Printable Summer Checklist {2014}

A summer checklist is a great way to get everyone in the family excited about summer, and it is a perfect antidote to summer boredom because there is always a new activity or adventure on the list.  We create a summer checklist annually, and I am so excited to be able to share our 2014 Summer Checklist with you today.

To print out your own 8X10 copy, right click on the picture above, save it to your computer, and print.  This checklist is for personal use only.  Please do not reprint without written permission from me.

I have also provided some helpful links below: 

1) Celebrate Canada Day or the 4th of July
2) Watch fireworks or attend a parade
3) Have a teddy bear picnic
4) Go to a splash pad or swim in a pool
5) Host a "half sleepover"
6) Go to a farmer's market
7) Visit the library and read a book outside
8) Make homemade bubbles
9) Go fishing or hiking
10) Have family movie night outside
11) Paint rocks or make patio stones
12) Pick out a toy or treat at the dollar store
13) Plant something and watch it grow
14) Visit a wildlife park, farm or zoo
15) Grill a pizza
16) Create a simple backyard water park
17) Play baseball, soccer or street hockey
18) Make ice cream or go to an ice cream stand
19) Go for a bike ride
20) Decorate a cake or bake cookies
21) Spend time at a cottage, beach or park
22) Do a science experiment
23) Play a board game
24) Go Geo-caching
25) Draw with sidewalk chalk
26) Play mini golf
27) See a play or perform a play
28) Have a lemonade stand
29) Try a new food
30) Have a Superhero day
31) Camp in the backyard or living room
32) Have a PJ day
33) Put on a puppet show
34) Make a summer reading list
35) Fly a kite
36) Have a dance party in the living room
37) Go on a scavenger hunt
38) Make moon sand or play dough
39) Have pancakes for supper
40) Do a good deed or raise money for charity
41) Visit a new city or town
42) Visit a museum or theme park
43) Roast marshmallows and make s'mores
44) Write and mail a letter or postcard
45) Run in a race
46) Craft a boat and float it down a river
47) _______________________________
48) _______________________________
49) _______________________________
50) HAVE ICE CREAM FOR SUPPER!

We always have 50 items on our summer checklist, but if you want to keep things simple for your family, you can just select your 25 favorite activities.

Once you have finalized your list, put it on the fridge or in a cheap dollar store frame.  Then, every time you do something on the list, "check" it off by putting a sticker over the number.  {A dry erase marker would work well too.}

As you can see, “have ice cream for supper” is the last item on the list.  We always save it until the end.  It’s a great way to celebrate the end of summer, spend time together, and reminisce about all the fun that was had.

I hope you enjoy having a summer checklist as much as we do.  Make sure to click on the links above for more details, recipes and tutorials.  Have fun! 

  

♥
Gina Bell (aka East CoastMommy)

50 Ideas for Easy and Inexpensive Summer Fun (including a free printable 2019 summer checklist)

This is the 8th summer for our family's summer checklist. Every year, we make a list of all the fun adventures we plan on completing during my boys' break from school. We fill our summer bucket list with easy and inexpensive ideas for summer fun. This is one of my absolute favourite annual family traditions, and it has helped us to create many priceless memories. Today, I am sharing our 2019 summer checklist (that you can download for free below). I've also included several links to additional info about the activities.

To download and print the summer checklist: click on the checklist below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8X10 photo. I sent mine to my local copy store and printed it for $0.59. That's a lot of fun for less than a dollar!

We always have 50 items on our list, but feel free to adapt the list to fit your family. You can choose 10, 20, 30 or 40 of your favourites and add them to this blank list. It's not meant to be stressful... it's a template for family fun!

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

And... in case you need more info about the items on my list, or you are looking for items to make your own list, check out the helpful links below.


1) Celebrate Canada Day or the 4th of July - Find simple and fun ideas for photo props, crafts, decor and recipes here.

