8 Smart Summer Activities That Build Resilience, Independence, and Brainpower
When school lets out for the summer, kids breathe a sigh of relief—and let’s be honest, so do parents. But while it’s important to rest and recharge, summer is also a prime opportunity to build the kinds of life and learning skills that don’t always get enough attention during the school year through summer activities.
We’re not talking about drilling flashcards or forcing extra homework. Instead, think of summer as a season for growing your child’s executive functioning, emotional regulation, independence, and resilience—all while keeping those cognitive gears turning in fun and natural ways.
Here are some smart, low-pressure summer activities that help keep brains sharp and skills strong all season long:
1. Plan a Family Outing (With Your Child in Charge)
Let your child be the event coordinator for a family picnic, hike, or even just a trip to the farmer’s market. Give them a small budget, help them think through timing, directions, and needed supplies.
✅ Builds: Planning skills, time management, working memory, flexibility
🧠 Bonus: Encourages independence and self-confidence.
2. Make a Weekly “Boredom Buster” Jar
Instead of filling every moment with entertainment, teach kids to manage their own time. Together, write down ideas for fun activities (e.g., build a fort, invent a board game, write a comic book) and draw one whenever boredom hits.
Read More: What To Do When Your Kids Are Bored >>
✅ Builds: Initiation, problem-solving, creativity, emotional regulation
🧠 Bonus: Teaches kids how to manage downtime constructively.
3. Cook a New Recipe Each Week
Cooking uses math, sequencing, memory, and patience—all in one fun (and delicious) package. Have kids pick the recipe, shop for ingredients, and prepare the meal (with supervision).
✅ Builds: Executive functioning, focus, follow-through, math proficiency
🧠 Bonus: Reinforces independence and resilience when things don’t go perfectly.
4. Start a Summer Journal or Video Diary
Encourage your child to reflect on their days by writing, drawing, or recording short videos. It doesn’t have to be daily—just consistent.
✅ Builds: Self-awareness, memory, emotional regulation, expressive language
🧠 Bonus: Boosts mental wellness and promotes gratitude.
5. Volunteer as a Family
Helping others encourages empathy and provides real-world experience with teamwork, flexibility, and communication. Look for opportunities like community clean-ups, food drives, or helping at an animal shelter.
✅ Builds: Social-emotional skills, responsibility, cognitive flexibility
🧠 Bonus: Fosters a strong sense of purpose and resilience.
6. Play Strategy Games Together
Board games like Settlers of Catan, Ticket to Ride, or even classics like Uno and Clue teach kids to think ahead, adapt to changing circumstances, and manage frustration.
✅ Builds: Working memory, logic, impulse control, attention
🧠 Bonus: Makes learning time feel like fun, not a lesson.
7. Create a Summer Savings Goal
Whether it’s saving for a toy, a trip, or a treat, helping your child set a financial goal teaches planning, delayed gratification, and number sense. Let them brainstorm ways to earn or save money with age-appropriate chores or jobs.
✅ Builds: Planning, math skills, decision-making, perseverance
🧠 Bonus: Teaches real-world responsibility.
8. Enroll in a Brain Training Program
Just like kids go to sports camp to strengthen their bodies, LearningRx offers brain training programs that strengthen the core skills that make learning easier. Our one-on-one training targets skills like attention, memory, logic, and processing speed—the foundational tools every learner needs to succeed.
✅ Builds: Cognitive skills that impact reading, math, learning, and life
🧠 Bonus: Research-based results that can help your child hit the ground running when school starts back.
Summer Activities to Keep Your Kids Off the Summer Slide
By giving kids opportunities to practice real-life skills in meaningful, age-appropriate ways, you’re helping them build the mental muscles that support learning, resilience, and confidence. Want to make this your child’s smartest summer yet? Contact your local LearningRx center to learn more about our customized brain training programs and summer availability.
