Hey girl, today let's chat about the best summer activities for 12-year-olds that don’t have a screen.
Summer is right around the corner and if you are anything like me, you want to find independent and fun summer activities for 12-year-olds so you can probably get some work done.
Guys, I am not sure how it happened but my oldest is 12 this year. Pardon me, what did I just say? She is 12 this year! I have 3 boys as well – 6, 8, and 10.
Thankfully, she is pretty self-sufficient but will still ask me for ideas for summer activities for 12-year-olds.
As you read on, you will find amazing summer activities for 12-year-old boys and girls that your kiddo will be able to do on her own or with some friends or siblings. But that doesn’t mean you can’t jump in the mix as well.
These summer activities for 12-year-olds are going to help her spread her wings a bit and gain some confidence.
Let's jump into the top summer activities for 12-year-olds that you must encourage.
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Best Summer Activities For 12-Year-Olds
1. Sports
Holy wow! I am coming to realize how many organized sports happen during the summer. It could be like a full-time job for your 12-year-old if he wants.
There are so many benefits to playing organized sports which include getting exercise, gaining confidence, learning teamwork, and so much more.
He can also just play around the yard with siblings and friends. Even though organized sports are fun, I think kids have even more fun when it isn’t as structured.
I understand that some kids are not into sports and have zero interest in playing on a team and that’s just fine. But I still think you should encourage him to try one. He might surprise himself.
If you are struggling with sparking some interest in this, get out there and do it with him. We both know adults usually don’t get enough movement during the day.
2. Biking
I remember being 12 and going for bike rides with my sisters and friends, I felt so free. Probably not as much as I thought, but free for a 12-year-old.
So, send your 12-year-old off on a bike ride around the neighborhood.
We have had amazing luck with this bike brand ever since she was little.
If you aren’t looking to spend that much on a bike, check out a local bike shop. They usually have used bikes for a bit cheaper.
3. Go to the Park
If you think your 12-year-old is too old to play at a park, I am going to have to beg to differ! Believe it or not, and all depending on which friend your kiddo is hanging out with, your 12-year-old still wants to use his imagination!
We were just at the park this last weekend and when it was time to go, she was asking for just 5 more minutes.
4. Cooking
Your kiddo is going to have to know how to cook eventually so why not encourage it now? You can grab a cookbook and have him page through to find some interesting recipes he wants to try out.
If you don’t have a cookbook, you can check one out at your local public library. We have checked out kid’s cookbooks before and the recipes were easy and delicious.
I am just warning you; it will probably be a messy process but that can be cleaned up!
My daughter has these 2 cookbooks and she has made some yummy food from them.
All 4 of my kids have aprons as well and love to wear them anytime they are working in the kitchen, even for washing the dishes.
5. Make Ice Cream
And while we are talking about food, your 12-year-old will have fun making ice cream all summer long. It is a great way to cool off!
Have you ever had homemade ice cream? It is hands down superior to store-bought.
This ice cream maker is so easy to use and only takes about ½ hour to make a batch.
6. Swimming
Hit up the local swimming pool, if you have one. We don’t but there is a beach in town.
Since this is the case, she can’t go there without adult supervision yet. The beach is on a flowing river and we never know if there will be lifeguards or not on duty.
Depending on how your 12-year-old’s body is changing, she may or may not want to try swimming this summer. You can help her out by getting her a swimsuit that she is comfortable in.
My daughter likes a full coverage 1 piece and has no interest in bikinis.
I have always wondered why guys get to wear comfy swim shorts and girls are in swimsuits that some only look good if you don’t move an inch (or you will end up revealing something). What is your take on this?
7. Fishing
We are a fishing family and my kids have been going before they were old enough to hold a fishing pole. All my kids have fallen in love with it and they ask to go all summer long.
If you haven’t tried it with your kiddo, you should and won’t be disappointed.
