Evidence-based curriculum for ages 2-8

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900+ Jokes for Kids (Free Printable)

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Turn your child's screen time into learning time. Get ABCmouse free for 30 days.

Seasonal Jokes and Riddles for Kids

Holiday Jokes and Riddles for Kids

Free printable list of dad jokes for kids from ABCmouse.com.

Keep the laughs coming with our huge collection of riddles for kids!

Coloring pages provide another fun way to learn about and celebrate different seasons and holidays.

Looking for More Printable Activities?

Letter B Coloring Pages for Kids (FREE Printables)

ABCmouse #1 learning app for kids!

Overview of the Free Printable Letter B Coloring Pages

You’ll find letter B coloring pages for kids featuring simple Bs to trace or color, while others have more ornate designs. Kids can also pick and choose from coloring pages that featuring cute letter B pictures to get creative with.

Fun Activities for Learning the Letter B!

Recommended for: Toddlers, Preschoolers, & Kindergarteners

⭐ Play B is for Bounce

Practice the sound of the letter B and learning a few new letter B words in this fun game. Grab a ball and explain to your child that each time you bounce the ball back and forth, you have to say a letter B word, such as ball, bounce, or bear. If your child has some extra energy to burn, they can also bounce as they say the word. Use our Letter B Word List for help.

⭐ Free Online Letter B Tracing Games

Rainbow traceable letter b game for kids from ABCmouse.com.

ABCmouse offers hundred of free educational games for kids. Use our Rainbow Tracing game as an interactive way for your child to practice making the shape of the letter B.

⭐ Creative Letter B Shape Practice

Free printable letter b worksheets for kids from ABCmouse.com.

Draw or print out the outline of an uppercase and/or lowercase letter B. Set out a few different ways for your child to fill in the shape, such as with beads or buttons or even just markers or paint.

More Free Printable Coloring Pages

Looking for More Printable Activities?

Holidays and Seasons Word Lists for Kids (Free Printables)

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Turn your child's screen time into learning time. Get ABCmouse free for 30 days.

Free Holiday and Seasons Word Lists for Kids

Free printable winter word list of for kids from ABCmouse.com.
Brightly colored spring words for kids, butterfly, lamb, sprout, tulips, bee, chick.
Brightly colored summer word list for kids from ABCmouse.com.
Free printable list of Halloween themed words for kids from ABCmouse.com.
Free printable list of Thanksgiving words for kids from ABCmouse.com.
Free printable list of Christmas words for kids from ABCmouse.com.

Free Holiday and Seasonal Games for Kids

Halloween match game online free for kids to play from ABCmouse.com.

Memory Match -Play Together- Halloween

In this two-player game, kids take turn testing their memory to match Halloween images.

Mixed up seasons free online game for kids to play from ABCmouse.com.

Mixed Up Seasons

Help the chef match the seasonal items to the correct season, like putting the rain boots into the mixing bowl labeled spring.

Forest number sentences free online game to play for kids from ABCmouse.com.

Forest Number Sentences

In this free online game for kids, players practice addition and subtraction in a fall forest.

Letter Cc Bunny Hops Maze | ABCmouse

Bunny Themed Games

Lean into spring with a collection of games featuring cute little rabbits that help kids work on early literacy and math skills.

Holiday and Seasonal Coloring Pages

Coloring pages provide another fun way to learn about and celebrate different seasons and holidays.

Looking for More Printable Activities?

Sight Word Lists for Kids (Free Printables)

The first chapter in your child's literacy journey. ABCmouse.com subscription for learning to read.
The first chapter in your child's literacy journey. ABCmouse.com subscription for learning to read.

Free Printable Sight Word Lists for Kids

A child looking at cards with different sight words written on them.
A young mother and girl reading together while practicing sight words.
A young boy matching the correct sight word to the picture with his cards on the table.

This list features some of the most common sight words for kindergarteners. They should eventually learn to recognize these words instantly, after trying a phonetic approach to the words first.

A young girl working on sight words with flash cards.
A child practicing reading sight words with his parent.
Free printable Sight word Bingo cards from ABCmouse.com.

Check out our collection of sight word resources, including tips and how-tos, along with free printables, activities, and games for your child.

Free fun practice writing the sight word two with a rainbow game for kids to play online from ABCmouse.com.

Rainbow Traceables: Sight Word Two

Kids will loving using a rainbow to trace the sight word two in this game for young learners.

Free fun chicken themed sight word game for kids to play online from ABCmouse.com.

Run, Chicken, Run: Sight Words

Kids can help the chicken run through the farm by collecting sight words like we, it, funny, and look!

