10 Things You Can Do With Your Grandkids This Summer to Keep Them Busy and Off Screens

Portrait of grandfather and grandson having fun with an abacus tool – Shutterstock

Summer can be magical for grandparents and grandchildren alike, but many families are facing the same challenge this year: too much screen time. Tablets, phones, video games, and streaming apps can quickly take over long summer afternoons if adults are not intentional about creating other activities. Parents and grandparents across social media have been sharing growing concerns about children spending entire days indoors, glued to devices instead of making real-world memories. But you can be part of the change! Here are 10 things you can do with your grandkids this summer that don’t involve screen time.

1. Create a Backyard “Grandma Camp”

One of the most popular trends among grandparents is creating a simple “Grandma Camp” at home. Some grandparents plan themed days with crafts, scavenger hunts, water games, and snack-making activities that give kids structure without feeling like school. A growing number of grandparents online say the experience works especially well because children feel like they are part of something special rather than simply “being babysat.” You do not need elaborate decorations or expensive supplies to make it fun. Even simple activities like making homemade lemonade, drawing sidewalk chalk murals, or building blanket forts can make a child feel like summer is an adventure.

2. Start a Garden Together

Gardening is one of the best screen-free summer activities because it keeps kids moving while teaching patience and responsibility. Grandchildren often become fascinated watching tomatoes, flowers, herbs, or strawberries grow over the course of the summer. Gardening also encourages healthier eating habits because children are more likely to try vegetables they helped grow themselves. Grandparents can keep it simple with flowerpots, raised beds, or even a few herbs on a porch or windowsill. Many older adults also enjoy passing down gardening knowledge and family traditions while spending time outdoors together.

3. Visit the Local Library Weekly

Libraries have quietly become one of the best free resources for grandparents during summer break. Many public libraries now offer summer reading challenges, free craft programs, scavenger hunts, STEM activities, and movie afternoons designed specifically for children. Some even loan out museum passes, zoo tickets, and educational kits that families can use at home. Weekly library visits also help children avoid the “summer slide,” where reading and academic skills decline during school breaks. Best of all, libraries provide air-conditioned entertainment that does not require spending money.

4. Teach Them Old-School Card and Board Games

Many kids today rarely experience classic games because entertainment has shifted heavily toward apps and digital gaming. Grandparents can introduce grandchildren to card games like Go Fish, Crazy Eights, Uno, or Rummy along with classic board games such as Scrabble, Monopoly, and Candy Land. These games help children practice problem-solving, patience, communication, and healthy competition. Kids also love hearing stories about games their grandparents played growing up. Some grandparents even create “tournament nights” where winners get small prizes like choosing dessert or the next family activity.

5. Have a Weekly Cooking or Baking Day

Cooking together is one of the easiest ways to keep kids engaged without screens while also teaching real-life skills. Grandchildren can help stir cookie batter, decorate cupcakes, make homemade pizzas, or prepare simple snacks, depending on their age. Children are often more willing to try new foods when they help prepare them. Cooking activities also naturally create opportunities for conversation, storytelling, and family traditions to be passed down. Many grandparents say recipes become some of the strongest emotional connections children carry into adulthood.

6. Build Simple Backyard Obstacle Courses

Children have enormous amounts of energy during summer, and obstacle courses are an easy way to keep them active for hours. Families online say kids often enjoy homemade courses more than expensive entertainment centers because they can redesign them constantly. Grandparents can use cones, pool noodles, hula hoops, buckets, jump ropes, cardboard boxes, or chalk lines to create challenges. Even simple activities like relay races, scooter paths, or “lava floor” games encourage movement and imagination. Physical activity is especially important during summer because children often become more sedentary once school routines disappear.

7. Create a Family Storytelling Night

Grandparents have something many children desperately need today: family stories and personal history. A weekly storytelling night allows grandchildren to hear funny childhood memories, stories about their parents growing up, or family traditions from earlier generations. Some grandparents pull out old photo albums and let kids ask questions about relatives, vacations, or family milestones. These conversations help children develop a stronger identity, emotional security, and family connection. Many kids become surprisingly fascinated by hearing what life was like before smartphones and the internet existed.

8. Go on Nature Walks and Scavenger Hunts

Nature walks are one of the easiest, low-cost, screen-free summer activities available almost everywhere. Grandparents can create simple scavenger hunt lists involving birds, flowers, pinecones, butterflies, rocks, or unusual leaves to keep kids engaged outdoors. Outdoor exploration encourages curiosity, observation skills, and healthier emotional development. Children who spend more time outside also tend to sleep better and feel less anxious during long summer breaks. Even short evening walks around the neighborhood can become meaningful bonding moments.

9. Let Them Help With Real-Life Projects

Children often love feeling useful more than adults realize. Washing the car, planting flowers, organizing the garage, painting birdhouses, or helping with small home projects can make grandchildren feel proud and included. Experts say giving children real responsibilities helps build confidence and independence. Grandparents can turn chores into games by creating mini challenges or reward systems. Many children actually remember these simple shared tasks more fondly than expensive entertainment outings.

10. Make Summer About Memories, Not Perfection

One important reminder for grandparents is that children do not need constant entertainment every second of the day. Many parenting discussions online emphasize that boredom often pushes kids to become more creative and imaginative over time. Grandparents should not feel pressured to create Pinterest-perfect summers packed with nonstop activities. Some of the best childhood memories come from simple moments like eating popsicles outside, catching lightning bugs, or playing cards at the kitchen table. What children truly remember most is feeling loved, included, and connected.

Screen-Free Summers Can Create Lifelong Memories

Keeping grandkids busy and off screens this summer does not require spending large amounts of money or planning elaborate vacations. Simple screen-free summer activities like gardening, baking, storytelling, scavenger hunts, and board games often create stronger memories than expensive electronics ever could. Even small daily routines can become cherished traditions that children remember for decades.

What are your favorite screen-free summer activities to do with your grandkids? Share your ideas and traditions in the comments below.