15 Summer Activities for Children with ADD/ADHD: A Parents Guide

Summer can feel like a long stretch of unstructured time—especially for children with ADD or ADHD, who often thrive with routines, movement, and sensory engagement. The good news? Summer can also be the perfect opportunity to channel their energy into creative and active play that supports focus, self-regulation, and confidence.

Here are 15 engaging and ADHD-friendly activities that parents can enjoy with their kids all summer long:

1. Backyard Obstacle Course

Use household items like cones, chairs, ropes, chalk, pool noodles, or hula hoops to create a fun course. This encourages physical activity, coordination, self-regulation, and is a great way to release energy.

Make it fun: Time their runs and encourage them to beat their personal best (not compete with others).

Why it helps: Gross motor activities help improve attention and burn off excess energy.

2. Nature Scavenger Hunt

Create simple scavenger hunts with lists of items to find—like pinecones, red flowers, animal footprints, a feather, red leaf, flat rock. Let them check off each item as they find it. Getting outside can be incredibly therapeutic. This combines movement, focus, and sensory engagement, all in one.

Pro tip: Bring a notebook for your child to draw or write about their discoveries.

Variation: Add drawing or journaling about each discovery.

3. DIY Art Station

Set up an area with supplies like paints, clay, chalk, recycled materials, and markers. Let them freely create or give prompts like "build a robot" or "paint your dream summer day."

Art can be incredibly grounding. Try activities like:

• Sidewalk chalk murals

• Tie-dye shirts

• Nature collages

• Recycled-material sculptures

Give them freedom to explore without worrying about the “right” outcome.

Why it helps: Art promotes focus, patience, and self-expression.

4. Sensory Play with Water

Fill tubs with water, shaving cream, bubbles, or ice cubes. Let kids scoop, pour, and mix. Whether it’s a pool, lake, bathtub or just a sprinkler in the yard, water is magical. It provides sensory input, burns energy, and is just plain fun.

Bonus: Add small toys or “treasures” to find.

5. Music & Rhythm Games

Children with ADD/ADHD often respond positively to rhythm. Try:

• Drum circles (you can use pots and pans!)

• Freeze dance

• Learning a simple instrument like a ukulele or hand drum

Rhythm helps with focus and can even improve executive functioning.

6. Cooking Projects

Let your child help prepare snacks or meals. Choose simple, no-bake recipes like fruit kabobs, smoothies, trail mix, smoothies, fruit salads, or no-bake cookies. Cooking builds executive functioning skills like planning, measuring, and following steps.

Why it helps: Cooking involves sequencing, following instructions, and sensory engagement.

7. Movement Dice Game

Create a large dice with different movements (e.g., “10 jumping jacks,” “crab walk,” “spin 3 times”) on each side. Roll and play!

Start a “30-day movement challenge” together:

• Day 1: 20 jumping jacks

• Day 2: Walk a mile

• Day 3: Dance to 3 songs

Use stickers or checklists—they love to see their progress.

Why it helps: Adds surprise and structure to physical activity.

8. Build a Fort or Tent

Use blankets, pillows, and chairs to create a cozy indoor or outdoor space. This can be their “chill zone” or imaginative hideout.

Tip: Keep calming items inside—books, music, or fidget toys.

9. Garden Together

Start a small garden or tend to plants. Kids can water, weed, and even decorate pots or garden signs. Let your child grow their own herbs, flowers, or vegetables. It teaches responsibility and patience and connects them to nature.

Bonus: Use gardening time to practice sequencing and planning skills.

Why it helps: Gardening teaches responsibility and provides calming sensory input.

10. Ice Block Treasure Hunt

Freeze small toys in a block of ice. Give your child tools (salt, spoons, water) to dig them out.

Fun and therapeutic! It’s sensory-rich and encourages problem-solving.

11. Daily "Brain Break" Jar

Write short, energizing or calming activities on slips of paper and place them in a jar. Examples:

• “Dance to one song”

• “Stretch for 2 minutes”

• “Walk backwards across the yard”

Tip: Use these when energy is high or focus is low.

12. LEGO or Building Challenges

For quiet days, create building competitions:

• Who can build the tallest tower?

• Recreate a favorite movie scene in LEGOs

This promotes problem-solving and patience.

Give prompts like:

• “Build a bridge for your toy car”

• “Create a castle with three towers”

• “Design a zoo”

Why it helps: Encourages focus, planning, and imaginative play.

13. Mindfulness Walks

Take slow, intentional walks where you focus on what you see, hear, feel, and smell. Talk about it together. Even energetic kids can benefit from calming routines. Try introducing:

• “Bubble breathing” (pretend to blow bubbles slowly)

• Short yoga routines for kids

• Nature-based guided meditations

Apps like Smiling Mind or Headspace for Kids offer excellent short sessions.

Good for grounding: Helps develop awareness and calmness.

14. Volunteering or Helping Out

Age-appropriate service like helping at an animal shelter, community garden, or library can give your child a sense of responsibility and structure.

Look for roles that are short in duration or physically engaging.

15. Create a Summer Routine Board

Make a visual schedule with magnetic pieces or drawings. Include wake-up times, activity blocks, meals, and free time. Children with ADD and ADHD thrive with structure—even in summer. Make a flexible daily routine chart with time for play, quiet time, meals, and outdoor activities.

Let your child decorate and contribute to the schedule to increase buy-in.

Structure without rigidity: Helps reduce anxiety and improve independence.

Final Thoughts:

The key to a successful ADHD-friendly summer? A healthy balance of structure, freedom, movement, and downtime. These 15 activities are simple, accessible, and designed to keep your child engaged while supporting their unique strengths and needs.

Pro Tips for Parents:

• Break activities into small steps.

• Offer choices (this builds autonomy).

• Keep transitions smooth by using timers or countdowns.

• Celebrate effort, not just results!

Your child’s energy, creativity, and curiosity are superpowers—summer is the perfect time to let them shine. Summer doesn’t have to be chaotic or overwhelming. With the right mix of structure, movement, creativity, and downtime, your child can have a memorable and meaningful season.

Remember: every child is different. Try a few of these, see what works, and follow their lead!