Summer days are meant for fun and adventure, but sometimes the heat can keep everyone stuck indoors. No worries! Whether you’re dealing with a scorching afternoon or just need a break from the sun, we’ve got you covered with over 100 fantastic indoor activities for kids—and adults—that they will love. From playful projects that bring the whole family together, to age-specific ideas perfect for toddlers, early elementary kids, and tweens, this guide has something for every energy level and interest.
Explore 40 Indoor Summer Activities for Kids & Adults of All Ages that make family time extra special, or dive into creative, sensory, and educational ideas tailored to your child’s age: 25 fun activities for kids ages 1–4, 25 engaging activities for kids ages 5–9, and 25 awesome activities for kids ages 10 and up. With these indoor summer activities, there’s no more “I’m bored” on hot days—just cool, screen-free fun for everyone! Please share this with your family, friends, and anyone else so they can enjoy a fantastic summer right at home.
40 Indoor Summer Activities for Kids & Adults of All Ages
1. Build a blanket fort – Use chairs, blankets, and pillows to create a cozy hideout.
2. Host a family movie night – Pick a theme and enjoy popcorn and snacks.
3. Bake something together – Cookies, brownies, or even bread!
4. Do a jigsaw puzzle – Choose a big one everyone can work on.
5. Create your own board game – Design it, make rules, and play!
6. Paint or draw together – Try a shared canvas or individual masterpieces.
7. Have a living room dance party – Play favorite songs and let loose.
8. Play charades – Act out movies, animals, or books.
9. Create a family time capsule – Fill it with drawings, photos, and notes.
10. Try yoga or stretching – Follow a kid-friendly or all-ages video.
11. Make your own pizza night – Everyone adds their favorite toppings.
12. Write and illustrate a story – Take turns writing pages or drawing pictures.
13. Do a cooking challenge – Like a mini “Chopped” game at home.
14. Start a scrapbook – Use photos, stickers, and printed memories.
15. Make homemade playdough or slime – Fun and easy to create.
16. Have an indoor picnic – Lay out a blanket and enjoy lunch inside.
17. Try a new card game – Learn Uno, Go Fish, or even a magic trick.
18. Watch home videos – Reminisce and laugh at old memories.
19. Put on a family talent show – Singing, dancing, magic—anything goes!
20. Play “Would You Rather?” – Hilarious and family-friendly fun.
21. Try origami – Fold animals, flowers, and fun designs together.
22. Create a photo booth – Use props and take silly pictures.
23. Decorate cookies – Use frosting, sprinkles, and creativity.
24. Make friendship bracelets – Great for older kids and adults alike.
25. Start a gratitude jar – Write down things you’re thankful for daily.
26. Build with LEGO or blocks – Have a tower or city-building contest.
27. Make your own comic book – Draw characters and write stories.
28. Do indoor bowling – Use empty bottles and a soft ball.
29. Explore a science experiment – Try baking soda and vinegar volcanos.
30. Host a themed dinner night – Dress up and cook food from another country.
31. Try shadow puppets – Use a flashlight and get creative.
32. Play indoor hide and seek – Classic and always fun.
33. Do a scavenger hunt – Create clues or use a printable list.
34. Try a dance tutorial – Learn a new routine together.
35. Design and make a family crest – Include symbols for each member.
36. Make a collage or vision board – Use old magazines and glue.
37. Try journaling or storytelling – Each person can share their thoughts.
38. Make popsicles or smoothies – Get creative with flavors and toppings.
39. Create DIY puppets – Use socks, paper bags, or craft sticks.
40. Start a mini book club – Read a chapter book together and discuss.
25 Indoor Summer Activities for Kids Ages 1-4
1. Bubble wrap stomping – Tape bubble wrap to the floor and let them jump or crawl on it.
2. Paint with water – Give them a paintbrush and a cup of water to “paint” on cardboard or construction paper.
3. Sticker play – Let them decorate paper with fun stickers (great for fine motor skills).
4. Indoor sandbox – Fill a shallow bin with kinetic sand or cornmeal and add scoops and toys.
5. Pom-pom push game – Push pom-poms through holes in a cardboard box or lid.
6. Animal walk race – Crawl like a bear, hop like a frog, or waddle like a penguin.
7. Soft toy wash station – Wash dolls or plastic animals in a bin of soapy water with a sponge.
8. Color sorting with cups – Sort colored items (like buttons or balls) into matching cups.
9. Edible sensory bin – Use items like cereal, cooked pasta, or marshmallows for safe exploration.
10. Rainbow rice sensory play – Dye rice with food coloring and let them scoop, pour, and explore.
11. Crayon rubbings – Place textured objects under paper and rub crayons over the top.
12. Dance with scarves or ribbons – Put on music and let them twirl around.
13. Paper tearing art – Tear colorful paper and glue it onto a bigger sheet.
14. Tunnel crawling – Set up a play tunnel or line up chairs and crawl underneath.
15. Mirror play – Use a shatterproof mirror and let them explore expressions or dress-up hats.
16. Balloon play – Bat a balloon back and forth; it moves slowly, so it’s safe for toddlers.
17. Foam block stacking – Build towers and knock them down together.
18. Fabric treasure hunt – Hide soft toys or objects inside a pile of fabric scraps for them to find.
19. Mess-free sensory bags – Fill zip-top bags with hair gel, buttons, or beads and tape them to a table or window.
20. Lid matching game – Match plastic lids to the correct containers.
21. Shadow play – Use a flashlight to create hand shadows on the wall.
22. Clothespin color match – Clip colored clothespins to matching cards or fabric swatches.
23. Pillow mountain climbing – Stack pillows for them to safely climb and tumble on.
24. Ice cube play – Add colorful ice cubes to a bowl of water and let them explore.
25. Finger puppet stories – Use simple finger puppets to tell short, silly stories.
25 Indoor Summer Activities for Kids Ages 5-9
