Consider summerand spring or fall in certain climatesheat wave season.
Typically, steamy temps are synonymous with summer fun.
Fun Hot Summer Day Activities for Kids (and Kids at Heart)
1.
Photo: Yeji Kim
Create an Indoor Obstacle Course
Are the kids desperate to let out some energy?
Give them an indoor agility challenge to complete.
A quick internet search for indoor scavenger hunt clues will give you fun templates and inspiration to steal from.
Yeji Kim
The longer they’re in the water, the bigger and bouncier they get.
(You might want to put a few towels around first to catch the overflow.)
Craft Ice Cream Sandwiches or Sundaes
Hot days = ice cream days.
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Make your own ice cream, whip up towering ice cream sundaes, or assemble yourideal ice cream sandwichcombos.
Just don’t forget the toppings!
Make No-Bake Treats
Want to bake something without turning on the oven?
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We dont blame you.
No-bake cookies and desserts (or healthy snacks!)
are a heat wave dream.
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One of our favorite frozen treat heroes?
Do something with all those frozen bananas in your freezer.
Frozen banana ice cream andfrozen chocolate-covered bananasshould do the trick.
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Try Indoor Gardening
Bring the great outdoors inside on sweltering days.
Plant some herbs or otherfun indoor greenerywith the fam.
Maybe follow that up with a littleChristmas in July celebration, if you’re feeling extra-festive.
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Or Just Have a Freeform Dance Party
Let it all go and dance it out.
Turn up the music and get moving for as long as you want.
Free exercise, a boost of endorphins, and a lot of laughs wont be far behind.
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Try At-Home Origami (No Special Kit Required)
Want to try your hand at some basic origami?
you’re free to also use craft drawer essentials that you likely already have.
Youll need some paper (the more colorful, the better!
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If youve never made your own, theres nothing better.
Practice on your own hair, each others hair, or both.
Play Pop Pass
If you need a fun, kid-friendly activity, give the Pop Pass game a try.
Play Indoor Pickleball
Bring thepickleball fadhomeliterallywith an indoor/outdoor kids pickleball set.
When the weather is more agreeable, simply set it up outside.
Set Up an Airfort
There’s nothing little kids love more than to hole up in a cozy fort.
Of course, in the raging heat, they’ll want something less stifling.
It’s super cool for an indoor camp-out or just some imaginative fort play.
Do Karaoke
No karaoke machine?
Play Hide and Seek or Sardines
This should need no explanation!
As soon as any seeker finds the hider, they join them and hide together.
The last seeker to find all the hiders is It next round.
Have a Snowball Fight
You don’t needactualsnow to create an epic snowball showdown.
Instead, purchase some plush faux snowballs that are soft enough to throw around the house.
It’s a great way to stay active indoors without breaking a sweat or your ceramic vases.
When it’s this extremely hot outside, you may find yourself actually missing winter.
The winner of the most games gets a treat!
Or choose a game that can last for hours (hello, Risk and Monopoly).
Fun Things to Do When It’s Hot Outside for Adults
1.
Whether you let your partner, friends, or a roommate help out is totally up to you.
Read a Gripping Thriller
Or read whatever genre youre in the mood for that will pass the time!
Want something less goose-bump-inducing?
FaceTime a Long-Distance Friend
You probably didnt need us to make this suggestion, but here it is anyway.
Stuck at home during a heatwave, living alone, and watching your budget?
You dont need an expensive group getaway or an impossible dinner reservation to connect with your favorite people.
Map Out Your Next Dream Trip
No need to be productive in any real sense of the word here.
Serve it sans alcohol to the kids, and add a little vodka or rum to your glass.
Or Whip Up Boozy Ice Pops
Now were talkin.
Skip the alcohol if you wantits certainly not necessary for perfect homemade popsicles.
A few favorites: tiramisu ice pops,amaretto sour popsicle, andwatermelon margarita pops.
Find inspiration from theseeasy, warm-weather recipes,no-cook recipes, orhealthy summer dinner ideas.
Or grab your favorite cookbook thats been waiting to be opened and used for months.
Take a Cool Bath
A luxurious soak in the tub doesnt need to be steaming hot.
Organize Your Closet
Make this as fun as possible so it doesnt feel like a chore.
DIY Indoor Bowling
You dont need a designated bowling set for this indoor activity.
Roll a small ball and venture to knock over as many pins as possible.
This is great to play with kids, too!
Watch a Movie Series From Start to Finish
Every Lord of the Rings movie from start to finish?
Or maybe it’s time to revisit Indiana Jones on this summer day?
you could also use a bulletin board and thumbtacks so you could easily switch out pieces of it.
Need help figuring out what to write about?
Search online for writing promptsthere are thousands out thereand you’re sure to find something that interests you.
Grab markers, crayons, colored pencils, or any other coloring tool and make some art.
Coloring within the lines is optional.
Try a New Grandma Hobby
Don’t know how to spend a day indoors?
Take inspiration from grandma, who always has something in the works.
Just don’t work up a sweat!
Paint a Picture
Get out your paint supplies and spend the afternoon getting creative.
Search for inspiration on Pinterest or look through your own photos to recreate a special memory.
And if you prefer a bit more guidance, search up a paint-along video on YouTube.
The opportunities are endless!
Create a Charcuterie Board
Settling in for a cozy summer night?
Make it tasty too by crafting your very owncharcuterie boardto munch on all night long.
Then, pop open a bottle of wine and enjoy while binge-watching your new favorite show.
