How to Find Things to Do over Summer Break (Preteens)

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Summer break is meant as a time for people to relax after a long year of hard work. Oftentimes, families travel over the summer, which keeps them occupied for most or all of their summer. However, if you don't have any plans to travel during the summer, you may be wondering what you should do over these few months. Here are some ways to spend your time over a long summer break for preteens!

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Finding Things to Do At Home

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  1. 1
    Play a board game. Take out some board games from your attic or shelf, find a few people, and start your game! There are many types of board games that can entertain people with all sorts of interests. For example, Scrabble and Boggle are fun word games that work on your English vocabulary, whereas Risk and Backgammon are strategic board games to play if you want to work on your problem-solving skills. Card games such as Solitaire, Uno, and Old Maid are also a neat way to pass your time.
    • There are also several family-friendly games like Pictionary, Operation, and Candyland if you have younger siblings or friends that want to play!
  2. 2
    Clean up your room. Your room may be filled with clutter as time goes on, so use your summer to clean it up. Doing a simple cleaning of your room is easy, but deep-cleaning your room can be a very satisfying experience. It takes a longer time to clean your entire room, but the results are worth it. Figure out how to motivate yourself to organize your room. You may treat yourself to binge-watch your favorite TV show or eat a large dessert after cleaning your room. Putting on music can also make this activity more enjoyable! You may even choose to declutter your room by donating or throwing away old items you don't need in order to make room for new things.
    • Pick up all the trash, like candy wrappers and plastic packaging on the floor of your room and place it in a wastebasket.
    • Next, pick up any objects you have on the floor and place them in their original containers. For instance, clothing should go in your closet or drawer, and dinner plates should go back to the kitchen. Then, dust off any shelves you have.
    • Wipe your tables, chairs, and shelves down with sanitizing wipes. You can also clean your windows with cleaning solution: you can easily make this with materials you have at home!
    • Vacuum or mop your floor to remove dust and crumbs from your room.
    • If you haven't yet, make your bed.
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  3. 3
    Declutter and organize your room. Many kids have messy rooms that they aren't motivated to clean. However, cleaning your room can get rid of all the dust and crumbs that make your room look unappealing and old. The end result is typically satisfying, especially after a hard hour's work of cleaning and organizing your room. Pull out items from the various shelves and drawers in your room and figure out which items you haven't used in more than a year. Those items won't likely be used again, so you may decide to donate them (if they are still usable) or throw them away (if they are broken or too old). It may be difficult to say goodbye to some old items you remember using as a younger kid, but remember that other kids can potentially benefit from using them! You can also repurpose old items to create new things!
    • Old clothing can be repurposed for new things, such as making arm warmers, doll clothing, or pillow covers.
    • Old books can be used for origami or papier-mache projects.
  4. 4
    Decide what to wear for the next school year. If you want to change your style before the school year starts, you can do this during the summer. Clean out your wardrobe by removing clothing that you haven't worn in a long time, clothing that is too small, or clothing that is damaged. You can repurpose the ripped clothing or throw it out if it is severely damaged. For the clothing that doesn't fit anymore, you could drop them off at a clothing recycling bin or give them to a younger relative.
    • You may need to go to the clothing store to buy new clothing if your current wardrobe doesn't fit your style.
  5. 5
    Play with toys. It is completely normal for older kids to play with toys! There are many toys marketed towards the age group of 8-12-year-olds, so don't feel ashamed if you still enjoy playing with toys! It is a very healthy pastime. Your imagination will help you go on an adventure with your toys. Build a fort or a sculpture with Legos, race your Hot Wheels cars, or stage a movie with Barbies and Monster High dolls. You could also decorate a dollhouse, set up a Shopkins/Mini Brands store, or make a slime bath. There are endless possibilities to what you can do with toys.
  6. 6