Sight Word Rocket fun rhyming sight word game from ABCmouse.com.

Sight Word Rocket

Choose the correct rhyming sight words to help Ben and his robot finish building their rocket.

Free fun carnival themed sight word game for kids to play online from ABCmouse.com.

Carnival Acts

Play some carnival games while practicing with sight words in this game designed for first graders.

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Syllable Word Lists for Kids (Free Printables)

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Turn your child's screen time into learning time. Get ABCmouse free for 30 days.

Free Printable Syllable Word Lists for Kids

Free printable closed syllable word lists for kids from ABCmouse.com.

A closed syllable is a syllable in which a single vowel is followed by one or more consonants and the vowel typically makes a short sound.

Free printable open syllable word lists for kids from ABCmouse.com.

Open syllables end in a vowel and do not have a consonant following it. In open syllable words, the vowel typically has a long sound.

The word syllable in colorful letters with a yellow pen below.

Get insights and ideas for helping children learn and understand the difference between open and closed syllables.

Free printable one syllable word lists for kid from ABCmouse.com. Words like net, ox, sun, on, pig, bed.

One-syllable words are a key building block for early reading. This free printable list is organized alphabetically to help simplify sounding out words with your child.

Free printable two syllable word lists for kid from ABCmouse.com. Words like carrot, apple, taco, lemon, acorn, wagon, whistle.

Two-syllable words help to create a bridge between simple vocabulary words and more complex, multi-syllable words as children’s language skills grow.

Free printable three syllable word lists for kid from ABCmouse.com. Words like umbrella, envelope, hamburger, pineapple, tomato, apricot, elephant.

This printable list of three-syllable words is designed to build off of our one- and two-syllable word lists, helping children improve their ability to break longer words into smaller parts while also building vocabulary and spelling skills.

Free printable syllable worksheets for kids from ABCmouse.com.

These free syllable worksheets offer fun, varied activities—like fill-in-the-blanks and crosswords—to help children learn how to break words into syllables.

Wetlands syllable search fun free game to play online for kids to learn syllables from ABCmouse.com.

Wetlands Syllable Search

Carla needs help to complete her list of wetlands plants and animals. Put the correct syllables together to form their names.

Bongos bongo beats free fun to play syllable game for kids from ABCmouse.com.

Bongo’s Bongo Beats

Join Bongo in a game listening to animal names and working to count the number of syllables in each one.

Letter city syllables free online game for kids to learn about syllables from ABCmouse.com.

Letter City Syllables

Join Prospector Paul and his mule Strauss in Letter City, where they’re building two-syllable words to tell the story of their trip.

Austin and Scout's word adventure free online game for kids to play to learn about syllables from ABCmouse.com.

Austin and Scout’s Word Adventure

Help Austin and Scout find the lost city by putting together the correct pieces of two-syllable words.

Looking for More Printable Activities?

Letter A Coloring Pages for Kids (FREE Printables)

ABCmouse #1 learning app for kids!

Overview of the Free Printable Letter A Coloring Pages

Pick your favorites from the letter A coloring pages below, or download the complete set using the button above. These pages feature both the long A sound (/ā/) and the short A sound (/ǎ/) and include kid-friendly images to add even more fun to learning. Be sure to check out the letter A activities at the bottom!

Fun Activities for Learning the Letter A!

Recommended for: Toddlers, Preschoolers, & Kindergarteners

⭐ Create a Letter A Sensory Bin

Add an inch or two of dried rice, beans, or oatmeal to a shallow plastic bin or box. Then, bury letter A magnets or blocks in the bin, along with small toys or objects that start with the letter A. Help your child pronounce the letter A sound as they find each item. Learn more about creating an alphabet sensory bin here.

⭐ Free Online Letter A Tracing Games

Fun letter a rainbow tracing game free to play on ABCmouse.com.

ABCmouse offers hundred of free educational games for kids. Use our Rainbow Tracing game as an interactive way for your child to practice making the shape of the letter A.

⭐ Letter A Stamping

Grab an apple, some paint, and paper for this activity. Begin by slicing the apple in half and adding some paint to a paper plate. Have your child dip the apple gently into the paint and then onto a sheet of paper, leaving an apple stamp on it. Then, work with your child to write A is for Apple onto the paper. You can use a spoon to carve shapes into your apple to create more fun stamps!

More Free Printable Coloring Pages

Looking for More Printable Activities?

ABC mouse reading a book with the app displayed on a screen to the left and books from the library displayed on the right for 3 year old preschool curriculum.

