Get Ready for the Break with a Summer Activity Box

I’ll admit this one isn’t all that crafty, but my daughter has exactly two more days of school before summer break. And while I’m super excited about all the time we’re going to get to spend together over the summer — at least six of the next 12 weeks — I also have to get some work done during that time, and I want to have some fun activities at the ready both that we can do together and that she can do alone when I need a little time or the “I’m bored” monster strikes.

So I made a quick summer activity box out of some things I already had collected in the house and a bunch of stuff I bought at Target. Some of these things you can also find at the dollar store or you could gather toys and books that aren’t getting much use that you’d like to see used through the summer.

What’s in My Summer Activity Box

Here are some of the things that made it into my summer activity box:

• a new pail and shovel for the sandbox
• a watering can (because she uses my watering can to add water to the sandbox and it always comes back full of sand)
• tiny adorable pinwheels
• a giant bubble wand (so we can make giant bubble solution)
• a paddle ball catch game for some physical activity
• glow stick bracelets
• a coloring book she’s had her eye on
• a click pen with eight colors (because we have enough crayons and things but who can resist a good click pen?)
• glittery temporary tattoos
• sidewalk chalk paint crayons
• a box of her favorite candy
• a few books (not pictured, I got a box set of the first four Magic Treehouse books) and a homemade bookmark

I put it all in a plastic tub we can use for sensory activities, washing play dishes or doll clothes in the yard, etc.

More Ideas for Your Summer Activity Box

Of course your activity box should include things your kids would enjoy using. Some more easy ideas include:

• stickers
• small toys
• sand or water toys
• little cars
• playdough and tools
• basic art supplies
• supplies for a special craft or activity you want to do together
• squirt guns or water cannons (which reminds me, we have some of those I need to add!)
• water balloons
• silly string
• tools for playing with sidewalk chalk, such as stencils or a chalk holder

You can also include a list of possible activities kids can do with or without you that can use in those “I’m bored” moments — just make sure if they involve you (or leaving the house) that they’re really things you’re willing to do at the drop of a hat, like going to the park or the library or getting snow cones. Making a summer activity ideas list is on my list for this week, so I’ll let you know when I do!

Do you have any great go-to activities for the kids for summer? I’d love to hear about them!