kids activity tree

Hey hey and thanks for stopping by! We’re thrilled to be included in this summer craft line up, and this one is a little bit of an activities for summer idea of sorts. A kids activity tree!

But first, you guys need to know about the other fun stuff going on with these fabulous sites: 

 

And, today I’m joined by a fabulous group of blogging friends who are also sharing their Summer DIY Ideas as part of the Seasonal Simplicity Summer Series…

Just click on the links below the images to be taken to their posts and see what they’re sharing today. I’m blown away by all the awesome summer DIY ideas!

5 Minute Dollar Store DIY Hit Wall at The Happy Housie
Anthro Octopus Knockoff at Craftberry Bush
Summer Activities Tree at The Handmade Home
Easy Ways to Bring Colour Into Your Home for Summer at Tatertots and Jello
Rustic Birdhouse Garden DIY Decor from the Dollar Store at The DIY Mommy

DIY Shell Planter Tutorial at Zevy Joy
Painted Wood Jewelry Dish at Paint Me Pink
DIY Beach Art on a Canvas at Shabbyfufu
DIY Concrete Vase at Place of My Taste
How to Dress Up Your Walls For Summer at My Sweet Savannah

DIY Pottery Barn Inspired Liberty Burlap Party Banner at She Gave it A Go
Campfire S’Mores Gift Basket Idea at Modern Glam
How to Paint a Concrete Patio at The Turquoise Home
DIY Hanging Garden Trellis at A Pretty Life
DIY Coastal Window Box at Finding Silver Pennies

DIY Rainbow Book Art at Life is a Party
DIY Tabletop Marshmallow Roaster at Sincerely, Marie Designs
How to Make a Sign the Easy Way at Confessions of a Serial DIYer
DIY Bird House at Seeking Lavender Lane
Simple Botanical Watercolour at Lemon Thistle
DIY S’mores Bar at Clean & Scentsible

Be sure to check them out!

Keeping it real, it can be easy to be a total slacker in the summer.

As a kid AND a parent. Especially a parent. 

Working from home, we have to push the kiddos outside, and make sure they don’t spend all the time on their screens. We love the idea of our kids doing nothing, as in, spending time outside. We love the idea that they’re bored. We think it’s good to be bored. In a day and age full of screens and information overload, simple is what we’re seeking. We want them to create their own fun. 

We also try to sign them up for a summer activity or two, but when we really started thinking about it, we know we want to spend meaningful, creative moments with them, as well. 

It took me back a little, to my own childhood. What are the things that stand out to me as a child? What are the things that I honestly remember? And because I remember them fondly, they must mean something to me. Those are fond memories of my summers, with the small activities that we did. 

So I decided to make a summer wish list tree. 

The idea, is that the tree holds suggestions for activities for the summer.

We’ve provided ideas, and we’ve also provided blanks as free printables, so you can make your very own.

Each child can pick a few activities they’d like to do over the summer break, and then they hang them on the tree. 

When you’ve completed each activity, place them in a jar beside the tree. Add a date. At the end of the summer, go back and look at the activities that were completed, and have a family dinner celebrating those memories. Because honestly y’all, we’re always a little torn. They say there’s no such thing as balance, but we believe in striking a little bit of it anyway. We promise we’ll fluctuate between a few fun activities and also this: 

via as kate would have it

A few things to remember:

• We tried to keep the activities to simple, in range. We included a few “bigger” things like “waterpark” {honestly, I’m not sure we’ll be doing that one} but the idea is to keep the activities manageable and fun as a family. Use as many or as few as you like.

• If it’s easier, let the kids pick from realistic options that are doable for you, by editing those options before they’re presented to pick. Remember, this is just a guide to use what works for you, with zero pressure. The idea is to inspire your family to do a few fun things this summer, and celebrate simplicity in childhood. 

• Again, we provided blanks. So if you want your kids to come up with their own things, use those so you don’t hate us later ;}. 

• Put your own fun spin on them, and use a variety. Some things, they can do on their own. Some things you can do together as you have time. You can even use it as a thing where every time they say they’re bored, they need to pick something. This is just a little creation to help inspire a few ideas for the summer, so their heads aren’t buried in video games all day.

• We even provided a few practical things like reading goals, and selfless acts. Look through them and decide what works for you. Happy {easy!} summer fun activities!

Here’s what you’ll need: 

• old branches
• pom poms
• glue gun
• scissors + yarn
• printables

{Plain / Activities 1 / Activities 2 / Activities 3 / Activities 4 / Activities 5 / Activities 6}

Simply print and cut any tags you’d like to use.

We like card stock for a nice, sturdy option. 

Again, the blank option if you please. ;}

Then slice a little slot in the top {I like making a big star with my X-Acto – you can also use a hole punch} and run the yarn through the top. 

We took the pom poms and put them on some old branches that we had in a vase. The glue gun works just to add a little fun color and make it feel ‘official’. Then, we printed out our tags and placed them on the tree. It’s one big kickoff for fun!

Tada! Your summer wish list activities tree is ready to go. 

As always, let us know if you try it… we’d love to hear!

And we truly hope this is something fun for your family!

Let the summer fun begin!

Be sure to check out all the other awesome participants in the links above – they’d love for you to stop by and check out all their awesome summer projects! Have an inspired day!