “get done.” It was a loose plan—a way to be more intentional with our time, make room for play, and create memories.

Are you ready to make this summer feel special, simple, playful, and screen-free, without pressure or overthinking? This post will help you build a flexible bucket list that works for your family.

What Is a Summer Bucket List (and Why Make One)?

A summer bucket list includes ideas and activities you’d like to do together during the summer months—big or small, indoors or outdoors—anything that helps your family connect and enjoy the season.

The goal isn’t to cross off every item. It’s simply to have a go-to list of ideas when you’re wondering what to do on a Tuesday afternoon or want to make the most of a free weekend. 

Instead of scrambling for ideas at the last minute or relying on screens to fill the gaps, you’ve got a ready-to-go list of activities you’ll enjoy when needed.

Some families use their list to try new things. Others lean into summer traditions. Some use it to build in downtime and rest. However you use it, the goal isn’t to finish the list—it’s to enjoy what you do get to.

Think of it as a flexible plan for making summer feel more adventurous, without turning it into a big project.

When Should You Make Your Bucket List?

You can start anytime, but making your list two to three weeks before summer begins gives you a little head start. For families on nontraditional school schedules (like we were), you can create a shorter “mini list” just for your break.

That said, there’s no deadline. You can always add new ideas as the summer goes on. We kept ours on the fridge with a pen nearby, so it was easy to jot down ideas when we heard about something fun happening in the neighborhood. Think of it as something that grows with your summer.

One tradition that always made our list was the 4th of July celebration. Our community had a parade, boat races on the lake, a small-town carnival, and of course, fireworks. It was one of those annual events we always looked forward to and planned around.

What is one item that always makes your summer bucket list?

Make It Together (Even with Toddlers)

Your child might not know what a “bucket list” is, but they know what they like. Making the list together is a simple way to include their input and help them feel part of the process.

They probably won’t say, “Let’s visit a splash pad,” but they will say things like “I want to play with water” or “go somewhere fun.” Even asking, “What sounds fun this summer?” might lead to some sweet and funny responses.

Tips for including young kids:

Offer simple choices: “Would you rather play with bubbles or go to the park?” “Do you want to ride your scooter or have a picnic today?”

Use visuals: Let them point to pictures of splash pads, zoo animals, or ice cream cones.

Get them involved: Invite them to decorate the list with drawings or stickers so it feels like something they made with you, not just something they must follow.

Where to Find Inspiration and Fun Ideas

Sometimes the most challenging part is just getting started. If you’re staring at a blank page, here are a few places to find ideas:

• Think about last summer—what did your kids love? What do they still talk about?
• Use your child’s interest as a guide. Are they into water play, animals, digging, climbing, or pretending?
• Ask friends or other parents what they’re planning. You could even plan something together.
• Check your local library or community center for events. Think storytime, nature walks, or summer festivals.
• Browse Pinterest or parenting blogs (like ours), just don’t let it become overwhelming.

Remember, simple is best. Not every idea needs to be original or new.

How to Build a Balanced Bucket List

To keep it fun and doable, include a variety of ideas. Rather than filling a long list all at once, I prefer to take my time and organize my thoughts by category. It helps create variety and gives you options for all kinds of days.

Here’s a formula that works well for most families:

Big Adventures (Pick 1–2)

These are your “special” days that require more planning or driving.

• Day trip to the beach or lake.
• Go backyard camping with flashlights and s’mores.
• Have a backyard BBQ with friends and family.
• Host an outdoor movie night complete with fun snacks and treats.
• Ride on a train or ferry.
• Spend an entire day at the pool.
• Take a weekend trip to visit grandparents, family, or friends.
• Try a new splash pad or water park.
• Visit an amusement park or a small carnival.
• Visit the zoo or aquarium.
• Watch fireworks.

Tip: Keep your expectations realistic. One or two big adventures over the summer are plenty with little ones!

Everyday Fun

You can do these simple things with minimal prep on any given day.

• Blow bubbles and chase them.
• Create a sidewalk chalk art gallery or obstacle course.
• Enjoy a breakfast picnic in your pajamas.
• Freeze toys in ice and “excavate” them.
• Go out for ice cream.
• Have a water balloon toss.
• Make homemade popsicles.
• Play water balloon “basketball” using a laundry basket.
• Ride bikes or scooters on a new trail.
• Wash toys in a big bucket of soapy water.

Tip: Keep a small bin or basket of go-to summer supplies (bubbles, chalk, towels, etc.) for quick wins.

Indoor Ideas for Hot or Rainy Days

Great activities to have on hand when the weather doesn’t cooperate.

• Bake muffins, brownies, or cookies together (messy, but fun!)
• Build a blanket fort. Then crawl inside for snacks and stories by flashlight.
• Enjoy a dance party with your favorite songs in the kitchen.
• Engage in imaginative play with a pretend grocery store or restaurant. You could serve the cookies you baked.
•  Make a simple obstacle course with couch cushions and this Climber Pikler Triangle Set.
• Play flashlight hide and seek.
• Have a “color day” where you wear, eat, and play with one color.
• Make your own play-dough or moon sand.
• Create a sticker collage or a simple craft. The nature items collected above make a great starting point for a nature tray.

Tip: Keep a few surprise items tucked away (stickers, new books, frozen cookie dough) to pull out on long days.

For more indoor activities, go here!

Life Skills & Challenges

Toddlers and preschoolers love helping when it feels meaningful.

