Hey girl, today let's chat about the top summer activities for 8-year-olds that you have to get your kiddo to try.
Summer is finally here and if you are anything like me you are looking for fun summer activities for 8-year-olds that don’t involve a screen.
As a mom of 4 kids (6, 8, 10, and 12 this summer), I am going to give you my best summer activities for 8-year-olds.
I hope you are also like me and want to have most of these summer activities for 8-year-olds be outside, because isn’t that what summer is for – spending time outside!
Challenge your kiddo to try and complete this entire list of summer activities for 8-year-olds before school starts again. It will keep him busy all summer long.
Your kiddo is going to have so much fun trying all these summer activities for 8-year-olds that you won’t even hear “I’m bored” all summer long.
Let's jump into the best summer activities for 8-year-olds.
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Best Summer Activities for 8-Year-Olds
1. Sports
My kids are not into competitive sports but love playing any sport around our yard. And I love it.
Sports are such a great way to get kids outside and get them on the move.
If your kiddo is dragging her feet about play, take a break from whatever you are doing and get out there for a few minutes too. We both know the more movement we get the better we will feel.
Last year we played football, baseball, kickball, soccer, basketball, and frisbee golf. I am not sure what new sport we are going to try this summer but I am excited to find out.
2. Ride Bikes
Get her out on a bike too and don’t forget the helmet.
We have had good luck with this bike brand and will continue to buy it as my kids grow.
If you aren’t looking to spend that much on a bike, check around your area for a bike repair shop. They usually have used bikes to sell.
3. Go to the Park
Every single kiddo I know loves the park and always wants to stay as long as possible. So, take your kiddo to the park.
Since my kids are older now, I don’t have to follow a toddler around to make sure that no one gets hurt.
Instead, I try to get a mini workout in. It is so much better than sitting on a bench and watching my kids play.
4. Fly Kites
Your kiddo is going to love flying kites just as much as mine do.
Even if there is hardly a breeze, my kids will take off running and they do a fantastic job of keeping their kites in the air.
Check out these kites. They fly decent and won’t break the bank.
5. Read a Book
Reading is so important for kids so don’t let it slide this summer. Encourage your kiddo to read lots of books.
She can read inside or outside. Have her build a reading nook or sit on a blanket.
If she is having trouble getting reading minutes in, create a reading challenge.
A few summers ago, I did this and my kids went nuts over it. Read a book approved by me (so I knew they weren’t all easy readers) and for every book complete my kiddo would earn $0.25.
There was a time limit – we did mid-June to mid-August. And then we went to the store and they got to pick something out with how much money they had.
Here are 3 great book series for girls.
6. Visit the Library
If you need some great books or book recommendations then you should head on over to your local public library.
It is an amazing way to check books out without spending all your money on books.
Even though our library isn’t the biggest, my kids have always found a new book to try every time we visit.
7. Build a Fort
Your kiddo can build a fort inside or outside and will have a blast doing it.
Besides being fun, it works so many skills like engineering and using their imagination.
8. Make Ice Cream
If you have yet to ever make your own ice cream, what are you waiting for girl? It is hands down the best ice cream you will eat.
We discovered this ice cream maker and it is so simple to use that my 6-year-old can do it so I am confident your 8-year-old can too.
You don’t have to make plain vanilla either. Get creative and come up with lots of new flavors. Let your kiddo name them.
9. Swimming
I have heard somewhere that swimming works all the muscles in your body. Even though I am not sure if that is true, I do know that my kids are so hungry when we are done so I know they got some exercise in.
My daughter is 12 and she is getting this swim suit this summer. It comes in smaller sizes.
My boys all want these swim shorts. Lots of sizes and colors to choose from.
Don’t be shy about getting in the water too. They want to do this with you.
I am trying out this swimsuit this summer. The shorts are what sold me.
I can’t stand the way regular suits make me feel like I am giving everyone a sneak peek of my booty cheeks.
10. Water Fight
If you can’t make it to the pool, no worries. Your kiddo can cool off with some water in your yard with these water squirters or this sprinkler.
This is what we end up doing most of the summer. Our town doesn’t have a pool so we have to visit neighboring towns and that can be a hassle.
11. Build an Epic Sandcastle
We have a large, and I mean a bit over-the-top, sized sandbox. But it is amazing! Last summer the challenge was to build an epic sandcastle.
These sand toys were great helpers for it.
Give the same challenge to your kiddo, even if you don’t have much sand to work with.
My kids were so nuts over it that we ended up getting this umbrella to save them from the sun.
12. Fishing
Are you guys a fishing family?
If your kiddo has never been, it isn’t hard to learn and I think you have to try it.
I grew up fishing and love it and my husband is slowly coming around to it. He would rather be hunting. But wow, my kids are obsessed – even my daughter.
13. Summer Camp/Lessons
Let your kiddo try a variety of activities and hobbies. Doing a summer camp or lessons of some kind will be fun and get them out of the house for a bit.
Last year my 8-year-old did swimming lessons and basketball. He is looking to do that again this year and add in a mini-STEM class along with flag football.
Soccer is also an option but he is still on the fence about it.
14. Hang Out With Friends
Invite her friends over to play. They will entertain each other for a while and you will be able to get a few things done.
I always try to keep the kids outside even though they all ask to play video games.
Some great activity options for these kiddos include laser tag, nerf battles, and board games.
15. Pen Pal
Kids love getting snail mail and go crazy when they do. I wish I could be that excited about getting mail but all that seems to show up for me are bills☹.
Help your 8-year-old write letters to aunts, uncles, grandparents, and whoever else you can think of. Someone is going to write back to him.
My daughter started writing letters when she was about 7 and has done it nonstop since.
Grab some fun stickers to put on the mail – help spark that writing interest.
16. Arts and Crafts
Have you ever walked down the arts and crafts aisle? My lord, there is so much to choose from.
If I was going to pick 1 thing for girls it would have to be Fashion Plates with Colored Pencils and Gel Pens. My daughter has used hers so much over the last 7 years and still uses them.
The best arts and crafts for boys are sticker-by-number books. These things are so cool!
17. Science Experiments
I decided to try this with my kids a few summers ago and they have wanted to do science experiments every summer since.
The one that you must try is called Elephant Toothpaste.
I find all the science experiments we have tried on Pinterest.
18. Scavenger Hunt
Create a scavenger hunt for your kiddo. It can be in your house, in your yard, or for a walk.
Sometimes we look for specific things.
Other times, I come up with clues – like you go from 1 to finding another to finding another until the end which has a prize. This is one we only do at our house.
19. Backyard Bug Hunt
I am not that big on bugs but my kids love trying to find different ones.
We have this bug kit and my kiddos can get such a closer look at the bugs they find.
20. Dance Party
When my kids have ants in their pants, I crank up the music on this Bluetooth speaker and we have a dance party.
They all dance until they are a sweaty mess and then we have a freeze pop to cool off.
If your kiddo likes to follow directions, check out brain breaks on YouTube. I have tried them with my kids and they are no joke for a workout!
21. Lego Challenge
Oh yeah, Legos!!! Legos are fantastic for lazy or rainy afternoons. And kids can spend hours on them.
We like to do Lego challenges like creating a house, car, tower, and so on. One time we tried to make a balloon. That was harder than we thought but still fun.
This post was all about the best summer activities for 8-year-olds.
Where do you plan to take a family vacation this year? Let me know in the comments below. We are looking for ideas to add to our list.
I look forward to hearing from you and thanks for stopping by.