1. Create a paper plate mask – Use markers, feathers, yarn, and more to design silly or animal masks.
2. Make a mini scrapbook – Let them print or draw pictures and add stickers, captions, and decorations.
3. DIY treasure map – Crumple and tea-stain paper, then draw a pretend map and go on a “hunt.”
4. Build a shoebox diorama – Pick a theme (ocean, zoo, outer space) and fill it with handmade mini-scenes.
5. Write secret messages with invisible ink – Use lemon juice and reveal with gentle heat (adult supervision).
6. Make a DIY lava lamp – Mix oil, water, food coloring, and Alka-Seltzer for a cool science effect.
7. Create a pretend grocery store – Label items, set up prices, and take turns shopping.
8. Play “Minute to Win It” games – Simple challenges like stacking cups or moving cotton balls with a spoon.
9. Invent a superhero – Draw a character, write their powers, and create a short comic strip.
10. Create a no-sew sock animal – Use old socks, stuffing, and rubber bands to make easy soft toys.
11. Design a cereal box maze – Cut and glue cardboard pieces inside an empty cereal box to make a marble maze.
12. Make a postcard and “mail” it – Send it to a family member or just play pretend post office.
13. Origami jumping frogs – Fold paper into frogs and race them by pressing down their backs.
14. Craft paper spinners – Make and decorate spinning tops from cardboard and a toothpick.
15. Play “Guess That Sound” – Record or play household sounds and have them guess what it is.
16. Build with marshmallows and toothpicks – Create bridges, towers, or 3D shapes.
17. Host a mini talent showcase – Show off tricks, songs, or jokes to siblings or stuffed animals.
18. Make a weather journal – Draw today’s weather, make predictions, and track temperature.
19. Create a handprint family tree – Trace hands on paper and write family names on each.
20. Do a “reverse engineering” project – Take apart a broken toy or gadget and examine how it worked.
21. Make a flip book animation – Draw simple figures moving on each page to create a short scene.
22. Invent your own board game – Make a path, rules, characters, and game pieces.
23. Make a salt dough sculpture – Shape, bake, and paint your own creation.
24. Do a pretend news broadcast – Write headlines, weather, and funny stories, then “report” them.
25. Set up a domino rally – Use dominoes, books, or blocks to create a knock-down chain reaction.
25 Indoor Summer Activities for Kids Ages 10+
1. Write and record a podcast – Choose a topic, write a script, and use a phone or tablet to record.
2. Learn basic photography techniques – Experiment with lighting, angles, or try a photo-a-day challenge.
3. Build a DIY escape room – Create puzzles and clues for family members to solve.
4. Design a comic book or graphic novel – Use panels to create original characters and stories.
5. Learn calligraphy or creative lettering – Use brush pens or markers to write fancy notes and cards.
6. Start a bullet journal – Organize goals, summer plans, or creative ideas.
7. Try stop-motion animation – Use toys or clay figures to make a short film using a stop-motion app.
8. Host a virtual hangout with friends – Plan a themed online game night or quiz.
9. Make a DIY board game organizer – Craft a storage solution using recycled materials.
10. Try simple embroidery or cross-stitch – Start with a beginner pattern.
11. Build a mini model or kit – Like a model airplane, car, or architectural set.
12. Create a Rube Goldberg machine – Use household items to build a fun chain-reaction machine.
13. Write a short story or novel – Participate in a writing challenge or set a daily word goal.
14. Design your dream bedroom or home – Use drawing tools or free design apps.
15. Learn a simple card magic trick – Practice and perform for family or friends.
16. Build a paper roller coaster – Use cardstock or paper strips for twists and turns.
17. Take on a DIY fashion challenge – Upcycle old clothes or design your own T-shirt graphics.
18. Practice digital art – Use free software or tablet apps to create illustrations.
19. Try a logic puzzle or brain teaser book – Or make your own puzzles for others.
20. Plan and film a cooking tutorial – Pick a recipe, cook it, and film like a cooking show.
21. Create a blog or online journal – Share hobbies, stories, or thoughts (with supervision if needed).
22. Try paper quilling – Roll and shape paper strips into decorative designs.
23. Build a domino maze or tower – Get creative with layout and design.
24. Create a digital scavenger hunt – Use QR codes or images to lead friends or siblings through clues.
25. Learn basic coding with free resources – Try platforms like Scratch, Tynker, or Khan Academy.
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Final Thoughts On These Indoor Summer Activities For Kids:
This article offers over 100 indoor summer activities designed to keep kids and families entertained when the weather is too hot to play outside. It features a variety of fun and creative ideas for all ages, including 40 activities for kids and adults of all ages, plus age-specific suggestions with 25 activities each for toddlers (ages 1–4), young children (ages 5–9), and older kids (ages 10+). From sensory play and crafts to games and educational projects, this comprehensive guide ensures screen-free, engaging indoor fun for the whole family during those scorching summer days.
We hope you find activities that you and your kids will love, making summer fun and memorable together with family and friends. Feel free to share these ideas with friends, relatives, coworkers, classmates, or anyone you know. You can also spread the word on social media so more people can enjoy a cool and blissful summer indoors. Be sure to revisit this article every summer for fresh ideas on fun indoor activities to enjoy during the hot months.
Kayla is the content creator over at motviationformom.com. She is a wife and mother who loves to share all of the tips, tricks, and life lessons that she has learned over the years with all of her readers. Her primary focus is on children’s education, motherhood, and healthy family relationships!