Get Kids Outside with 21 Boredom Busters for Summer ‘21

Who wants bored kids all summer long? Not this mama! So, I’ve compiled a list of 21 non-tech items to keep kids active and occupied while school is out and the weather is warm. Here I recommend items that our family has tried and enjoyed and we think your family might enjoy them, too! Everything included is centered around being outside and enjoying sunshine and fresh air. These are great for days at home, taking to the park or while visiting family and friends. Clicking the images will take you directly to Amazon where you can read more about each product.

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21 Boredom Busters for Summer ‘21

1. Skidee Kick Scooter

My kids love this thing! When I first saw that the age range was 1-12 years old I thought, “yeah right!” Could a single scooter really be appropriate for barely-walking toddlers as well as pre-teens? The answer is YES! My 7 year old is practically a pro at riding this thing in our neighborhood. And last summer, just after my youngest turned a year old, he loved sitting on the drop-down seat and riding in our driveway with help from me. Okay, confession time – I actually have a lot of fun riding the Skidee Kick Scooter myself! I had to start out slow and it took some practice, but I got the hang of riding it. I’m not saying I look cool, but I do enjoy it 😉 This scooter comes in several colors!

2. Little Tikes Bounce House

My kids have an absolute blast jumping and sliding on this bounce house and it usually keeps them occupied outside for at least an hour. All three of my kids have a TON of energy and jumping on this gives them a really good outlet! We have had our Little Tikes bounce house since the summer of 2017 and it still works extremely well! Even with three rowdy kids we have not had any issues with holes/deflating or any mechanical problems with the blower. We have been pretty strict about following the safety guidelines and weight limits and have always stored it in its original box which has kept it in great condition. This bounce house is one of my kids’ favorite things we own…I highly recommend it!

3. Stomp Rockets

Stomp Rockets are pretty simple but a lot of fun! They are classified as STEM activities which is an educational bonus. As the name suggests, the rockets are launched by stomping on the launcher. There is a single and also a “dueling” option where two kids can stomp their rockets at the same time. Toddlers have fun watching the rockets launch but are generally going to be too small to launch them. It takes some coordination to jump on the launcher and also enough body weight to get the rocket launched. My 4 year-old and 7 year-old kids definitely have more fun with these than my 2 year-old. These store nicely in the box they come in and don’t take up much space. Also, there aren’t too many parts so cleaning up is quick and easy! Yay!

The single Stomp Rocket Dueling Stomp Rockets

4. Chalk Alive Augmented Reality Chalk Art

When I first heard about augmented reality (AR) chalk I was really confused! I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. But, Chalk Alive is quite cool and different from anything my kids have ever done. The set comes with stencils and chalk and a free app available in the App Store and on Google Play. Once you use the chalk to fill in the character stencils on a driveway, sidewalks, etc., use the app to scan the stencil. The scanned character (we have the dolphin, lion and tiger) then “comes alive” on the app! You can make the character make sounds and do tricks! If you instruct your child where to stand, they can even take pictures with the AR characters! My kids and I thought the app and AR aspects were pretty neat. My husband was more impressed with the stencils, ha! Younger kids will definitely need help with the stenciling as well as the app. Older elementary kids could probably do this mostly independently.

5. Water Shooters

When the days are hot, what better way for the kids to cool down than to get wet! It’s nice to have a variety of water shooters and water guns on hand for different ages and abilities. I always tell my kids not to shoot water at anyone who doesn’t want to get wet and no shooting at people’s faces! These foam water shooters are fun and so are the water pistols. The multi-pack of 30 is a great value for your dollar and have a simple trigger making them easy for smaller children to use. All you need is a big bucket of water and the kids will be set for water shooting battles!

6. Popsicle Makers

It’s fun to make popsicles in the morning then let them freeze throughout the day for a late afternoon treat. There are so many different ways to make popsicles. You could make a wide variety and have a bunch of flavors to enjoy throughout the summer! These silicone popsicle molds are sturdy but the popsicles also come out easily when they’re ready to be eaten! This particular brand comes with either six, ten or twelve molds. Who doesn’t love a popsicle on a hot, sunny summer day?

7. Ladder Ball

Ladder ball is (or can be) a competitive game for older kids and a good way to work on hand-eye coordination. The game is designed to be played with two teams of two. It’s a great yard game for parties or when the kids have a few friends over. Adults love to play ladder ball, too…it’s not just for kids! The game breaks down nicely into smaller pieces which is great for storing. This particular model comes with a nice drawstring bag which makes it easy to transport.

8. Bunch O Balloons

If you have never tried Bunch O Balloons, you’re in for a real treat! These water balloons are so quick and easy to fill, you will never want to go back to the old way of filling. You can fill and tie 100 water balloons in 60 seconds…literally! These are more expensive than the “old fashioned” water balloons that you fill one by one. But, in my opinion, the time saved is so worth it. They come in packs of 100 (first pic), which seems like a lot. But my three kids can throw 100 water balloons in about two minutes, ha! I recommend buying the multi-pack (second pic), especially for larger groups of kids.

9. Kites

My kids got some Sky Delta kites for Easter and I have been pleasantly surprised with the quality. They had to learn some lessons in kite flying, however! Even after getting one stuck on the roof of our house and another caught in a tree, the kites were not damaged. We even flew them in pretty high winds one time and the kites did really well. Sky Delta has a lot of different character options, which kids love!

10. Bug Catchers

Bug catcher/outdoor kits are so much fun for little ones. My kids don’t always put bugs in their kits. They like to collect leaves, flowers, sticks, rocks…basically anything they can find on the ground! We’ve had our kit for several years but isn’t available on Amazon anymore. We have a kit a lot like the one pictured and this one gets great reviews!

