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Best summer holiday activities for kids & families 2025

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Fun, free and family-friendly ideas for summer

Planning for the summer holidays 2025? Whether you're a school, club, MAT, childcare provider, or parent/guardian, it pays to stay ahead.

Offering exciting and affordable summer holiday activities can boost engagement, increase bookings, and keep children stimulated.

In this guide, you will find inspiring ideas and practical tips for all ages and budgets. Let's explore options for outdoor fun and activities for rainy days, from early years to teens.

Let's look at the best summer activities for kids and families. We can improve your plans from the school summer holidays in 2024. Together, we can create a fun and successful summer season.

Ready to simplify your summer bookings? Discover how MagicBooking can help in a free demo.

Cheap and free summer activities that don't break the bank

Parents, childcare providers, and schools with wraparound clubs alike are all searching for budget-friendly summer activities. Here are some easy wins that deliver maximum fun with minimal spend:

Top ideas:

• Craft projects using recycled materials.
• Water play with paddling pools or sprinklers.
• Sensory bins with rice, pasta, or sand.
• DIY ice cream-making or decorating sessions.
• Outdoor activities like bug hunts, bird watching, or nature walks.

Unique free EYFS summer activities & activities for toddlers

• Nature paintbrushes: Gather twigs, leaves, feathers, and grass to create DIY paintbrushes. Let toddlers explore texture painting with water or mud.
• Bubble trails: Put a few drops of safe, washable food coloring into bubble mix. Let kids chase and pop the bubbles on a large sheet of paper.
• Shadow drawing: Place animal toys or objects in the sun and trace their shadows as they move throughout the day.
• Texture safari: Create a ‘touch trail’ with stations. Use soft, squishy, rough, and bumpy materials from your home or garden.

The above are excellent summer activities for preschoolers!

Early years summer activities for ages 0-1: Some of the above EYFS activities could be suitable with adaptations.

For example, "A sensory blanket adventure" involves using a soft blanket. Place a mix of safe household items on it. Babies can explore these items using touch, sight, and sound. Include items like: crinkly paper, cool metal spoons, soft fabric scraps, and rattles or bells in sealed containers.

Let babies explore different textures and sounds during tummy time or lap time. Always supervise them to help develop their senses and motor skills!

Uncommon free summer activity ideas for primary ages

• Time capsule crafting: Have kids fill a shoebox with their favourite summer drawings, photos, or letters to their future selves, then seal and store.
• Reverse nature hunt: Instead of finding items, give kids natural materials. Ask them to hide these items creatively. Then, have them draw treasure maps for others to find.
• Scent trail challenge: Using herbs, citrus peel, and flowers, create a scent-matching game. Blindfold participants and guess what’s in the jars.
• Recycled obstacle course: Use cardboard boxes, string, buckets, and old cushions to build a backyard course. Include tasks like “hop like a frog” or “crab crawl through the tunnel.”
• Garden Theatre: Kids write and perform their own short play using costume bits, cardboard props, and garden scenery.
• Story stones: Paint pebbles with characters, objects, and places, then use them to create and tell collaborative summer stories.
• Solar oven cooking: Use a pizza box lined with foil to create a DIY solar oven. Great for making s’mores or warming flatbreads outdoors.

Here are free things to do in London this summer. You can also find them in other parts of the UK. They are easy to access.

Make this your easiest summer yet - explore our childcare booking tools in a free demo.

Further summer activities by age group

Toddlers and EYFS (ages 0-5)

Looking for summer activities for toddlers and EYFS children? These ideas combine development and fun:

Best summer activities EYFS:

• Art activities for summer like sponge painting or bubble art
• Summer craft activities involving natural materials
• Water tables or sensory play bins
• Storytime outdoors under a shaded area

Primary-aged children (ages 6-10)

Keep the kids active during their school holidays and engage them with a fun summer activity like:

• DIY camp activities e.g. campfire story circle
• Treasure hunts
• Building a summer-themed sensory bin
• Outdoor team games or relay races
• DIY nature bracelets and daisy chains
• Mini gardening activities
• Patio decoration, from chalk to paint
• Mini Olympics e.g. cones, hula hoops, spoons, bean bags, skipping ropes, tug of war, and printed scorecards

Note: Beware of 2025 updates to EYFS, covered in our recent blog.

Popular summer activities for kindergarteners (ages 5-6): Bike rides, miniature golf, scavenger hunts, nature walks, picnics, blowing bubbles, dancing, obstacle courses, and water balloon fights.

Read on for more summer activities for kids!

Teens (ages 11+)

Offer more independence and challenge with:

• Summer craft projects like screen printing or photography (Lifeasmama offers lots of DIY summer crafts!)
• ‘Extracurricular activities near me’ such as workshops or volunteering
• Adventure holidays offering things like caving and rock climbing
• Summer camps
• Outdoor swimming (with a trained lifeguard present)
• Older teenagers may benefit from summer schools e.g. Dukesplus

Want more time for activities, not admin? See MagicBooking in action.

Best things to do in London this summer

London can be super family friendly and remains a hotspot family days out. That’s why you’ll often see it listed for 'childrens activities near me' even if you don’t live in London!

A day trip to walk around and see the sights can bring summer fun. Pack a lunch for a picnic in Hyde Park. This can keep the kids entertained for hours.

Here are some recommendations including free things to do in London this summer.

So, let’s talk summer activities London - what's on for kids this summer holiday?

