.png){kind=small}
85 FUN THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR TEENS THIS SUMMER
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Summer with teens can feel long.
Like....too much time, not enough ideas, and they're already bored before you even suggest anything.
The thing is they're not little anymore. So you can't take them to the park and call it a day.
And also....they don't always want to go.
So here's a proper list you can actually pull from. Mix of outdoor, creative, chill, and slightly chaotic. Things that feel a bit more like an experience. A change of scene.
Something that breaks the usual routine.
You won't do all 85. That's not the point.
Just pick what fits your week.
Outdoor things to do this summer with teens
Go to a weekend market and try three random foods you've never had
Plan a beach clean-up day, then reward yourselves with snacks
Rent bikes and ride somewhere new
Go to a public pool and stay longer than you planned
Visit a waterfall or nature spot nearby
Try fishing, even if you don't know what you're doing
Go on a sunrise walk once, just to say you did it
Play football or frisbee at a park
Visit a local farm or petting zoo
Go camping for one night, even if it's basic
Try geocaching or a simple treasure hunt
Go to an outdoor concert or a small event
Have a picnic where everyone brings one thing
Go roller skating or skateboarding somewhere open
Visit a street art area and take photos
Go bowling or arcade hopping
Try a workshop together, like pottery or painting
Go to a trampoline park
Try an escape room together
Go fruit picking if there's a farm nearby
Volunteer together
Let them plan and host a barbecue for their friends and family
Food-based summer activities (always works)
Do a street food crawl in your area
Recreate a fast food meal at home
Try backing something that looks way too complicated
Make your own iced drinks and compare who did it better
Go to a cafe and let your teen order for you
Try a "no phones at the table" meal once
Make homemade burgers from scratch
Have a blind taste test with snacks
Cook a meal from a different country
Go out for dessert after dinner
Try making viral TikTok recipes
Make a giant snack board and eat while watching a movie
Visit a food truck you've never tried
Do a "cook with only what's in the kitchen" challenge
Make popsicles together and wait impatiently for them to freeze
Recreate a childhood snack they used to love
Creative things to do with teens in summer
Paint something random, not something aesthetic
Try tie-dye with old clothes
Make a summer scrapbook together
Start a small photo project, like a "one photo a day"
Film a short, silly video together
Rearrange their room just for a different vibe
Create a playlist that becomes your "summer soundtrack"
Try a shared journaling project for the summer
Do a DIY project from YouTube
Design your own T-shirts
Make a mini vision board for fun
Try basic photography around your area
Paint plant pots and actually use them
Write a short story together and make it weird
Print photos and make a photo collage board
Make a short vlog of your day with them every day and edit it into a video at the end of summer
Chill at-home activities for summer with teens
Have a movie marathon with a theme
Set a movie night outside
Watch a series together and don't skip episodes alone
Build a blanket fort, even if it feels ridiculous
Do a full room clean together with music blasting
Play card games or simple board games
Try a "no WIFI for one evening" experiment
Organize old photos and laugh at them
Do a challenging puzzle together and frame it once done
Have a lazy afternoon in the backyard doing absolutely nothing together
Let your teen teach you a game they like
Have a "stay up late" night once
Switch phones for 10 minutes and see what happens
Try meditation or just sit quietly for a bit
Watch old home videos if you have them
Low-cost and no-cost summer ideas
Go window shopping and rate random items
Visit free events happening in your area
Walk through a new neighborhood and explore
Go to a public library and pick random books
Sit somewhere busy and people-watch
Have a no-spend day but still go out
Play a simple sport outside with whatever you have
Visit a park at night instead of during the day
Do a scavenger hunt you make yourselves
Try cloud watching or just lying on the grass
A few that feel small but matter
Let them plan a full day, your only job is to show up
Say yes when they randomly ask to go out
Stay out a little longer when the mood feels good
Don't rush home when you don't need to
Sit with them after the activity instead of ending it quickly
Go for a late-night drive and just talk
Summer with teens isn't about doing something every day. It's more like having options ready so when they randomly say "okay fine, let's go"....you don't freeze and overthink it.
Some of these will flop.
Some will get a "maybe later".
Some will turn into actual memories.
You don't really control which ones. You just keep showing up, keep asking, keep trying.
That's kind of the whole thing.
If you enjoyed this post, I'd love it if you shared it on Pinterest! Thanks!
