100 Things to do This Summer

Print off this summer activity challenge for kids and keep the kids active and screen free this summer

Having a summer bucket list that keeps kids from the inevitable summer boredom is essential…but a summer bucket list that actually helps kids develop skills and gain stronger bodies is powerful! This list of things to do with kids and families this summer is a list of therapist-approved activities that help promote stronger core muscles, refined fine motor skills, and the very skills kids need to learn, play, and develop.

Summer Bucket List

Need things to do this summer with the kids? Need therapist-approved activities for the whole family, that actually help kids develop motor skills, get off the screens, and build stronger kids? This printable list of summer activities for kids and families is just the thing to battle the boredom this summer!

I am a mom of four. I have heard, “I’m bored!” 4,000 times. Each summer. This summer might look a little different that most years, and because of that, I wanted to come up with summer activities for kids that are therapy-approved. These are summer things and active play ideas. You might call this an adventure challenge. You might call it a therapy home program. What this list of summer activities is for certain, is a way to get the kids active and off the screens. This list of 100 summer things (actually 104 summer things) costs little to no money, use the items found around the house, and meets the needs of kids. It’s part of our Wellness Challenge (More info on that coming next week!)

Print off this summer bucket list activity challenge for kids and keep the kids active and screen free this summer

100 Things to do this summer

There is just something fun about creating a summer bucket list with the kids. But, what if you could hand-pick the very summer activities that help kids gross stronger muscles, gain sensory input that helps with regulation, and motor activities that improve balance, coordination, strength, and endurance? What if your summer bucket list not only built a summer of family memories, but also stronger and more functional minds and bodies?

This printable summer bucket list does just that!

Well, here we are at the tail end of another school year. This is the time that most parents and teachers celebrate the end of school and the start of summer…maybe more than the kids. With the end of the school year, it’s a time to celebrate lazy, hazy days of summer. This year is a different. Parents are celebrating the end of distance learning. Teaching kids at home through distance learning, while working from home is simply not a sustainable task for most. The list below is 100 things to do this summer. These are activities to keep the kids (and the whole family) active, and enjoying time together in play. Play is healing. Play is a learning opportunity.

For pediatric occupational therapists, we know that play is the primary occupation of the child. Play is therapy and therapy is play. These summer activities for kids are designed to boost skills, while helping children emotionally, physically, and mentally.

Kids NEED active play. They NEED to move. Kids need to create, think outside of the box, and they need to be bored. With boredom comes creativity, interest-based thinking, and innovation. This list of 100 things to do this summer might be an idea starter.

The activities on this list fall into six categories: outdoor activities, indoor activities, water activities, games, creative “maker” activities, and imagination activities. Each summer activity challenges movement and is a summer activity that can be added to home programs.

When the kids say they are bored, send them to this summer bucket list checklist and ask them to pick something on the list. With 104 ideas, there is something for each day this summer.

Summer activities for occupational therapy home programs

Summer Bucket List for Occupational Therapy

The activities on this summer activity list inspire active play for kids. They build heavy work to add proprioceptive input. They add movement for vestibular input. They add tactile input. The activities are calming or alerting. They are sensory-based movement activities.

Use this list as a home program. The list can be sent home to parents to inspire active play each day. Or, post it on your fridge and when the kids say they need something to do, ask them to pick one activity. Your challenge is to complete as many of the activities as you can. When boredom strikes, add these activities.

Outdoor Active Play for a summer bucket list

  • Obstacle course
  • Nature walk
  • Climb a tree
  • Kick a ball
  • Driveway chalk
  • Go for a hike
  • Roll down a hill
  • Make a hideout
  • Draw the clouds
  • Run around the house
  • Pick flowers
  • Do jumping jacks
  • Fly a kite
  • Draw with chalk
  • Go swimming
  • Ride a bike
  • Watch the birds

Indoor Activities for a Summer BUCKET LIST

  • Animal walks
  • Couch cushion course
  • Balloon toss
  • Bowl plastic cups
  • Indoor balance beam
  • Freeze dance
  • Yoga
  • Build puzzles
  • Hand clapping games
  • Board games
  • Catch socks
  • Write in a journal
  • Wheelbarrow walks
  • Army crawls
  • Wall push-ups
  • Dance party
  • Play with stickers

