Summer is the best time to make a family summer list of things you won’t want to miss if you do them together. Creating a summer bucket list can help you avoid looking back at August and wondering where the time went! There are simple, free, and inexpensive things that can be fun for the whole family this summer. Let’s create a summer bucket list together!
Summer bucket list ideas
I was inspired to create a summer bucket list for my family Katie Eborall. Sometimes things happen in life and we can’t do fun things right away. So this is a great way to make sure you do them later anyway! What makes this bucket list idea so great is that it evolves over time and can get kids involved in the planning in a way that helps them develop delayed gratification skills and gives them something to look forward to they can look forward to.
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Materials needed to create a family bucket list for summer fun
- paper note
- A big glass
- A marker.
How to create a bucket list for your family that will grow with you
Step 1
If your children ask for something they can’t do or have right now, write it down together.
step 2
Then pour into the glass.
This is your bucket list.
It’s that simple. As Katie said, “We will work our way through the glass and be more grateful for the small and beautiful things in our lives.” In the meantime, the glass is filling up with so many wonderful and magical things to focus on whole family can look forward to.
Great summer bucket list ideas to grow your list with
Can’t think of anything fun to do? we got you Check out these fun activities on your summer bucket list and make the perfect summer activity every day!
- Take a road trip.
- Take a day trip.
- Enjoy a long bike ride.
- Explore a national park.
- Explore your local parks.
- Visit a state park.
- Jam at an open-air concert or music festival.
- Ride a Ferris wheel.
- Have fun in an amusement park.
- Enjoy fresh fruit outside.
- Check out a local farmers market.
- Cool off in a paddling pool.
- Take a look at summer camps to attend during summer vacation.
- Shop at a flea market.
- Watch a baseball game.
- Get an inflatable pool and splash around!
- Perform a random gesture of kindness.
- Choose movies for summer movie nights or an outdoor movie night.
- Enjoy Root Bear Floats.
- built sandcastles.
- Plant a rose garden.
- watch fireworks.
- Take a camping trip.
- paint stones!
- Volunteer at a local animal shelter.
- Go on a scavenger hunt or a family hike.
- Learn at the local museum.
- Make popsicles out of fruit juices.
- Try a new board game.
- Look forward to food trucks.
- Check out local tourist attractions.
Why This Bucket List Idea Helps Kids
Children of all ages may find it difficult to understand why they cannot have fun at this moment. With work, school and other things in life getting in the way, you can’t always have fun right now. But they don’t think about responsibility like we do, they just want to play!
So, a bucket list helps them know that you are not ignoring them, but they can’t do the fun things they want right now, you will do them later.
It also gives them something to look forward to because let’s face it, we all could use a little motivation every now and then.
What else you can do to help your children
Other ways you can help your kids understand: Usage phrases like “We can’t do that now, but here’s what we can do instead.”
The bucket list activity is a tangible way to remind them what they want may do it now (make the bucket list).
How to create a bucket journal
Also in the meantime, we can help our kids wait for the fun things on our bucket list by even making a bucket journal!
What is a bucket journal?
Well, a bucket journal is a journal where you write down the details and plans of the things you want to do.
This would be a great activity to add to your bucket list. Don’t know what to write in your diary? Here are some ideas!
Bucket journal ideas
- Any activity you have performed
- Activity details such as:
- how funny it was
- things you’ve done
- people you’ve seen
- Places you saw along the way
- how it made you feel
- people you dated
- Include a checklist of things you want to do or see when you get there
- Add the photos you have taken
- Write down new ideas
I just bought plain journals and bought sticks, washi tape, pens and markers and had my kids decorate their journals to match and we use them on every bucket list item we make out of the jar.
So make this summer exciting! Add places to explore, see and experience and do them together as a family! A bucket wishing jar and bucket journal are the perfect way to make this happen!
Looking for more bucket list ideas? We have them on the Kids Activities Blog
We have a great free printable summer bucket list to use during the summer months. From homemade ice cream to fun at a warm-weather water park to a water balloon fight with new friends, there are so many things to add to your summer bucket list.
- Need a simple bucket list? Then try this ice cream summer bucket list! Try a different ice cream every day! How much fun!
- Having a hard time putting together your list for this summer? Don’t worry, we can help! We have 5 tips to help you break down your list so your family can focus less on making the list and more on getting it done.
- What better family activity than a picnic? Here are 50+ easy and fun picnic ideas.
- Summer is coming, what will you do? We have 30 great summer ideas your whole family will love!
- Did your family put the pool or the beach on their bucket list? How much fun! Don’t forget to be prepared! These beach and pool bag hacks are just what you need.
- Got a bucket list for a rainy day? This is actually super smart, but it can be difficult to get out on rainy days. No problem! We have 10 family activities for a rainy day.
- Do you want to bring your family closer together? Then add this to your wish list! We have a year full of family activities that are fun every month.
- Need more ideas for your wish list? We’ve got 66 super fun family activities you’ll love. From outdoor stays, vacations, indoor activities and much more…there is something for everyone.
What will you and your kids put on your wish list? Comment below and let us know!