6 Summer Activities for Your Family Play Calendar

I put together 6 summer activities for your family play calendar. (If you aren’t able to be home with our kids over summer, click over to my post on OC Summer Camps with Outdoor Themes or just plan your summer activities on the weekends.) I’m a big proponent of free play and just hanging out. I don’t want you to overschedule your kids over the summer – but routines and predictability can help caregivers and kids overcome that “lost” feeling when you drop your formal school year schedule.

My OC Summer Play Trip Newsletters where I suggest Play Trip ideas every week are available to paid subscribers in the Play Trip archives of my OC Tiny Hikes newsletter on Substack.

6 Summer Activity Ideas for Your Family Calendar

#1 – “One Fun Thing”

Fellow writer, and local mom, Alii Goedecke inspires me with her One Fun Thing ideas. Her book is “the story of a family discovering it just takes One Fun Thing to brighten any day.” My family was living this lifestyle before we met Alii and read her book — but she finally put it into words for us! You don’t really need to plan anything to put this into effect. Just wake up in the morning and figure out where you can squeeze your One Fun Thing into your day. Get her book and be inspired by her story!

#2 – Beach Days

I spent 5 summers adventuring out on Beach Days with a group of other moms and their kids. It started as a way to try 10 new beaches in one summer. However, after our first year, we narrowed it down to our favorites and rotated between the group’s favorite 3 beaches. I made up the calendar at the beginning of the summer. Then everybody knew the schedule and could factor it into their family travel and summer camp activities. No one had to RSVP or do any planning. We would just show up (or not).

#3 – Water Play Days (Water Park, Community Pool, Pool at a Family or Friend’s House)

You have to be much more watchful and supervise the kids in a water-filled setting. Consult my updated 2023 Splash Parks and Water Play post for ideas. It doesn’t have to be a different pool every week – you can pick the same pool and the kids will love it! I used to be a swim teacher and a lifeguard. I also wrote an in-depth magazine article on summer water safety where I interviewed parents whose children had accidentally drowned. If you remember nothing else from my post, remember this:

Children under 4 years old MUST be within arm’s reach of you when they are in the water.
NEVER take your eyes off of children when they are swimming – it’s not a time to read or play with your phone.

I see parents disregard these important safety measures all the time when I am in the water. Your vigilance can save your child’s life!

#4 – Nature Center Days or Animal Encounter Days

I have a post about 17+ nature centers in or near Orange County that will more than fill these themed days over the summer. Many can be paired with short nature walks right outside the nature centers. Add in OC Zoo, Santa Ana Zoo, the Pacific Marine Mammal Center, and maybe the Ocean Institute – and you have over 20 days (or 2 days per week) of outdoorsy things to do.

#5 – Field Trip Days or Guided Programs

These are the days you go further afield — up to LA or down to SD. I recommend driving about 9am and returning by 2pm so you don’t get stuck in traffic. I might even concentrate on a theme – like Gardens or Lakes. You could hit Huntington Gardens, LA Arboretum, San Diego Botanical Gardens, etc. and spread it out in field trips all summer long. Sometimes, participating in a FREE guided program close to home can be just as new an experience as traveling miles out of your way. We are so lucky to have free activity listings for Orange County at LetsGoOutside.org.

#6 – Park Days

Good old-fashioned park days are the best. Stick close to home if you are wiped out and let the kids expend some energy. Or if you’re feeling adventurous, check out the park map and try somewhere new. Each marker links back to a park post.