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Summer is meant for sunshine, sticky fingers, and popsicle-stained smiles. But with tablets, TVs, and iPhones competing for everyone’s attention, creating unplugged moments can feel more challenging than ever. It’s time to get creative—and that means finding technology-free summer activities the whole family can enjoy.
We’ve put together a list of our favorite ways to get everyone outside, soaking up what matters most. These ideas are grounding, creative, and full of the kind of crunchy charm that makes summertime so special.
Whether you’re raising little ones or just looking for more intentional, screen-free time this season, this list is for you. Ready to ditch technology and make memories? Let’s dive in.
The Freedom of Swapping Screens for Sunshine
We’re not anti-tech, but we are big believers in balance. Too much screen time has been linked to increased anxiety, poor sleep, behavioral issues, and lack of focus—especially in kids.
On the flip side, time spent outdoors or doing hands-on activities supports everything from better mood and emotional regulation to creativity, physical health, and deeper family connection. And that’s the stuff that really matters, right?
Technology-free time gives kids (and adults!) space to breathe, move, imagine, and engage with the beautiful world around them. It’s how we create the core memories that we cherish decades later, and that our kids will recreate with their own children one day.
Technology-Free Summer Activities Our Families Love
Ready to unplug and reconnect? These six activities are easy to plan, don’t require anything fancy, and are 100% screen-free. They’re tried-and-true favorites in our own families, and they just might become yours too.
Here are some of our favorite technology-free summer activities:
- Start a garden with the kids
- Take a trip to a local farmer’s market
- Go backyard camping
- Make homemade popsicles
- Try a nature scavenger hunt
- Make DIY non-toxic bubbles
Let the good, clean fun begin!
Start a Garden with the Kids
There’s something rewarding about putting your hands in the dirt and watching something grow, especially when kids are involved. Gardening teaches patience, responsibility, and where our food actually comes from. Plus, it’s undeniably fun to dig, water, and hunt for worms.
You don’t need a huge yard or a green thumb. Start small with a container garden, raised bed, or even a few herbs in pots. Let your kids pick out what to grow (cherry tomatoes, strawberries, snap peas, and herbs are great for beginners) and get them involved in planting and watering.
Label your plants together, keep a growth journal, or make garden markers from painted rocks. Best of all? When kids help grow their food, they’re more likely to eat it. If you have a tough time getting your children to eat their veggies, this is a great way to make it fun for them.
Take a Trip to a Local Farmer’s Market
A visit to the farmer’s market turns an ordinary grocery run into a sensory-rich adventure. From colorful produce to handmade goat milk soaps and baked goods, farmer’s markets are full of sights, sounds, smells, and flavors that connect kids to their local food system and community.
Give your child a few dollars and let them choose a new fruit or veggie to try. Chat with your local farmers and vendors. Ask how something is grown or what’s in season and why. If your market has live music or crafts, you can make a whole afternoon of it!
Bring reusable bags, sample yummy foods, and let your child carry their own mini grocery haul. If you want to kick things up a notch, turn your visit into a challenge. Try building a meal using only ingredients you buy at the farmer’s market to spark curiosity and gratitude for real food.
Go Backyard Camping
Camping doesn’t have to mean packing up the car and driving hours away to unfamiliar territory. A backyard setup can be just as memorable—and way less stressful. All you need is a family-sized tent, sleeping bags, and a little imagination.
Let your kids help pitch the tent and gather their favorite stuffed animals or books. Cook dinner outside, roast marshmallows, tell stories by flashlight, and fall asleep to the sounds of summer.
Prep for success with cozy layers, bug spray, and easy-to-grab snacks. You can even keep the fun going by whipping up pancakes on the grill the next morning or sharing a breakfast picnic.
Make Homemade Popsicles
Sketchy dyes, corn syrup, and artificial flavors? No, thanks. Making your own popsicles is an easy, hands-on summer activity that kids can take the lead on. It’s part cooking, part art, and 100% fun. Not to mention, the results are always delicious!
Use wholesome ingredients like coconut milk or filtered water, berries, mango, citrus, and honey or maple syrup. Let kids experiment with layering different colors or adding sliced fruit for a rainbow effect. Pour the mixtures into silicone molds or small paper cups with wooden sticks.
Once frozen, enjoy your DIY crunchy-approved treats outside in the sun. Better yet, bring them to the pool for a tasty way to stay cool and hydrated during splash time.
Go on a Nature Scavenger Hunt
Turn your next walk or hike into an unforgettable family adventure with a nature scavenger hunt. It’s a simple way to get everyone moving, observing, and engaging with the outdoors. And best of all? It’s totally technology-free.
Before you head out, make a checklist of things to find: a smooth rock, a yellow flower, animal tracks, or something that smells good. Tailor the list to your local environment and the age of your kids. You can even have the kids draw or describe their findings in a nature journal.
This family-friendly activity helps build observation skills and appreciation for the little details in nature. It also gives everyone an easy goal that turns an ordinary walk into something exciting.
Make DIY Non-Toxic Bubbles
Bubbles never go out of style—and when you make your own, they’re even better. This easy, screen-free activity turns your backyard into equal parts science lab and play zone, minus the artificial dyes or toxic ingredients found in store-bought bubbles.
All you need is 4 cups of warm water, ½ cup of sugar (it helps the bubbles last longer), and ½ cup of natural dish soap. Stir gently and let it sit for a few hours. That’s it! You’ve got yourself a batch of non-toxic bubbles that’s safe for sensitive skin and tons of fun to play with.
Use pipe cleaners, cookie cutters, or even mason jar rings as wands. You can even challenge your little ones to make their own. Blowing, chasing, and popping bubbles outdoors is the kind of low-pressure activity that gets kids giggling and moving. It’s simple, sweet, and tech-free.
Let’s Make it a Screen-Free Summer to Remember
At the end of the day, the best moments in life never happen on a screen. They happen barefoot in the grass, sticky with popsicle juice, and full of the kind of laughter that stays with you.
Whether you’re camping in the backyard, making homemade popsicles, or wandering the farmer’s market, these technology-free summer activities are all about slowing down and showing up for the people you love most.
Want more crunchy-approved ways to live intentionally this season? Head to The Sudsy Scoop for more ideas, DIYs, and family-friendly inspiration to make your summer a little more memorable.
