Free Summer Bucket List Printable for Kids

Every year, we kick off the break with our summer bucket list printable, a one-page checklist that’s become our go-to for sparking ideas when the “what should we do today?” question hits.

It’s packed with a mix of fun, learning, and a little adventure, everything from trying weird foods and geocaching to learning stop motion or brushing up on state capitals.

I created this free summer printable to be simple, visual, and motivating—something your kids can stick on the fridge and actually get excited about checking off.

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How to Use This Summer Bucket List Printable

This one-page summer bucket list is simple to use and makes planning easy. Print it on cardstock and hang it somewhere central—we keep ours on the fridge.

Go through the list with your kids and pick a few things to start with. As you check off activities, encourage your kids to snap photos or write quick notes to remember the moments.

It’s not about doing everything—it’s about creating fun, low-pressure ways to make memories together.

Summer Bucket List Ideas for Kids

These activities are perfect for downtime at home, rainy days, or when your kids need a quick boredom-buster. Most of these we’ve done ourselves, so you’ll find a mix of classics and some fun twists.

• Bake a cake. We love the Complete Cookbook for Young Chefs for kid-friendly recipes.
• Make a scrapbook. Use summer photos, ticket stubs, or drawings to create a memory book at the end of the season.
• Do a jigsaw puzzle.
• Go to the trampoline park.
• Try indoor skydiving.
• Change hair color, my son likes to go blue over the summer months!
• 24-HOUR TV BAN! It’s a fun challenge and a reset button for screen time.
• Make ice cream, we used this machine last year, and it is awesome.
• Go to a museum, bring our museum scavenger hunt printable to make it interactive.
• Escape room. You can make a free escape room at home or go to one locally.
• Random act of kindness.
• Redecorate their bedroom.
• Tie-dye a shirt.
• Learn a new card game.
• Taste test with either their favorite food or drink.
• Go bowling.
• Try weird food like astronaut ice cream!
• Go to the mall.
• Watch a new cartoon.
• Read a book series, check out our favorite summer books for inspiration.

Outdoor Summer Activities

When the weather’s good, these activities help kids burn energy, explore nature, and enjoy some sunshine—no screens required.

• Try geocaching – It’s like a real-life treasure hunt using GPS!
• Go swimming.
• Go on a bike ride.
• Fly a kite.
• Go to a farmer’s market.
• Go to the movie theater.
• Start a business. A lemonade stand is a classic, but they could also offer dog walking or car washing.
• Volunteer/ Chores – Age-dependent, but our printable chore cards help get them involved.
• Go camping in the backyard. Bring s’mores and printable camping games.
• Try kayaking.
• Try rollerskating.
• Go to a skateboard park.
• Make a fairy garden.
• Go to a water park.
• Go to an amusement park.
• Have a BBQ party.
• Go for a run.
• Try mini golf.
• Go fishing.
• Rock painting and hiding. Paint a batch and hide them around your neighborhood or a local trail.

Learn a New Skill This Summer

These ideas keep brains active without making it feel like school. Some are quick wins, others can turn into long-term hobbies. Perfect for curious kids who like to try something new.

• Learn a foreign language.
• Learn how to cook.
• Try coding, these coding websites for kids make it really accessible.
• Learn how to do the laundry.
• Create stop motion animation, my son loved this stop motion lesson last summer.
• Learn sign language.
• Fold paper airplanes.
• Learn a magic trick – This online magic class is surprisingly fun.
• Learn how to juggle.
• Pick up a new musical instrument.
• Learn how to use chopsticks.
• Learn all 50 states, check out fun ways to learn the 50 States with some fun ideas.
• Learn how to read a map.
• Explore constellations.
• Study an animal life cycle – Use our free life cycle worksheets to guide their learning.
• Have a fun summer learning all about the National Parks. Trekking the National Parks board game is one of our favorites.
• Learn a new experiment. Why not treat them to a free Generation Genius science kit and just pay for the postage (for a limited time only).
• Learn how to make playdough.
• Learn how to press flowers.
• Learn how to write a check.

Get the Free Summer Bucket List Printable Here!

Ready to grab your free printable? Just pop your name and email into the form below, and it’s all yours!

If you don’t see the form below, click here to get the free summer bucket list.

Last Updated on 17 May 2025 by Clare Brown