Say goodbye to the “summer slide” and hello to your child’s most inspiring summer yet. Parents everywhere are looking for that sweet spot: activities that are both enriching and exciting that limit mindless screen time while making room for hands-on discovery, creativity, and fun. With just a little planning, you can turn long summer days into a launchpad for future success that’s anything but boring.
From backyard science experiments to DIY engineering challenges, we’ve rounded up 10 fun and easy ways to keep curious minds sharp and engaged all season long.
1. Have a weekly “science day”
While summer is filled with freedom, having a routine is a huge benefit for kids. Choose a day of the week that is best for your family’s schedule and make that “science day.” It just might become the highlight of their week!
Start with something simple, like a baking soda volcano or invisible ink with lemon juice. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s curiosity. Ask questions like, “Why did it bubble? What would happen if we used more vinegar?”
This hands-on approach encourages kids to think like scientists: observe, predict, experiment, and reflect. The best part? It often leads to more questions than answers—which is exactly what great science does.
2. Build your own lab at home
You don’t need a fancy setup. Just designate a space and stock up. Our favorite things to have on hand?
- LEGOs or building blocks
- Tape, scissors, glue
- Old electronics for safe disassembly
- Cardboard and string
- Bottle caps and recyclables
Once you’ve got the basics, let your kids build whatever their mind can come up with! A robot prototype. A cardboard vending machine. A LEGO zipline. There’s no limit to their imagination! This kind of open-ended creative time nurtures innovation, experimentation, and perseverance.
3. Cook up some chemistry
The kitchen is a surprisingly sophisticated science lab. From the chemical composition of ice cream to the live culture of sourdough, chemistry is happening all around.
Ready to try to make your own ice cream? Try this:
- Combine 1 cup milk, 2 tablespoons of sugar, and ½ teaspoon vanilla in a small sealable bag.
- Seal it tight and place it in a larger bag filled with ice and ¼ cup of salt
- Shake vigorously for 5-10 minutes (a little cardio challenge, too!)
Talk about how the salt lowers the freezing point of ice, making it cold enough to freeze the liquid inside. Then, eat the results! Delicious and educational.
4. Transform nature walks into discovery missions
Nature is the world’s best science lab! Talk a walk around your neighborhood, local park, or hiking trail and challenge your kids to be expert observers. Bring along a notebook and ask them to:
- Find three types of leaves and sketch their shapes
- Look for insects and note what they do, where they hide, what they eat
- Record any bird calls or nature sounds (and see who can do the best impression)
And for an added STEM element, try out a modern-day, tech-infused treasure hunt like geocaching. Grab a smartphone, create a free geocaching account, and wrangle a sense of adventure to take on the challenge of finding caches all over local parks and trails. By journaling and geocaching, you’re not just getting them outside—you’re building observation skills and sparking a lifelong appreciation for the world around them.
5. Get artsy with science
Art and science are much more connected than they seem. Challenge your kids to take close-up nature photos—think dew on a leaf, butterfly wings, and tree bark. (There are also tons of affordable macro lenses for phones these days!) When you get back home, help them analyze the patterns with questions like, “Which shapes repeat? Is this symmetry? Why do you think this pattern exists in nature?”
Then, turn it into art. Use mirrors, folding paper, or even simply symmetry drawing apps to recreate and remix what they saw. It’s a beautiful way to blend observation, analysis, and creativity—plus it helps visual learners connect more deeply with STEM concepts.
No matter which activities you choose this summer, remember: it’s not about the perfect result—it’s about the joy of learning, exploring, and inventing.
6. Spend an evening under the stars
Stargazing is pure STEM magic. Find a clear night, a blanket, some binoculars, and maybe even download a stargazing app like SkyView®.
Teach your kids how to find the Big Dipper and use it to locate the North Star or track the moon’s eight phases. And don’t stop at the science—lean into the storytelling! Ancient myths and modern science coexist beautifully when you’re staring up at the sky together. The real win here is that you’re creating memories that pair with awe-inspiring learning. That kind of emotional connection helps knowledge stick.
7. Engineer something epic
Few things capture a kid’s attention like building something and seeing it work (or seeing it fail and being determined to solve the problem!). One of our favorite challenges is a good ol’ fashioned popsicle stick bridge.
Build a bridge using only popsicle sticks and glue. Test how much weight it can hold. Start with coins, then move to trinkets like toy cars, then increase the weight with shoes, soda cans, and books. Can they make it stronger? What if they use triangles in the design instead of squares? This process introduces core engineering principles like tension, force, and structural design—all while encouraging creativity, resilience, and problem solving.
Not into bridges? Try:
- Making paper airplane to see which structure flies the farthest
- Designing a balloon-powered car with household items
- Building a mini catapult from pencils and rubber bands
- Engineering a mini wind turbine and watching it turn
- Creating a DIY garden container and seeing what grows!
8. Start a mini garden or eco project
Even the smallest green space can become a classroom. After creating that DIY garden container, take a family trip to the local nursery and let your kids choose which seeds they’d like to plant. This will get them engaged and provide a firsthand look at plant biology, ecosystems, and sustainability. They can track growth, learn about soil and water cycles, and maybe even eat something they grew themselves!
And for a little extra credit, talk to them (or learn together) about composting, water conservation, or how pollinators like bees and butterflies support our food systems. You’re not just growing basil—you’re growing eco-conscious thinkers!
9. Create a math treasure hunt
Math and movement are a powerful combo. Write up clues that require your kids to solve simple equations, estimate distances, or identify shapes in the environment. For example:
- “Go to the room that has an odd number of windows.”
- “Find something shaped like a parallelogram.”
- “The next clue is three feet from the front door—use a ruler to measure it!”
Bonus points if they can make up their own clues for you to solve, too! Treasure hunts like this turn abstract math into something tangible, playful, and rewarding—especially when there’s treasure involved. From choosing the Friday dinner menu to some extra Robux, there’s no motivation quite like treasure. Plus, solving puzzles builds critical thinking skills that will transfer to any subject!
10. Visit a STEM-focused destination
Zoos, aquariums, planetariums, and science museums often have summer exhibits and kid-friendly programming. Interactive displays let kids do science instead of simply reading about it. Not only are you sneaking in education, but you’re also introducing your kids to real-world STEM careers and showing them how STEM touches everything—from animal care to aerospace engineering!
Many museums offer free or discounted days. Check out opportunities around the country like these and more:
- The Children's Museum of Indianapolis offers free and discounted days throughout the year
- The Children's Museum Houston offers free admission every Thursday night from 5pm to 8pm
- OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) has a $5 day on the first Sunday of every month
- The Miami Children's Museum offers a free-with-RSVP Sensory Friendly Saturday on the second Saturday of each month
- Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C. are free, including 17 museums, galleries, and the National Zoo!
TL;DR
Want to keep your child’s brain engaged this summer without relying on screens or worksheets? We’ve got you covered with 10 smart, easy, and fun STEM activities to help you beat the dreaded “summer slide.” From baking soda volcanoes and popsicle stick bridges to stargazing in the backyard and math treasure hunts, these ideas transform curiosity into discovery and summer days into meaningful moments. Whether you’re exploring local museums or building a garden at home, each activity will help your kids stay sharp, creative, and inspired during the sunshine season.