20 Tech-Free Summer Activities (For Kids Ages 5 -10)

I do love the idea of free range parenting whereby the main theme is: find your own fun! And a lot of the time, my two younger kids (ages 7 and 9), manage to create their own entertainment. They are great little buddies who play and play until … they need a break from one another.

This past week they’ve been pretending to be mermaids and when they aren’t doing that, they can be found in my 9-year-old’s closet (aka her “club”).  I don’t even know what they get up to in there but minutes turn to hours and lots of laughter can be heard.

I find once the novelty of the summer break wears off (which should be anytime soon), motivation and creativity wanes and laziness kicks in.  Honestly, I’m all for lounging and chilling. Especially when the temperatures are hot or when the days are rainy, like they have been lately. But too often, the kids end up spending excessive amounts of time on their tablets.

So, this summer I’ve decided to be proactive! Not sure what’s gotten into me as this is quite out of character for my laid back self. BUT when the kids start asking me what they can do, I’ll be ready with this list of 20 ideas. I have a copy up on the fridge and when they start to tell me they’re bored, I’ll simply point and say: “Pick something from this list and make it happen.’ Maybe you can do the same at your house?

20 Tech-Free Summer Activities:

1. Play “Go Build a Fort.” Grab your siblings or your buddies. Get blankets or towels, cushions or trees and get the fort party started!
2. Play UNO, a fun and easy game to play while lounging under a shady tree or on a rainy day inside.
3. Grab a book and chill. (Get a little basket or box and fill it with books).
4. Play Spa. Moms can enjoy this one! You can be the spa-goer. The kids can be the staff, who specialize in hand and foot massages (simply provide a towel and lotion).
5. Encourage the kids to play: Make Your Own Sandwich. (Build their independence and give yourself a break).
   
6. Make bracelets (Beads and pipe cleaners work well for the younger ones).
7. Get them to build the coolest/tallest/most unique tower with Lego or blocks.
8. Play Tic Tac Toe outside using chalk for the board and rocks/shells/leaves/flowers etc.
9. Ask the kids to tell a story. Each child takes turns adding details.
10. Play: Keep the Balloon Up!
11. Play some Improv Games.
12. Play ‘hide and go seek’ (one person hides and everyone looks for him or her).  Moms can hide with their treat stash and consider it sacred “alone time.”
    
13. Engage in a game of: Who can lay silently, without moving, for the longest?
14. Do a performance. Ask the kids to create, rehearse, and perform their own show.
15. Make ice cream sundaes.
16. Play with water balloons.
17. Play tag.
18. Play Hopscotch.
19. Do some driveway art with chalk.
20. Have water gun cup races.

Here is a list of the supplies you’ll need: UNO cards, books, beads and pipe cleaners (for simple bracelets), blocks or Lego, lotion, a towel, balloons, chalk, string, plastic cups, water guns, sandwich making supplies, ice cream sundae making supplies.

Enjoy the summer, who knows maybe it will even be the “best summer ever!”

What are some of your go-to activities for the kids to do during summer break? Share them in the comments below.