Fun Central Florida Summer Break Activities for Kids

Fantastic and Fun Summer Ideas for Kids

It’s no secret that summer is the best time of the year. The weather is lovely, and it’s a great time to go outside and enjoy nature. It’s also an excellent time to plan fun things to do on summer break so that your kids have a fantastic time.

Summer is perfect for letting loose, relaxing, and having fun. Yes, it’s the ideal time for the outdoors. Kids are itching to do something new during the summer school break, and plenty of fun summer activities await your kids.

Here are some fantastic activity ideas in Central Florida for your kids to help you plan an enjoyable summer excursion or activity that everyone will love.

1.  Cool and Fun Summer Break Activities Ideas for Kids

You don’t need to break the bank to entertain your child during their summer break. Some simple DIY projects can help keep them entertained while allowing them to explore different hobbies simultaneously.

Instead of planning just a single trip, consider organizing an extended break filled with various activities. If your kids enjoy crafts and being outdoors, penciling in some creative summer activities is a great idea!

Here are some great tips on how to stay active and have fun during the hot months while helping your kids develop independence and social skills at the same time:

• Visiting and experiencing local sites and attractions
• Engaging them in nature activities
• Arts and crafts
• Brain games
• Engaging in outdoor activities
• Have some nighttime fun
• Socializing with friends
• Cooking ideas

2.  Visiting Local Sites and Attractions

Experiencing local sites and attractions is one of the fun things to do on summer break for kids that will keep them busy, excited, and entertained. Explore your area or a new destination for a vacation with your kids. Here are our top picks of some sites and attractions your kids will love:

SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium

Come on over to the SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium. This engaging, hands-on, and interactive activity is a perfect summer break idea for your kids. It offers a great way to engage with nature in a fun, educational setting. Kids learn more about ecosystems and how animals are protected in the wild.

Some of the fun things that your kids will enjoy here at SEA LIFE Orlando aquarium include:

• Exhibits: such as Orlando, Florida’s only 360⁰ Ocean Tunnel, the Jelly Wall, the Indian Ocean habitat, the Feeding Frenzy display, and the Coastal Rockpool touch tank
• Variety of Sea Creatures: including sharks, turtles, octopus, stingrays, and seahorses, among other oceanic fish species
• Various Events and Experiences: such as the unique behind-the-scenes tour and the virtual reality experience for the intrepid explorer kids

Madame Tussauds

Within walking distance of other attractions in Orlando, Madame Tussauds' wax museum is the place to visit if you want to see wax figures of famous athletes, film stars, and historical figures. Your kids can stand next to a wax replica of Bad Bunny, Beyoncé,  Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Ariana Grande, and Serena Williams and have your picture taken.  

You and the kids will learn how measurements are taken and get a close look at the intricate molding and meticulous finishing touches necessary to finish a sculpture. In addition to hearing about Marie Tussaud's life, you'll learn about her legacy and the archives' authentic items from the past 200 years.

The Orlando Eye

Another local attraction in Orlando that will not disappoint as a fun summer break activity idea for kids is a visit to The Orlando Eye. This impressive observation wheel stands 400 feet tall and offers breathtaking views of the beautiful surrounding sights. In the 18-minute ride, you get exquisite panoramic views of:

• Natural and artificial lakes, including Big and Little Sand Lake

• Walt Disney World

• Various Central Florida landmarks

• The Universal Orlando Resort with Hogwarts, Volcano Bay, and the Incredible Hulk Coaster.

Your kids will enjoy the beautiful Orlando skyline, and you can take them to dine and shop afterwards.

Other Local Sites and Attractions

Regardless of the city or town you live in, there are plenty of fun summer break activities for your kids and attractions for the whole family to enjoy:

• Visit local food joints where the kids will enjoy snacks and other cuisines, such as diners or street food eateries

• Attend age-appropriate concerts where the kids will enjoy some wholesome music

• Go to sporting events in stadiums and parks where the kids will enjoy games such as baseball and football live, and may even get to see celebrity athletes

• Spend a relaxing afternoon at picnic sites, enjoying a family outing together.

• Explore flea markets and garage sales, and gauge your kids’ negotiation skills

• Experience theatres where you can soak up matinees, local plays, puppet shows, and musicals

• Visit local movie theatres and watch blockbuster movies

• Visit local farmers’ market where your kids will find farm-fresh produce, fruits, veggies, and treats

• Discover historical sites such as museums or ancient houses, where the kids will have fun exploring and learning about the past, and may even engage in cosplay

Enjoying Nature and Engaging in Outdoor Activities

Whether you're camping or staying at a hotel, summer is a fantastic opportunity for you and your kids to bond as a family, enjoy the outdoors, and have fun together. Spending time in nature offers several benefits, including helping children develop essential skills such as self-sufficiency, environmental awareness, and coping strategies.

Kids can discover countless ways to enjoy the great outdoors, whether it's taking hikes, playing in the backyard, or collecting flowers for a bouquet. Spending time outside also helps kids develop their social skills and build essential life skills like patience, self-confidence, and teamwork. Such adventures can be an opportunity for them to make new friends.