11. Wagon

I have been surprised by how much use we have gotten out of our Step 2 wagon. My kids play with it in our yard all the time. We also take it on walks and I can buckle my youngest but leave my middle child unbuckled so he can get in and out as he pleases. This wagon is light enough to load into our van to take to the zoo or park. We have also taken it to outdoor sporting events. It’s nice because we can not only transport our kids but we also don’t have to bring chairs for our two youngest. They can sit and watch the sporting event in the wagon! There is also a small storage compartment under one seat for snacks, drinks or toys. This is the one we have and I give it two thumbs up!

12. Bubbles

Bubbles are a quintessential childhood amusement, right? I love our Gazillion Bubbles machine (first pic) because it blows way more bubbles in much less time than I can! I love hearing the kids squeal with delight once this thing starts shooting out massive amounts of bubbles! The WOWMAZING Giant Bubble Kit (second pic) gets great reviews and is more appealing to older kids than the bubble machine. It has also won a “Mom’s Choice Award” so you know it has to be good!

13. Water Table

Water tables can keep toddlers and pre-schoolers busy for a loooong time! This Little Tikes table has been a big hit with my kids. I appreciate that the water is really shallow so it is safer for younger kids to be around (as opposed to something like a baby pool). This table comes with multiple colorful toys and moving parts to keep kids interested and entertained!

14. Nerf Guns and Tactical Set

Nerf guns are not something I played with much as a kid, but my three sons think they are a blast! We own a lot of different Nerf guns. I like the ones pictured because they are small and don’t take up much storage space but they are also easy to use. One of my sons got the tactical set (middle picture) for his birthday this past year. I was surprised by how much stuff came with it. There is two of each item so he and his brother are both able to wear the gear and they LOVE it! I also found a similar girl’s tactical set if pink is more appealing to your child!

15. Pícnic Table/Folding Table and Chairs

We have a kid’s picnic table almost identical to the top picture. The kids love to sit on it in the garage or outside to eat lunch or work on art projects. There are lots of kids tables that are completely plastic but I appreciate that this one has a sturdy metal base. If storage space is an issue, the kids’ folding table and chairs is a great alternative option! It can also be easily used indoor, outdoor or taken on the go!

16. 12 Volt Ride-Ons

One of the highlights of my childhood was my battery-powered “Jeep” that my sisters and I would ride around our yard. My kids also absolutely love to ride and play on their 12v car. The ones pictured are not exactly like the one we have. But these are around the same price point (on the lower end!) and have good reviews. If you have more than one child, I recommend a two-seater so two can ride at once. A single-seater just causes a lot of problems in our family, ha ha!

17. Sprinklers

When I think of summer, I think of kids running through sprinklers! Talk about hours of fun in the sun!!! I don’t know many kids who don’t love to play in the yard while getting sprayed by water. The first picture is of a sprinkler specifically designed for young kids. Less water comes out and it is more gentle than a traditional yard sprinkler. This is great for toddlers and littler kids who may not enjoy the intensity of bigger sprinklers. The second sprinkler pictured is a basic one that is designed for watering grass. This is the kind my kids like to play in. It is oscillating and has a couple adjustment options but it is nothing fancy…and they don’t care! When the kids aren’t playing in it, we use it for it’s intended purpose of keeping our yard hydrated 😉

18. Sand Table

Sand tables offer a quiet sensory play experience. We have played in sand tables at friends’ houses and it’s always a big hit with the kids. I like the table option better than sand boxes because clothes, socks and shoes get a little less messy. This Step 2 one comes with a tie-down cover, which is a must! If the sand isn’t covered, it gets rain, leaves and bird droppings in it and neighborhood cats like to use it as a litter box. Yuck!!! This table comes with a few sand toys, but I also included an option for an extra set. Because we all know kids can never have too many sand toys! This set comes with a nice storage bag, too.

19. Climbers

Climbing is such a fun and adventurous part of childhood! The toddler climber (first pic) was a lifesaver for my youngest. We had it in our living room for several months so he had something safe to climb on. He always wanted to climb up things that were not meant for that kind of activity! Even my older kids love to play with this! We have one like this outside too, and it gets a lot of use. The climber pictured on the bottom is not one we have but it looks awesome and is on my wish list. This one is for older kids and looks like such a good time! It has over 3,000 reviews, 76% of which are 5 stars. If/when my kids end up getting one of these, I will update you!

20. Body Bumpers

This set of Banzai Body Bumpers is something my kids play with at my parents’ house. It is definitely a physical activity! Kids can put these inflatable “suits” on and bump into each other and knock each other over. It is quite entertaining to watch but we do have to remind the kids to be careful. I like these because they are very different from other things they play with. And my kids are always looking for a variety of things to do! The recommended ages for these are 4-12, and I would say that is quite accurate. Smaller kids will not be able to wear these and it could be dangerous for them. But bigger kids sure do enjoy bouncing and bumping around in the Body Bumpers!

21. Bocce Ball

Bocce Ball is something my family has been playing for years. This game is enjoyable for adults and kids of all ages! You just need to have an outdoor area big enough to throw the balls, which an average-sized yard is perfect. We play Bocce Ball as a family but it is also great for cookouts and playing with friends. The set pictured is available in three different varieties: classic resin, light-up LED or soft rubber.

Now, go have a summer full of fun!

There will be no reason for boredom with all the excitement contained on this list! This summer, let the enjoyments of childhood be abundant with plenty of outdoor activity. I hope this post gave you some good ideas to keep the kids in your life active and outside once school is out. Here’s to making the summer of 2021 the best we can for our kids!