27 Free Summer (or Anytime) Activities for All Kids

July is over and back to school is looming, with echoing of the Jaws theme playing in the background for many kids… There’s still plenty of time; however, for some last minute summer fun that could continue right into the fall!

When children have challenges developing self-directed play activities or lack social skills to take part with peers easily, the summer gets a little, well… long. Although some of these recommendations are designed particularly for children with social deficits, the majority can benefit all children make the most breaks in the school year.

Here is a list of some free activities that could be used to address necessary targets, meet individualized interests, and are, most importantly, FREE.

Target Areas of Need
Breaks in the school year a great time to catch up on school challenges or social skills needs, as well as to identify interests for future targets.

Do2Learn
http://www.do2learn.com/index.htm
A great website with free games and activities, as well as their educational content. Check out the emotion matching game where a face is placed along a continuum of emotion (i.e., annoyed to angry).

JobTips
http://www.do2learn.com/JobTIPS/index.html
Free vocational interest assessments and related content including information on future careers and jobs related to social needs.

Starfall
http://www.starfall.com
Reading and phonemic awareness skills, like rhyming.

Learn to Type
http://www.sense-lang.org/typing/tutor/keyboarding.php
Typing program. Great for students who can type due to handwriting issues, but need to work on accuracy or speed.

Paper-Based Activities
Print a few copies and let your kiddo get busy!

News-2-You Summer Unit
http://www.n2y.com

One of my all time favorite resources has developed a summer unit on the London 2012 Summer Olympics and is offering it for free through Labor Day! New-2-You uses images to clarify content and provides more age-typical reading materials.

Printable Mazes
http://www.printactivities.com/Mazes.html

Krazydad Printable Mazes (by level)
http://krazydad.com/mazes/

Discovery Education’s Puzzlemaker
http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/DoublePuzzleSetupForm.asp
Create a puzzle based on a specific area of interest.

National Geographic Coloring Book
http://www2.crayola.com/coloring_application/index.cfm
Detailed coloring pages, based on National Geographic topics.

Books & Music
What better way to spend the last of summer than by expanding a reading library or musical interests? Teachers, do you hear that? It’s a free ‘Listening Center’ or ‘Classroom Library’!

AudioStream Children’s Records
http://www.kiddierecords.com/
Free, classic recordings of children’s records.

StoryNory
http://storynory.com/
Free audio story each week.

International Children’s Digital Library
http://en.childrenslibrary.org/
Variety of international books, generally published in English, that can be read online.

We Give Books
http://www.wegivebooks.org/
Free reading program for children ages 5 to 8 through the summer. A printable log of all books read is available for free as well.

MeeGenius! Free e-books for kids
http://meegenius.com/store/books/free/
Free books available in iPad, Android, and GoogleTV formats.

Computer Programming
For the future developer who just can’t be pulled away from the screen!

Snake Wrangling for Kids
http://www.briggs.net.nz/snake-wrangling-for-kids.html
A printable, electronic book for kids ages 8 and up on using Python 3 programming language. (Available in Mac, Windows, and Linux formats).

Scratch Computer Coding Tool
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6647011.stm
A free programming tool developed for children that can be used to create books, videos, and computer programs.

Internet-Based Activities
Online activities that can be done (mostly) independently.

Crayola Digi-Color
http://www2.crayola.com/coloring_application/index.cfm
Online coloring book! No printing required.

PBS Kids Video
http://pbskids.org/video/
Video clips of favorite PBS Kids shows, including Curious George.

Baby Smash: Computer Use (Cause & Effect)
http://www.hanselman.com/babysmash/screenies.htm
A great, free, cause and effect computer activity that can be used for individuals interested in visual input or stimulation, as well as for young children.

WatchKnowLearn: Free Video
http://watchknowlearn.org/Default.aspx?content=1c50-2212
Free educational videos on specific topics like hurricanes, the water cycle, and The Black Death.

Download ZAC Browser
http://zacbrowser.com/
A web browser developed for individuals on the autism spectrum that provides access to games, activities, and videos.

Real-World Options
Fun crafts & science-based activities.

Make Oobleck/Flubber/Gak
http://www.kidactivities.net/category/Art-Goop-Slime-Gak-Type-Recipes.aspx
The best, grossest substances ever! (Parents should supervise the creation of these).

Grow Your Own Chiapet
http://makeitfromscratch.blogspot.com/2010/08/quickie-summer-fun-crafts.html
Make unusual Chiapet-type creatures based on an area of interest.

Play with Science (also has multiple webcam feeds including infrared, bridge, and rats from the life science lab!)
http://www.omsi.edu/for-kids
Online activities on topics from digestion to money, including activities and video clips.

Go Somewhere
Get out and get busy!

Home Depot Kid’s Workshop
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/catalog/servlet/ContentView?pn=HT_WS_KidsWorkshops
Sign up to make a project at the Kid’s Workshop.

Find a Local Lego Building League
http://www.firstlegoleague.org/
A great opportunity to meet others with similar interests and practice social skills as well!

Or Go Somewhere… virtually!

Difficult to arrange outings because of a child’s needs (i.e., heat sensitivity, behaviors) or a family’s schedule? No longer permitted to have field trips because of budget cuts? Load a webcam or virtual tour on a classroom projector or computer and begin to explore the world, no matter the distance!

Hawaii http://satftp.soest.hawaii.edu/space/hawaii/virtual.field.trips.html

NASA http://virtualfieldtrip.jpl.nasa.gov/smmk/top/gates

Elephant Sanctuary http://www.elephants.com/elecam/

National Zoo http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/WebCams/default.cfm

Georgia Aquarium http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/explore-the-aquarium/interact/web-cams.aspx

Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium http://www.pittsburghzoo.org/webcams

National Aviary Webcams (Falcons & Penguins) www.aviary.org/penguincam/index.html

Butterfly Farm Virtual Tour http://www.butterflyfarm.co.uk/attraction/take-a-tour.php

Enjoy the last of the summer, and continue using most of these tools right into the fall!

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