8 Academically and Creatively-Engaging Arts Activities for Your Family This Summer

This summer, ArtsNOW offers one clear recommendation to families and students: stay creatively engaged.

Research from the National Summer Learning Association shows that students can lose up to 2 months of academic progress over the summer, underscoring the importance of sustained learning beyond the classroom.

Arts integration provides a practical, research-based solution. Connecting academic content with visual art, music, movement, and theatre deepens engagement while making learning both relevant and enjoyable.

Summer should absolutely remain a time for rest and renewal for students, families, and educators. At the same time, maintaining light-touch learning experiences is critical to preventing learning loss and preserving academic momentum.

With that balance in mind, ArtsNOW is pleased to share a curated collection of eight at-home lessons based on wherever this summer is taking you and your family! They are accessible, engaging, and easy to implement, empowering families to reinforce key academic concepts while fostering creativity and joy.

Click here to download a print version of our Summer 2026 Creativity Calendar, and continue reading to explore each lesson in-depth. For additional support, families are encouraged to explore the rest of ArtsNOW’s at-home resources.

1. On A Day Outside, Explore Nature with Leaf Print Art

Your backyard, neighborhood park, or hiking trail is the perfect starting point for this visual arts activity. Head outside and collect leaves with interesting shapes, textures, and sizes, then watch this video to learn how to transform your nature finds into beautiful leaf prints. This activity connects observation skills with artistic expression, encouraging children to look closely at the world around them.

Supplies needed: Leaves in a variety of shapes and sizes, any type of paper, crayons (with paper removed) and/or chalk

2. On A Morning Stroll, Take an Emotion Walk and Talk

This activity turns a leisurely summer walk into a meaningful exploration of social-emotional learning. Use Emotion Walk and Talks as a vehicle for discussing feelings, building vocabulary, and deepening family connections. Watch this video to learn theatre-based exercises for making these conversations engaging, age-appropriate, and fun for the whole family.

3. On A Rainy Day Inside, Make Music with Wacky Water Xylophone

When summer showers put outdoor plans on hold, head to the kitchen for this science-meets-music experiment. Using everyday household items, children can construct their own water xylophone, explore sound and pitch, and even begin notating their own melodies. Watch this video for step-by-step guidance.

Supplies needed: Paper, identical cups or containers filled with varying levels of water, kitchen utensils (metal spoon, wooden spoon, rubber spatula)

4. Jam with Hand Jives on a Long Car Ride

Long stretches in the car don't have to mean restless kids and screen fatigue. Hand jives—rhythmic, partner-based clapping and movement patterns—are a way for students to learn how to create steady beats and build rhythm skills. Watch this video and learn how to create a hand jive routine with your child that will make the miles fly by.

5. On a Quiet Day, Use Steady Beat to Boost Reading Comprehension

Summer is a wonderful opportunity to keep reading skills sharp, and adding a rhythmic, musical element can make that practice feel less like a chore and more like play. Steady beat has been shown to support language processing and reading fluency. Watch this video to learn how to incorporate beats into at-home reading, turning it into an active, brain-building experience.

6. While Playing Outside, Discover Geometry Through Movement

Summer's wide-open spaces are the perfect setting for this kinesthetic geometry lesson. Using their bodies and a single piece of string, students can physically create and explore geometric shapes, bringing abstract math concepts to life through movement. Watch this video and experience this lesson that is as active as it is academic.

Supplies needed: One long piece of string

7. Bring Family Photos to Life with Tableau

This theatre activity is a perfect complement to family gatherings this summer. Using the theatrical technique of tableau (frozen, silent scenes created with the body), children and adults can bring family photos to life, stepping into the roles of the people and stories captured in those images. Follow along with this video and learn how to tell stories through tableaus!

8. On A Pool Day, Dive Deeper with Pool Talk

A splashy summer day by the pool is the perfect backdrop for this conversation-based theatre activity. Watch this video for creative conversation prompts and facilitation strategies that help children and parents get to know each other in richer, more meaningful ways—right from the pool deck.