There is a real sense of liberation when that final day of school is done and glorious summer stretches out before us. And then, suddenly, that pure freedom we were all so craving, turns into a mad scramble to avoid the ‘I’m so bored mummy’ ruining everyone’s day. Don’t worry – I’ve got you. Here are 99 MOST FUN ideas for Your Family Summer bucket list 2024 (also perfect for teenagers!).
What’s a Bucket List?
A bucket list is a collection of out-of-the-ordinary things that a person wants to experience in a particular period of time. You might have seen this before as something like 100 things to do before you grow up, or 50 things to do before you’re 50.
Why is Making a Family Summer Bucket List Important?
A bucket list is a great way to think about those dreams and fantasies that you want to do ‘someday,’ and turn them into a real experience that you plan for right now. Introducing your tweens and teens to making their own bucket list is a great life skill for it builds happiness and satisfaction strategies into their adulthood.
Even for adults, a bucket list puts an abstract into a tangible plan. Which means it’s far more likely that you will achieve those dreams.
How to Set up Your Kids for Success
If you are helping your younger child make their bucket list, here are some tips to make it the best it can be.
TOP TIP: If have an independently-spirited child, then the last thing they’ll want is prescribed fun! Who wants instructions from mom or dad of how to fill their free time? So, instead, think of this bucket list as merely a suggestion of ideas. It will help your child think of some of their own fantastic ideas, too.
To set this your Family Bucket List up for success, start a conversation with your child and/or your family about what they have already done and enjoyed. Ask them things like:
- What’s the best thing we did last summer?
- What’s something that you’d want to do again?
- If they still can’t think of anything prompt them with – Remember when we did X together..?
That way you can work out if they want to revisit some of those things or try something new. Ask them if there’s anything they are looking forward to doing this summer. If you get a bored look or the classic ‘I don’t know’ then use this awesome printable family bucket list to give them some fun ideas.
How to make a Summer Bucket List
How to make a Summer Bucket List- Here’s a free printable summer bucket list to print right now! TAP TO DOWNLOAD YOUR INSTANT FREE FAMILY SUMMER BUCKET LIST PRINTABLE
2. Read on for 99 MOST FUN ideas to put on your list!
99 Ideas for an Unforgettable Summer Holiday With Your Kids
It’s going to be the best summer ever with these fantastic summer bucket list ideas!
- Visit a zoo or a farm
- Do crazy golf
- Make ice cream in a bag
- Roast marshmallows for s’mores
- Make a summer playlist
- Build a sandcastle at the beach
Building a moat in Camber Sands - Create a signature drink or dessert
- Have a Christmas in July party
- Camp or holiday with friends
- Have a sleepover (or a virtual sleepover)
- Do a movie marathon
- Tie-dye something
Tie-dye is a fun activity for kids in the summer holidays - Make chalk art outdoors
- Have a photoshoot
- Visit someone who lives far away
- Go swimming
- Make a terrarium or fairy garden
- Visit a theme park
- Go boating
- Do some cloud watching
- Earn some money (babysit/wash windows/walk dogs etc)
- Go to the library
- Have a water gun fight
- Grow a sunflower
Kids love seeing flowers grow - Go geocaching
- Catch a summer movie and have popcorn
- Go on a zip wire or in a zorb
- Join a summer club (drama/sports/chess etc)
- Have an un-birthday party for yourself or a pet
Celebrating our gerbils birthday with her favourite thing – cardboard - Do a random act of kindness for someone
- Make a taco bar for lunch or dinner
- Write a song, rap, poem or short story
- Decorate your bedroom
- Make cookies or muffins
Making cupcakes - Go bowling
- Paint and hide kindness rocks
- Donate or sell old toys/books
- Do a favourites day (food/activity/place etc)
- Pick berries
- Roller skate or skateboard
- Learn a song on the guitar/keyboard
- Make smoothies
- Make friendship bracelets for a BFF
- Create a movie night snack board
Snack platters for movie night are a welcome treat - Try a freakshake
- Play ultimate frisbee
- Go on a long bike ride
- Make ice lollies
- Take a picnic to the park
Sandwiches taste better outdoors - Make bath bombs
- Bury a time capsule
- Get your parents to have a ‘yes’ day
- Send a letter to a friend or relative
- Visit the arcades
- Make a short film or music video
- DIY/customise a pair of shorts or distress your jeans
- Swap names for a day with a friend or sibling
- Breakfast for dinner & dinner for breakfast
- Do a board game Olympics
- Visit an aquarium
- Write a letter to your future self and hide it away
- Plan a trip around the world (imagine what to do/see/eat)
- Create a secret handshake
- Have a gaming day with friends
- Make a bird feeder
- Invent a fun workout
- Take a giant bubble wand to the park
- Organise a football/table tennis tournament
- Watch a sunrise or sunset
- Try ceramics or pottery
- Sleep under the stars
- Visit a museum & get something from the gift shop
- Learn a magic trick
- Make a rainbow cake or cupcakes
- Do a thrift shop/charity shop day
- Try an outdoor lido
- Visit a trampoline park
- Have a pyjama day
- Learn to make your favourite meal
Learn to make enchiladas - Try an audiobook
- Make a themed photo book (holidays/birthdays/favourite people)
- Play in a splash pad/public fountain
- Paint/doodle your own canvas shoes
- Eat something new from an outdoor food market
- Have a silly string battle
- Start a blog/vlog/live stream
- Make butterbeer
- Enjoy a free festival
- Try every ice cream flavour
Hans and Gretel dessert parlour in Camden - Learn to do an accent or a celebrity impression
- Go boating
- Set up a den (indoor or outdoor)
- Make slime
- Set a goal to read X amount of books
- Try an escape room
- Make something you discovered on Pinterest
- Stargaze and learn a constellation
- Play tennis or basketball
- Unplug for 24 hours
When the list is complete, pop that wonderful Summer Bucket List up on the fridge. And when your pre-teen or teenager is looking for a snack, they will be reminded of all the amazing things they can do before school starts again.
Go one step further and plot your ideas into the family calendar so that you can start looking forward to crossing off that bucket list.
Over to You
Were you inspired by this Summer Bucket List of Teens and Tweens? Leave me a comment below! I’d love to know what you might do this summer with your family.
☀️ Don’t forget to check out my Printable Family Summer Bucket List in the Etsy shop – it’s on sale now!
➡️ READ NEXT You will also love 13 Cheap and Easy ways to Entertain Your kids at Home.
I hope you try out loads of these 99 ideas for a Family Summer Bucket List. Making memories is the best part of having summer holidays.
PIN FOR LATER: 99 ideas for Your Family Summer Bucket List
