The days on the school calendar are dwindling, and May-mageddon— a chaotic month of parties, celebrations, award ceremonies, and performances— is in full swing. Whether you feel ready or not, summer break is coming.
For some, summer brings a much-needed break from the daily grind of school drop-offs and packed activity schedules. For others, it can feel a little overwhelming, like a long stretch of unstructured time with no roadmap (you’re at Target with a cart and a coffee on the first day they put up those Back-to-School displays).
Regardless of where you fall on the summer break spectrum, here’s a fun, easy, and collaborative idea for spending some of those long summer days making new memories, sparking curiosity, and breaking free from business-as-usual routines.
The Summer Bucket List
A summer bucket list is a collection of fun ideas, new experiences, and semi-planned adventures that spark curiosity, create new memories, and encourage us all to be more present in the life right in front of us.
Many of us have tried our hand at making adult bucket lists before, but dreaming up an aspirational summer with our kids could be the perfect antidote to boredom (and too much screen time).
I love creating summer bucket lists because each one feels like a mini time capsule—a snapshot of what my child loved, hoped for, or dreamed about in a single summer. It’s like a frozen chunk of time where I can look back and say: That was the summer of the lemonade stand. Or, that was the summer of chasing fireflies in the yard.
These little lists morph into something bigger than activities– they’re markers of a season that will never repeat itself in your or your child’s life again.
I can’t promise you’ll never hear the words “I’m bored” again, but creating a summer bucket list intentionally adds curiosity and spontaneity into the mix of sunscreen and summer camps. More importantly, it’s a way to show kids that they have a role in creating the life and experiences they want to live.
Get Crafty
I’m all for tech and making lists on our phones, but the key to a summer bucket list is making it big and visible. It serves as a reminder to you and your kids of your curiosity, wonder, and exploration pursuits this summer.
Grab a posterboard, some markers, and some old magazines to add a touch of flair to your summer bucket list. Developmental research suggests that tactile tools (writing, coloring, and checking things off) support emotional engagement in children, especially goal-directed behavior.
By giving your kids visual reminders of the goals they’re setting for the season, you’re not just making memories—you’re teaching them important lessons about following through and dreaming big.
Hang it somewhere you can see it, and your kids will have the chance to physically check items off the list.
Make It A Team Effort
As those summer days inch closer, take one night after dinner or on a weekend to pull out your posterboard and conduct a big brainstorming session for your summer bucket list.
This is a time to get their creative juices flowing and for everyone around the table to start imagining:
What would make this summer fun and memorable?
How could I grow and try new things this summer?
What are cool experiences that we could have as a family?
Take turns writing things down, fleshing out cool ideas, and giving your kids the tools to stretch outside their comfort zones. If the idea of a “group project” feels daunting, you’re not alone. Sure, the starting line might feel a little awkward. But give it a few minutes. As you start tossing out ideas, anticipation builds, and creativity flows.
Follow the golden summer bucket list rule: no idea is a bad idea. By fueling their crazy and sometimes far-fetched visions, you’re instilling a valuable lesson: their big ideas are worth exploring and sharing.
Small Is The New Big
The key to a summer bucket list isn’t big trips or flashy adventures.
Yes, summer trips can be amazing, and an out-of-the-box adventure is definitely encouraged on some summer days, but scaling things down to size is not only okay – it’s important.
Small but easy wins teach kids a lesson they’re going to need as adults: life is not made of only big and dramatic moments– it’s all the ordinary, everyday life in between that sets the tone for the seasons you’ll have.
Fun doesn’t have to be flashy, and I’m sure you’ve already seen proof of that. It’s why your kids love the box the toy comes in more than the toy itself. I like to say that no expensive experience can compete with a wildly creative mind.
Here are some simple ideas that will fuel fun but cost zero dollars and don’t require a travel bag:
- Make a time capsule
- Host a family movie night
- Join a library summer reading challenge
- Write and mail a letter to a friend or family member
Making Time Novel
I learned the other day that when you step outside your routine and try new things, you are essentially slowing down time.
Trying something new triggers a dopamine release in your brain, giving your mind the sense that time feels fuller and more expansive. As a result, you “slow down” time. That’s why trips to new places feel longer. That’s why childhood felt like it lasted a tiny eternity—kids are always trying to learn new things, and their little brains are not yet wired for “autopilot” mode.
That’s why adding novelty to your summer bucket list is so important. Need some help brewing up new ideas? Here are a few ideas for your list (I know they’re going on mine):
- Go to a drive-in movie theater
- Visit a new park
- Pick berries at a local farm
- Go stargazing with a blanket and snacks
- Make a summer scrapbook
- Try out a new hobby
Break Your Own Mold
As parents, it can be easy to make life revolve entirely around our kids—we’re stewarding their childhoods.
But summer isn’t just for them. It’s for us, too. It’s an invitation to step away from the usual routine (even for a few moments) and enjoy the longer, slower days.
So, in the spirit of fun, what would feel fun for you this summer? Maybe it’s something new. Something small. Something just for you. Maybe you want to host a summer book club with your friends. Perhaps you want to try out something like Class Pass and spend the summer trying new forms of movement.
I grew up with a mom who never stopped trying new things—unicycle classes, painting, even juggling. Watching her taught me that you’re never too young or old to try something new.
Many things on the summer bucket list will be activities you do together as a family, but it’s okay to go solo on an adventure or to include something for yourself.
Remember, summer is your season too.
And that’s the real magic of a summer bucket list—it helps us remember the season and put stakes in the ground of our memory. We need that as much as the kids do.
So here’s to the summer ahead of us and the bucket lists we’ll draft. May they be full (in the best way) with new adventures, big laughter, little acts of kindness, brave moments, and a feeling of togetherness that lingers long after the big yellow school buses come rolling back around.