    Read books. It may seem like reading paper books has become a thing of the past due to people consuming digital content online, but books are still treasure troves of information! Head to your local library to borrow a few books that look interesting. You can find out the genre of book you like, whether that's historical fiction, sci-fi, mystery, horror, romance, or nonfiction! You can make reading a hobby by aiming to read every day for at least 5 minutes. Make this schedule flexible, so when you are busy, you can still maintain your reading habit, and when you are free, you can read more.
    • Regardless of what teachers tell you, you don't have to annotate your novels with post-it notes, pencil, or highlighter if it bores you. You can annotate certain pages you think are insightful or interesting, but you can leave the rest without annotations.
  7. 7
    Make an art project. If you are feeling creative, one way to showcase your creativity is to make an art project. You may find inspiration in various places, like the nature outside, the wallpaper of your room, your pet, or old photos. Then, you can think about what type of medium/material you want your project to be made out of, and start creating! Some examples of art you can create include:
    • A watercolor painting
    • A pencil sketch
    • A colored pencil drawing
    • Origami creations
    • A Papier-mâché mask
    • A clay object
    • Zentangles
    • Digital illustrations
    • A hand-sewn or machine-sewn article of clothing
  8. 8
    Do a science experiment. Believe it or not, there are some fun science experiments you can do in the comfort of your own home. Just gather the needed materials, follow the instructions, and have fun! Some popular experiments are making Oobleck, a homemade volcano, a diver in a bottle, lava lamps, and magic milk.
    • As always, make sure you follow the safety precautions. If it is necessary, wear goggles and/or an apron to protect yourself from potentially abrasive chemicals.
  9. 9
    Sing some karaoke in your room. This is a pretty easy thing to do by yourself! Just pull up a playlist of your favorite songs on a streaming service and start singing! You could grab a microphone to sing louder for a more authentic karaoke experience. If you want to, bring a few friends over for an exciting karaoke night!
    • Just make sure that your family members allow you to do this. If your family members or neighbors complain that this activity is too noisy, you may want to quietly sing or find some other activity to do instead.
  10. 10
    Dance to some energetic songs! Similar to the singing idea, dancing is also a great way to exercise and to release some pent-up energy if you are stuck at home all day. Put on a playlist of energetic, loud songs and start dancing! If you are interested in learning how to dance, you can also search the web for dancing tutorials. There are many different forms of dance, such as hip-hop, jazz, tap, ballet, and ballroom dance that you can easily learn.
    • You can also look up dance tutorials for specific songs that you want to dance to.
  11. 11
    Start writing. Writing is another creative pursuit you can do more of during a long break. Journaling is a great way to release pent-up emotions and to share private information you don't want others to know about. If you read fiction novels, you could write a story or poem inspired by the events. You could even write the script to your own movie!
  12. 12
    Learn to cook. Not only is cooking a fun activity, but it is also an important life skill you need when you are living by yourself in the future. There are a few easy recipes for meals and desserts that you can follow if you are a novice. If you have a bit more experience, you can try experimenting with different ingredients and ratios of ingredients in your recipes. You can also cook some new foods to make your daily meals more interesting.
    • Cooking can be a bit hazardous sometimes, so make sure to exercise the safety precautions. Be sure to wear oven mitts when grabbing a hot tray from the oven, and wear an apron to avoid food spills or hot liquids staining your clothing.
  13. 13
    Start an exercise routine. Exercise is important for your body to stay healthy! Exercising strengthens your heart and lungs, helps you maintain a healthy weight, and makes it easier for you to fall asleep and stay asleep! [1] Start scheduling in a 5-minute stretch break every 30 minutes to an hour for days when you are mostly sedentary. [2]
    • Next, you can level it up by doing some workouts, like pushups or sit-ups. You can also work on your cardio and start running around the park or swimming at the community pool. All of these exercises can improve your physical fitness!
  14. 14
    Pamper yourself. After a long year, you can treat yourself to a spa day at home! Making a spa day at home is largely straightforward since you probably have these materials in your own bathroom already! For example, you can take a relaxing bath instead of rushing in the shower. If you only have a shower, you can take a longer shower instead. You may trim or wax your body hair if you want. You can then apply a sheet mask onto your face to rejuvenate your skin. You can also make your own facial mask if you don't have the store-bought ones. Painting your fingernails is also a fun activity you can do to make yourself look pretty or fancy.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Doing Things Online

