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Summer is one of my favorite times of year with my kids. We spend plenty of time swimming, reading, traveling, and enjoying family adventures, but I also love having simple activities ready for those long afternoons at home.

As a chemist and mom, I am always looking for activities that spark creativity, encourage curiosity, and keep little hands busy without relying on screens. Over the years, some activities have become summer traditions in our house. From making slime and growing crystals to outdoor water play and sensory bins, these are the projects my kids ask for again and again.

If you’re looking for screen-free summer activities that are fun, educational, and easy to set up, here are our favorites.

1. Homemade Bouncing Bubbles

This has been one of our most popular summer science activities over the years. Regular bubbles are fun, but bouncing bubbles feel almost magical to kids.

Using this diy bouncing homemade bubble solution and a pair of gloves or socks, children can catch and bounce bubbles without them popping immediately.

The activity introduces basic science concepts while feeling like pure summer fun.

2. DIY Slime Recipe for Kids

No summer activity list would be complete without slime.

My kids have made countless batches over the years, and it remains one of the easiest ways to keep them entertained on hot afternoons. Slime combines sensory play, creativity, and simple chemistry all in one project.

Kids love customizing colors, glitter, and textures.

Favorite DIY Slime Recipe

This is one of my favorite recipes you can customize with color and add things like glitter as well.

3. DIY Mermaid Brush

We had so much fun with this! We used small sea shells we got from the beach and then bought some little pearls and jewels to add to it. Check out our video here. And you can find all the items we use for this project in this checklist.

Supplies:

Directions:

Glue the items you want to add to your brush using enough to cover the item. Gently place it on the back of the brush making whatever design you like.
Allow the glue to dry 8 hours before use.
Make sure to store the brush in a holder or brush side down to keep the glued on items safe.

4. Homemade Play Dough

Play dough is one of those timeless activities that never seems to lose its appeal.

Homemade play dough is soft, inexpensive, and easy to customize with colors and scents. My kids use it for imaginative play, building shapes, and creating little worlds.

It’s also one of my favorite rainy-day activities.

5. Overnight Crystals with Alum Powder

If your kids enjoy science experiments, growing crystals is a must.

One of my favorite projects uses alum powder to create beautiful crystals overnight. The results are fast enough to keep kids interested while still teaching them about crystal formation and chemistry.

Watching the crystals grow overnight feels like waking up to a science surprise.

Crystal Growing Kits We Love:

- Alum overnight crystal kit
- Mega crystal growing kit

6. National Geographic Glow In The Dark Slime Kit

We recently added this glow in the dark slime kit to our summer activity collection and it has been a huge hit.

I love that everything is included, making setup easy for busy parents. It combines hands-on creativity with science concepts and provides several different slime-making experiences. And it is glow in the dark! This made it so much fun.

7. Sensory Bins We Use All Summer

Sensory bins are one of my secret weapons for keeping kids entertained.

A simple plastic bin can become a construction site, beach scene, dinosaur excavation, or ocean adventure with just a few inexpensive supplies.

Some of our favorite sensory bin themes include:

8. Water Table Activities

Our water table gets used almost daily during summer.

It is one of the easiest ways to encourage outdoor play while helping kids stay cool. Changing the theme each week keeps things exciting.

Water Table Favorites

9. Bubble Machines

Bubble machines create instant excitement.

Whether we’re having friends over, playing in the backyard, or just spending a summer evening outdoors, a bubble machine turns ordinary playtime into something special.

We often combine bubble machines with sidewalk chalk, sprinklers, and outdoor music for an easy summer afternoon. This bubble machine is fantastic! Check out the video of it here to see how many amazing bubbles it makes.

10. DIY Outdoor Sandbox

One of the best outdoor projects we’ve ever done was creating a simple backyard sandbox.

It doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Kids can spend hours digging, building, and creating imaginary worlds.

A sandbox encourages open-ended play and provides endless entertainment throughout summer. My kids, 8 and 3 years old both love it. Here is a video putting it together.

Helpful DIY Sandbox Items:

11. Summer Reading Challenges

Reading remains one of our favorite screen-free activities.

We combine library visits, poolside reading, and reading challenges throughout summer. Here is our summer reading book list so far this season.

My daughter especially loves choosing books that match our summer adventures. We are having a contest right now between myself, my husband, and my 8 year old to see who can read the most books this summer. The winner gets to pick out a brand new pair of shoes! So far, Amelia has us beat. She is up to 6 chapter books.

Why I Love Summer Science, Sensory Play, and Screen-Free Fun for Kids This Time Of Year

Some of my favorite childhood memories happened outside, creating things, exploring nature, and making messes. I want my kids to experience those same moments.

These activities encourage creativity, curiosity, problem-solving, and hands-on learning while creating memories that last long after summer ends.

Whether we’re making slime at the kitchen table, growing crystals overnight, playing with bubbles in the backyard, or exploring a sensory bin on the patio, these simple activities continue to be some of our favorite summer traditions.

What are your favorite screen-free summer activities? Let me know in the comments!