Fun summer break activity ideas for kids that involve enjoying nature and engaging in outdoor activities can include hiking, visiting nearby national parks, and:

• Bird watching with the help of apps and guidebooks

• Making bird feeders that will attract more bird species to your backyard

• Growing flowers and herbs in old containers, which you can put on your window sills or patio

• Making tree houses and fairy houses

• Creating a backyard wildlife habitat

Note: Ensure your kids carry sunscreen and bug spray during these outdoor and nature activities.

Engaging in Arts and Crafts Activities

Engaging in arts and crafts is another excellent fun summer break activity idea for kids. Let your kids explore their creativity by making homemade crafts, playing outdoors, and having barbecues with friends. These activities are great for kids to learn new skills and have fun simultaneously.

These activities can be done at home with just a few basic supplies. For example, you can make slime or play with play dough to create fun sculptures. You can also decorate homemade popsicles, ice cream sandwiches, and other treats to eat outside on the patio.

Encourage your kids to get artsy by letting them:

• Collect rocks, paint them, and turn them into garden ornaments
• Create murals, whether hand drawn, painted, or colored, all summer long in your house’s basement or garage
• Decorate walkways or your picket fences
• Journaling and keeping diaries to build their writing creativity
• Make musical instruments and music to grow their talents
• Play with playdough and clay to create all kinds of shapes
• Hold photoshoots which could lead to the discovery of a photography talent in your kids
• Stage drama performances complete with costumes or set up a stand-up comedy
• Press flowers on waxed paper
• Make bead bracelets, necklaces, and other ornaments

Whatever activity you choose, it’s important to keep kids safe while they’re having fun. Make sure they know how to use safety equipment, like helmets and kneepads, before they start playing. Plus, ensure they drink enough water so they don’t get overheated or dehydrated during their activities.

Cooking Ideas

Kids love to cook and make meals together, especially when it’s hot outside. Cooking can be a great way to bond with your child while getting them active as a fun summer break activity. There are lots of different ways to get kids involved. You can walk and search for beautiful flowers to bring home, or go to the farmer’s market and pick fresh veggies for dinner.

They’ll learn valuable cooking and food-related skills, like reading a recipe, following instructions, and being more independent and self-reliant. You can also go with them to the library and check out books about healthy foods or visit your local grocery store and look for exciting ingredients to try.

There are many ways you can encourage your kids to cook: Start by showing them how to prepare a meal. Talk about the different parts of a kitchen, what ingredients look like, what tools are available, and how they work. Explain why you use some of the tools available, such as a knife or a spoon, and why you don’t use others, such as an electric mixer.

Show them how to measure ingredients and allow them to practice by putting together simple recipes or making simple dishes for themselves. This will help them get comfortable with measuring and handling basic kitchen tools. Make it fun.

Take turns helping each other at the kitchen table as you make dinner together. You can also try cooking outdoors on the grill or in an outdoor kitchen. Some of the cooking ideas that the kids will have fun with include:

• Baking cakes or pizza

• Making lemonade and sun tea

• Making ice cream

• Making their favorite childhood treats, such as pancakes

Be patient, especially when they make mistakes. Children learn from their mistakes, so don’t hesitate to offer advice and encouragement when they mess up.

Brain Games

Brain games, such as Mind-Mapping, are one of the most enjoyable fun summer break activity ideas for kids. These games are designed to help kids learn how their brain works and use their capabilities differently. Brain games also allow kids to have fun while learning and improving mental skills.

• Mind-Mapping: This game involves creating a picture or drawing representing what you want to learn or understand. You can then share this picture with others, which helps you remember and understand it better.

• Brain Train: This game entails performing various tasks to improve cognitive skills and gain new knowledge. The tasks you do in this game can be as simple as looking at one thing from a different angle or predicting what will happen next.

Other different types of summer brain games that sum up as fun activity ideas for your kids include word games, picture puzzles, and math activities. You can find these games at many bookstores, toy stores, shops, and online retailers.

Board games such as chess and Monopoly are great ways to teach children how to strategize and make decisions under pressure. Card games like Uno are a fitting way to teach children to follow directions and take turns while playing with others.

Computer games like Minecraft or Roblox allow children to create worlds and play online with other players. These interactive games are trendy among elementary school kids interested in tech or gaming-related subjects.

Social Time with Friends

Spending time with friends is a fun summer break activity for your kids and helps them foster their interaction and communication skills. Let them go out on the playground to have fun on the slides and jump rope, play games to strengthen their bonds, and have fun activities such as treasure hunts.

Other ways that your kids can socialize with their friends include:

• Going swimming at nearby pools

• Camping in the backyard

• Stargazing

• Going for fun bike rides

• Flying kites

• Having hula hoop contests

• Going fishing

• Having water gun plays, paintball, and bowling

That’s right, encourage your kids to have the utmost enjoyable moments with these fun summer break activity ideas.