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The internet is home to a large collection of entertainment and educational websites you can visit! When going online, make sure to take a short break from your screen every 20 minutes to prevent eye strain.

  1. 1
    Watch videos online. Websites such as YouTube have a wide variety of videos you can watch, from gaming, makeup tutorials, and documentaries to life hacks, true crime, and children's content. Just click on a video on your homepage to start watching or search up a topic you're interested in to find cool videos!
  2. 2
    Stream a movie or TV show. If you have a subscription for a streaming service, or if you have regular television, find something to watch by looking through the show selections on your TV. You may find a new favorite show or watch an old one you enjoyed.
  3. 3
    Play a video game. Video games are fun and engaging to play. There are also a wide variety of games you can choose from, making it easier to pick a game you like. You can either play solo games or play on a team for online games, PC games, and console games. If you like, you can also make gaming a hobby!
  4. 4
    Message your friends or family members. Contacting others has become easier with the advent of the internet and messaging software/apps. You can use a built-in messaging software (like Microsoft Teams for Windows laptops or FaceTime for Apple computers) or download another one to chat with friends and relatives no matter where you are. It is also nice to catch up with them if you haven't talked to them in a while.
  5. 5
    Email friends or family members. If you would rather not use an app, email is a neat option. You just need to exchange email addresses and now you can contact each other! It may also feel more personal or private to use email instead of a messaging app if you use email to talk to people.
  6. 6
    Write a story online. Using a word processor or a website, you can write your own stories, journals, or blogs online. The process is similar to writing anything on paper- you think of something that inspires you or brainstorm a couple of ideas to start writing! If you want, you can share your story, journal entry, or blog with others online.
  7. 7
    Go down an internet rabbit hole. Search up a random phrase using a search engine, click on a random link and see where it leads to. You can also do this with Wikipedia; search up a random word on the encyclopedia and click on another blue link inside the article. Repeat this a few times and see where you end up!
    • You can also read things regarding a topic you're very interested in. For example, you may read about an infamous crime that happened 20 years ago, or an online magazine about the human body.
  8. 8
    Contribute to wikiHow . Contributing to wikiHow is easy; if you are interested in finding a neat hobby or want to volunteer, contributing to an online website such as wikiHow might be for you. You can edit articles anonymously, or you can create an account and choose a variety of activities. Patrolling new edits, writing articles, and categorizing articles are some simple tasks you can start doing!
    • Make sure to get your parents' approval in order to create an account on wikiHow. In order to join, you either need to be at least 13 years old or have your parents sign a COPPA agreement. [3]
  9. 9
    Learn a new language. Learning a new language as a preteen can be pretty exciting. If you have family members who speak another language, you might want to learn their language too! Just sign up for an account on a language-learning app and start your journey!
    • Listening to podcasts and watching videos in your chosen language can help you learn the language faster. You can also watch dubbed cartoons and TV shows in the language! Reading short news articles in your chosen language can help you pick it up faster as well. [4]
    • Expose yourself to the language by speaking to others who speak it.
  10. 10
    Visit locations on Google Maps or Google Earth. If you can't travel anywhere this summer, you can still visit the locations virtually on a map website! Just search up a location you really want to travel to and click on it. You can look at the location from a bird's-eye view or enter Street View to travel through it.
  11. 11
    Experiment with generative AI. AI companions such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Perplexity, and Claude are fun to talk to, and they can also provide help on any topic you need. Mess around with the AIs by entering in funny or creative prompts. You can also tell it to generate images!
  12. 12
    Learn how to code. Programming has become a necessary skill in the 21st century due to the rise of technology. As a result, coding has become a very useful tool to have because internet websites, games, and software are all built with lines of code. Pick a simple programming language such as Python or JavaScript to start coding!
  13. 13
    Take online quizzes. Online quizzes can be fun and wacky, or they can actually teach you things you've never learned before, like a new fun fact. Search up a fun quiz to take and compare your results with friends or family!
  14. 14
    Go on weird websites. For example, The Useless Web takes you to random, wacky websites with the click of a button. If you want to search up strange websites that are interesting and can waste your time, search up "weird websites" on a search engine! Some examples of these websites include:
    • Pointer Pointer - photos of people pointing to the exact location your mouse pointer is on
    • Zombo - a website created in 1999 that parodies Flash websites; it also loads indefinitely
    • Scream Into the Void - a site to let out all your pent-up emotions!
    • Zoomquilt - gives you images that allow you to zoom in forever
    • Paper Toilet - an image of a roll of toilet paper that you can unroll
    • Endless Horse - an ASCII image of a horse... with endless legs
    • Staggering Beauty - a website with a worm/eel that you wiggle around vigorously for intense, flashing lights to appear ( May be an epilepsy trigger, so take caution )
    • Quick, Draw! - an artificial intelligence guessing game created by Google to determine if a neural network can guess what object a person draws in 20 seconds
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Going Outside