Summer Learning Activities with ABCmouse

See how ABCmouse keeps kids learning all summer long with games, activities, and lessons.

#1 most downloaded kids' app ABCmouse!
#1 most downloaded kids' app ABCmouse!
A little girl playing ABCmouse app for summer learning fun.
Sight word big game from ABCmouse.com.  Trace the word in rainbow letters.

Sight Word Rainbow Tracing

Bubble blaster game learn the colors brown white and black from ABCmouse.com.

Black, White, and Brown Bubble Blaster

Dinosaur chomp fun online math game for kids from ABCmouse.com.

Dinosaur Chomp

Carla's faraway friends a fun social studies game for kids from ABCmouse.com.

Carla’s Faraway Friends

A fun shopping center for preschoolers to use ABCmouse tickets and buy things on the app.
A fun make believe pet park in the ABCmouse app for preschoolers to use their tickets to buy pets and decorations.
A fun movie theater in the ABCmouse app where preschoolers can choose educational videos to watch.
A fun make believe farm in the ABCmouse app for preschoolers to use their tickets to buy animals and decorations.
A fun make believe aquarium in the ABCmouse app for preschoolers to use their tickets to buy fish and decorations.
A fun virtual zoo on ABCmouse.com where kids can play zoo themed games and activities.

Explore the Grand Canyon

Letter A Song

Fly with Me Song

Learn the Days of the Week

The Boy Who Cried Wolf

Screenshot of an interactive storybook on the ABCmouse app, showing highlighted text and illustrations.

Read Along Books

ABCmouse learning categories on the app.

Pick from Categories or Search the Library

A map of all that's included in the ABCmouse app with the library circled.

Visit the Library

Get more reading resources…

A young child laying on the floor on their stomach reading a book.

Reading Lists

Pick from books outside of the app with our Summer Reading List for Kids and Best Books for Kindergartners.

Free printable kindergarten math worksheets from ABCmouse.com.

Kindergarten Math Worksheets

Free printable word family worksheets for kids from ABCmouse.com.

Kindergarten Word Family Worksheets

Free printable coin and money worksheets for kids from ABCmouse.com.

Coins and Money Worksheets

More summer worksheets for kids…

Free printable summer worksheets for kids from ABCmouse.com.

Summer Worksheets for Kids

ABCmouse fits easily into your daily routine and can help your child learn in just 15 minutes a day. Use it during quiet time, after meals, or as part of a morning learning session.

Kids can explore the app independently, or you can sit with them to introduce new concepts, then follow up with hands-on activities that reinforce what they’ve learned. However you choose to use it, ABCmouse makes learning simple and flexible.

ABCmouse #1 learning app for kids!
Fun summer activity ideas for young children.

50 Summer Activities for Kids to Keep Them Busy at Home

Fill the long days of summer with loads of activities that kids can do at home. From backyard fun to crafts and simple cooking ideas, there are options to suit almost every child! 

Most kids can’t wait for the start of summer and a long school break. Inevitably, though, it won’t be long until parents hear, “I’m booooored! What are we gonna do today?” That’s why you need this list of fun summer activities for kids at home. You’ll find enough creative ideas here to keep kids occupied and enjoying themselves all season long! 

A young girl and her friends putting on a lemon aid stand for a fun summer activity.

Lemonade Stand

This activity is an absolute classic! For an added challenge (or side-by-side taste comparison), try making homemade lemonade with freshly-squeezed lemons.

Then give kids some cardboard boxes to decorate so they can set up a stand. Whether they sell to friends and neighbors for real money or just pretend to sell to each other, they’ll have an old-fashioned summer blast.

Making homemade ice cream in a bag  for a fun summer activity.

Ice Cream in a Bag

Use just a few supplies to make DIY ice cream, no machine required. 

Making fruit kabobs  for a fun summer activity.

Fruit Kabobs

Cut up chunks of whatever fruit your family loves best: strawberries, bananas, grapes, watermelon, pineapple, etc. Provide long wooden skewers, then invite kids to create their own kabobs, mixing the fruits however they like and being careful with the pointy ends of the skewers.

These make a great healthy snack, although you might consider indulging by dipping the kabobs in melted chocolate every once in a while!

Decorating cookies for a fun summer activity.

Cookie Decorating

Bake plain sugar cookies (or buy them pre-made). Give kids bags of colored frosting with the corners snipped off, along with sprinkles, chocolate chips, and other cookie decorating goodies.

Let each child decorate their own cookie for a treat, and make some extras to share with family and friends.

