Summer Vacation Learning Activities All Kids Can Enjoy

During summer break, parents hear “I’m bored” on repeat. All of the ideas in this list are designed to keep kids occupied with activities they’ll enjoy so much they won’t even realize that what they’re actually doing is sharpening reading and writing skills! 

Check out our complete summer reading guide here.

Every bite-sized idea is free, fun, and educational. Plus, they require minimal effort for parents (except for number 57 — sorry about that one!).

Depending on your summer vacation schedule, you can use one or several of these ideas each day to keep your kids engaged and learning all summer long.  

Ready for 101 awesome ideas? Let’s go! This summer, have your child…

1. Start a summer journal that they write in for 20 minutes every day. 

2. Write a postcard from an imaginary trip to outer space.

3. Create the coziest reading nook of all time. Blankets! Pillows! Stuffies! Oh my! 

4. Read in a different room at home for 20 minutes a day. 

5. Read a scene in a book and then act it out. 

6. Start their own summer book club with downloadable bookmarks.

7. Write a letter to a grandparent, family member, or friend. 

8. Create a 3-panel comic strip. Use drawings and speech bubbles to tell a funny story. 

9. Compose a short poem about their favorite thing (e.g. dinosaurs, princess, soccer) 

11. Invent a brand new word and write out its definition. 

12. Write out a list of their top 5 favorite books and explain why they love them.

11. Take the Speed Writing Challenge: Write as many words beginning with ‘M’ as they can in 5 minutes. 

12. Write a “Day in the Life” of the family pet or a zoo animal. 

13. Invent a superhero and write about their special power(s).

14. Make up an alternative ending to their favorite book. 

15. Write a letter to their younger self. 

16. Write a letter to their future self. 

17. Create a menu for a pretend restaurant and give every dish a creative name.

18. Write down 3 jokes they know, and then make up 3 brand-new jokes. 

19. Draw a scene from their favorite book. 

20. Create a play using stuffed animals and perform it for the family.

21. Think of an animal starting with every letter in the alphabet (e.g. A: Aardvark B: Bat C: Cat)

22. Make an at-home museum. Collect items from around the home and write about them as if they’re exhibits.

23. Read a book that’s been made into a film. And then watch the movie! 

24. Re-read all of their favorite books and notice something new in every one.

25. Create a scavenger hunt to complete in your neighborhood!

26. Write out a list of as many different colors as they can think of.

27. Make a nature alphabet book. Find something natural outside for every letter.

28. Play “story chain.” Each family member adds a sentence to build a story.

29. Make a word search using their favorite summer-themed words.

30. Read aloud to their favorite stuffed animal for 20 minutes.

31. Read a story aloud in a silly voice (e.g. pirate, robot, whisper)

32. Read a story aloud in different emotions (e.g. happy, scared, angry)

33. Read a story with a bad guy in and then rewrite it from the villain’s point of view. 

34. Write a sequel to their favorite-ever story.

35. Pick 10 words and then think of as many rhymes for each word as they can. What’s the most they can get for one word?

36. Write a story where each sentence starts with the next letter of the alphabet. 

37. Synonym swap: Pick 5 words and then think of as many other words as they can that mean the same thing.

38. Pretend they can swap places with the main character in a book. What would they do differently? 

39. Read a book and add sound effects with their voice to bring it to life. Practice and then perform it for the family. 

40. Write a letter to the author of their favorite book. 

41. Invent a mythical creature. Draw a picture of it and then write about where they live, how they act, and what they eat.

42. Perform a random act of kindness for a family member and then write about it. How did it make them feel? How did it make the family member feel?

43. Write a poem about being bored. 

44. Create an indoor scavenger hunt. (e.g.. Find a clock. Find something green. Find something furry. Find something made of wood.) 

