Put down the electronics and get your kids outside this summer with these Fun and Free Activities for Kids at the Lake House. These activities are so versatile, you can adapt them to meet your own needs. Head to a park or even your backyard and become one with nature. Make sure to print your free Nature Scavenger Hunt printable, too.
Today I am super excited to have a guest poster here at the lake. Adrienne from 505 Ranch Club has some really great ideas for fun and free activities for kids at the lake house that I know you will enjoy!
Here at the 505 Ranch Club, we absolutely love the Lake Life State of Mind blog for embodying all the fun and whimsy of lakeside living. Whether you have little ones of your own, or young relatives visiting your lake house for the summer, living lakeside lends itself to tons of fun and fanciful activities for children. 505 Ranch Club is a unique combination of Cedar Creek lake homes set on a large ranch; we are family-focused and offer a wide variety of family-friendly activities. The lake provides the perfect atmosphere for learning, leisure, and laughter! There are so many fun ways to encourage kids to engage their innate creativity and imagination. Here are a few of our favorite ways to enjoy some quality time with the kids in your life!
Pack a picnic lunch, canvases and paintbrushes, and paint “en plein air” under the sunshine!
Take a cue from famous impressionist painters Monet and Degas and take your art supplies outdoors to be fully immersed in all the inspirations surrounding you at the lake. Encourage your kids to derive their inspiration from nature. Whether your child chooses to paint an abstract, pretty duck or replicate a realistic recreation of a dock, you and your young ones will be left with fun mementos on canvas to cherish your memories of lakeside picnicking and painting together forever.
Supplies you’ll need:
- A picnic basket filled with foods and beverages of your choice
- One canvas per person
- An easel for each person
- A tote to carry paints and supplies in
- A plastic paint palette (preferably one per person, but could easily be shared)
- Assorted paintbrushes to share
- Acrylic paint set or individual tubes of acrylic paints in an assortment of colors (though any paint would technically work, we always recommend nontoxic acrylic paints for kids as they are the easiest to work with and the easiest to clean off of hands and clothing)
- Wet wipes to clean paint off of hands (this can get messy with little ones!)
- Mason jars or plastic cups to fill with clean water to rinse brushes after use or before switching between paint colors. *Remember to take your dirty water to the nearest sink or toilet for disposal. Do not dump in the lake as it will pollute the water and harm the wildlife!
Why kids will love it: Most kids absolutely love to get their hands on some paint and play with color. While most kids have played with paints before, most have never been given the opportunity to have an art class outside before. This is a fun way to encourage kids to notice all the wildlife and nature around them while letting them get a little messy too.
Make some s’mores under the stars!
Stargazing is a magical pursuit that encourages kids to engage their imaginations to the fullest. Practice locating the big dipper, little dipper, Mercury and Venus using a telescope or special binoculars. Make this memorable night even more special with a delicious dessert. Let your kids indulge in making delicious s’mores with unconventional ingredients like peanut butter cups, mint chocolate or even cookie dough!
Supplies you’ll need:
- One comfy blanket
- One flashlight
- One telescope or special stargazing binoculars to share
- Sticks suitable for roasting marshmallows
- A bag of marshmallows
- A box of graham crackers
- An assortment of chocolate candies of your choice
- Wet wipes to clean hands
- Plenty of napkins
- A lighter and some kindling to start a campfire
Why kids will love it: Being outdoors at night beside a campfire with gooey s’mores is always a special treat for kids! Especially when you allow them to be outside past their bedtime. In the summer, if you’re lucky enough to catch a meteor shower in action, it will be an especially unforgettable evening for you and your little ones.
Host a scavenger hunt!
Last but not least, scavenger hunts are always a perennial favorite for kids! You’ll be able to complete this hunt suitable for children of all ages simply by printing out the checklist we’ve included for your convenience in the free resource library. You can also have kids photograph the objects if they’re old enough to use digital cameras or smartphones.
Getting your kids outside and enjoying their surroundings is so very important. It is especially important in this day and age where technology is constantly at their fingertips keeping our kiddos hostage indoors. These fun and free activities for kids at the lake house are absolutely perfect for lake living but are also so versatile that you can adapt them to meet your own personal needs. So grab your kids and head to the lake, or the park, or even your backyard, and embrace nature!
DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE LAKESIDE SCAVENGER HUNT TODAY BY FILLING OUT THE FORM BELOW!
Want to remember this? Post these Fun and Free Activities for Kids at the Lake to your favorite Pinterest board!
Sharlene Habermeyer says
These are fabulous ideas that I can use with my grandkids! A couple of years ago for our family reunion, I organized a scavenger hunt–it was the hit of our family party–everyone loved it! And I love your idea of painting by the water and s’mores are always the best! Thanks for the great ideas!
lakelifestateofmind@gmail.com says
I’d love to do a family reunion one day. I can definitely see a scavenger hunt being a huge success at an event like that. And I concur that s’mores are the best 🙂