Wondering how to entertain kids during summer holidays? You’re not alone. The school holidays are bursting with potential, but keeping little ones busy, active, and happy day after day (without breaking the bank) can be a real challenge.
Whether you're at home, out and about, or looking to make the most of your back garden, we’ve rounded up 36 fun, affordable and easy summer holiday activities for kids. From outdoor play with swings and slides to creative crafts and local adventures, there’s something for every kind of child, and plenty to get the whole family involved, too.
1. Garden water play
Nothing beats water on a hot day. A hose, a paddling pool, or even a few washing-up bowls can keep kids entertained for hours. Add plastic cups, colanders or old toys for bonus creativity. If you have space, a small splash mat or pool can make things even more exciting.
2. Nature scavenger hunt
Make a list of things to find (pinecones, daisies, a feather) and head to the local park or woods. This fun summer activity gets kids moving and helps them notice what’s around them in the great outdoors.
3. Build a garden den
Blankets over chairs, a few pegs, and a lot of imagination. Dens can become pirate ships, castles or secret reading spots, and they’re especially magical when built outside.
4. Climb, swing, slide
Slides, swings and climbing frames give structure to outdoor play, especially when kids have energy to burn. If you’ve got a garden setup, now’s the time to make the most of it. If not, your nearest local park might have just what you need.
5. Teddy bear picnic
Pack up a few sandwiches, round up their favourite soft toys, and spread out a picnic blanket in the garden or local green space. Let the kids help with food prep to get them more invested.
6. Summer Olympics at home
Turn your back garden into a mini sports arena. Think sack races, spoon relays, or trampoline bounce-offs. Simple challenges = loads of family fun. Get the kids involved with making their own medals, too!
7. Ride-on adventures
Younger kids love ride on toys, and the garden is the perfect space for laps, deliveries, or pretend postal routes. It’s great for motor skills, too.
8. Visit your local library
Libraries are a great resource during the school holidays, offering free story time, summer reading challenges, and even craft sessions. They're a haven for rainy days.
9. Host a garden disco
A Bluetooth speaker, a bit of dressing up, and some dodgy dance moves. Sorted. Add bubbles or glow sticks for extra excitement. Older kids love making up routines while little ones go wild.
10. Try a DIY splash park
Buckets, a hose and a few towels can work wonders. If you’ve got a slide in the garden, a little water at the top turns it into a summer thrill ride (just keep safety in mind!).
11. Get creative with a cereal box
You don’t need expensive kits to craft! An old cereal box, scissors, and pens are all you need to build a robot, castle or race track. Get the kids to present their inventions afterwards.
12. Explore a new local park
Even if you’ve been to your usual park a million times, exploring a new one nearby can reignite excitement. Look for one with a splash park, wildflowers or a climbing wall.
13. Build a time capsule
Help your kids collect drawings, small objects or letters and bury them in a weatherproof container, or hide them indoors for a future rainy-day surprise.
14. Set up a mini car wash
Ride-ons, bikes or scooters can all go through the wash. Fill up a bowl, grab a sponge and let the kids do the scrubbing. Somehow, this job never feels like a chore.
15. Cook something together
Make ice lollies, no-bake snacks or simple bakes. Encourage kids to choose a recipe and lead the process (with help where needed!). A great way to try new foods, too.
16. Go wildlife spotting
Take a walk and see how many birds, insects or flowers you can find. Bring a notebook or make your own field guide. The local wildlife is more exciting when they’re looking out for it.
17. Set up a sand play zone
If you’ve got a sandpit, it’s a brilliant open-ended play space. Add spoons, cups, diggers or shells and watch them stay busy for ages.
18. Try a nature art session
Collect leaves, twigs or petals and make prints or collages. Natural materials make great brushes and stencils.
19. Play tourist in your local area
Visit a local museum, gallery or historical spot. Many have free entry and special events in the summer, especially for families with younger children.
20. Bike or scoot to lunch
Turn a family bike ride into an adventure by packing a picnic or scooting to the bakery to choose lunch. Little changes = big excitement.
21. Turn the trampoline into a reading nook
Throw in some cushions, a blanket and a few books, and your trampoline becomes a bouncy chill-out zone. It’s great for quiet time in the shade.
22. Create a fairy garden
Repurpose old flowerpots or the corner of a flower bed for tiny homes, pebbled paths and leaf roofs. It’s a brilliant mix of gardening and imaginative play.
23. Go geocaching
A modern treasure hunt using GPS. Many local routes are simple and child-friendly, often leading to places you didn’t know existed.
24. Invent your own game
Let the kids come up with a new garden game. It might involve a slide, a ball, and three cushions, but if they made it, they’ll love it.
25. Chalk up the pavement
Chalk is a cheap and cheerful fun activity. From hopscotch to rainbow murals, it’ll keep them happy (and washes away with the next rain).
26. Play 'restaurant'
Let the kids design a menu, lay the table and serve up lunch. You might not get Michelin-starred meals, but you will get laughs.
27. Go on a colour hunt
Pick a colour and head outside. See how many things the kids can spot in that shade. Great for younger children just learning their colours.
28. Make your own obstacle course
Combine what you’ve got (ride-on toys, slides, beanbags, cardboard boxes) and let the kids race, climb, and crawl their way through.
29. Try a new park-based sport
Frisbee, rounders, and boules are easy to set up and get the whole family moving together. Look out for free events or pop-up sports sessions nearby too.
30. Have a themed dress-up day
Pick a theme (pirates, explorers, superheroes), get dressed up, and let the kids choose what activities go with it. It’s a brilliant way to fire up their imaginations.
31. Sign up for free coaching sessions
Many parks and local leisure centres offer free coaching sessions from football drills to tennis practice during the summer holidays. It’s a fun way for kids to learn a new skill, meet new friends and burn off energy.
32. Try at-home science experiments
You don’t need a lab to explore the wonders of science; you just need curiosity and a few basic supplies. Try fizzing baking soda volcanoes, melting ice cube races, or colour-mixing with food dye and water.
Better still, set up your experiments in a mud kitchen or on a potting table in the garden. These hands-on spaces are perfect for messy mixing, pouring, and observing, giving kids a dedicated zone for discovery that feels like real science work. It’s a brilliant way to spark curiosity and keep the chaos out of the kitchen!
33. Visit your local leisure centre
If the weather turns, a trip to the local leisure centre is often a safe bet. Look out for fun things like soft play, indoor swimming, or inflatable obstacle courses, many of which are discounted during the school holidays.
34. Visit a car boot sale
Car boot sales are a fun way to spend a morning and teach kids about value, budgeting and making choices. Whether you’re going to pick up a few pre-loved toys or helping your child sell some of their own outgrown bits, it’s a low-cost outing with a little bit of everything.
Let the kids choose a small budget to spend or help set up a stall. Either way, there’s plenty to learn and so much fun to be had.
35. Explore your local community centre
Check what’s happening at nearby community centres, from messy play to dance workshops. There are often free events and family-friendly sessions you won’t want to miss.
36. Create a ‘fun things’ jar
Sit down as a family and brainstorm all the fun things you want to try over the summer, from park picnics to puddle jumping. Pop each idea into a jar and let the kids choose one every few days to keep things spontaneous.
Looking for more inspiration?
When energy runs high (and patience runs low), even small changes to your daily routine can make a big difference. The right summer holiday activities for kids aren’t always big-ticket days out; they’re the moments in between that make kids feel free, curious, and creative.
For more ideas, Outdoor Toys has a range of slides, trampolines, ride on cars, and garden toys built to last, whatever the school holidays throw your way.