Summer vacation with a 5-year-old is a magical mix of wonder, chaos, giggles, and the occasional meltdown over melting ice cream. As a mom and blogger, I’ve found that planning just the right mix of activities can turn a long, hot summer into a season of connection, learning, and beautiful memories.

My son—curious, fearless, and always hungry for adventure (and treats)—loves doing new things. Whether we’re traveling or spending time at home, every day becomes a mini adventure. So here’s a list of our tried, tested, and truly loved things to do with kids during summer vacation—perfect for curious little explorers!

1. Escape the Heat – Travel Somewhere Cooler!

Sometimes the best way to beat the heat is to literally leave it behind. Our first summer after the pandemic, we took a our first family trip. We went to Darjeeling, queen of hills, and it won my son’s heart like no other place could. He was 2, yet he remembers everything from the trip given it was his first trip. And there’s no better joy than sporting your winter clothes in May again.

Whether it’s Himachal, Sikkim, or even a quick hill station drive from your city, cooler weather not only gives kids space to run and breathe fresh air, but also brings a refreshing change in routine. This year we are thinking Uttarakhand or the colder parts of Kerala (yes again).

2. Water Play All Day!

If a hill trip isn’t possible, bring the water to you. A kiddie pool in the balcony, a sprinkler in the garden, or even good old-fashioned bucket and mug games can make for hours of joy.

Sometimes, we turn the balcony into a “beach”—complete with bath toys, plastic cups, and a pretend beach towel picnic. Trust me, the laughter makes the cleanup worth it.

3. DIY Summer Camp at Home

I set aside an hour or two every few days for our “summer camp.” It includes:

• Craft hour (think ice cream stick puppets)
• Dance party (with our own playlists)
• Storytime with character voices (he insists I read as a lion sometimes!)
• Yoga for kids (there’s a great video with jungle animal poses)
• An indoor tent complete with cushions and stuffed animals

Make a chart, give stickers, and let them “graduate” with a certificate—it builds confidence and routine without being too structured.

4. Family Field Trips in Your Own City

We started a fun tradition last year: pretending to be tourists in our own city. You have no idea what hidden gems your city has until you start doing it. One weekend, we pick one place—zoo, museum, planetarium, aquarium, botanical garden—and explore it with a new perspective. We especially love going to places where they have huge gardens or yards. Because the evening breeze feels wonderful in the summer.

5. Visit the Grandparents – The OG Summer Plan

There’s something magical about summers spent with nana-nani or dada-dadi. The long chats, extra desserts, and no rush mornings do something beautiful for kids (and parents).

My son is lucky enough to have one set of grandparents right next door, and the other set in the suburbs. I grew up in a big house with huge garden, and even a forest in the backyard(I’m not even kidding). All our neighbours are actually our relatives and it’s a village that all child deserves. My parent’s stay 3-4hours away by car, so we can’t visit them often. But we try to make the most out of summer vacation.

While we try to take a trip the first week of the vacation, we pack up and leave for my parent’s place the moment we come back from the trip.

Seiji loves running around in the yard (the forest is no longer there and some of the lands have been sold since), playing in the garden. One of his favourite activities is going to the terrace once the sun down. And most importantly visiting all our extended family and play with his cousins.

6. Grow Something Together

Whether it’s a tomato plant on your kitchen sill or sunflowers in a pot, kids love getting their hands dirty and seeing something grow. My mom and I used to a vegetable garden along with her flower garden. I was more interested in growing chillies, tomatoes, spinaches, broad beans than growing flowers as a kid. I even planted some Deodar and spruce trees as a kid, that grew longer than our two story house eventually.

Seiji inherited his love for plants from me. And he always comes back tanned after his summer visit to my parents.

And do you know kids are more likely to eat something they helped grow.

7. Go on Food Adventures

Every week, we do a “new food challenge.” It could be tasting a fruit we’ve never had (dragon fruit was a recent winner!) or recreating a dish from another country—like sushi rolls with bread or mini momos together.

Seiji loves baking with me. He can bake yummy cakes and make pancakes. But on summer vacation, we try to get even more adventures, with salads, fruit punch and stir fries.

8. Build a Fort and Just… Play

Blankets + tents + fairy lights = the ultimate tent. We sometimes spend the whole afternoon inside pretending we’re explorers on a mission or pirates finding hidden treasure. No screens, no pressure—just pure, imaginative play.

He even hosts his own tea party with his stuffed animals inside his tent.

9. Take a Nature Walk or Treasure Hunt

Find a quiet morning and head to a local park or trail. Give them a list of things to spot: a yellow flower, a round leaf, a butterfly, a feather. Suddenly, a simple walk turns into a treasure hunt. He brings back “finds” in a little bag and we talk about each one later.

It keeps them grounded, curious, and connected to nature.

10. Make a Summer Memory Box

Throughout the summer, we collect small memories—ticket stubs, drawings, leaves, pressed flowers, shells, random scribbles—and put them in a decorated box.

At the end of summer, we go through it like a storybook. One year, my son said, “Let’s add the smell of mangoes too.” We added a dried mango skin. Yep. That’s the kind of magic I live for.

Final Words from This Grateful Mama

Summer is never about being busy—it’s about being present. These ideas don’t need fancy gear or heavy planning. They just need you. And if you’re reading this, chances are—you’re already doing your best.

So hug them tight, laugh at their jokes (even the weird ones), and let this summer be one they’ll remember not because of the toys they got, but because of the time you gave.

Got any fun summer plans or ideas you’re trying this year? I’d love to hear them—drop them in the comments! 💛