Free & Fun: Summer Activities for Kids + Heartfelt Ways to Connect With Teens Before They Fly
There’s something magical about summer—the longer days, the warm breeze, the way time slows down just enough to soak in these fleeting years with our kids. Whether your children are finishing 4th grade or preparing to head off to college, summer gives us a beautiful chance to reconnect, reset, and make memories that truly matter.
At Margareed Family, we believe in embracing simple joy. And while vacations and camps are amazing, it’s often the little things—the everyday moments—that leave the biggest imprint on our hearts. Today, we’re sharing some free and fun summer activities for older elementary schoolers, plus meaningful ways to bond with your teens and make the most of these precious final summers before they launch.
🌻 For Older Elementary Kids (Ages 9–12): Free Fun That Sparks Joy
These upper-elementary years are golden—kids are curious, energetic, and still love being with you. Here are free, screen-free activities that get them moving, thinking, and laughing:
🎨 1. Backyard Art Gallery
Grab chalk, cardboard, or old paper and let them design “exhibits” around your yard. Invite neighbors or family to walk through their gallery!
🕵🏽♂️ 2. DIY Scavenger Hunt
Create a themed hunt (nature, colors, summer smells) and explore your neighborhood or a local park. Let them take turns being the “hunt master.”
📖 3. Story in a Jar
Write fun story prompts on slips of paper (like “a dog that can time travel” or “a girl who finds a treasure map”) and pull one each day to write or act out a short tale.
🏕️ 4. Backyard Camp-In
Set up a tent or blanket fort, roast marshmallows over the stove or grill, and tell stories by flashlight. Add glow sticks for extra fun!
🏛️ 5. Museum Adventure at Home
Choose a theme (dinosaurs, space, ancient Egypt) and let them create a “museum” using toys, books, and internet research. They can give you a guided tour!
🚴🏾 6. Bike & Picnic Day
Pick a safe route and pack a picnic (PB&Js, trail mix, fruit) for a fun ride-and-dine adventure.
🧠 7. Summer STEM Challenge
Challenge them to build a tower from paper, make a volcano, or create a Rube Goldberg machine using only items from around the house.
🎶 8. Talent Show Tuesday
Host a weekly talent show with music, skits, and silly awards. Invite cousins or friends over for an audience!
🌎 9. “Travel” Around the World Week
Pick a country each week, learn a few words in the language, explore music, and make a dish inspired by that culture.
🧺 10. Kindness Quest
Start a “kindness chart” and aim to do one free act of kindness per day—like writing chalk messages, helping a neighbor, or making thank-you cards.
❤️ For Tweens & Teens: Keep the Connection Strong
The tween and early teen years come with growing independence, but your presence still matters more than ever. Here are gentle, low-pressure ways to stay connected:
🌮 1. Make a Weekly Dinner Together
Let them pick the meal, find the recipe, and cook it with you. Bonus: they learn life skills and feel empowered.
🎲 2. Family Game Nights
Let them invite a friend and pick the game. Card games, charades, or even trivia are great ways to laugh together.
📷 3. Create a Summer Photo Challenge
Pick a theme each week—sunsets, pets, patterns, etc.—and take photos together. Use it as a fun, creative way to share perspective.
🧠 4. Ask Thoughtful Questions
Skip “how was your day?” and try “If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be?” or “What do you think makes someone a good friend?”
🎥 5. Movie & Memory Nights
Watch throwback favorites from their childhood and share stories from when they were little. It reminds them how far they’ve come—and how loved they are.
🎓 For Older Teens: Making the Most of the Last Summers Before College
If you have a high school graduate or rising senior, you’re probably feeling the bittersweet ache of time flying. These final summers before college are sacred. They may be busy with jobs, friends, or college prep, but your connection still matters deeply.
🥾 1. Take a Walk Together
It can be as simple as a 10-minute stroll in the evening. No phones, no pressure—just being in each other’s company.
☕ 2. Weekly Coffee (or Smoothie) Dates
Set aside one morning or evening a week to sit and talk. Ask about their goals, dreams, fears—just listen without fixing.
🧳 3. Help Them Create a College Survival Kit
Shop your house or go thrifting for basics. Let them pack a bin with tools, snacks, photos, and things that remind them of home.
📝 4. Write Each Other a Letter
Leave a note for them with memories, advice, or love. Invite them to write one for you too. It becomes something they’ll treasure in college.
🌅 5. Plan a “Bucket List” Together
Come up with five things to do before summer ends—watch the sunrise, visit a childhood playground, cook something new, visit their future campus if possible. Make the days count.
☀️ Summer is for the Soul
Summer is so much more than just time off school—it’s a time to slow down, love deeper, and build the memories our kids carry into adulthood. Whether they’re 10 or 18, the most powerful thing we can offer them is presence. Listening. Laughing. Showing up.
At Margareed Family, we’re endlessly thankful for the honor of raising these amazing humans. And while the sun sets on some childhood chapters, it rises on the beautiful young adults they’re becoming.
Let’s make this summer sweet, simple, and full of love.