Summer always starts off dreamy in our heads, doesn’t it? Long days, sandy toes, everyone smiling in the sun like a smoothie commercial. And then three days in, someone’s crying over the wrong popsicle flavour, the lawn’s half dead, and your wallet’s like, “Absolutely not.”
But summer doesn’t have to be expensive to be brilliant. Honestly, the best bits are usually the messiest, weirdest, simplest ones. So if you’re juggling budgets, energy levels, and the chaos of keeping everyone semi-entertained until school returns — this list is for you.
Backyard Beach Day with a Kiddie Pool
Grab your old paddling pool, some towels, and a plastic tub of water beads or sponges. Pretend it’s a beach day — bonus points for sunglasses and beach snacks. Even if it’s just the driveway, this one’s a vibe.
Painted Rock Treasure Hunt
Collect stones from the park, paint them together (go wild — rainbows, monsters, anything), and hide them around your yard or neighbourhood. Instant treasure hunt with creative bragging rights.
Make Your Own Drive-In Movie Night
Pull the car up in the backyard or just lay out blankets and cushions. Project a film on the wall or use a laptop with speakers. Don’t forget the popcorn in paper bags — it makes it feel official.
Family Water Balloon Baseball
Water balloons as the ball, a plastic bat, and expect chaos. Set some towels nearby and let them go wild. This one’s always a crowd-pleaser and perfect for hot days when everyone’s grumpy.
Sidewalk Chalk Obstacle Course
Draw hopscotch, zigzags, balance beams, silly instructions like “spin 3 times,” and let the kids run it. Change it up every few days. It’s like a gym class and art session in one.
Create a Backyard Campground
Pitch a tent, make s’mores on a portable grill, and tell silly ghost stories. If you don’t have a tent, build a fort with old blankets and lawn chairs. Bonus: your own bathroom nearby.
No-Phone Nature Walk Bingo
Make bingo cards with things like “bird chirp,” “red flower,” “squirrel,” or “weird tree shape.” Everyone has to fill in as many boxes as they can on a local walk — phones stay in pockets.
DIY Mini Photo Shoot Day
Pick a theme (glam, silly hats, 80s, anything) and let the kids dress up, strike poses, and be the models. Use an old sheet for a backdrop or just the garden fence. Print out a few for the fridge.
Backyard Olympic Games
Water cup relays, three-legged races, egg-and-spoon, you name it. Let the kids make medals from cardboard and host a podium ceremony. We use old mixing bowls as trophies — 10/10 would recommend.
Cook Something Weird Together
Let the kids invent a recipe from what’s in the cupboard. (Within reason — maybe not tuna-and-peanut-butter pasta.) Let them name it and give it a menu description. It’s messy. It’s hilarious. It’s dinner, kind of.
Chalk Mural or Patio Graffiti Wall
Let them go wild decorating a section of the fence or patio with chalk. Give them a “theme of the day” like ocean vibes or space creatures. It washes off with a hose — or next rainstorm.
Library Reading Challenge (with Homemade Rewards)
Create a bingo card or reading list and let them tick off books. Every 3 or 5 books, they get a homemade coupon — stay up late pass, extra marshmallow, you name it. Easy and effective.
DIY Water Park in the Garden
Sprinkler? Check. Slip-n-slide made from an old tarp and some dish soap? Check. Buckets of water and plastic cups? Absolutely. It’s chaos, it’s fun, and they’ll be asleep by 7.
Neighbourhood Scavenger Hunt
Create a printable list (or just scribble on a notepad) of things to find around the block — red mailbox, dog behind a gate, yellow flowers. Give older kids cameras to snap pics instead.
Lemonade Stand or Toy Swap Stall
Set up a little stand with lemonade, old toys, books, or crafts. Let the kids “sell” or trade with friends and neighbours. Even if no one comes, they’ll spend hours planning it like it’s Coachella.
Craft Your Own Board Game
Cardboard, markers, bottle caps, and the rules are up to them. Let them build the dice, decorate the path, and make up punishments like “sing your favourite song” or “do 3 jumping jacks.”
Decorate the Fence or Sidewalk with Summer Wishes
Give the kids chalk or washable markers and let them write or draw what they want to do this summer. “Swim with dolphins” next to “eat 100 ice creams” — everything goes.
Make a Summer Memory Jar
Every week, write down one silly or lovely thing you did and pop it in a jar. At the end of summer, read them out loud. (Last year ours included “the time Dad slipped on a soggy water balloon” — 10/10 memory.)
Final thoughts
Summer doesn’t need to cost much. It just needs a little imagination, some good snacks, and time together — which is honestly the thing they’ll remember most. Whether you’re doing slip-n-slides in the yard or watching stars on a picnic blanket, every little laugh counts. Go make those memories, mess and all.