 A young child drinking a homemade green smoothy for a fun summer activity.

Homemade Smoothies

Smoothies are so easy to make: combine 1 cup of the liquid of your choice, such as any type of milk or juice, with 1 cup crushed ice.

Then, add in any other ingredients you like: frozen fruit, nut butter, honey, spinach, carrots, rolled oats … the list goes on! Let kids experiment to find their own favorite recipe.

Older kids can learn to safely use a blender on their own, while younger ones will need some adult help with this activity. 

Young children making a salad bar  for a fun summer activity.

DIY Salad Bar

Harvest veggies from the garden or visit a produce stand together to pick out lots of colorful veggies and your favorite kinds of lettuce.

Kids can help wash and cut up the produce, laying it all out in separate dishes. Provide big bowls and your favorite salad dressings, then invite everyone to enjoy your at-home salad bar!

A jar with mystery ingredients written on a little slips of paper  for a fun summer activity.

Mystery Ingredient

Write a selection of “mystery ingredients” on slips of paper and put them in a jar. Invite your child to draw one out, revealing that day’s choice.

Then, challenge your child to help you come up with a recipe or dish that uses that ingredient, and make it for everyone to enjoy. Here are some mystery ingredient possibilities: nut butter, honey, soy sauce, cornbread mix, spinach, pineapple slices, pickles, etc. 

Kids cooking together  for a fun summer activity.

Kids Cooking Show

If your child really loves to spend time in the kitchen, invite them to put on their own cooking show!

As they prepare a recipe, they can talk to the audience, explaining what they’re doing. You can even film them with your phone and share the video with their friends.

A young child making an herb garden for a fun summer activity.

Herb Garden

As long as you have a sunny windowsill, you can grow your own herbs. Let kids pick out some seeds (options like basil, dill, chives, parsley, and oregano are easy to grow).

Buy some small pots and label stakes or signs for each one. Then, plant the seeds, watch them grow, and enjoy adding fresh herbs to the dishes you make together all summer long.

A young family at the farmers market  for a fun summer activity.

Farmer’s Market

Visit a farmer’s market together, then encourage your child to set up their own market at home.

They can offer toy or hand-drawn fruits and veggies, sculpt offerings from playdough or clay, or even sell real fresh produce from your own garden to neighbors (with permission first, of course)!

A DIY outdoor obstacle course for kids  for a fun summer activity.

Obstacle Course

Here’s another classic summer activity, one that’s only limited by your imagination! Obstacle courses tend to include physical elements, of course, but you can incorporate other challenges too.

Consider adding stations where racers must stop and write out the alphabet backward, sing all the verses of a favorite song, or answer questions on a few flashcards before continuing. This gives all kinds of kids a chance to shine.

Fun outdoor games  for a fun summer activity.

Outdoor Games

This is the season for epic games of Spud, freeze tag, sardines, and follow-the-leader!

Learn how to play all these games and many more here, with options for little ones, groups and teams, and more.

Check out our article Nature Activities for Preschoolers for 50 more outdoor ideas.

Shadow tracing  for a fun summer activity.

Shadow Tracing

You’ll need a bright sunny day and sidewalk chalk for this one. Take turns holding funny poses while a partner traces your shadow. This is especially fun to do several times throughout the day.

Hold the same pose each time and trace each shadow in a different color. At the end, you’ll have a rainbow array reflecting your shadow as it changes throughout the day.

Water balloon games  for a fun summer activity.

Water Balloon Games

What kid doesn’t love a chance to play with water balloons?

Try the balloon toss: pairs of kids start out standing fairly close together, tossing their balloon from one to the other. After each toss, kids take a big step backward. Eventually, someone will miss their catch and get seriously wet!

Other ideas: water balloon piñata, water balloon dodgeball, or a water balloon throwing challenge: who can throw their balloon the farthest without it popping?

A fun backyard fort made of sheets and boxes.

Backyard Fort

Haul out the old sheets and blankets and round up all the cardboard boxes you’ve got: it’s time to build the ultimate outdoor fort! (Just remember to watch for rain—a soggy fort isn’t quite as much fun.)

Toy boat race  for a fun summer activity.

Toy Boat Race

If you’ve got a pool (even a kiddie pool) or access to another water source, toy boat races are so much fun!

You can use boats already on hand, or try building your own from materials like straws, wood craft sticks, twigs, bark, foil, and more. Of course, adults should be close by to keep an eye on children playing near water. 

Mini fairy garden  for a fun summer activity.