SUMMER BUCKET LIST Water Activites

  • Water sensory bin
  • Spray bottle art
  • Squirt gun painting
  • Paint with water
  • Swim
  • Play in a sprinkler
  • Make a sensory bottle
  • Make sponge balls
  • Play in the hose water
  • Water flowers
  • Wash a car
  • play in the rain
  • Water table
  • Water balloons
  • Play in soapy water
  • Bubbles
  • Sink or float tests

Summer Bucket List Games

  • Red rover
  • Play tag
  • Hide and seek
  • Play Uno
  • Play cards
  • Soccer
  • Catch a football
  • Board games
  • Hopscotch
  • 4 Square
  • Basketball
  • Relay Race
  • Charades
  • 7 Up
  • Mr. Wolf
  • Tug of war
  • Lawn tic tac toe
  • Bean bag toss

Creative Activities for Summer

  • Torn paper art
  • Make play dough
  • Build with LEGO
  • Finger paint
  • Make a fort
  • Make a recipe
  • STM project
  • Make lemonade
  • Paint rocks
  • Leaf resist art
  • Coffee filter butterfly
  • Toilet paper roll craft
  • Paper bag puppets
  • Make bird treats
  • Create a song
  • Write a letter
  • Bake cookies
  • Draw

Imagination Play for summer

  • Think of a goal for you to accomplish
  • Dress up
  • Make up a play
  • Invent something
  • Make up a dance
  • Act out a story
  • Write a story
  • Imagine a cardboard box is something unique
  • Pretend to be something or someone else
  • Think of a new ending to a movie
  • Imagine all the things you are grateful for
  • Imagine you had $1,000. What would you do?
  • Think of a random act of kindness. And do it
  • Imagine you were…whatever you could do or be. How can you get to that point? Make a list of the steps.

Get this list in a printable format below! Print it off, hand it out as an occupational therapy home program, or hang it on the fridge and when the kids say they are bored, direct them to the list!

use this activity challenge for kids that are bored this summer or to use in ot home programs
summer activities for kids

More things to do this summer

For more therapist-approved things to do this summer, use the Summer OT Bundle to work on all things handwriting, hand strength, fine motor skills, puzzles, scissor skills, and function in FUN and engaging ways.

If you are a therapist who just doesn’t have it in you to reinvent the wheel this summer, the Summer OT Bundle is for you.

If you are a parent who wants to work on the skills kids NEED to develop so they can write with a pencil and use scissors (but you’re tired of hearing the complaining about doing these activities), the Summer OT Bundle is for you.

If you need resources and tools to fill home programs, extended year programs, summer camps, or to have the babysitter do with the kids, the Summer OT Bundle is for you.

It’s 19 different products, resources, activities and guides to help kids gain the very motor skills they need to thrive. Read more about the Summer OT Bundle here and start having fun in effective ways this summer!

Summer Occupational therapy bundle

Click here to grab your copy of the Summer OT Bundle!

Free Summer Bucket List

Grab a copy of our Summer bucket list and send it home with therapy students for low-prep activities that support skill development. We wanted to select activities that are low budget and can be done over the Summer months. This is a great home program for carrying over skills…in a low effort way.

I love that these bucket list items are in a checklist format too…you can have your kids check off as many tasks as they do, without using a calendar that limits the students to a specific task each day.

This printable is found inside The OT Toolbox membership club (Level 1 free downloads) and Level 2.

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    Colleen Beck, OTR/L has been an occupational therapist since 2000, working in school-based, hand therapy, outpatient peds, EI, and SNF. Colleen created The OT Toolbox to inspire therapists, teachers, and parents with easy and fun tools to help children thrive. Read her story about going from an OT making $3/hour (after paying for kids’ childcare) to a full-time OT resource creator for millions of readers. Want to collaborate? Send an email to contact@theottoolbox.com.

    Finger Opposition

    finger opposition

    In this blog post, we’re covering an important piece to the fine motor skills puzzle: finger opposition! Finger and thumb opposition is a dexterity and precision skill that develops from a young age, and is very important in eye-hand coordination tasks that we complete every day. Let’s cover what this term means and how to support finger to thumb opposition skills.

    finger opposition

    Finger Opposition

    Have you heard of the term “opposable thumbs”? You probably heard it as a reference to the difference between human hands and other, less advantaged animals. However, many other animals have opposable thumbs which work much like ours!

    But what does it actually mean to have opposable thumbs? What are we talking about when we say “finger opposition”? Why is it advantageous? 

    What is finger to thumb opposition?

