With school assignments in the rearview mirror and warm weather on the horizon, summer is a great time for families to take vacations, spend quality time together and participate in activities they may not have time for the rest of the year.

Balancing outdoor play, structured and unstructured play, planned activities and downtime can be a challenge for parents. Summer activities and summer camps are great options for kids of all ages to provide routine and an opportunity to stay active, socialize and learn.

Why summer activities for kids are important

You might have heard about the “summer slide,” where kids lose knowledge and skills during their time off from school. While it’s important for kids to have unstructured time to relax, summer activities also help prevent that decline. Whether inside, outside or as part of a community program, activities and camps support physical and mental health, brain development and learning, and encourage independence and resilience.

Fun ideas and outdoor adventures kids love

Getting outside is one of the biggest perks of the summer break, and it’s common for kids to participate in sports or training camps during the break from school. If your child is participating in these types of activities, it’s important to recognize the signs that your child may need a break and have dedicated time to just be a kid. Children’s Hospital Colorado pediatrician Asia Susko, MD, notes that checking in with kids is important in understanding when they need a break from back-to-back sports and to prevent overuse injuries.

“I always tell families to have ongoing conversations,” Dr. Susko says. “Kids may feel like parents have high expectations that they have to meet, so it’s important to check in to see if they’re doing OK with what they’re involved in. If not, maybe it's time for a break or to take a season off.”

While sports are one way to keep moving, staying active doesn’t need to be planned or expensive. A summer bucket list can get kids outside while avoiding the dreaded screentime hole.

Try these engaging summer activities as a family:

• Hiking or nature walks
• Biking and neighborhood rides
• Water play such as pools, splash pads or water parks
• Gardening
• Playing at local parks
• Sidewalk chalk art
• Scavenger hunts or treasure hunts
• Lemonade stand

Indoor activities for more summer fun

Sometimes the weather doesn’t cooperate with outdoor plans or there aren’t any planned activities on the calendar and parents panic to keep kids entertained. But realistically, giving kids the opportunity to “be bored” and use their imagination through play is an important part of growth.

“There's some pressure on parents to keep kids busy and entertained throughout the summer,” says Jerrica Kunau, LPC, senior behavioral health clinician at Children’s Colorado. “But being bored fosters creativity and independence. Limiting screens and then having them find ways to spend their time, maybe with art supplies, is a great way to encourage unstructured time where they're not relying on parents to entertain them.”

Kunau says craft supplies and creative projects are perfect for slow days at home. That can also include STEM activities or science projects that are age-appropriate for what your child is learning in school. Often, schools or local libraries also have reading lists or challenges available to keep kids academically ready throughout the summer.

If a day or even a week has fewer planned activities, giving kids something to look forward to, like a game night, watch movies as a family or cooking a new recipe together can motivate them to find their own ways to play throughout the day without adding extra mental load for parents. Plus, time spent together creates lasting memories.

Community activities for kids and local programs

Many community centers, museums, libraries and parks have low-cost or free kids summer activities. This can include summer reading programs, art or music classes, theater or drama workshops, STEM, coding or engineering challenges and even special events like outdoor movies. Much like a summer camp, these classes can span weeks at a time and give kids the space to get out of the house, encourage learning something new and explore.

“It doesn’t have to be really high-commitment, high-stakes activities,” Kunau says. “Go to your local music in the park or to the farmer’s market as a family in the morning.”

Check out your neighborhood, city or county resources for local family-friendly opportunities.

What is the difference between day camp and sleepaway camp?

Parents often look into summer camps well before the season begins, including weeklong sleepaway camps and day-only camps. When deciding what type of camp is the best fit for your child, it’s helpful to consider their age, interests, medical or developmental needs, and mental health.

Day camps often last one to two weeks and allow kids to learn, play and make friends with the added flexibility of going home at the end of the day. In general, day camps are usually better suited for younger kids (7 years and under) or children with needs that require assistance. Camps like these can be very fulfilling and may create less anxiety for some kids than sleepaway camps.

While your child may be nervous, sleepaway camps are a great time to gain independence, build social confidence and resilience. There are many types out there, but most sleepaway camps require kids to sleep in shared cabins or tents with other children and have group activities, meals and other programs available in a structured environment away from home.

Is your child ready for summer sleepaway camp?

There isn’t a checklist to tell if your child is ready for sleepaway camp. Most kids will feel nervous or scared to be away from home for an extended period of time, and that’s completely normal.

“Kids, especially in overnight camp, might not always appear that ready. So instead, we want to recognize if we might be pushing them a little too quickly,” Kunau says.

As a first step, Kunau suggests testing readiness to be separated from caregivers by allowing kids to stay the night with family members. Start by setting expectations and boundaries for their stay, and if they’re anxious, gauge if the anxiety is affecting their ability to participate, whether they’re isolating themselves or simply having moments of nervousness they’re able to work through. It’s important for kids to learn to regulate their emotions, check-in with their emotional health and build coping skills before attending sleepaway camps.

“If we're already seeing an anxious pattern, like a kid that might be refusing school, I would never just throw them into a sleepaway camp,” Kunau notes. “We want to make sure that they have some of those skills and those abilities to build that confidence before we throw them into something overnight.”

Modeling positivity about new experiences is also valuable. If a child can see that you’re unsure or not confident in their ability to do well at camp, they may feel more afraid or have a harder time going.

“We want parents to be excited and let kids know that they’re ready and that they can handle this experience, while not totally dismissing that anxiety is real. Try modeling confidence and acceptance that shows you can feel scared and nervous, but it will still be a cool and fun experience,” Kunau explains.

If your child can spend time away from family without distress and has coping strategies to help address big feelings, they might be ready for sleepaway camp.

Managing homesickness at sleepaway camp

Homesickness is a normal feeling for kids when they’re away from their families. Camp counselors and staff are trained to help, but parents and caregivers should also encourage kids to work through those feelings before jumping on a phone to call home. A perfect way to help kids through homesickness is to write an encouraging letter for your child to take with them and read when they’re feeling sad, or walk them through coping strategies, such as breathing exercises or squeezing a familiar stuffed animal. Explain that it’s normal to miss your family, and they will miss you too, but it’s still important to participate and have fun.

Summer safety tips

Ensure summer activities are fun and stress-free by focusing on safety basics. Before heading out to enjoy the weather, keep these top tips in mind:

• For fun in the sun, don’t forget to stay hydrated, protect skin with sunscreen and take breaks from the heat.
• When swimming or around water, keep a close eye on children and ensure pool gates are closed and locked when not in use.
• Encourage proper safety gear. Have kids wear helmets, elbow pads and knee pads when biking, skateboarding or scootering.

Summer internet safety

With more free time in the summer, screen use often increases, placing kids in a vulnerable position on the internet. Protect your child by having open conversations about sharing their personal information, recognizing inappropriate content and following rules around what applications, websites and games are allowed. Keeping devices in shared spaces and using privacy settings can help kids build smart, safe online habits while still enjoying their downtime.

Structured vs. unstructured time during the summer

Summer works best for both caregivers and kids when there’s a balance of structured and unstructured time. Planned activities, such as camps, sports or family outings give children routine, build skills, and keep them engaged and learning. While unstructured time or quiet time, including free play or small amounts of screentime, sparks creativity or ensures they get much-needed rest. Mixing in true downtime helps prevent burnout and shows kids that summer is as much a time for fun as for relaxation. Together, this blend of play, exploration and rest supports both physical and mental health and keeps kids curious all summer long.