2) Watch fireworks or attend a parade

3) Have a picnic or BBQ and eat outside - All picnics are great, but a teddy bear picnic is extra special. You can get the recipe for our favourite teddy bear picnic cookies here.

4) Go to a splash pad or swim in a pool

5) Host a "half sleepover" or backyard carnival - Hosting a fun event for friends is a really fun way to spend a summer afternoon or evening. Click on the links above for some of my favourite DIY party details.




6) Go to a farmer's market or visit a yard sale

7) Visit the library and read a book outside - If you are looking for some great books to get your kids reading this summer, you can find a list of some of our favourites here.

8) Have a water fight or NERF gun battle - I have simple tips for transforming your backyard into a water park here and easy and inexpensive NERF battle ideas here.

9) Go fishing or hiking

10) Have a family movie night outside or attend an outdoor concert - Outdoor movie nights are a family favourite in our house. You can read my best tips and tricks for an easy, inexpensive and fun movie night here.

11) Eat donuts from a string (with no hands) 




12) Pick out a toy or treat at the dollar store

13) Plant something and watch it grow

14) Visit a wildlife park, farm or zoo

15) Build a fort (inside the house or outside) or a trail through the woods

16) Get ice cream in PJs (drive throughs are OK) 

17) Play baseball, soccer, golf or street hockey

18) Make homemade ice cream or another cold treat - I have tons of great ideas for ice cream on my blog here. They are all delicious, but I highly recommend giving the DIY ice cream pie a try.

19) Go for a bike ride

20) Decorate a cake or bake cookies - I have tons of recipes for sweet treats on my blog, but if you are looking for a tried and true favourite, check out my soft and chewy chocolate chip cookie recipe here.

21) Spend time at a cottage, beach or park

22) Do a science experiment or make a craft - Science experiments and crafts are perfect ways for kids to have fun, be creative, and continue learning during their summer break. Find some of our favourite science experiments here and some of our favourite crafts here.

23) Play a board game or chocolate bar bingo (which is like regular bingo... but with chocolate bars as prizes) - Playing games together is always fun. I have a great idea for a board game day here and a fun DIY outdoor game here.

24) Go geo-caching or bowling

25) Have a "kids pick the meals" day

26) Play mini golf

27) See a play or visit a museum

28) Have a lemonade stand or yard sale

29) Try a new food

30) Have a theme day (e.g. a pirate day, superhero day, "parents say yes" day, or "spend our gift cards" day)

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

32) Have a PJ day

33) Build a large puzzle

34) Make a summer reading list, set a reading goal or keep a summer journal

35) Fly a kite

36) Have a dance party or sing karaoke


37) Go on a scavenger hunt - Scavenger hunts are fun for kids of all ages. You can find one for younger kids (with pictures) here, and you can find a fun idea for older kids here.

38) Organize a drawer, closet or room

39) Play with water balloons

40) Do a good deed or raise money for charity

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

42) Play "tag" or run in a race

43) Roast marshmallows, make s'mores or cook a different campfire treat - Check out my favourite ideas here. 

44) Write and mail a letter or postcard

45) Visit at least 5 different ice cream stands




46) Go stargazing


47) Choose your own
48) Choose your own
49) Choose your own

50) HAVE ICE CREAM FOR SUPPER! - This is the last item on our checklist every year. It's the perfect way to celebrate the completion of our summer checklist and remember all the fun memories we made together.

Creating and completing a summer checklist really is one of my favourite family traditions. It's always a lot of fun, and definitely something my boys look forward to each year.

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Summer Checklist 2016

One of my favorite family traditions involves our annual summer checklist. The boys and I work together each year to come up with a list of 50 simple summer activities, I create a checklist, and we spend the next couple of months working our way through the list. It keeps us focussed and entertained, and it is a lot of fun! Today, I am sharing this year's summer checklist (which you can print off for FREE), and some helpful links to more information about the items on the list. Fun, right?

