Summer is here, whether we feel ready for it or not, and with these indoor summer activities for kids, you’ll have plenty of ways to keep them entertained no matter what the weather throws at you.
Quick Highlights about this post:
- Printable activities, journals, and coloring books to keep kids creative and learning
- Slime, crafts, and puzzles for hours of hands-on fun
- Reading challenges and board games to swap screen time for story time
- Easy baking ideas and fort building to enjoy together
- Favorite toys that encourage imagination and independent play
This heat wave is not exactly how I thought we’d welcome summer 2025, but it is summer, right? Whether it’s too hot or rainy, these are my least favorite days because the kids aren’t able to go outside as much as I’d like. However, we do love a good dancing in the rain moment when we can.
As we look ahead to summer, I gathered all the indoor summer activities for kids my family loves when they’re out of camp or have hit their limit on toy time. These ideas keep them engaged, having fun, and more importantly, not glued to screens. My kids are 3 and 7, so these indoor summer activities for kids are perfect for preschoolers and elementary schoolers, and many of them pack up nicely for summer trips, too.
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1. Indoor Summer Activities for Kids: Printable Fun
We always keep a stash of printable packets and activity books on hand for quiet time, travel days, or to break up the afternoon. These indoor summer activities for kids include cut-and-paste worksheets, simple writing journals with fun prompts, tracing pages for letters and numbers, grade-specific workbooks to stay sharp over the summer, and vehicle-themed coloring books that never get old.
- Cut and Paste Activity Book
- Researcher Printable Packet
- Tracing for Preschoolers
- Preschool, Kindergarten, First Grade, and Second Grade workbooks: our favorite books to keep our kids engaged throughout the summer, while preparing them for the next school year.
- Vehicles coloring book for preschoolers and kindergarten
2. Bring Stories to Life with Storytime Theater
This is a favorite on rainy days. The kids pick their favorite book and act it out, complete with costumes and silly voices. Sometimes we even build a stage out of couch cushions. It brings stories to life and sparks so much creativity.
- Storyteller Writing printable for elementary school kids
- Writing journals for kids: reflect on weekend activities or let their imaginations take them to new places.
3. Get Messy with Slime
Making fluffy slime is a staple in our house. It can get a little messy, but it keeps the kids busy for hours. Just make sure they wear clothes you don’t mind getting slimed.
4. Creative Crafts for Rainy Days
We love family craft days. A couple of favorites include popsicle stick picture frames, which are easy to personalize, and paper plate animals. But honestly, any craft supplies will do—kids have an endless imagination if you give them a pile of paper, markers, and glue.
- Here are Six Summer Crafts for Kids
5. Family Puzzle Time
Puzzles are one of the best indoor summer activities for kids on a rainy day. Floor puzzles are perfect for little ones, and larger 100-piece puzzles challenge my 7-year-old just enough to keep him hooked.
- Train Puzzles (Two in one!): my kids’ favorite puzzle
- Melissa & Doug Racing Puzzle: a puzzle you can race cars on!
6. Reading Challenge for Screen-Free Summer
This summer we’re trying out a reading challenge: 20 minutes of reading equals one episode of Paw Patrol or Hot Wheels. It helps the kids get motivated to read, and gives me a chance to sit down with them. We’ve stocked up on books that fit their ages and interests, from silly stories for the preschooler to early chapter books for my oldest.
- Wreck This Picture Book, by Keri Smith
- No Frogs in School, by A. LaFaye
- Ada Twist, Scientist, by Andrea Beaty
- The Couch Potato, by Jory John
- The Magic School Bus Inside a Hurricane, by Joanna Cole
- Aaron Slater and the Sneaky Snake, by Andrea Beaty
- Are You A Cow? by Sandra Boynton
- Dinosaur Dance! by Sandra Boynton
7. Family Board Game Favorites
Game nights are huge in our house. Our three must-haves are Monopoly Kids (it’s way faster than the grown-up version), Zingo (the kids get very competitive), and Uno (always a classic and great for number and color recognition).
- Monopoly Kids
- Zingo
- Uno or Themed for Kids: a classic game that incorporates number and color recognition
8. Simple Baking and No-Bake Treats
When it’s too hot to go outside, baking cookies or whipping up no-bake energy balls is a fun indoor summer activity for kids. The kids love measuring, mixing, and of course taste-testing along the way.
- Energy Bites
- Summer Fruit Salad
- Peanut Butter Blossoms: not just for Christmas
9. Epic Fort Building Ideas
I might be a grown adult, but I still love building forts. Couch cushions, blankets, and a handful of clothespins can turn the living room into a magical hideaway for hours of play.
- We also have this canvas indoor play tent for easy fort making (bought it for Blair’s first birthday party).
10. Best Toys for Independent Play
These are the toys my kids always reach for: LEGO sets (especially Bluey’s Family House lately), Magna-Tiles in all their creative variations, and BRIO wooden track layouts. They’re sturdy, engaging, and work beautifully for solo play when I need to get other things done.
- LEGOs: Bluey’s Family House is our new favorite
- Magna-Tiles: Space, Downhill Duo, and Construction sets
- BRIO wooden track layouts: cash in those reading credits for Liam’s Train Time!
Hopefully these indoor summer activities for kids help you make the most of those days when you’re stuck inside. If you have your own go-to activities, I’d love to hear them in the comments!