• Help them learn how to pour water from a pitcher.
• Learn to ride a bike.
• Let them help make lunch or plan a picnic.
• Let them order and pay (with help) at a snack stand or market.
• Practice putting on sunscreen or water shoes independently.
• Subscribe to Green Kid Crafts for hands-on, screen-free, STEM and STEAM learning.
• Teach them to match socks or sort laundry.
• Try something new together, like hiking a new trail or taking a bus ride.
• Enroll in #LifeSkillsNow virtual and FREE summer camp, June 9-13. They offer 100 life skills workshops led by experts from all over. The workshops are 5-30 minutes long, and then the kids receive a mission to complete off-screen.

Tip: Treat these like invitations, not lessons. The goal is participation, not perfection.

Nature & Outdoor Play

Nature activities are a great way to get outside, explore, and slow things down without a big plan.

• Collect sticks, rocks, or flowers to sort later on a nature walk.
• Feed the ducks.
• Float leaves or toys down a stream or in a kiddie pool.
• Fly a kite.
• Have a picnic in the backyard or at the park.
• Make a bird feeder
• Observe ants, bugs, or butterflies.
• Paint with mud or water on a fence or sidewalk.
• Pick berries or visit a farmer’s market.
• Try a “nature scavenger hunt.”
• Visit a nearby nature center or trail.
• Water play in a kiddie pool or tub. Be sure to include a variety of scooping and pouring items. For an extra special touch, add glow sticks or balls!
• Water the plants (or garden) with a watering can.

Tip: Let your child carry a small backpack, bag, or basket. They love gathering treasures.

Explore more outside activities here!

Seasonal or Ongoing Projects

These are things you can return to again and again. Set it up once for summer-long spur-of-the-moment fun.

• Create a summer memory scrapbook with drawings or photos.
• Pick a summer song or dance you do each week.
• Send one postcard weekly to a friend or family member.
• Start a garden or grow a single sunflower.
• Track how many parks you can visit over the summer.
• Weekly “library + lemonade” day.”

Tip: Put these ideas on the calendar if they’re essential to you—they’re easy to skip when summer gets busy.

Bonus Idea: Try A Themed Summer Bucket List

Here are a few simple ways to give your summer some personality. You might try:

Alphabet Adventures

If your kids love letters, this is a fun twist on the bucket list! Plan one activity for each letter of the alphabet.

There is no need to follow a specific order or finish by the end of summer. You could update it for each season.

Here are some examples:
A = Apple snack picnic
B = Bubbles and books
C = Chalk drawings
L = Library and lemonade
S = Splash pad

Some activities will be bigger, others smaller—both work!

Tip: Use the letters in your child’s name to make it even more personal!

Daily Themes

Choose one simple theme per day to give your week a little rhythm (without overplanning). 

Here’s an easy way to get started:

Make-It Mondays: Craft, cook, build, or create something simple together (blocks, art, or even a snack).

Tumble Tuesdays: Focus on movement: obstacle courses, dance parties, or gross motor play.

Water Wednesdays: Sprinklers, sponge toss, wash toys outside, or splash in a kiddie pool.

Try It Thursdays: Simple STEM activities, ice excavation, or nature walks with observation.

Friendship Fridays: Invite a friend, send a postcard, or do something kind for someone else.

Tip: Keep it loose—your daily theme isn’t a to-do list. Let it guide you, not pressure you—one small activity is enough.

Summer Movie List

Make movie nights a summer tradition! Whether a weekly treat or a backup for hot or stormy days, they’re an easy way to relax and connect.

Set the scene with a “movie night” basket—popcorn, blankets, and a snack the kids helped make.

Here’s a peek at a curated list of family-friendly favorites (with age suggestions from Common Sense Media). Organized by theme, with just five per category.

Download the FREE list of 50 Summer Movies for Families.

Hang it on the fridge, color in a popcorn when you watch a movie, and make easy summer memories together.

Best Disney & Pixar Movies

These are your go-to hits—full of heart, humor, and music kids love.

• Coco (7+) – A colorful story about family, music, and memory.
• Finding Nemo (5+) – A classic about courage and the love between parent and child.
• Inside Out (6+) – Emotions made kid-friendly with heart and humor.
• Moana (6+) – Brave girl, big ocean, and a catchy soundtrack.
• Toy Story (all of them) (5+) – Toys with heart and humor that grow up with you.

All Time Family Favorites

Classic stories that stand the test of time—great for family movie nights.

• How to Train Your Dragon (6+) – Dragons and friendships with some action and heart.
• Mary Poppins (1964) (5+) – Classic songs, magic, and cheerful imagination.
• My Neighbor Totoro (5+) – Slow, sweet, and perfect for a lazy afternoon.
• Paddington (All of them) (6+) – Kindness, marmalade, and charming mischief.
• The Lego Movie (6+) – Fast-paced, funny, and surprisingly clever.

Best Animal Movies For Kids

From farm friends to jungle adventures, these animal tales are big on fun.

• 101 Dalmatians (5+) – Puppies, adventure, and a classic villain.
• Babe (6+) – A little pig with big dreams.
• Charlotte’s Web (2006) (5+) – Farm friendships and gentle changes.
• March of the Penguins (6+) – A gentle, real-life documentary about penguins and their journey.
• The Lion King (1994) (6+) – Epic story, unforgettable songs, and lessons about growing up.

You don’t need a jam-packed schedule to make summer feel special. A few simple ideas, a little rhythm to your week, and a focus on connection can go a long way.

Start with what feels doable. Add to it when you’re ready. Keep it flexible, fun, and real—for you and your kids. You’ve got this!

Want more screen-free ideas that are easy, playful, and kid-approved?

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