KC's Summer Fun Bucket List

May 27, 2020 noon

This summer, celebrate the best of the season with some classic family fun!

Create a summer Saturday tradition and serve a meal or dessert for the family with a DIY build-your-own bar. These are some of our favorites:

Tacos with a variety of toppings, including meat, cheese, salsa, lettuce, tomato, onion, peppers, olives, rice, guacamole and beans.
Individual pizzas with toppings like pepperoni, sausage, hamburger, vegetables, sauce, cheese and maybe pineapple.
Waffles with toppings: strawberries, bananas, blueberries, chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, nuts, whipped cream, syrup.
Yogurt parfaits with toppings, including granola, fresh fruit, nuts.
Ice cream sundae bar with toppings like fresh fruit, chocolate sauce, whipped cream, maraschino cherries, nuts, sprinkles, chocolate chips and crumbled cookies.
Breakfast burritos with fresh tortillas, scrambled eggs, browned breakfast sausage crumbles, ham, hashbrowns, peppers, onions, salsa, cheese, spinach, tomatoes and salsa.
Subway sandwiches with a variety of meats, cheeses, spreads and fresh vegetables.
Burgers with toppings, including cheese, sautéed onion, lettuce, tomato, condiments, bacon, peppers and other fresh veggies.
Fondue night: Melt chocolate or cheese and set up a variety of fun things for dipping, from fresh fruits to bread and pretzels.
Salad or baked potato bar: Make a list of everyone’s favorite salad or potato toppings and pull them out for a homemade salad or potato bar.

Make these classics at home this summer:

Soda floats: You can go classic with vanilla ice cream and root beer or change it up with your favorite ice cream and soft drink for a new combination.
Make homemade ice cream.
Serve s’mores. Serve classic marshmallow and chocolate bar on a graham cracker or try adding a twist, replacing the graham crackers with cookies. For another option, a different easily melted candy could replace the classic candy bar.
Make homemade Popsicles. Buy ice pop molds and fill with instant pudding or favorite juices for frozen DIY treat.
Make homemade lemonade. Our favorite recipe is at AllRecipes.com/recipe/32385/best-lemonade-ever.
Create a sweet salad or pizza with fresh fruit.
Make smoothies or milkshakes.
Bake cupcakes and decorate them.

DIY a bit of fun summer fashion at home.

Tie-dye t-shirts as a family. Wear them throughout the summer and take photos of the fun you’re having.
Decorate flip flops. Bedazzle or decorate with ribbons or paint, making your own fun design.
Paint ball caps. Purchase solid-colored ball caps and paint with fabric paint.
Classic cut offs: Clean out the “too short jeans” from the closet and cut them off for denim shorts. These can also be decorated with fabric paint, lace or ribbons.
Paint rocks.
Make sidewalk chalk masterpieces in the driveway.
Make a bracelet or necklace with dandelions.
Create shadow art. Lay a piece of paper on your backyard picnic table and place objects on the paper so they cast shadows. Toy plastic animals or other fun objects work well. Trace the shadows, then draw a picture using the shape.

When it’s too hot or rainy to enjoy the outdoors, make memories inside.

Set up pillow and blanket forts.
Host a family talent show complete with prizes for the best performance.
Host an at-home sibling slumber party in the basement, living room or one sib’s bedroom.
Make it a movie night with snacks for dinner.
Read a book together as a family.
Put on a puppet show or play reenacting a favorite fairy tale or classic story.
Make a family journal.
Sing along with your favorite movie musical.
Participate in the library’s summer reading program. You’ll find the details in our KC Summer Reading Program Guide.
Complete a jigsaw puzzle. Glue it together and frame it. Have the entire family sign and date the back as a keepsake.
Spend the entire day in pajamas and serve breakfast for dinner.
Every day share the highlight of your day with the family. Write these down on slips of paper and collect them in a jar. At the end of the summer, read them all together to remember the good times.
Play a new board game.
Look through old family photo albums or memory books and reminisce about past trips and summer memories. Use the memories to write a fictional story of a new dream getaway.
Order a DIY craft kit online and complete a project together like suncatchers, bouncy balls or hand-sewn stuffed animals.
Make slime and play with it.

Visit a local green space (all on KCParent.com in our Going Places Guide) or play in your own backyard:

Play Frisbee golf at a local park.
Ride bikes.
Go for a walk.
Play hide-and-seek.
Catch fireflies (and remember to release them too).
Set up the sprinkler, fill water balloons and enjoy a backyard water fight.
Relive your childhood recess and challenge the kids to a family game of kick ball in the backyard.
Build a fire in the firepit and tell stories or sing songs.
Hunt for shapes in the clouds.
Skip rocks in a local river, pond or lake.
Go fishing. You’ll find a guide to the best local fishing spots on KCParent.com.
Play basketball in the driveway.
Plant a flower garden.
Go on a hike.
Complete a neighborhood scavenger hunt.
Relax in the backyard hammock.
Play on a swing set.
Climb a tree.
Play flag football.
Fly a kite.
Grow vegetables in a backyard garden.
Blow bubbles.
Get up early and watch the sun rise. This is especially fun if you visit a local lake or pond for the experience.

Kristina Light enjoys writing for KC Parent Magazine and KCParent.com.