Mini Garden

Also known as a fairy garden, a mini garden incorporates easy-care succulents with tiny accessories (fit for a fairy!).

You’ll find lots of mini fairy garden accessories for sale in the summer, or you can get creative and make your own. Old dollhouse furniture and accessories can also work in fairy gardens.

A young boy washing his bike in the summer time.

Bike Wash

Give kids some big sponges, buckets, gentle dish soap, and towels so they can set up their own neighborhood bike wash station.

You can even teach older kids how to wax the metal fittings. Once everyone has a nice shiny bike, decorate them with flowers and streamers and hold a bike parade!

A young girl holding colorful spray bottles in front of a yellow backdrop.

Spray Bottle Tag

Fill spray bottles with water mixed with a few drops of washable paint (optional) in different colors.

Dress in old white t-shirts, then start the game! Give every player a different color, and see how long it takes each person to tag everybody else. 

Fun backyard summer mini golf activity for kids.

Backyard Mini-Golf

Visiting the putt-putt course is fun, but the costs can add up.

Pick up an inexpensive toy golf set and invite kids to create their own creative mini-golf holes for the family to play together at home instead.

Ice painting with bright colors  for a fun summer activity.

Ice Painting

Freeze a variety of colored ice cubes on wood craft sticks. Grab some blank paper and head outside on a warm day, then use the frozen paint “brushes” to create watercolor masterpieces as they melt. Learn more about this summer activity for kids here and check out our other summer craft ideas here.

Kids putting on a fun summer outdoor play.

Backyard Theater

Gather a few friends and put on a show to rival the best performances in town! Kids can make up their own skits or adapt one of their favorite summer stories into a play or puppet show for friends and family.

Fun tie dye activity for kids for the summer.

Tie Dye

This is a beloved activity that’s perfect for summer. It can get a bit messy, so that makes it the perfect craft to do outdoors.

Tip: If you’ve already got too many tie-dyed t-shirts, consider dying beach towels, hair bands, or socks instead.

A young boy writing summer themed poems.

Summer Poems

Invite young authors to compose their own poems about the sunny season. They can illustrate them and collect them together in a homemade book, or invite friends and family to join them in reciting their favorite summer poetry. Use this list of rhyming words to help get them started!

Fun grass hair animals silly summer activity for kids.

Silly Plant Hair

Kids love to plant things and watch them grow. Turn this activity into art by pasting a photo or drawing a picture of your face on a paper cup. Then, plant grass seeds inside, and watch the crazy hair sprout! Learn more about this creative summertime activity for kids here.

A fun backyard nature display summer activity for kids.

Backyard Museum

This is the perfect season to get out and explore, gathering interesting rocks, leaves, shells, and more. Turn each into an “exhibit” in the backyard, complete with explanatory signs. Then kids can act as tour guides to show others all their treasures.

A fun chalk mural summer activity for kids.

Sidewalk Chalk Murals

Is it even summer if you don’t spend time drawing with sidewalk chalk? Find a big driveway, a brick wall, or a playground, then plan out and draw an enormous mural together.

For inspiration, look for a local chalk art festival near you to visit as a family.

Nature painting  for a fun summer activity.

Nature Painting

Choose a beautiful spot in nature, then set kids up with easels or sturdy-backed sketchbooks and some watercolors.

Whether they try to capture exactly what they see or create impressionist-style paintings instead, this is a fun and creative way to encourage young ones to study the world around them. Get more info on this activity idea here.

A boy painting rocks bright and colorful for a fun summer activity for kids.

Rock Painting

Buy some smooth river rocks and use acrylic paints to decorate them however you like. Then, leave the painted rocks around town or at the playground to surprise and delight others in your neighborhood!

A fun nature collage.

Nature Collage

Take a nature stroll and collect items like leaves, sticks, wildflowers … whatever catches your eye. Back at home, spend some time arranging the objects in interesting patterns, then glue them down to make a summer nature collage.

Try this creative idea from our Instagram page!

10,000 ways for your child to love learning! ABCmouse free 30 day trial.
10,000 ways for your child to love learning! ABCmouse free 30 day trial.
A fun little tree reading nook where a young girl is reading to herself.

Outdoor Reading Nook

Take one of our top summer reads for kids outside and find a comfy place to read. A few of our favorite spots: under a big leafy tree, sitting in the kiddie pool on a hot summer day (protect those pages!), or in a backyard tent with a flashlight.

A young girl writing in her nature journal a fun summer activity.

Nature Journal

Spend a few peaceful minutes each day drawing or writing about what you see in nature. Note the colors of the leaves, the clouds and weather, the flowers in blooms, or the birds and butterflies. At the end of the season, you’ll have a beautiful record of the whole summer!