    Finger opposition, thumb opposition, and finger to thumb opposition all refer to the same thing. When we say these phrases, we are referring to the range of motion of the thumb (thumb ROM) as is rotates and flexes (or bends) to touch the pad of the thumb to the pad of the pointer finger.

    To break it down further, the word “opposition” refers to something being placed opposite of another. So, having an opposable thumb means one has the ability to place the thumb opposite to, or across from the other digits (the fingers).

    This thumb ROM is useful in order to grasp objects between the thumb and fingers.

    Many grasps involve the oppositional movement of the thumb, think: picking up coins, grasping a baseball, or turning the pages of a book. An occupational therapist can begin to assess for strengths and weaknesses in thumb opposition by asking their patient to tap their thumbs to the tip of each finger. 

    A hand assessment typically addresses the thumb ROM to oppose several areas:

    • Thumb to tip of each finger
    • Thumb to base of each finger

    These motions allow the hand therapist to assess the ability to flex the thumb CMC joint, the thumb MP joint, and thumb IP joint for functional use in picking up and handling objects.

    Also a major part of this assessment is a detailed look at finger ROM (range of motion). The following areas will also be assessed in a typical hand therapy evaluation:

    • Finger isolation
    • Range of motion of finger MP joints
    • Range of motion of finger PIP joints
    • Range of motion of finger DIP joints
    • Pinch strength
    • Grip strength
    • Sensation
    • Edema (swelling)
    • Pain
    • Coordination and precision skills
    Development of finger opposition to thumb

    DEVELOPMENT OF THUMB OPPOSITION

    We can follow the development of an infant’s thumb oppositional skills by observing their grasps on rattles, bottles, cheerios, or whatever they may have nearby. A typically developing infant is expected to go through this timeline of grasping skills:

    Newborn: Reflexive Grasp (Palmar reflex)

    • Newborns (up to 3 months of age) will reflexively hold whatever is placed in their hands. This reflex lays the foundation for a purposeful grasp in the baby’s life! 
    • Opposition? No thumb opposition yet, as the reflexive grasp focuses on the fingers curling in. 

    4-6 Months: Purposeful Palmar Grasp

    • Little ones this age are just starting to figure out how to reach for a desired object and grab a hold of it. They tend to hold the object between the palm and fingers, which is why this is called a “palmar” grasp.
    • Opposition? No thumb opposition just yet; the thumb may begin to move towards the palm, but is usually unused in the grasp, placed away from the hand, as in a “thumbs up”. 

    6-8 Months: Radial Palmar Grasp

    • In a radial palmar grasp, the thumb is secured along the side of the palm or the side of the index finger while the fingers hold the object in the palm. This demonstrates increased strength and precision of movement.  
    • Opposition? Here we can see the beginning of oppositional skill, but we aren’t quite there yet. 

    8-10 Months: Radial Digital Grasp

    • All of these grasp names sound confusing, but do you see how we went from “palmar” to “digital”? In other words, the thumb went from touching the “palm” to touching the “fingers”! 
    • Opposition? Ladies and gentlemen, thumb-to-finger opposition has officially begun. 

    10-12 Months: Immature and Mature Pincer Grasp 

    • First, the immature pincer grasp will develop. This is the grasp when a baby will hold a cheerio (or another small item) between the thumb and the side of the index finger. 
    • Later on, the mature pincer grasp develops which means that the thumb can oppose to the index finger! This is also known as a “tip” pinch, where the tip of thumb and the finger tip are together, much like the “okay” signal. 

    Over the next several months and years, the developing toddler will hone their fine motor skills to be able to oppose their thumb to each finger and coordinate their movements to complete tasks. To support these skills, age-appropriate toddler play activities are essential.

    In most cases, the development of thumb to finger opposition is considered “complete” around age five. The average five year old should be able to demonstrate certain movements that indicate developed hands, for example: a functional pencil grasp, stringing beads, zip/unzip, button/unbutton, and various in-hand manipulation skills. 

    To promote these skills during the ages of 3-5 (and if motor skills appear to be delayed), try some of these preschool activities for age-appropriate motor tasks to support development.

    WHY IS OPPOSITION USEFUL?

    This movement is essential for how we function with the world around us. For the koala (another member of the opposable thumb family), they are skilled climbers and tree-dwellers by use of their thumb wrapping around a branch, towards their other digits, as a way to secure their bodies for safety.

    Most humans are not quite as skilled in tree climbing, but will instead use our opposable thumbs for complex skills like playing guitar, tying our shoes, and handwriting. 

