7 screen-free summer activities kids won’t get bored of
Six weeks, no school routine, and approximately 35 requests to use the iPad before 9am.
Every parent knows the summer holiday feeling. You want it to be full of fun – trips out together, long days in the sun and more – and it often is. But there are also the slow Tuesday afternoons where the novelty of the six-week holidays has worn off, and your child is declaring they’re bored and have nothing to do.
The good news is that sometimes the best summer activities aren’t complicated and don’t need a huge budget, a long drive, or Wifi. They just need to be genuinely fun.
Here are seven ideas that actually work:
Build something (and destroy it)
Give a child some cardboard boxes, tape, and permission to make a mess, and you won’t hear from them for hours. Dens, castles, rockets, robot costumes, the brief doesn’t really matter. What matters is that they’re making decisions, problem-solving, and creating something they’re proud of.
The destruction at the end is half the fun. They can stack it up, knock it down and start again.
A scavenger hunt
A list of things to find on a walk, in the garden, or around the house. Sounds simple. Works every time. The trick is making the list specific enough to be a challenge – not just “find a leaf,” but “find a leaf smaller than your thumbnail.”
You can theme them around the season (find five signs of summer), turn them competitive between siblings, or let an older child write the list for a younger one. That last version buys you an extra twenty minutes of peace.
Water games
A paddling pool, water pistols, sponge throwing, running around the sprinklers, washing the cars (or the dog if you’re brave). Everyone remembers playing water games in the summer. This is the perfect way to keep your kids busy, and out of the house for a bit.
For a rainy day version, you can always put a bucket of water in the bath, add some cups and funnels and come up with science experiments or potion-making ideas. Just make sure to hide all of your expensive shampoos and conditioners first…
Get them cooking something real
We’re not talking about a kids’ recipe with cartoon instructions. We mean an actual dish, made properly, with a bit of responsibility involved. Pasta from scratch, homemade pizza, a crumble. Something where they can say “I made that” at the end of it.
Cooking teaches real skills – measuring, timing, following steps, being patient. And it produces something delicious. The washing-up is a different story, but you can’t win everything.
Sports, sports, and more sports
A kickabout in the garden is great, but if you add a tournament bracket, a penalty shootout format, or an obstacle course, suddenly it’s an event. Kids who aren’t naturally sporty often engage far more when there’s a game structure around the activity rather than telling them to just “go and kick a ball.”
You could even invent a sport or get them to come up with one. Write down the rules, keep score, and award points for style. The more elaborate, the better – some children will spend as long planning the game as actually playing it.
Nature journaling
Now this one is for children who might not feel like kicking a football around all day. Give your child a notebook and ask them to record what they find outside: drawings of insects, pressed flowers, notes on the weather, the coolest-looking cloud etc.
Children who are more naturally creative or curious will take to this immediately. Those who are a bit more active can usually be persuaded by turning it into more of a wildlife tracking exercise – what’s visited the garden today? What are the birds doing? What is different to yesterday?
A Premier Education Holiday Club
Not every day of the summer has to be parent-organised. Honestly, some of the best summer memories children make aren’t made at home – they’re made with other kids, doing things they couldn’t do in the living room.
A good holiday club gives children structure, sport, arts, games, and new friends in a safe environment. It gives working parents a childcare solution they can trust. And it gives kids the kind of busy, tired, happy day that ends with them being asleep by 7pm.
At Premier Education, our summer holiday clubs run across the country for children aged 4–11. Every day is packed with activities – sport, creative sessions, themed games – delivered by qualified activity professionals who know how to keep children genuinely engaged (not just occupied). Because there’s a difference.
“These guys are amazing! My son is 5 and he is hard work and does not easily enjoy anything outside his comfort zone but he loved this holiday club. I love that they are not focused on one activity, which is better because not all kids will enjoy the same thing. Definitely recommend!” – Premier parent Trustpilot review.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best screen-free summer activities for primary school-aged kids?
The activities that tend to stick are the ones with some element of choice, challenge, or creativity built in – building and making, cooking, scavenger hunts, sport with a game structure, or nature journaling. The key is giving children enough freedom to make the activity their own, rather than following a rigid set of instructions.
How do I get my child off their screens in the summer holidays?
A more effective approach than going cold turkey with technology is having something to do rather than something to avoid. For example, a plan for the afternoon, a project to come back to, or somewhere to be. A holiday club is one of the most reliable options for parents who need structured, engaging provision across the summer without having to organise it themselves.
Are Premier Education holiday clubs good for children who are shy or new to group activities?
Yes, our activity professionals are trained to help all children feel comfortable and included from day one. Sessions are structured enough that children always know what’s happening, but social enough that friendships tend to form quickly. Many children who start the week nervous come back the following year asking which friends are also going.
What age are Premier Education holiday clubs for?
Our summer holiday clubs are open to children aged 4-11. Sessions run during the school holidays and can be booked flexibly.
