Living Montessori Now

Montessori Inspiration for Parents and Teachers

How to Create a Summer Bucket List for Your Family {Summer Activity Ideas and Free Printables}

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Whether you homeschool or not, a summer bucket list can be a great idea for summer fun and learning. [Note: a summer bucket list is a list of activities your family wants to do before the summer ends.]

Without an intentional focus on choosing some summer activities, it’s too easy to feel a bit aimless and lost during summer vacation. I’m all for unstructured time to dream and create … you can even add ideas and time for that in your bucket list (for example, “Lie in the grass and look at the clouds”)!

It’s great if you have a bucket list of activities your whole family can enjoy. If you wish, you could also have a special bucket list for your toddler or preschooler.

Remember, a summer bucket list is supposed to be fun … maybe you “win” if you don’t actually accomplish everything! You can choose a format for your bucket list or activity list that gives you the amount of control over the activity for the day that you wish. For little control but more suspense, draw the activity from slips of paper with an activity written on each one. Use a format like an activity calendar or grab bag if you’d like more control.

Disclosure: This post contains some free printables (at no cost to you).

Tin Bucket Baby 2

Tin Bucket Baby 2 By Charlotte

Some Great Ideas for Creating a Summer Bucket List or Activity List

Summer Bucket List (also using a bucket) from Montessori 3-6 Homeschool

Summer Bucket List Activity from Thrifty NW Mom (has a free blank Summer Bucket Activity Sheet and lists of activities)

Summer Bucket List Banner from Fakin’ It

Activity Jars for Busy Kids (long list of ideas) from The Imagination Tree (Just write the activities on the sticks or use the template below to create professional-looking activity sticks.)

Summer Boredom Jar (list of activities) from I’m Bored, Let’s Make Something

“Mom, I’m Bored” Jar from Somewhat Simple

100 Summer Crafts and Activities for Kids from The Artful Parent

Get Organized for Summer Learning (learning space and learning options) from Imagination Soup

Kids’ Summer Journal and Fun Guide Free Printable (free 24-page printable including ideas and forms for creating a summer bucket list) from A Cultivated Nest

Activity Calendars (an option for an activity a day instead of a standard bucket list) with free July calendar from Kids Activities Blog

You’ll find lots of free summer bucket list printables at TPT.

You’ll also find lots of free summer boredom buster printables at TPT.

Calendar Observances and Themed Activities (my posts) – find the calendar observances you’d like to observe and themed activities you’d like to do during the current month. I have themed activity calendars for June, July, and August (and every month).

Summer Books for Kids 

Summer Science 

Deb - Signature

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How to Create a Summer Bucket List for Your Family

 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Keitha says

    Thanks for sharing this great round-up of summer bucket list ideas. Today is our first full day of summer vacation. We have started our list but still need to work on it a bit more.

  4. Anne says

    My son really wanted to try swimming and taekwondo this summer, he got to do the latter!

    I also told him kumon would be fun so he was game and he always enjoys summer school.

    The only thing left to do is go to a local ocean park which he greatly enjoyed before.(dropping by from blogfrog by the way, see you around) 🙂

    • Deb says

      Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting, Anne! It sounds like you have a great summer planned! 🙂

    • Deb says

      Thanks, Kelly! Even though I don’t have kids at home any longer, I’m having fun planning summer activities for when I do get to see my kids! 🙂

  7. Debbie says

    Who can resist a baby in a bucket? One of my favorite times of capturing photos was taking pics of my twin grandchildren — each in their own bucket as wee ones. Now you’ve made me want to go track those down!

    Let’s keep each other motivated and see what’s gotten accomplished by summer’s end!

    • Deb says

      Thanks for your comment, Debbie! Two babies in buckets – now that’s just too cute! Have a wonderful summer! 🙂

  8. Michelle Breum says

    What a great way to give each other support and ideas to find and do fun activities with our kids this summer.

    My kids and I are going to work on a list today! I think we’ll make weekly activity lists and try to accomplish 3 a week. If we don’t get then all done we’ll move to the next week.

    Just this morning I thought about making a rock and stick sundial. We’ll have to wait for the sun to come out. It’s been rainy and cold in Montana.

    • Deb says

      Thanks, Michelle! It is wonderful that parents can support each other online, isn’t it?! Your plan sounds great! I grew up in South Dakota, and I’ve been hearing about all the rainy, cold weather there this year, too. I’m lucky to be living in sunny Colorado now! 🙂

    • Deb says

      Thanks, Phyllis! So many great ideas out there for summer fun! Have a wonderful rest of the weekend! 🙂

    • Deb says

      Thanks, Bethany! It looks like you had a wonderful week! I appreciate you sharing your great ideas for summer fun! 🙂

    • Deb says

      Thanks so much for hosting the summertime fun party, Kelly! It’ll be great to see what everyone comes up with this summer! 🙂

    • Deb says

      Thanks, Palmy! It’s great that you’re participating in the summer bucket list event – you always have great ideas! 🙂

    • Deb says

      Thanks, Cassondra! I’ll be visiting your blog tomorrow. I hope you’re having a great weekend, too!:)

  15. Deborah says

    I love these photos!! What a great list of summer bucket list links! Everyone will have plenty of ideas for sure to keep them busy this summer!

    • Deb says

      Thanks for your kind comment, Deborah! It was fun finding the photos and links! I just added the link to your latest post with tips for summer time learning (loved it)! 🙂

  16. sheila says

    What commenting system do you use ? I use wp thread comment (or something like that) but it doesn’t always work when I send replies. Your system is great. What is it? lol

    • Deb says

      I tried a number of comment systems, Sheila. I LOVE the one I’m using now. I use the Comment Reply Notification plugin so that every response I write is
      automatically emailed to the commenter.

      After installing and activating the plugin, you have to go to the Settings at the left of the dashboard. Comment Reply Notification should show up there. Open that up, and under “Email notify the parent commenter when his comment was replied,” you just have to click “Commenter choose to do so (default checked).” Then as long as you click on the “reply” closest underneath the comment you’re responding to, your response will automatically be sent to your commenter!

      I also like the CommentLuv plugin. I use it to give a link to the commenter’s last post (it automatically shows up when they type in their URL). Let me know if you have any more questions! Have a great weekend! 🙂

      • sheila says

        Oooo got your comment loud and clear, thanks!!!Yes, I use WP thread comment or comment thread whatever it’s called and I do find that every once in awhile it fails. I might try your system out, so thanks for the info!!

        • Deb says

          I had tried that too, Sheila. I switched when it stopped working after an update. I’ve never had any problems with Comment Reply Notification (at least none that I know of)!

    • Deb says

      Thanks, Sheila! I had so much fun finding them in Flickr Creative Commons! It’s nice that those photographers help us bloggers! 🙂

  19. Kayla says

    The pictures was to cute! Loved the article as well. We homeschool year around however we normally try to do our “funnest” stuff in summer! Our days are more relaxed of course!

    • Deb says

      Thanks, Kayla! I really enjoyed the photos, too – love Flickr Creative Commons! We did a bit of year-round homeschooling. Summer is definitely a good time to do the “funnest” stuff! Have a great summer! 🙂

    • Deb says

      My pleasure – and thanks for your kind comment, Kelly! I love your summer bucket list posts and link-ups at Little Wonders’ Days! 🙂