SUMMERTIME FUN IDEAS
Bike Scavenger Hunt
Prepare a question sheet ahead of time, with scavenger hunt locations and questions, such as: How many links are in the swing chain at Fremont Elementary School? How many owls are on display in the front window of the gift shop? What two credit cards are displayed on the window of Smith Construction Company? Ride together to the places listed, record answers and then return to place of origin.
Crazy Olympics
Work together in setting up various events such as: Discuss throw using paper plates; javelin throw using straws; shot-put using marshmallows; diving with each person tossing jelly beans into a container of water; one-yard dash by pushing Trix cereal across floor with nose; and standing high jump using a donut suspended from ceiling about four inches above mouth – one bite wins.
Cupcake Decorating Contest
Make cupcakes and divide them among the children. Provide creative supplies such as icing, sprinkles, M & M’s, raisins, and nuts. Each child decorates cupcakes. Judge and award everyone a prize. Pour glasses of milk and eat the cupcakes!
Frisbee Golf
Frisbee Golf is played like miniature golf except Frisbees are used instead of balls and clubs. Find an area with several trees. Attach a large number to each tree. Each child tosses a Frisbee to the first number, keeping track of how many tries it takes. Continue through the course until the last number is reached.
Gigantic Scavenger Hunt
Each child takes a large trash sack to a heavily littered area and hunts for trash. Encourage your children to continue being “Trash Detectives” to help care for God’s beautiful world.
H. O. P. Day
“H. O. P.” stands for “Help Other People.” Make a list of things the children can do for neighbors or friends. This might include mowing lawns, washing cars, washing windows, or writing a letter for an elderly person.
It’s a Secret!
Select a place your children will enjoy visiting such as the zoo, a museum or a restaurant. For added fun, let each child guess the secret destination.
Paper Airplane Mania
Create airplanes from leftover school notebook paper or scrap paper of some kind. Hold a contest to see who wins the highest in flight and farthest in flight.
Peanut Hunt
Buy peanuts to hide in someone’s yard. Give each child a paper sack. At a signal, start to hunt for the peanuts, dropping them into the sack as found. See who gets the most, then enjoy eating the peanuts!
Pizza Party
Make a list of all ingredients needed to make pizza. Go shopping together and then work together creating the pizza. Enjoy!
Progressive Dinner
Decide on several fast-food restaurants. Eat French fries at one, hamburgers at another, drinks somewhere else and top it all off with a desert!
Reading Safari
“The foremost nurturing you can give a child, next to hugging, is reading aloud,” says Jim Trelease. Have each child bring a blanket, or pitch a make-shift tent, and have a reading safari.
Safari Search
Walk through a neighborhood and search for colors, sounds and textures. Make a list, such as: A red rose, dog barking and rough stick. What a great opportunity to talk about God’s beautiful world!
Spaghetti Dinner
Work together to prepare a “bit of Italy” spaghetti dinner. Decorate to make it look like an Italian restaurant. Enjoy!
Super Scavenger Hunt
Work together making a list of items for a scavenger hunt. Be specific with size, color, kind and how many. This list could include items both inside and outside.
Whacky Volleyball
If you do not have a volleyball net, tie a rope between two trees. Use a large beach ball and play using regular volleyball rules.