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  1. 1
    Plant flowers and vegetables in your backyard. Gardening is great for the environment, and it decorates your backyard to look stunning! Firstly, plan out how large your garden will be. Next, think about environmental factors, like the amount of sun and your soil's pH to see if it is suitable for plants to grow there. Think about how your area's climate conditions could impact your garden. Then, choose bags of seeds from a gardening shop to start the process!
  2. 2
    Explore the insects in your yard. Look at the soil and the leaves/plants in your yard; these are home to many types of insects you may not have noticed before. You may discover bugs like ladybugs, rolly pollies, beetles, ants, bees, and grasshoppers! Butterflies and dragonflies may also fly around outside. There are also bugs considered pests because they eat away at produce, disrupt the natural food chain/habitat, and damage structural property. If you want to start a garden, you may want to carefully research the bugs in your yard that may be pests so you can remove them.
  3. 3
    Relax in your yard. This is the easiest thing to do right outside your house! Just wear some sunscreen and bring an outdoor lounge chair and a book. If you have a sun umbrella, you can sit underneath that so there is cool shade. You can also play energetic or relaxing music outdoors depending on your mood.
  4. 4
    Lounge in the pool. If you have a pool in your backyard, now is the time to use it! Relax in the pool yourself with a floatie and a pair of sunglasses. You can work on swimming techniques if you're bored. You could also make it a pool party by inviting a few friends over! If you don't want to go in the pool, you can play with the sprinklers or have a water gun fight. If you don't have a pool, plan on going to a community pool to spend time in the water.
  5. 5
    Open a drink stand. Cool drinks are a great lifesaver if you need to cool off during a hot, humid summer. If you want to try selling your own drinks, try opening a drink stand. Lemonade stands are very popular, but you can sell different items too, such as fruit juices, soda, and milk. The first step is to search the web to see if your area requires a permit for people to set up a stand! [5]
    • Make a plan for what items you want to sell. Decide on a price for your drinks. [6] You can then decorate your stand with large, bold words and some pictures to attract people to your stand.
    • Make sure to keep track of sales by writing down your profits in a notebook or an online document! [7]
  6. 6
    Go on a nature walk near your home. With permission from a parent, try walking around your neighborhood. Walking around is often refreshing because there is fresh air outside, and it can help strengthen your muscles, lungs, and heart. [8] It can also improve your mood! If you have a dog, you can bring them on the walk too!
  7. 7
    Go bike-riding. Biking is also very beneficial for your health! It is also a very exciting activity. You can go to so many places with just a bike if you don't have any other modes of transportation. Bike around the park, or bike to a nearby friend's house if you can! You can also challenge your friends to a bike race around the neighborhood. While biking, you should follow these safety rules:
    • Always wear a helmet. Well-fitting helmets offer cushioning that will shield your head from major damage if you injure yourself. [9]
    • Put on reflective gear. These bright materials will make it easier for drivers to spot you when you are cycling so they won't crash into you.
    • Pay attention to the road. Always be on the lookout for potential hazards, such as an open pothole, cars on the street, traffic cones, and streetlights that you may trip or bump into. Avoid cycling too fast on busy streets.
    • Alternatively, you could ride a scooter, skateboard, or roller-skate around your neighborhood!
  8. 8
    Take photos of interesting scenery outside. If you have a regular camera or a phone, you can go outside and snap pictures of things around you. You can make this a summer photography project! For example, take photos of the sunset or different insects up close in your garden. You can also take pictures of your friends and family with their permission and put the photos in a photo album.
  9. 9
    Relax in a treehouse. If you have a treehouse in your backyard, the summer is a great time to hang out in it! You can make it your own personal hideout from siblings, stocking snacks and other belongings in it. You can also invite your friends to the treehouse to hang out in. If you have a large enough tree and the required tools, you can build a treehouse with the help of a guardian.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Group Activities