    For the able-bodied, one way to feel how we may function without the use of our opposable thumbs is to try to zip or button an item without using the thumbs…it is quite the challenge! 

    Delayed Finger to Thumb Opposition

    What happens when finger to thumb opposition is delayed or a challenge for kids? 

    There are some cases where finger-to-thumb opposition becomes challenging. This could be due to weakness, injury, muscle tone, weakness, range of motion difficulties, or malformation of the hand, fingers, thumb, or wrist.

    Really, anything that leads to reduced mobility of the thumb carpometacarpal joint (the point near the wrist that the thumb rotates on) can result in reduced thumb opposition. 

    When there is a lack of thumb opposition, one solution to increase function is to provide interventions for joint range of motion and muscle strength. This can be done in play-based ways that are therapeutic but tons of fun! 

    ACTIVITIES FOR Finger to Thumb Opposition 

    Craft and play-based activities are one great way to increase thumb to finger opposition in kids. The best part, though, is that you are increasing so many more skills at the same time! We’re talking fine motor strength and coordination, visual motor skills, bilateral coordination, social skills, and more! 

    Along with the many great activities below, check out our page all about Fine Motor Skills and our Fine Motor Checklist for more information on development of these skills. 

    Activities to Open Thumb Web Space – These activities open the thumb web space so a nice round circle is seen during thumb opposition. This enable precision of motor skills and a refined pincer grasp.

    Finger Play Songs– These opposition activities promote thumb ROM and coordination of the thumb and finger movements.

    Hand Eye Coordination Activity– Precision and motor planning go hand in hand with eye-hand coordination tasks. This is where you will see thumb and finger opposition in action.

    Finger Isolation Crafts– Isolating a single finger is a refined and graded motor task that enables opposition movements from the thumb to a single finger.

    Fine Motor Travel Box– This activity is a fine motor tool that makes working on thumb and finger opposition skills fun.

    Separation of the Hand Activity– The thumb is on the precision side of the hand and along with the pointer finger and middle finger is responsible to precise motor movements and dexterity in tasks. Finger to thumb opposition is a main piece of this.

    Play Doh Fine Motor – Opposable thumb activities like this one support strengthening and thumb ROM.

    Tongs Activities– Strengthening the arches of the hands allows for a stable and supportive base for thumb opposition in functional tasks.

    Stickers for Fine Motor – Stickers are a therapist’s best friend when it comes to finger opposition activities.

    The way we move our hands can be synonymous with the way we interact with our environment. For a lot of us, the use of our hands are the way that we function in daily life!

    Build finger to thumb opposition with these activities:

    Working on fine motor skills, visual perception, visual motor skills, sensory tolerance, handwriting, or scissor skills? Our Fine Motor Kits cover all of these areas and more.

    Check out the seasonal Fine Motor Kits that kids love:

    Or, grab one of our themed Fine Motor Kits to target skills with fun themes:

    Want access to all of these kits…and more being added each month? Join The OT Toolbox Member’s Club!

    Examples of finger opposition

    Recently, we posted a couple of videos on YouTube that show finger opposition. These are designed to highlight how the fingers and thumb move in opposition tasks. I love using these short videos as exercises, too.

    This video shows finger and thumb opposition where the tip of the thumb touches the tip of each finger. As the thumb opposes each finger, thumb flexion is occurring at a greater range to reach the ulnar side of the hand.

    Finger and thumb opposition exercise

    Next, I also created a video that shows opposition of the thumb to the pointer finger. We also fully extend the thumb. This is a great exercise for opposition because the thumb takes an extension break in between each repetition. You could pair this exercise with the first one, to fully extend the thumb before opposing each digit.

    Thumb extension and opposition exercise

    Lastly, I have another finger opposition exercise for thumb opposition with finger and thumb flexion and extension. This moves the thumb opposition through the full range of an open thumb web space to a closed thumb web space. This is a great exercise because it moves through the full range.

    Thumb opposition with finger and thumb flexion and extension

    Colleen Beck, OTR/L has been an occupational therapist since 2000, working in school-based, hand therapy, outpatient peds, EI, and SNF. Colleen created The OT Toolbox to inspire therapists, teachers, and parents with easy and fun tools to help children thrive. Read her story about going from an OT making $3/hour (after paying for kids’ childcare) to a full-time OT resource creator for millions of readers. Want to collaborate? Send an email to contact@theottoolbox.com.