8. Summer Camp/Lessons
There are so many summer camps and lessons to choose from and you should let your 12-year-old pick one.
If he ends up not liking it, then at least he tried. But he could end up loving it and could be a new hobby.
Last summer my daughter did a horse camp. She learned everything from cleaning out the barn to feeding the horses to better riding techniques.
It was a blast for her. She realized that doing all the behind-the-scenes work was something that she was interested in.
This summer she is interested in archery lessons.
9. Babysit
I know babysitting is NOT for every 12-year-old, but if this sounds like something your kiddo is interested in let him try.
It could be siblings or some neighborhood kids, but I think it teaches kids huge responsibility.
And it isn’t just for girls, boys can babysit as well.
I would highly recommend signing your kiddo up for a babysitting class first though. There is so much they will learn in that class.
10. Animal Sit
Currently, my daughter does a doggie daycare for our neighbors one day a week after school, and can’t get enough of it.
She loves interacting with the dogs and having the responsibility to take care of them, and she doesn’t mind getting paid for it either.
If there is someone in your neighborhood that could use help with this, tell your kiddo to go and ask them. Animals can bring out so many wonderful characteristics in kids.
11. Hang out with Friends
Tweens want to be with their friends as much as possible, so let them.
My kids invite their friends over to our house all the time and I love it. There are 8 kids in my family and growing up there were friends over constantly.
I just have to make sure to keep the snacks stocked. Wow, tweens can eat and eat, can’t they?! Can’t wait to see what the teen years will bring for that!
12. Laser Tag
This is a great game to play when your kiddo has friends over. However, it is more fun to play when the sun is going down.
This laser tag set has vests but kids don’t have to use them if they don’t want to – there are sensors on the laser guns as well.
13. Nerf Battle
Let those darts fly, nerf gun battle!
All I hear is kids having fun when they play with these.
14. Board Games
Playing board games is a fantastic way to spend a lazy summer afternoon. Your kiddo can play them with friends and family.
If you have an outside table, play outside, weather permitting (that is my favorite way to play).
My daughter’s favorite board game at the moment is Mall Madness.
We also like to play Catch Phrase (great for a crowd) and Ticket to Ride.
15. Read a Book
Just because it is summer doesn’t mean your kiddo should stop reading. Have her take a trip to the public library and stock up on a variety of books.
If she is having trouble finding good books that she might be interested in, tell her to talk to the librarians. Our librarians have helped my kids find some amazing book series that they probably wouldn’t have found on their own.
My daughter is a super reader. Here are a few of her favorite books/book series.
My 10-year-old son also loves to read and can’t get enough of these books.
16. Writing
If you have made it this far through the list and your kiddo is less than impressed, challenge him to write a story. It can be short or long.
You can even give him writing prompts to get him started.
17. Pen Pal
Who doesn’t love getting some snail mail? My daughter and her cousin who is a year older write letters all summer long. He lives 12 hours away and it is fun to see what they come up with to talk about.
If your kiddo doesn’t have a cousin like this, tell him to write to grandparents, aunts and uncles, and even great-aunts and uncles. These are the people who are most likely to respond!
18. Sewing
I am not sure there will be many boys interested in sewing but some girls get into it. It is time-consuming so it teaches patience and it also teaches focus – with all that attention to detail.
My daughter has made seasonal curtains and holiday napkins so far. She is excited to see what other projects she can challenge herself with.
19. Scrapbook
Here is another summer activity mostly for the girls, because I have not seen that many boys go nuts over scrapbooking.
You do not have to go crazy and buy a bunch of materials. Trust me, she is going to love putting together books of her family and friends.
This is also time-consuming so it will give her something to do for days.
This post was all about the best summer activities for 12-year-olds.
Let me know in the comments below what your plans are for this summer. Do you plan to take a vacation anywhere?
We plan to catch some sun out on the boat and try tubing and wakeboarding (which will be new).
I look forward to hearing from you and thanks for stopping by.