More Than 50 Fun, Free, and Kid-Approved Inside Summer Activities
Add these fun, free, and kid-approved inside summer activities to beat the hot summer sun. From easy kitchen science to cool spots around town, be sure to have this list handy for the hottest days of the year!
Use these inside crafts, activities, and games to entertain, educate, and occupy (for real) the little ones any time of the year.
What You'll Find On This Page
Inside Summer Activities to Beat the Heat
Here at Ruffles and Rain Boots, we’ve moved to Texas and oh.my.word! this summer sun isn’t a joke. With young nieces now running about, as well, we’re creating this list as a go-to list of inside activities to do with the kids.
You’ll find all ages are represented in this list (even older tweens and teens), so browse through and let me know your favorite in the comments. Have some to add? Let me know.
Inside play places are a dime a dozen around here, but the costs can add up very quickly with admission and snacks.
Kids Activities Ideas for Around the House (Easy Access / Set Up)
- Build a pillow fort in the living room (or you could also make a cardboard box fort if you have a billion Amazon boxes lying around).
- Have masking tape? Make a hop scotch on the carpet or living room rug. It’s easy and even the numbers can be pieced together with tape.
- Make paper puppets and put on a show. All ages LOVE this fun beat-the-heat summer idea.
- If you have LEGO fans, use re-positionable command picture tape to hang these LEGO baseplates. It’s AMAZINGLY fun, sure, but even kids who’ve lost interest in the bricks tend to pick them back up with this.
- Create a craft project with objects you have lying around the house. This is one of the easiest inside summer activities to do with all ages of kids.
- Painting with Balloons (good for younger and older kids).
- Use craft feathers and watercolor to paint feathers for crafts or DIY costumes.
- Make pull-string party crackers (uses what you have on hand, so it’s great).
- If you have teens or tweens, make a batch of no-fail bath bombs!
- Put together a movie marathon with a special craft and popcorn. Here are ideas for:
- Let the kids raid your closets and put on a fashion show.
- Have a shadow puppet show. Here’s how to make shadow puppets.
- Make a birdhouse or bird feeder out of items in your house. Use a toilet paper roll, peanut butter, and birdseed.
- Build a house of cards (and knock them down).
- Stack up the pillows and burn off energy by practicing gymnastics and tumbling in the living room or family room (any wide open space).
Rock Painting Ideas for Kids
There isn’t a kid I’ve met who didn’t love rock painting… Paint them in the morning, set them to dry in the sun, and then hide them in the neighborhood when it’s cooler.
- Unicorn rock painting idea.
- Make scratch art rocks – SERIOUSLY so much fun!
- Kid-approved Kawaii face rocks (ridiculously popular and so easy).
- Heroes unite! Let the fans paint these Avengers rocks.
- And if you have them, let Potterheads recreate the story line with these DIY Harry Potter rock paintings.
Using Technology to Beat the Heat for Kids This Summer
Now, I’m not saying to turn on the TV all day or hand over the iPads for an eon, but… A little tech can really get little minds going.
- Watch origami videos on YouTube or whip up these fun origami hearts or some fun DIY origami corner bookmarks.
- If you need to get in a little exercise, make it fun with Cosmic Kids Yoga or another kid-friendly movement channel.
- Put together a movie marathon with a special craft and popcorn. Here are ideas for:
Clay Pot Crafts and Popsicle Stick Crafts for Summer
Listen, the dollar store is going to be your bestie with everything in this section. Clay pots, craft sticks, paint, and all of the wiggle eyes you can imagine can be put into a basket and brought home for literal hours of fun.
- Oh, the kids went crazy for this cute clay pot frog craft.
- There isn’t a single kid who doesn’t know who these Minion clay pot craft cuties represent…
- A very simple DIY, these outdoor clay pot mushrooms for the garden are a huge hit.
- A little paint, some pots, and a wood bead are all you need for these clay pot gnomes.
- This Uncle Sam (or Gnome) craft stick project is great, even for the little ones.
- And a cute narwhal popsicle stick craft is sure to bring all the smiles as you teach the little ones about the unicorn of the sea.
- Popsicle stick fairies are a hit all year round.
