Summer Checklist for Older Kids

Every year my family puts together a summer checklist of 50 of our favourite summer activities, and we spend our vacation checking items off the list. When my kids were small, we had a lot of simple crafts and low effort activities on our list... but as my boys got older, we started adding more sophisticated adventures. Below, you will find a FREE printable version of our 2021 summer checklist, as well as some really helpful links.

To download our 2021 checklist: click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8x10 photo.

Then, check out the links below for more helpful hints, tutorials, recipes, and ideas.



1) Celebrate Canada Day - Don't forget to plan a BBQ and a red and white dessert buffet. Full bellies make for happy tweens and teens!

2) Watch fireworks or play with sparklers - You're never too old for sparklers!

3) Have an outdoor picnic or BBQ - I highly recommend trying grilled donuts too. You can find the recipe here.

4) Swim in a pool, at a lake, or in the ocean - Try visiting a new location (or bringing along a paddle board or snorkeling gear) for added fun.

5) Buy a meal from a food truck or local restaurant - A take out picnic is a lot of fun... and there are no dishes to clean up. Win... win!

6) Paint a rock and leave it on a trail for someone to find - Painting rocks is fun for all ages. Search online for simple designs or check out the ones we made here.

7) Read a book outside - Reading outside is a wonderful (mom-approved) activity. You can find some great recommendations for older kids here.

8) Have a water fight or NERF gun battle - You are never too old for a good water fight on a hot day!

9) Have a movie night outside or go to a drive in

10) Do an “at home” escape room or play a boardgame outside - You can use store-bought games, or you can make your own inexpensive outdoor games like we did here.

11) Eat donuts from a string (with no hands) - My boys have been enjoying this activity since they were little, and they still think it's hilarious. I don't think they'll ever let me leave this activity off our summer list!

12) Have a “one on one” date with mom (kid’s choice… under $20 and 2 hours) - It doesn't need to be fancy. It's really about the time spent together. A lunch date and a walk is a fantastic option.

13) Have a “one on one” date with dad (kid’s choice… under $20 and 2 hours) - Again... it doesn't need to be fancy... it's about the time spent together. My boys enjoy a trip to the driving range or a round of mini golf with their dad.

14) Make a craft (design a t-shirt, personalize a water bottle, or have a "paint night" - Crafts aren't just for young kids. The key is to provide older kids with more sophisticated craft materials. If you need inspiration, check out my top craft ideas for tweens and teens here.

15) Plant something and watch it grow - My boys and I planted a garden all there favourite fruit and vegetable snacks... but planting flowers is fun too. You can even make this adorable planter using the tutorial you can find here.

16) Get ice cream in PJs - Drive throughs are OK!

17) Play catch, basketball or street hockey

18) Make homemade ice cream or make milkshakes - This is a fun way to get older kids into the kitchen. They'll love all the recipes here.

19) Go for a bike ride - My boys learned to ride bikes at an early age, and it's still one of their favourite activities. Older kids will enjoy packing a lunch and going on a long ride... or experimenting with riding on rougher terrain.

20) Decorate a cake or bake cookies - Allowing older kids to experiment in the kitchen is fun... but it also helps teach them an important life skill. Check out some of my family's favourite recipes for sweet treats here.

21) Spend time at a cottage, beach or park

22) Do a science experiment - Science experiments are fun and educational... the perfect way to spend a rainy summer afternoon. Find OVER 15 science experiments here.

23) Sing around a campfire 

24) Go geo-caching

25) Have a "kids pick the meals" day - We make the rule that everyone needs to agree on each meal, so I don't go crazy in the kitchen. I also let the kids pick one meal out. Fun, right?

26) Play chocolate bar BINGO (like regular BINGO, but with chocolate bar prizes) - You can do it for your family, or you can invite some friends to join in the fun.

27) Play golf or mini golf

28) Learn a “trick shot” or magic trick - You should check out a few examples below.

29) Try a new food or a new recipe

30) Have a theme day ("spend our gift cards" day is a fun one)

31) Camp at a campground, in the backyard or in the living room

32) Have a PJ day - We started PJ days whem my kids were small, but there really is no age limit. Who doesn't want to spend a rainy summer day in their PJs, watching movies, and eating popcorn?

33) Build a large puzzle

34) Make a video and post it on YouTube or Tic Tok

35) Fly a kite

36) Have a dance party or sing karaoke

37) Go on a scavenger hunt - A simple scavenger hunt is a great way to get the kids outside and running around. Check out the one I put together for my boys here.

38) Organize a drawer, closet or room - Kids can learn the joy of being able to find their favourite shirt... and what could be better than that? lol

39) Play with water balloons - Everyone loves a water balloon on a hot day. There really is no age limit on water balloon fun.

40) Do a good deed or raise money for charity - A good deed is it's own reward, and kids will love the feeling they get from doing something to help others. Yard sales and lemonade stands are great options, but kids can use whatever talents they have.

41) Go on a road trip to another city or town

42) Go on a hike or go for a walk in the rain - Try a new trail or try to find a waterfall.