To print off a copy of our summer checklist: right-click on the picture below, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8X10 photo. (I sent mine to my local copy store and had it printed for $0.39.)

And... in case you need more info about the items on list, I have included some helpful info below.

1) Celebrate Canada Day or the 4th of July
2) Watch fireworks or attend a parade
3) Have a teddy bear picnic
4) Go to a splash pad or swim in a pool
5) Host a "half sleepover"
6) Go to a farmer's market
7) Visit the library and read a book outside
8) Have a water fight
9) Go fishing or hiking
10) Have a family movie night outside
11) Eat donuts from a string (with no hands)

12) Pick out a toy or treat at the dollar store
13) Plant something and watch it grow
14) Visit a wildlife park, farm or zoo
15) Build a fort
16) Get ice cream in PJs (drive throughs are OK) 
17) Play baseball, soccer, golf or street hockey
18) Make ice cream or go to an ice cream stand
19) Go for a bike ride
20) Decorate a cake or bake cookies
21) Spend time at a cottage, beach or park
22) Do a science experiment

23) Play a board game
24) Go geo-caching
25) Have a "kids pick the meals" day
26) Play mini golf
27) See a play or visit a museum
28) Have a lemonade stand
29) Try a new food
30) Have a theme day (e.g. a pirate day or superhero day)

31) Camp in the backyard or living room
32) Have a PJ day
33) Build a large puzzle
34) Make a summer reading list or keep a summer journal
35) Fly a kite
36) Have a dance party in the living room
37) Go on a scavenger hunt
38) Build an obstacle course
39) Play with water balloons
40) Do a good deed or raise money for charity
41) Visit a new city or town
42) Play "tag"
43) Roast marshmallows or make a different campfire treat

44) Write and mail a letter or postcard
45) Run in a race
46) Make a craft
47) __________________________
48) __________________________
49) __________________________
50) HAVE ICE CREAM FOR SUPPER!

And... in case you just want to create your own list, I have included the template I designed below. To use my template: right-click on the picture below, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8X10 photo.

My boys are excited by all the things on our list, but they are particularly excited about "kid's pick the meals day". I can't wait to see what they select this year! What's on your summer checklist?

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Summer Checklist 2022 🌞 50 Fun Activites for Families

I love summer, and one of my favourite summer traditions is creating a summer checklist with my boys. We make a list of 50 fantastic summer activities, we print out a copy of the list, and we use it as a blueprint for summer fun! Today, I'm sharing my 2022 summer checklist... including a FREE copy you can print for your own family. Fun, right?!?

Here are the items we have on this year's list:

1) Celebrate Canada Day

2) Watch fireworks or play with sparklers

3) Have an outdoor picnic or BBQ

4) Swim in a pool, at a lake, or in the ocean

5) Buy a meal from a food truck or local restaurant

6) Paint a rock and leave it on a trail for someone to find

7) Read a book outside

8) Have a water fight or NERF gun battle

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

10) Play a boardgame outside

11) Eat donuts from a string (with no hands)

12) Have a “one on one” date with mom (kid’s choice… under $20 & less than 2 hours)

13) Have a “one on one” date with dad (kid’s choice… under $20 & less than 2 hours)

14) Make a craft (design a t-shirt, personalize a water bottle or have a "paint night")

15) Learn a new dance move

16) Get ice cream in PJs (drive throughs are OK)

17) Play catch, basketball, tennis and street hockey

18) Make a homemade ice cream cake or milkshakes

19) Go for a bike ride

20) Decorate a cake or bake cookies

21) Spend time at a cottage, beach or park

22) Do a science experiment

23) Sing around a campfire

24) Go geo-caching

25) Have a "kids pick the meals" day

26) Play chocolate bar BINGO (like regular BINGO, but with chocolate bar prizes)

27) Play golf or mini golf

28) Do a “trick shot” or learn a magic trick

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) Spend an afternoon in PJs, eating snacks, and watching a movie