In-Home Sensory and STEM Fun
I’m a huge fan of safe science for all ages of kids and it doesn’t have to involve anything major or a big set up. Here are a few ideas of hands-on science kids love.
- Use the leftover party supplies and learn how to make a marshmallow launcher. Even big kids like this one.
- Learn how to make safe pinwheels (no pins) from some craft foam. And they really, really spin!
- Make slime and let them use their toys in it (plastics easily wash). A couple of our favorites:
- You can have tons of fun with tie dye, so here’s a list of some tie dye craft ideas.
Get the Kids In the Kitchen
- Be the coolest adult on the block and let them help make oozing slime cupcakes.
- Have ice cream for dinner (or lunch) – trust me, they’ll still eat some dinner.
- If you have little unicorn fans, pick one of these unicorn recipes to make together. It’s a special summer activity the kids won’t forget anytime soon!
- Make the easiest, tastiest yogurt pops using cups.
- If you’re looking for something a little healthier, try making a quick batch of these peanut butter energy bites.
- Create a new recipe with food you have in the pantry.
- Make ice cream.
Grab a Free Printable Kids Activity
All over the web, there are fun and free printables to help the kids beat the heat this summer. Here are a couple, but search whatever interests them and add “free printable” to the end of endless options.
- Use some free gnome coloring pages to add a little whimsy into their day or use these free cupcake coloring pages to add a bit of sweetness.
- Whip up some DIY dragon masks with a free printable – these are so cool.
- Use this free board game printable (with a printable die to cast) for a wicked fast set up.
- If you have little ones who love magical beasts, let them create these printable unicorn masks.
- All they need is a boost to get their creativity going with these cut out cards.
- Raid the recycle bin for creative paper roll characters:
- Harry Potter paper roll characters,
- Cute Animal Paper Roll Printables,
- Moana paper roll printable or maybe Princess Jasmine Paper Craft Printable
- Lilo and Stitch Paper Rolls (so cute)
- Star Wars Printable Paper Rolls: Darth Vader, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca, and even The Mandalorian and Baby Yoda (Grogu)
- Frozen Paper Roll Doll Printables: Princess Anna and Queen Elsa
Fun About Town (Inside Summer Activities)
- Find out if your local movie theater offers any summer deals on matinees (not free, but sometimes they have $1 shows in the summer). There are also free movies in the park’s recreation buildings (so much fun)!
- Volunteer your time at a local charity.
- Take a free kid’s workshop at a store like Lowe’s or Home Depot. Also, check out craft store sessions – often, they will host classes for free!
- Grab a new book from the library.
- Go on a free factory tour. We’ve toured chocolate factories and some fun tech and aerospace stuff in our city (Seattle). Go figure that everyone liked the chocolate factory tours the most!
- Take advantage of the free summer programming your library offers.
- Visit your local bookstore for a free reading.
- Go to a flea market or swap meet. It’s fun to see what kids call ‘valuable’ finds.
Some Preparation Required
- Sign up for the Kids Bowl Free program and take in a game or two of bowling.
- Check to see if any local museums offer a free day and enjoy art, science, or nature in an air-conditioned museum.
- Visit a nursing home and visit with the residents. Note: please call ahead.
- Join a summer reading challenge at your local library or a big book store chain.
- Get your kids some pen pals by asking for addresses of your friend’s kids or ask about deployed soldiers from your town. Then, spend the day writing letters or postcards.
Over to You
What are your favorite beat-the-heat inside summer activities? Drop them below and we’ll add them to the ever-growing list!
Speaking of ever-growing… Please save this to your favorite Summer Fun pin board or share it to Facebook. Your shares are how this site grows and I am sincerely grateful.
Meet the Creator
Hi there, I’m Sarah Nenni-Daher. I’m a crafty gal and always have at least 14 projects going at once. I am a crafter, designer, DIYer, and pattern maker. I share my creations here and in the Ruffles and Rain Boots® Shop.
Here at Ruffles and Rain Boots®, you’ll find DIY gnomes, crafts, gifts, cupcakes, laser crafts, and so much more. I love sharing video tutorials over on YouTube and chatting with other crafters in my Facebook groups. We’d love to have you!