Summer Distractions: 15 Fun Activities For Warm Days

The height of summer is here, giving us a good reason to make the most of the long sunny days and balmy nights. While we’re all familiar with the quintessential pool parties and barbecues, the warm season is also a perfect time to try something new. Whether you’re in the mood to get crafty, master a new skill in the kitchen, or take your gardening know-how to the next level, we’ve rounded up 15 fun activities the whole family can enjoy.

Go Stargazing 
Marvelling at meteor showers isn’t only reserved for professional astronomers. As long as you can find a dark sky free of light pollution – be it accessible from your backyard or a remote spot in the countryside – you can stargaze. Before the big night, familiarise yourself with a few basic constellations that you can see during the summer season. If you’re a newbie, it may be wise to also pre-download a free-to-use app like SkySafari, SkyView Lite or Star Walk 2 Free to help you identify specific stars and planets. Just make sure you turn down your screen brightness so that it doesn’t interfere with your night vision.

Carve A Watermelon
Nothing says summer like biting into a sweet and juicy piece of watermelon, which can taste even better when beautifully presented. While people have been carving pumpkins to create Halloween Jack-O-Lanterns for decades, fruit carving is an even older tradition, believed to have originated in Asia during the 7th century. All you need is some inspiration, a pen to pre-plan your design, and a knife to carve it. You can also use a peel zester to make intricate grooves and a melon baller to add ball-shaped fruit carvings to your display. Use your final creation as a table centrepiece or hollow out your watermelon completely to use as a fruit salad bowl.

Plant A Butterfly Garden
Many butterfly species are under threat due to the loss of breeding habitats. Whether you live in a big city or the countryside, planting even just a few native perennials can help offset the effects of urbanisation and attract these beautiful creatures into your own green space. Find a sunny and wind-sheltered spot for your plot, and make sure to plant some nectar-producing plants like Milkweed, Canadian goldenrod, wild bergamot, New England aster and black-eyed Susan. If you plan on turning your garden into a butterfly breeding ground, you may want to review some more detailed instructions to help your project flourish.

Paint Colourful Chalk Murals
Sidewalk chalk murals are a great way to take your family’s art-making outdoors. While you can definitely freestyle, having a photo reference of what you want to create, drawing grid lines and using painter’s tape to establish borders can help you bring your vision to life. While sidewalk chalk paint can be purchased at most craft stores, you can also create your own with just three ingredients: corn starch, water, and food colouring. Not only is the DIY recipe more affordable, but it also allows you to get creative with the shades and vibrancy of your paint.

Make Your Own Ice Cream
Ice cream is a summer staple, and making your own – complete with mix-ins like brownie pieces, cookie dough, nuts, or fruit chunks – is as rewarding as it is delicious. Most classic recipes call for heavy cream, sugar and the use of an ice cream maker, but you can also make it without one by following these manual instructions. If you’re looking for a dairy-free, sugar-free or healthier option, try making banana ice cream, which is just as tasty and customisable.

Have An Outdoor Movie Night
With the warm nights upon us, it’s a perfect time of year to gather the family, cosy up outside and watch your favourite flick. While setting up your own outdoor movie night does involve some upfront costs – including investing in a projector and screen –it can be worthwhile in the long run, especially if you plan on doing it often. Add in some extras like comfy blankets and pillows, theatre-style popcorn or homemade snacks to make it even more special. (Check out our full guide to creating your outdoor summer cinema here.)

Decorate Rocks
It might sound overly simple, but painted rocks can add a pop of whimsy to any garden or home, whether in the form of paperweights, feel-good message rocks or herb markers. First, you’ll want to collect some rocks that have a smooth, flat surface. Then, gather your decorating supplies including paint, gemstones or glitter. For best results, make sure your rocks are clean, dried and sealed (detailed instructions can be found here) before you begin bedazzling them.

Plan A Photo Scavenger Hunt
There’s nothing like a scavenger hunt to help you explore your own backyard; add a photography element and it can serve as a creative exercise, too. Elect one person from your family or group to come up with a list of items to photograph, or use a template, then set the boundaries for your hunt (e.g. your neighbourhood). The items on the list can be as detailed or general as you want, but the goal is to get everyone out, snapping photos with their smartphone or camera, in a race to check off all the items on the list.

Make A Fairy Garden
While fairy gardens (also known as miniature gardens) have been around for a while, they’ve become extremely popular in the last few years – and for good reason. Whether created indoors or out, these whimsical scenes filled with tiny shrubs and thumb-sized figurines are just as magical as they sound. All you need is a container, soil, a few small slow-growing plants, miniature figurines (which you can make or purchase from the dollar store) and a bit of imagination to bring your little world to life. Think miniature gardening might become a new hobby? These books can help you go deeper.

Make An Upcycled Bird Feeder
Adding a bird feeder to your outdoor space can be a wonderful way to enjoy watching wildlife at home. You can easily find feeders and DIY kits at craft stores, but making your own with some simple recyclable items can be even more satisfying and eco-friendly. Whether you’re making a bird feeder out of an old milk carton, water bottle, popsicle sticks or a teacup, there are a myriad of ways to bring new life to old items, and attract some feathered friends.

Make Your Own Pizzas
Pizza night is a mainstay in many households, but making it a family affair can be a brilliant way to get everyone into the kitchen. Start by buying or making your own pizza dough, and preparing bowls of toppings like cheese, pepperoni, bell peppers and mushrooms. Split up the dough into personal pizzas or create one or two larger pies, allowing each family member to have a hand in customising a section. Extra points if you build your own pizza oven.

Host Your Own Backyard Field Day
In the spirit of the summer games, there’s no better time to host your own version in your backyard or a nearby park. Relay races work best with multiple teams, so invite family and friends to compete in games like egg-and-spoon races, three-legged races, or crabwalk and wheel-barrow races. Most of these activities require little to no props or equipment, making them a perfect fit for every budget and event.

Make Your Own Popsicles
Scorching hot days call for icy popsicles, but instead of running out to buy frozen treats, why not make your own?. Most recipes for homemade popsicles are simple, calling for either yoghurt or fruit purée (the riper the fruit, the better). Depending on your preferences, you can also add extras like chocolate, fruit chunks or nuts. Aside from the ingredients, all you’ll need is a mould (like this environmentally friendly silicone one by PopsicleLab), popsicle sticks and a few hands to put them together.

Make A Time Capsule
We’re so busy with our daily routines that we often forget to stop and appreciate the little moments. Summer is a great time to reflect on the year so far, and what better way to do that than by making a time capsule? Use an old jar to gather any items your family members want to add (e.g. newspaper cut-outs, printed photos, sporting ribbons, school papers or art projects, handwritten notes, or other printable letters). Then, decorate the jar together and seal it with a to-open date, which could be five to ten years from now! Hide your time capsule somewhere in your house so that no one is tempted to open it sooner.

Organise A Plastic Pollution Scavenger Hunt
While a beach or park clean-up might sound boring, turning trash-collecting into a scavenger hunt or competition can make the act of caring for the planet more exciting for all ages. Make a list of items to find (e.g. straws, plastic water bottles) or reward the person who collects the most plastic with a prize at the end. Most public parks and recreational sites have guidelines for how to track and dispose of the found items, and gloves are recommended for safety reasons. Even just a 15-minute community clean-up can help the environment and teach everyone about the joy of giving back.