33) Build a large puzzle

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

35) Fly a kite

36) Have a dance party or sing karaoke

37) Go on a scavenger hunt

38) Organize a drawer, closet or room

39) Play with water balloons

40) Do a good deed or raise money for charity

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

42) Go on a hike or a short walk in the rain

43) Roast marshmallows, make s'mores or cook a different campfire treat

44) Write and mail a letter or postcard

45) Visit at least 5 different ice cream stands

46) Go stargazing

47) Celebrate Owen and Jack's birthdays

48) Go to PEI

49) Go to Toronto

50) HAVE ICE CREAM FOR SUPPER! 

To download a copy of the list for your family: click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8x10 photo

I also have a blank one you can print and add your own activities.

We put our summer checklist in a dollar store frame, and check off the items as we complete them.

Do you have a summer checklist / summer bucket list in your home? I hope our list inspires you to add a couple new things to your "to do" list this summer.

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

50 Simple Ways to Make Summer Memorable (and a FREE printable Summer Checklist)

Since 2012, my boys and I have started our summer by putting together a summer checklist of all the fun adventures we plan on completing during their break from school. Our list is filled with easy and inexpensive ideas for summer fun, but this annual tradition has proven to be a valuable tool for building priceless childhood memories. Today, I am sharing our 2018 summer checklist (that you can download for free), including many links to additional info about the activities. We always have 50 items on our list, but feel free to just choose 20, 30, or 40 of your favourites. It's not meant to be stressful. It's meant to be a template for fun!

To download and print the summer checklist: click on the checklist below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8X10 photo. I sent mine to my local copy store and printed it for $0.51. 

And... in case you need more info about the items on list, check out the helpful links below.

1) Celebrate Canada Day or the 4th of July

2) Watch fireworks or attend a parade

3) Have a picnic or go cloud gazing.

4) Go to a splash pad or swim in a pool
5) Host a "half sleepover" or backyard carnival

6) Go to a farmer's market or visit a yard sale
7) Visit the library and read a book outside

8) Have a water fight or NERF gun battle

9) Go fishing or hiking
10) Have a family movie night outside or attend an outdoor concert

11) Eat donuts from a string (with no hands)

12) Pick out a toy or treat at the dollar store
13) Plant something and watch it grow

14) Visit a wildlife park, farm or zoo
15) Build a fort (inside or out) or a trail through the woods
16) Get ice cream in PJs (drive throughs are OK) 
17) Play baseball, soccer, golf or street hockey
18) Make ice cream or another cold treat

19) Go for a bike ride
20) Decorate a cake or bake cookies

21) Spend time at a cottage, beach or park
22) Do a science experiment

23) Play a board game

24) Go geo-caching

25) Have a "kids pick the meals" day
26) Play mini golf
27) See a play or visit a museum
28) Have a lemonade stand or yard sale

29) Try a new food
30) Have a theme day (e.g. a pirate day or superhero day)

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

32) Have a PJ day
33) Build a large puzzle
34) Make a summer reading list, set a reading goal or keep a summer journal
35) Fly a kite

36) Have a dance party in the living room

37) Go on a scavenger hunt

38) Build an obstacle course
39) Play with water balloons

40) Do a good deed or raise money for charity
41) Go on a road trip to another city or town
42) Play "tag" or run in a race
43) Roast marshmallows, make s'mores or cook up a different campfire treat

44) Write and mail a letter or postcard
45) Visit at least 5 different ice cream stands

46) Make a craft

47) __________________________
48) __________________________
49) __________________________
50) HAVE ICE CREAM FOR SUPPER!

As you can see, there are blank spaces at the bottom of my checklist for you to add a few of your own activities/ideas. Or, you can create an entirely new list using the template below. Click on the template, right-click, save it to your computer, print it like a regular 8X10 photo, and add as many activities as you like!

This really is one of my favourite family traditions. It's always a lot of fun, and definitely something my boys look forward to each year.

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)