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12 Educational Activities for a Summer That Kids Will Love

School’s out for summer! And so are your kid’s brains. Help your kids keep learning over summer break with these twelve educational activities.

When summer rolls in, does your kid’s brain roll out?

This is called the summer slide. The longer your kids are away from school, the more knowledge they lose, especially in reading and math. If they lose a little every year, this can have a damaging snowball effect on their education.

So, when your kids would rather be playing in the sun, how do you keep them on an uphill roll academically? And if they need a little help to catch up with the rest of their class, how do you give them a leg up before the next school year?

The answer is simple: Fun learning! (It sounds like an oxymoron, but we promise it’s not.)

From exciting educational activities and online resources to hands-on projects and book recs, we’ll give you everything you need to nurture your kids’ minds and foster a love for learning throughout the summer break. So, let’s dive in and discover the wonderful ways you can keep your child’s education thriving during the sunny season!

1. Enroll Them in Summer Camps or Programs

Look for local summer camps or programs that focus on academic subjects like science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM). These programs often incorporate fun and interactive activities to engage children in learning.

Summer camps and programs aren’t for everyone, so work with your kid to find the right fit. And make sure it’s in a subject your kid actually wants to learn!

2. Set Aside Regular Reading Time

Encourage your child to read regularly during the summer. Create a reading list together, visit the library, or provide them with age-appropriate books that align with their interests. It can be fiction, nonfiction, or anything in between—just get them reading! This works even better if you set aside a specific time each day for dedicated reading.

Check out our huge collection of books to make this summer fun and educational! The Day Punctuation Came to Town and Marvin’s Monster Diary are some of our favorite summer books, but we have even more that are both fun and educational.

For some help getting your summer reading started, read our article “8 Steps to Setting Summer Reading Goals for Kids (and Yourself).”

3. Explore Online Learning Platforms

There are numerous online platforms that offer educational content and interactive courses for children of all ages. Websites like Khan Academy, Class Central, and PBS Kids offer a wide range of educational resources and activities that can keep children engaged and learning.

4. Engage in Educational Games and Apps

There are many educational games and apps available that can make learning enjoyable. Look for apps that focus on subjects like math, language arts, science, and logic puzzles. These games can provide a fun way for kids to reinforce their academic skills.

5. Create Learning Projects or Challenges

Encourage your child to embark on independent learning projects or challenges. For example, they can research a topic of interest, create a science experiment, start a journal, or learn a new skill like typing, coding, cooking, drawing, or playing a musical instrument. These projects will keep them engaged and motivated to learn.

6. Incorporate Educational Activities into Daily Life

Learning doesn’t have to be limited to formal settings. Take advantage of everyday activities to reinforce academic skills. For example, involve your child in cooking or baking to teach them about measurements and fractions, or encourage them to calculate expenses while grocery shopping.

7. Visit Museums, Zoos, and Historical Sites

Plan educational outings to museums, zoos, aquariums, and historical sites. These trips offer valuable learning experiences and can spark your child’s curiosity about various subjects. Many institutions also provide interactive exhibits and educational programs specifically designed for children.

Or if you want to make the trip more personal, you can find or create a fun educational scavenger hunt for your kids to complete while visiting.

8. Encourage Writing Activities

Set aside time for your child to engage in writing activities. They can maintain a journal, write stories or poems, or even start a blog. You can even give your family a daily writing prompt and join in the fun. Writing helps develop language skills, creativity, and critical thinking abilities, so it’s important to encourage your kids to write as much as possible. They’ll be doing it for the rest of their lives!

9. Support Hands-On Science Experiments

Conduct simple science experiments at home using household items. There are numerous online resources and books available with age-appropriate experiments that can engage children in hands-on learning. Encourage them to record their observations and draw conclusions from their experiments. Who knows? Your kid might be the next Einstein!

To get started, check out our book Extreme Garage Science for Kids.

10. Utilize Educational TV Shows and Documentaries

While screen time should be balanced, there are educational TV shows and documentaries that can supplement learning. Look for programs that explore science, history, geography, or other educational topics. Discuss the content together to enhance comprehension and encourage critical thinking.

11. Organize a Book Club or Study Group

Create a book club or study group with your child’s friends or classmates. Choose a book or academic topic to discuss together and schedule regular meetings. This collaborative approach fosters a sense of community and provides an opportunity for peer learning and discussion.

12. Keep It Fun!

The key is to make learning enjoyable and relevant to your kids while providing opportunities for growth and exploration. With that in mind, remember to adapt these suggestions based on your child’s age, interests, and academic needs.

And summer is supposed to be fun! So remember to balance academics with rest and relaxation during the summer break. It’s important for children to have downtime and engage in recreational activities because they’re not only growing academically but socially and emotionally as well.

Books So Fun Your Kids Won’t Even Know They’re Learning

^{Shaelyn Topolovec earned a BA in editing and publishing from BYU, worked on several online publications, and joined the Familius family. Shae is currently an editor and copywriter who lives in California’s Central Valley.}