A mother and her son looking at clouds for a fun summer activity,

Cloud-Watching

Lying on your back watching clouds might be one of the most calming activities there is. Have fun pointing out shapes and watching them change over time. You can even try sketching some of your sightings, or recreating them later with cotton balls and glue.

Looking at stars through binoculars on a nice clear summer night.

Stargazing

Give kids the treat of staying up past their bedtime to check out the planets and constellations visible in the summer. Use a basic pair of binoculars to see what details you can spot on the moon!

Tip: The Perseid meteor shower peaks in August, putting on an incredible nighttime show.

Colorful paper origami folded birds.

Origami

The web is full of easy origami tutorials for kids and adults alike. You can buy special origami paper or just use whatever you have on hand. You could even consider trying to fold 1000 paper cranes together as a family this summer!

A young girl and her mother doing yoga on a mat outside.

Outdoor Yoga

This meditative stretching activity is even more soothing and relaxing when you try it outdoors in nature. Even little kids can easily master simple poses like downward-facing dog, cat pose, and star pose.

A young child walking down a gravel road out in nature.

Listening Walk

Take a walk using your ears more than your eyes. Discuss the sounds you hear, noting just how many there really are when you stop to truly listen.

A young boy using binoculars to look at birds.

Bird Watching

Hang a bird feeder and watch for visitors to your yard. Learn to identify the common birds that drop by using free tools like Merlin Bird ID.

Kids will love using the sound ID feature, which identifies birds by listening for their calls!

A beautiful paved walking path with side walk chalk drawn on it.

Sidewalk Sensory Walk

Use chalk to create your own sensory walk along a sidewalk, driveway, or playground.

Include different ways to move along sections of the path (hopping on one foot, backwards, etc.), plus spots to stop for different activities, like touching your toes, smelling scents in the air, or listening for birds or just the breeze. 

Fun summer art show activity for kids.

Art Show

Invite everyone to bring a piece of their own artwork to display in a summer art show.

Kids can stand by their masterpieces, proudly explaining their work to others as they tour the displays.

Boy throwing darts at a balloon in this fun summer backyard carnival activity idea.

Backyard Carnival

Carnivals and fairs are a favorite summer activity, but you don’t have to wait for one to come to your town—make your own instead.

Kids will have a blast making their own DIY ring toss, balloon pop, cake walk, bean bag throw, and other booths. Pick up some inexpensive prizes and invite others to step right up!

A group of children sitting outside under a tree enjoying a fun summer story time.

All-Ages Storytime

Ask older children to choose their favorite books to read to the younger ones in the group.

Finish with an adult-led storytime so every kid gets a chance to kick back and enjoy the tales.

Fun summer bubble blowing party activity idea for kids.

Bubble Blowing Party

Blowing bubbles by yourself is fun, but when you get a whole group together, the fun multiplies!

Make this activity even more better with a bubble machine and music for the ultimate bubble dance party.

Two children looking through a magnifying glass working on a fun summer scavenger hunt.

Scavenger Hunt

Kids of all ages love a good hunt. Create a list of items, break the group into teams, and see who can finish the list first (or bring back the most items in a set amount of time).

You can offer prizes, or simply compete for bragging rights.

Tip: Even though it’s not Earth Day, our Earth Day scavenger hunt still works great as an easy way to get started. 

Fun bored game tournament activity for kids to do in the summer.

Board Game Tournament

Even summer has rainy days. Fortunately, those are perfect for board game tournaments.

Pick a handful of favorites and rotate kids among them. If you like, you can award points to the winners, keeping track as you go along and crowning champions at the end.

A group of young kids holding an Olympic sign banner.

Backyard Olympics

Decide on your events, keeping it simple and inclusive.

(Not all events need to be physical; include a puzzle contest or rhyming challenge amongst your running and jumping games.)

Divide the group into teams and assign each a country. Kids can make flags and learn national anthems as they compete for gold, silver, and bronze.

A group of young girls playing string instruments outside in this fun summer talent show.

Talent Show

Everybody—yes, EVERYBODY!—has got talent. Hold a talent show that encourages participation from everyone, even if their talent is something silly like reciting the alphabet backward while standing on one foot!

Fun outdoor movies night activity idea for kids to do in the summer.

Outdoor Movie Night

With a big white sheet and an inexpensive projector, you can hold a neighborhood movie night in your own backyard.

Pop some popcorn and stock up on sweet treats, then spread out some blankets and watch a flick under the stars.