Table: Top 5 family activities in London (summer 2025)

2025: Bear in mind that most things you planned for summer holidays 2024 school term on your summer school holidays 2024 calendar are likely to still be options this year with some (if any) adaptations! Just make sure you double check the 2025 opening hours/event dates.

You can browse family days out in all UK areas on letsgowiththechildren.

General summer activity ideas for parents and providers

If you are planning a programme for young children or a family day, mix and match different kids activities!

Let’s talk summer activities UK:

• Ice cream tasting or DIY ice cream stands – from decorating to making your own. Try a fun competition for the best-looking sundae. Try out Nesquik flavours.
• Outdoor craft projects, like painting walls with wash-off paint or using chalk on pavements.
• Summer craft ideas such as making dream catchers, kites, or garden decorations. Colourcutstick provide printable resources for cut-and-stick activities!
• Indoor rainy day activities including dance parties, puppet shows, story corners, or cooking/baking. DIYwithjoy offers lots of creative recipes.
• Nature scavenger hunts or bug bingo in local parks or gardens.
• Summer theme dress-up days or hosting a summer theme party with games and a BBQ.
• A DIY-style "fishing" trip to the local lake (note: basic equipment needed).
• A fun fair day includes bouncy castles and slides. A camp evening features tent-pitching, campfire building, and roasting marshmallows (equipment needed).
• Create an obstacle course – use existing play equipment or build one from scratch. You can even make it a collaborative craft project, where two kids' teams design courses for each other.
• Plan a visit to farms, zoos/safaris, water parks, outdoor activity centres, air shows, or play parks for exciting day trips.
• For further ideas, parents and schools may enjoy Infolific’s guides on parenting and education.

These are suitable childrens activities or summer activities for families that provide a lot of fun!

Running camps or clubs this summer? Let MagicBooking take care of the logistics – Start with your free demo.

5 Top tips for summer childcare providers

You might be running a holiday club, summer camp, or another childcare programme. No matter what, here are five actionable ways to boost visibility, bookings, and engagement this summer:

1. Optimise your website for "summer holiday activities near me." Make sure you rank for important search terms. Use phrases like "kids activities [location]" and "family-friendly clubs” in page titles, headers, image alt text, and your Google Business Profile. Create a dedicated landing page just for your summer offer.
2. Promote weekly themes early. Share fun summer themes, like craft week, water play, or outdoor adventure. Use email, social media, and your website to announce them. It builds excitement and helps search engines index your updates in time.
3. Offer flexible, mix-and-match booking: Use systems like MagicBooking to let parents' book by day, week, or session. Flexibility makes it easier for parents to manage childcare gaps - and increases your sales.
4. Use pictures and real parent feedback. Share photos of fun activities like ice cream tasting, summer crafts, or camp games. Pair these with quotes from happy parents. It builds trust and answers: “What will your children do during summer vacation?”

Make this your easiest summer yet - explore our childcare booking tools in a quick system tour.

Resources for summer club providers:

• Holiday club business tips
• Top 7 trends in wraparound childcare
• How to start or expand wraparound care in 2025
• How to grow and scale your childcare business, club, or school programme

Why summer camps still matter in 2025

Summer camps offer structured, exciting programmes for children of all ages. These camps are popular with schools and providers. They help working families during school holidays. The camps focus on making friends, being active, and learning.

Benefits of summer camp:

• Routine and structure during the long break
• Opportunities for new friendships
• A mix of indoor and outdoor activities
• Skill-building through extracurricular activities
• A great excuse for summer-specific holiday activities

Summer camp activities can include outdoor adventures, team games, craft projects, and themed dress-up days. These activities help build confidence, creativity, and connection among campers. Discover more with AmeriCamp’s global perspective.

Want to open a Summer Camp? See how easy it could be with MagicBooking in a quick, free demo.

How MagicBooking can help

Running clubs and camps over the summer holidays? MagicBooking's booking system makes it simple for providers to:

• Schedule extracurricular activities & manage childrens activities across age groups
• Organise school holiday events, plus track attendance & children’s information
• Generate automated financial reports and registers
• Streamline bookings, payments, staff scheduling, communications, and admin all in one place online!
• Implement customised offers, discounts, booking rules, and late/cancellation fees!
• Claim the same amazing results as our clients (2024 data insights)

If you are planning a summer camp, expanding your wraparound care, or offering family-friendly events, MagicBooking can help. It makes operations easier and improves the experience for parents. Book a free, zero-obligation tour of the system to see for yourself – we’ll tailor it to your needs!

Ready to bring your summer activities to life? With MagicBooking, your provision can stand out, scale up, and serve families better than ever this summer. Feel free to leave a question for our friendly team!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are some cheap but fun summer activities?

Try water play, chalk art, nature scavenger hunts, and at-home ice cream making.

How to keep your kids busy over summer vacation?

Mix crafts, outdoor adventures, reading clubs, and scheduled camp days.

What are the best summertime activities for toddlers?

Think sensory bins, splash mats, simple crafts, and sing-alongs.

What are some summer activities at home for kids?

Backyard camping, indoor obstacle courses, cooking sessions, and painting.

What are the best outdoor toddler toys for hot summer days?

Water tables, sand pits, bubble machines, and garden sprinklers are some popular children's summer activities.

What are the benefits of summer camps for 4-year-old kids?

They offer structure, along with chances to socialise and safely explore within a stimulating environment.