SUMMER GAMES



Fun summer-themed games for kids.

Summer. You would probably rather be outside swimming or catching fireflies than inside playing a game, right? (Unless you live in Phoenix and the seasons are flipped.) But don't give up on games altogether. Following is a list of games related to summer that I have blogged about. Some are portable and can be played in the car en route to your vacation. Others, like Spot It! Splash and UNO H20/Splash, can even be played in the water. Many could be played at your camp site or on your picnic table in the backyard. Wherever you play, check out these summer-themed games. Just click on the name of a game below to go to my post about it.

Want to see games for fall and winter too? Follow the links at the bottom of this page.



Toasted or Roasted - Be the first to start a fire, spear 3 marshmallow and toast them to win the game.

Playball Card Game - All the fun of baseball that you can play indoors. Uses the actual rules of baseball.

Get Packing - Since so many people travel in the summer, I thought this would make a great addition. Small suitcases with pieces to pack inside. 30 puzzles challenge logic and visual perceptual skills.

Pop Rocket - Catch the stars as they fly out of the rocket. Makes me think of the 4th of July.

Ice-Cream-Crazy - You work in an ice cream shop making orders for customers. Multiple ice cream flavors and toppings to fill eight order cards.

River Crossing Jr. Lagoon Adventure - Cross the river, walking on stumps and planks, without getting wet. Or, rescue a cat from an island without getting wet. A junior level logic game with 40 challenges.

Angling Fever - Catch the fish, stack the fish. Lots of ways to play. 

Barbecue Party -  Use tongs to add or remove the food from the grill without making it jump.

Catch & Count Fishing Game - A magnetic fishing pole set/game comes with pole, 10 numbered fish and a spinner.

Construction Sandbox -  Small sandbox comes with sand and toys.

Cover Your Tracks - Hike through the woods and cover your tracks as you go so you don't attract unwanted attention. 20 challenges in all.

Croquet Animal Game - An old-fashioned yard game with balls and mallets.

Fish or Cut Bait - A dice game with customized fishing themed dice.

Fingerprinting Bugs Art Set -  Make a tour of the backyard looking for insects, butterflies, bugs, etc. and then draw your own small fingerprint bugs.

Spot It! Camping -One of my favorite card games with a camping theme. comes in a tin, portable, take anywhere.

Spot It! Splash - One of my favorite card games comes with plastic cards that can get wet. Play with under the sprinkler, in the pool, at the beach.

Spot It!  On the Road - Be the first to spot matches of things you will see along the road. Play in the card.

Hot Potato in the Pool -  Tried two different versions, was not impressed with either.

I Scream Memory -I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! A memory/match game based on frozen treats.

Sink or Swim -A summer-themed grid puzzle for those long summer days. 50 challenges increase in difficulty as you go.

Barbeque Blitz -  Match hamburgers to the pattern on your plate. Use a spatula to stack the pieces.

Making Paper Boats - Make origami boats that will even float.

Ned's Head -  I put this on almost every list because it can be customized. Add your own summer related objects that you have around the house or yard such a shell from the beach, sidewalk chalk, sunglasses, sand shovel, and a bubbles wand.

Carnival Table Tennis Toss Game - A tabletop target game.

More S'mores - A card game to make s'mores while hoping to avoid burnt marshmallows and chocolate-eating ants.

Scoop - An ice cream-related dice game with pattern cards.

Scoop's Surprises - An ice cream cone themed game that will challenge your memory and reasoning skills. 

Strawberry Shortcake Bowling Set - A summer favorite dessert and a TV cartoon, Strawberry Shortcake decorates this vinyl-stuffed bowling set.

Sticker Scenes - Choose summer related pictures like at the beach or on a picnic.

Splish Splash! -Drop the pebbles into the pool and collect the water drops that splash out.

Travel BINGO - Use pencil to mark the paper BINGO cards as you spot items out of the car window.

UNO H20 - One of America's favorite games comes in waterproof, transparent plastic cards. And of course, always portable.

K'Nex ELMO Sunny Days Building - A summer-themed construction set by K'Nex featuring Sesame Street's Elmo.

Scrabble Garden - A garden-themed Scrabble game. 

Fishin-Opoly - There are LOTS of Monopoly versions.


Find ideas for fall-themed games.

Find ideas for winter-themed games.

Find ideas for Thanksgiving-themed games.

Find ideas for Christmas-themed games.