When the summer sun gets too intense, it's time to bring the fun indoors! The good news is there are many indoor summer activities that can keep kids busy when stuck inside and entertained during rainy days or when it gets too hot outside to play or dip in the cool water of a swimming pool.
#1: Dance the Day Away
Play summer-themed songs to keep kids entertained and stay in the seasonal mood. SplashLearn.com offers plenty of fun music suggestions for a dance party: “Surfin' USA” by The Beach Boys, “Green Grass of Summer” by Dogs on Fleas, and “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride” from Lilo & Stitch. Besides being a blast, dancing provides physical, mental, and emotional benefits to people of all ages. (Parents, too!)
#2: Conduct Intriguing Science Experiments
Showing younger kids that science can be fun is a terrific way to segue them into STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) learning. You could, for example, make planets out of slime! Not only would this give you an opportunity to discuss how basic ingredients can make some really gooey slime, but it could be a great intro to astronomy.
#3: Read!
This is an excellent and fun activity for a rainy summer day, all by itself or partnered with another of your indoor summer activities for kids. If, for example, you wanted to read a book about astronomy before making planets out of slime, there are plenty of wonderful choices. Or, you could read the book and then have a movie day, talking afterward about the differences between the story and the video version. Plus, your local library typically has plenty of indoor programs all year long to keep kids occupied.
#4: Camp Out—Without Going Out!
If it's not ideal to camp in your backyard or on a campground, you can camp indoors, making a “tent” with couch cushions and blankets. Create a “campfire” out of a dinner plate, sticks, and paper/tissue paper. Here's a new recipe for microwave s'mores!
Bring the outdoors in with other activities, such as an indoor obstacle course, indoor gardening, makeshift mini golf to work on your putting, or create your own Olympic games! Your children might even forget the weather outside as they spend time with their favorite people.
#5: Create an Indoor Scavenger Hunt
You can use this printable to devise a scavenger hunt that's fun for young and older kids alike. Besides being a great indoor summer activity, scavenger hunts come with plenty of benefits. According to Scholastic.com, this game increases a child's observation skills as they learn in a relaxed way. Through this boosted ability, children can become more aware of their overall surroundings, work on fine motor skills and critical thinking skills and make more independent observations.
#6: Solve the Puzzle
The jigsaw puzzle, that is. MoneywiseMoms.com suggests choosing jigsaw puzzles with enough pieces to create a challenge—but not so many that it's too hard for your children's developmental stages. Depending upon their ages, children might also enjoy board games, card games, crossword puzzles and word search games, all of which are great for language skills.
#7: Construct a Building
Whether it's with Lego or other types of blocks, or using household items like paper towel rolls, pipe cleaners, or couch cushions, blankets, and pillows, a rainy day is perfect for your child to accept a fun building challenge. Don't want to use blocks? Try some old-fashioned colored paper, popsicle sticks, yarn, a cardboard box, and glue.
Indoor & Outdoor Fun Await at Horizon Summer Camp!
There are lots of ways to meet the rainy day challenge and keep kids entertained with fun indoor activities at home during those hot summer days. But fun activity doesn't just have to be at home!
When you choose Horizon Education Centers for your children's summer camp experience, they can enjoy both outdoor and indoor summer activities for kids. Designed for kids ages from kindergarten through age 12, we create weekly themes, feature a major field trip each week, and offer project-based learning opportunities and activities. It's a fun way to keep kids active and busy during summer with activities kids love.
Visit a center near you and register today!