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  1. 1
    Have a water gun or water balloon fight. To cool off during a hot summer, you can make it fun by playing with water guns or water balloons. You can play this in any large, open space, like your backyard or an open field. Get a few other kids to play with you, and you're set!
  2. 2
    Go to a friend's house. If you live in your friend's neighborhood, you can walk, bike, or ride a scooter there. If your friend's house is further than that, you may need someone to take you there by car. For the hangout, you could pack several entertainment items in a backpack. For example, some board games, video game equipment, pencils and paper for art projects, and some snacks!
    • If you are planning to stay the night at your friend's house, you should bring a sleeping bag and a pillow to sleep on! At the very least, bring a pillow and a blanket.
  3. 3
    Have a movie night with friends . First, decide where to host the party. Then, prepare the movie equipment! If it's a casual hangout too, a laptop may be all you need. But to project the movies on a large screen, you might need a projector. Make sure everyone agrees on which movies to watch. Prepare some delicious snacks like popcorn or chips. Then, sit on the couch as you and your friends enjoy the movie!
  4. 4
    Have a barbecue in your backyard. If your family has a barbecue, ask if you can use it. If you are given permission, you can start grilling yummy summer foods with your family. Kebabs, corn, and chicken are among the foods you can cook on a barbecue grill.
    • If you don't know how to use the grill, it's best to learn from a parent or older sibling. Always take caution when dealing with hot items and fire!
  5. 5
    Have fun at a sports court. Bring some neighborhood friends or school classmates and enjoy a day at the sports court. You can typically find these places near parks and schools, especially high schools. You can play a lot of games at a sports court, like basketball, volleyball, tennis, ping pong, four-square, and hopscotch. Playing a fun and competitive ball game is great exercise too! Just make sure to grab enough water to drink and equipment for the games!
  6. 6
    Go on a picnic. Bring a basket full of food and snacks to the park! You should also bring a large blanket to put on the surface you will sit on. Preferably, sit under a tree so you get ample shade. Portable foods like sandwiches, hot dogs, and bread rolls are easy to bring outside, but you can pack other meals in insulated food containers. Just make sure to close them tightly so the food won't leak! Pack some snacks for after you are finished with your meal. Also, remember to bring cool drinks to hydrate yourself.
  7. 7
    Take a trip to the mall. If you live next to a large mall, you might be able to walk there with some friends. If you can't, you can ask a parent or an older sibling to take you there. With some allowance or pocket money, window shop around the different stores. Spend your money wisely and only buy items you will use for a long time (or if you have wanted it for a long time). You can also play at an arcade if your mall has one. Taking funny pictures in the photo booths is always a fun experience. Lastly, if you have enough money, you can buy some food and drinks at the food court.
    • You might decide to buy some new clothing, especially if your sense of style has changed or if you've hit a growth spurt and your old clothing doesn't fit anymore.
  8. 8
    Go hiking. With your family and some friends, you can consider going hiking in the summertime. Have you and your parents plan the trip thoroughly. Pick a trail that everyone can hike safely. Avoid picking difficult or overly long trails if you don't have experience with hiking, or if you are out-of-shape. Check the weather in the area to make sure it is suitable for hiking because it is not safe to hike in dangerous weather (like thunderstorms or flooding). [10] Next, pack your backpack and fill it with essentials like a nutritious snack, a compass, a map, suitable additional clothing (if the weather suddenly changes), a first aid kit, and a large bottle of water.
    • Wear a hat and sunscreen since you will likely be out in the sun for hours.
    • Wear suitable hiking boots to hike.
    • It is crucial to bring lots of water since hiking is a strenuous activity that will cause you to dehydrate easily.
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      Warnings

      • Ask for permission if you are going anywhere or using dangerous equipment.
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      • Wear a helmet if you are biking outdoors. This prevents the risk of a serious head injury if you trip.
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      • Always grill outside to reduce the risk of fires. [11]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/exercise/art-20048389
      2. ↑ https://sportsmedicine.mayoclinic.org/news/the-importance-of-stretching-during-your-workday/
      3. ↑ https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/rules/childrens-online-privacy-protection-rule-coppa
      4. ↑ https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20150302-secrets-to-learning-a-language
      5. ↑ https://www.wikihow.com/Run-a-Lemonade-Stand
      6. ↑ https://www.scholastic.com/parents/family-life/easy-recipes-for-kids/help-your-child-open-lemonade-stand.html
      7. ↑ https://lemonadeday.org/blog/how-to-start-a-lemonade-stand
      8. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/walking/art-20046261
      9. ↑ https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/bicycle-safety
      1. ↑ https://www.nps.gov/articles/hiking-safety.htm
      2. ↑ https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/home-fire-safety/grilling

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