43) Roast marshmallows, make s'mores or cook a different campfire treat - You can find some of our favourite treats here.

44) Write and mail a letter or postcard - Writing old fashioned letters is becoming a lost art, so it's a great activity for kids.

45) Visit at least 5 different ice cream stands - The last couple of years, we have done an "ice cream stand challenge", and it's been a lot of fun. Summer and ice cream are the perfect match.

46) Go stargazing - Lay a blanket on the ground, stare up at the sky, and try and find constellations and shooting stars. It's a simple activity... and the perfect way to spend a quiet summer evening.

47) Pick your own

48) Pick your own

49) Pick your own

50) HAVE ICE CREAM FOR SUPPER! - This is the way we celebrate the completion of our checklist every year... and it is always a lot of fun. You can find some of our favourite ice cream recipes here.

Creating and completing a summer checklist really is one of my favourite family traditions. 

Does your family have a summer checklist? Are you planning to print mine? If you feel like 50 items is a lot, you can just choose your 10 or 20 of your favourites. Have fun!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also be interested in the summer DIY decor ideas here.

TWO Fantastic Outdoor Games For Summer... made using dollar store supplies

This time of year, as the temperatures are rising, my family is spending more and more time outside. My boys enjoy shooting baskets and playing street hockey, and we love having outdoor campfires and watching movies on our deck, but we also like having a few outdoor games to play. So, today I'm sharing TWO fantastic outdoor games that you can easily making using dollar store supplies. You are going to love these!

1) The first option is a classic Tic Tac Toe game. I found this one at the dollar store for $4, but I wanted to upgrade it to look more "high end" sitting on my deck.

So.... I grabbed some yellow craft paint and a dollar store paint brush and painted the box holding the Xs and the Os. I also sprayed it with a clear sealer so that it could withstand the elements.

Didn't it turn out great? It's amazing what a little paint can do.

I love how the yellow "pops" and co-ordinates with the other yellow accessories on my deck.

2) The second option is this "deck dice" game you can easily make using the oversized foam dice that are for sale at the dollar store.

All you need to do is find a container to hold the dice, and attach the label I designed to the front. Click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.

Then, print the score sheet below, and start playing.

To download the score sheet: click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8x10 photo.

If you want to make the sheets reusable, you can laminate them and use a dry erase marker.

This game (which is like Yahzee) is such an easy game to throw together, and it's perfect for a variety of age groups.

I hope you take a trip to the dollar store and get the supplies you need to make these fun outdoor games. Let me know (in the comments) which one is your favourite.

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Don't miss out on any of the fun... follow me on social media here.

     

You might also like the dollar store decor ideas here.

Simple DIY Graduation Gift

It's graduation season, so lots of people are looking for easy and inexpensive ways to celebrate the special graduate in their lives. Recently, I made a bunch of these champagne glasses with graduation caps for my online shop, and I thought it would be helpful to share the tutorial in case you want to make your own. 

To make your own graduation cap glass cover:

1) Cut a strip of black card stock, wrap it around the top of a glass to get the correct measurement, and tape the ends together to form a circle.

2) Cut a square piece of black card stock, add a circle of hot glue to the bottom, and attach the card stock ring.

3) Make a tassel with embroidery thread, poke a hole in the top of the cap, insert the end of the tassel, and secure in place with a knot and a drop of hot glue. (If you need a tutorial on making tassels, check out the video I made with my boys here.)

You can place the caps on top of plain glasses, or you can use stickers or a Cricut to personalize your glasses. (I used some gold permanent vinyl to write "Class of 2021" on mine.)

You can also do beer mugs (which I think is kind of fun).

These glasses are perfect for toasting (just as they are), but they also make wonderful holders for candy or cash. Cute, right?!?

I think it's a fantastic gift for a highschool or university graduate, but it would be cute for a Preschool graduate too. Adults can toast with champagne, and young kids can fill their glasses with candies or milk. What do you think? Do you know someone celebrating a graduation this year? How are you celebrating?

♥  
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also be interested in this graduation treat treat.

Covid Time Capsule

Living through a pandemic is something none of us will soon forget, and it is definitely something worth remembering. So, as a family, we created a simple Covid Time Capsule, and we filled with with a few items to help us remember this very interesting time. Keep reading to find out what we put in our time capsule. I'm also sharing a free simple questionnaire you can print and have everyone in the family fill out.

In our time capsule, my family included:

• pictures of our time at home
• our schedule during homeschooling and lockdown
• masks
• a sample of the crafts we made
• a piece of yarn 6 feet long (to help us remember social distancing
• a piece of toilet paper to help us remember some of the shortages
• a sample of our favourite masks
• time capsule questionnaires (filled out by each member of the family)

To download the time capsule questionnaire I designed: click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8x10 photo.

We just stuck all our items in a large envelope, but you could use any container for your time capsule. It might be fun to have kids use stickers and markers to decorate a box or bin.

Don't you think a Covid Time Capsule is a wonderful idea? I hope it helps us to remember the good things we've experienced (and the extra family time spent together) during this difficult time.

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)