45. Write a list of as many words beginning with the letter S that they can think of. Try to get more than 50.

46. Write out a list of everything circular-shaped they can find around the home and give themself a grade: 

0–5: Rough around the edges

6–10: Rolling right along

11–15: Above the curve

16–20: On a roll 

21–25: Full circle genius 

47. Write about someone they admire. This can be a family member, teacher, or role model. Be descriptive and include specific reasons why they admire this person.

48. Design a new cover for the last book they read.

49. Discover and write out 3 interesting facts about a topic they’re interested in.

50. Host a family spelling bee.

51. Create a “Jar of Words” by writing interesting or less familiar words on small slips of paper. At the start of the week, pick a word from the jar. Talk about what the word means and try to use it as much as you can throughout the week.

52. Make a vocabulary-building game by hosting a Family Word Competition — perfect for playing at the dinner table every night. Present a word of the day and have each family member share what they think the definition of the word is. 

53. Write an acrostic poem about summer.

54. Spend 15 minutes outside observing the world. Then write about the things they noticed the most.

55. Go on Word of the Day walks! Each walk starts with a new word — kids look for objects that match the word, create a sentence, or tell a story as they go.

56. Create a scrapbook of summer memories with captions and short stories.

57. Messy warning! Make some elephant’s toothpaste with this fun experiment.

58. Create themed reading days this week (i.e. “Mystery Monday” or “Fantasy Friday”).

59. Make a family story jar — pick a new prompt each day and create a story together.

60. Keep a travel or adventure journal (even for local day trips).

61. Make a “Word of the Week” board and incorporate it into daily conversations.

62. Host a book swap with family, friends, or neighbors.

63. Start a sidewalk chalk spelling game. 

64. Host a backyard storytime. Bring a blanket, drinks, snacks — and all the best books!

65. Write out the lyrics to their favorite song from memory.

66. Keep a “new words” notebook and write down every new word they hear throughout the week.

67. Write out a tongue twister and practice saying it aloud until they can do it with no mistakes. 

68. Interview a family member in a Q&A style. 

69. Read a recipe and then cook it! 

70. Build the best reading nook fort of all time! 

71. Turn a book upside down and see if they can read it. 

72. Write a poem about today’s weather. 

73. Spell out a word using large objects (e.g. toys, books, pens)

74. Read a book about a different culture than yours. 

75. Visit the local library and get new books to read.

76. Draw a family tree and write a sentence or two about each person.

77. Make up a riddle, write it out, and challenge someone to solve it. 

78. Write out a list of their favorite book quotes. Can you get 10? 

79. Write a song about their favorite story and perform it for the family. 

80. Describe their day in six words. Write it out.

81. Write a minisaga story that’s exactly 50 words long. 

82. List out as many things as they can find around the home that start with the letter ‘S’.

83. Read a story backwards just for fun!

84. Write a letter to their favorite fictional character. 

85. Write all about their superpower and how it helps others. (Everyone has one!)

86. Write about something brave they did recently. 

87. Write about the most valuable lesson they ever learned. 

88. Write a list of 10 things they’re grateful for. 

89. Write out 5 things they’re looking forward to. 

90. Join The Bad Guys for a top-secret heist. What’s their special skill? Write it out.

91. Write a silly rhyme about swallowing a pie in the style of the Old Lady.

92. Write out a one-minute fairy tale and read it aloud to a family member.

93. Describe their favorite smell in one paragraph. 

94. Write a food-critic-style article about the last meal they ate.

95. Invent a new breakfast cereal and write out a script for a commercial advertising it.

96. Create a mischievous monster! Draw a picture of it and then write about its bedtime routine. 

97. Write a rulebook for dragon school.

98. Write out a recipe and spell for invisibility. 

99. Make a flyer for a lost time machine. 

100. Write a story using questions only. 

101. Imagine what the best day of their life would look like and write about it. 

Shop for all the season’s hottest books at the Summer Reading Shop — and check out our list of budget-friendly books under $5 for summer below! You can find all books and activities at The Scholastic Store.