Two kids running in front of a tent set up in the backyard for this fun summer activity.

Daytime Camp Out

Some kids might be a little too small for an overnight camp out, so hold one during the day instead!

Set up tents, roast marshmallows, tell campfire stories, and then take an afternoon nap under the canvas. This is just as much fun as an overnight but comes with the perk of fewer mosquitos!

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Summer Reading List for Kids

Whether you’re reading in the park, on a sandy beach, or in the air conditioning, this list features great books for kids ages 2 to 8 to read this summer!

Summer is the perfect time to do more reading, especially with books that celebrate the season’s sunshine and experiences! This list of summer-themed books for kids includes stories about beach days, garden fun, nature exploration, and more. Whether you’re relaxing at home or heading out on a family trip, this list of books for kids is a great way to celebrate summer and keep young readers engaged.

For more books to read this summer with kids, try the ABCmouse’s digital library filled with over 400 books–it’s free with your ABCmouse subscription!

The first chapter in your child's literacy journey. ABCmouse.com subscription for learning to read.
The first chapter in your child's literacy journey. ABCmouse.com subscription for learning to read.

Though kids this age might sit through longer books, most do best with reads that are short and sweet. These selections feature a lot of board books, which can endure some rough-and-tumble play but also offer an important introduction to text and illustrations.

I See Summer book cover by Charles Ghigna, illustrated by Ag Jatkowska

I See Summer by Charles Ghigna, illustrated by Ag Jatkowska

Mama, Is It Summer Yet? Book cover, by Nikki McClure

Mama, Is It Summer Yet? by Nikki McClure

Baby Loves Summer, book cover, by Karen Katz

Baby Loves Summer by Karen Katz

Mouse’s First Summer, book cover, by Lauren Thompson, illustrated by Buket Erdogan

Mouse’s First Summer by Lauren Thompson, illustrated by Buket Erdogan

Who’s Hiding at the Beach, book cover, by Katharine McEwen

Who’s Hiding at the Beach by Katharine McEwen

Hello, World! Garden Time, book cover, by Jill McDonald

Hello, World! Garden Time by Jill McDonald

S is for S’mores, book cover, by Helen Foster James, illustrated by Lita Judge

S is for S’mores by Helen Foster James, illustrated by Lita Judge

Into the Sand Castle by Cindy Jin, illustrated by Allison Black

Into the Sand Castle by Cindy Jin, illustrated by Allison Black

Pair this list of summer books with our free printable reading logs and reward charts!

Free printable reading logs for summer and all year long from ABCmouse.com.

As their attention spans lengthen, you can add longer, more detailed books to your child’s summer reading list. These selections offer easy-to-understand text and illustrations that kids will love to study up close.

All Around Bustletown: Summer, book cover, by Rotraut Susanne Berner

All Around Bustletown: Summer by Rotraut Susanne Berner

Summer Days and Nights, book cover, by Wong Herbert Yee

Summer Days and Nights by Wong Herbert Yee

The Wonders of Summer by Kealy Connor Lonning

The Wonders of Summer by Kealy Connor Lonning

Summer Is … by Barbara Pinke, illustrated by Alvin Adhi

Summer Is … by Barbara Pinke, illustrated by Alvin Adhi

Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner, illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal

Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner, illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal

Beach Bummer by Ryan T. Higgins

Beach Bummer by Ryan T. Higgins

Bats at the Beach by Brian Lies

Bats at the Beach by Brian Lies

Curious George Goes Camping by H. A. Rey and Margret Rey

Curious George Goes Camping by H. A. Rey and Margret Rey

As kindergarteners begin their real dive into the world of reading, books with engaging text and a creative use of language are vital. It’s also important to have illustrations, as learning to understand a story from context is an important skill too.

Summer is Here by Renée Watson, illustrated by Bea Jackson

Summer is Here by Renée Watson, illustrated by Bea Jackson

Summer Song by Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Laura Dronzek

Summer Song by Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Laura Dronzek

And Then Comes Summer by Tom Brenner, illustrated by Jaime Kim

And Then Comes Summer by Tom Brenner, illustrated by Jaime Kim

Cannonball by Sacha Cotter, illustrated by Josh Morgan

Cannonball by Sacha Cotter, illustrated by Josh Morgan

Flower Garden by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt

Flower Garden by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt

Little Kids First Nature Guide: Explore the Beach by Alli Brydon

Little Kids First Nature Guide: Explore the Beach by Alli Brydon

The Camping Trip by Jennifer K. Mann

The Camping Trip by Jennifer K. Mann

A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee by Chris Van Dusen

A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee by Chris Van Dusen

While first graders still love read-alouds, they’re also starting to be able to read on their own. This mix of selections offers excellent story time picks, but also a few that first graders can begin to tackle independently or with light assistance.

Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles, illustrated by Jerome Lagarrigue

Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles, illustrated by Jerome Lagarrigue

How I Spent My Summer Vacation by Mark Teague

How I Spent My Summer Vacation by Mark Teague

The Truth About My Unbelievable Summer by Benjamin Chaud and Davide Cali

The Truth About My Unbelievable Summer by Benjamin Chaud and Davide Cali

The Night Before Summer Vacation by Natasha Wing, illustrated by Julie Durrell

The Night Before Summer Vacation by Natasha Wing, illustrated by Julie Durrell

Summer by Alice Low, illustrated by Roy McKie

Summer by Alice Low, illustrated by Roy McKie

Pete the Cat Goes Camping by James Dean

Pete the Cat Goes Camping by James Dean

Lucy’s Summer by Donald Hall, illustrated by Michael McCurdy

Lucy’s Summer by Donald Hall, illustrated by Michael McCurdy

The Camping Trip That Changed America by Barb Rosenstock and Mordicai Gerstein

The Camping Trip That Changed America by Barb Rosenstock and Mordicai Gerstein

At this age, most kids are taking on easy reader and chapter books independently. Encourage them to continue their reading practice over the summer with these favorites, written at the perfect level for second grade readers.

Seashell Key by Lourdes Heuer, illustrated by Lynnor Bontigao

Seashell Key by Lourdes Heuer, illustrated by Lynnor Bontigao

Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer by Megan McDonald

Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer by Megan McDonald

City Summer, Country Summer by Kiese Laymon, illustrated Alexis Franklin

City Summer, Country Summer by Kiese Laymon, illustrated Alexis Franklin

Summer of the Woods by Steven K. Smith

Summer of the Woods by Steven K. Smith

Cam Jansen and the Summer Camp Mysteries by David A. Adler, illustrated by Joy Allen

Cam Jansen and the Summer Camp Mysteries by David A. Adler, illustrated by Joy Allen

My First Garden by Livi Gosling

My First Garden by Livi Gosling

Camp by Kayla Miller

Camp by Kayla Miller

Owl Diaries: Eva at the Beach by Rebecca Elliott

Owl Diaries: Eva at the Beach by Rebecca Elliott

ABCmouse Read Alouds

ABCmouse YouTube Books

ABCmouse YouTube Books

More Summer Activities for Kids

Summer Bucket List Ideas

Fun summer bucket list for kids from ABCmouse.com.

Get over 170 different ways to enjoy summer with your family!

Summer Activities to Do at Home

Two children looking at nature through a magnifying glass.

Check out these 40 ideas to keep kids busy and having fun right at home.

More Great Book Lists!

Best Books for Kindergarteners

35 fun and engaging books, from silly to informative, hand-picked for your kindergartener!

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Best Books for First Graders

From humorous to educational, your first grader will delight in reading these 30 books.

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Best Books for Second Graders

Perfect for reading together or independently, these 30 must-read books can help keep second graders engaged, entertained, and eager to turn the page!

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170+ Summer Bucket List Ideas for Kids

Get your summer checklist started with this list of over 170 different summer ideas and activities.

How to Create a Summer Bucket List for Kids

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10,000 ways for your child to love learning! ABCmouse free 30 day trial.
10,000 ways for your child to love learning! ABCmouse free 30 day trial.
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A fun brightly colored sunshine border with large suns surrounded by watermelon pieces, pineapple, and ice cream.
A fun brightly colored sunshine border with large suns surrounded by watermelon pieces, pineapple, and ice cream.
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A fun brightly colored sunshine border with large suns surrounded by watermelon pieces, pineapple, and ice cream.
ABCmouse looking through binoculars wearing a fun safari hat.
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ABCmouse sitting in a sun chair soaking up the sun.
A fun brightly colored sunshine border with large suns surrounded by watermelon pieces, pineapple, and ice cream.
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A fun brightly colored sunshine border with large suns surrounded by watermelon pieces, pineapple, and ice cream.
ABCmouse having fun skateboarding while wearing a helmet.
A fun brightly colored sunshine border with large suns surrounded by watermelon pieces, pineapple, and ice cream.
ABCmouse construction worker.
A fun brightly colored sunshine border with large suns surrounded by watermelon pieces, pineapple, and ice cream.
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