Kids Summer Activities

Have an adventure with Pikes Peak Library District this summer! Our 2023 Summer Adventure presented by Children’s Hospital Colorado program is here to help kids and teens stay engaged and active over the summer months. We know you’re looking for engaging and stimulating ideas, and we are here to help!

Click here or download the app
to get signed up!

Win prizes through reading, moving, and imagining! Either participate in one of our programs or use one of our activity ideas.

Children's Programs Calendar

If your group has more than 10 children, please call the Library you plan to attend in advance of your visit or program participation.

Tween Programs Calendar

If your group has more than 10 children, please call the Library you plan to attend in advance of your visit or program participation.

Tween Program highlights

READ

read

Ages 0 - 3

Read a board book together. Follow along while your child turns the pages. Talk about what you see together.
Read a book together in a new place, such as under a table, in a closet, under a blanket fort, or in a large box. What fun place can you find to read together?
Read a book with pictures of people in it. What are they doing? How are they feeling?
Read an interactive picture book with your child on Tumble Books.
Have Storytime @ Home using one of the fun storytimes put together by Library staff.
Enjoy actors reading popular children’s books through Storyline Online, provided by the SAG-AFTRA Foundation.
Share some favorite nursery rhymes and songs or find some new ideas on Story Blocks.

Ages 4 - 7

Read a book without words, only pictures. What story can you make up based on the pictures? Can you share it with someone?
Read a book to an animal – to your pet, if you have one, or to a favorite stuffed animal.
Read a book in a new place, such as under a table, in a closet, under a blanket fort, or in a large box. What fun place can you find to read?
Have someone read a picture book out loud while you do a puppet show to the words. Trade places and do it again.
Find a new book to read or listen to using Libby
Have Storytime @ Home using one of the fun storytimes put together by Library staff.
Read an interactive picture book on Tumble Books.
Enjoy actors reading popular children’s books through Storyline Online, provided by the SAG-AFTRA Foundation.
Listen to an out-of-this world story read to you from outer space on Storytime from Space.
Want to hear authors read their books to you? Check out PBS Books Storytime and Harper Kids.
Play a Reading Game on PBS Kids with your favorite PBS characters.
Enjoy Dan Gutman reading his books, found under My Weird Read-A-Loud.

Ages 8 - 11

Read a book to someone else, either older or younger than you.
Tell someone all about a book you just finished reading. What did you like about the book? What didn’t you like? If you could change the ending, how would you make the book end?
Find a new book to read or listen to using Libby.
Read a book about someone from a different country or culture than you. Share something new you learned with a friend or family member.
Listen to an out-of-this world story read to you from outer space on Storytime from Space.
Try a chapter book on Tumble Books.
Are you an I Survived fan? Check out Lauren Tarshis: I Survived to learn more about her books.
Want to hear authors read their books to you? Check out PBS Books Storytime.
Enjoy Dan Gutman reading his books, found under My Weird Read-A-Loud.

IMAGINE

imagine

Ages 0 - 3

Play animal charades. Act like an animal and make that animal’s noises. Can others guess who you are? Keep going until everyone's stumped!
Build something as tall as you using blocks, empty tissue containers, or pillows. Knock it down and build it again. How tall can you build it before it tumbles? Try it again with a friend.
Dip a rag into water and use it to create fun designs on the sidewalk. Try this on a sunny, hot day and see how fast the water image disappears. Then try it in the shade. Which designs last the longest?
Find some treasures in nature, such as leaves, flowers, or sticks, and press them into playdough. Pull them out and check out the impressions. Do they look like the objects you pressed into the playdough?
Find some leaves and paint faces on them using finger paint.
Make a blanket fort but make believe it's something grander. Is it a castle? A tree house? Snuggle up inside with a story or a snack.
Play a game of peak-a-boo or clap and sing along to a favorite song or rhyme.

Ages 4 - 7

Pretend you’re an animal and have others guess what animal you are. You can only act out the motions – no sounds or words! How many animals can you pretend to be that others can guess?
Think of something nice to do or say to someone else. How many people can you make smile today?
Observe marine life on the Deerfield Beach Naturescape Cameras. What do you see? Can you draw the animals or make up a story about them?
Visit the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo website to check out their Giraffe Cams. What are the giraffes doing today? Can you draw a picture or tell a story about what you see? Want to see more zoo animals? Try the live cameras at the San Diego Zoo or the Memphis Zoo.
Make a self-portrait on the ground outside using only items you find in nature. What can you use for your hair? Nose? Eyes? Mouth?
Create a dinosaur terrarium for your favorite dinosaur toys. Use sand, rocks, plants, grass - you could even use some slime!
Paint rocks so they look like animals. Can you hide them outside for others to find?
Create a house for your stuffed animals out of objects in your room. Find an unused box to make a tiny home or make a tent out of a blanket. Tell your stuffed animal a story before bed.
Build a fort. Use chairs, tables, blankets, pillows, sheets, or anything around the house to build your fort. Name your fort and invite someone inside to read with you.
Create a map of your neighborhood using paper and pencils, markers, or crayons. Decide where you would hide treasure and mark it on your map

Ages 8 - 11

Observe marine life on the Deerfield Beach Naturescape Cameras. What do you see? Can you draw the animals or make up a story about them? How do the animals interact?
Visit the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo website to check out their Giraffe Cams. What are the giraffes doing today? Can you draw a picture or tell a story about what you see? Want to see more zoo animals? Try the live cameras as the San Diego Zoo or the Memphis Zoo.
Discover more about your family. Call or write a letter to a loved one. What stories about their life can they tell you? What was it like for them at your age?
Imagine a mythical beast or creature and then make it using whatever art supplies, doodads, or natural materials you can find.
Cook dinner for the family. Find a recipe, prep the ingredients, and discover your inner chef! Grab a grown-up to help you or ask them to show you how to make a family favorite.
Think of something nice to do or say to someone else. How many people can you make smile today?
Build a rock or fairy garden using items found in nature.
Write a short story about an animal with an amazing ability. Here are some ideas to get you started: the immortal jellyfish; a mountain goat that can climb up walls; an octopus that matches the colors of a checkerboard.
Try future journaling. What will your life be like in 10 … 20 … 50 years? Will your dog be able to talk to you? Will cars fly? What will you be doing? Keep this journal and look at it when you hit those milestone years.
Write or draw a picture about a special family memory and share it with your family.
Create a stop-motion film using your action figures, toys, or stuffed animals. What antics do you imagine they get up to while you’re not around?
Make letters to hang on your wall out of twigs and yarn or twine.

MOVE

move

Ages 0 - 3

Go on a sensory walk indoors. Can you find something that’s smooth? Rough? Bumpy? Soft? Shiny? Cold? Identifying an item's texture builds vocabulary in a fun way.
Make two large dice out of boxes. On one, write action words like “jump, climb, kick.” On the other, write directional words like “in a circle, like a monkey, forward.” Throw the dice and do what they instruct. For example, “jump like a monkey.”
Play your favorite music and dance together with scarves, ribbons, or paper streamers. Or have a dance party to show off your best moves. Check out our Freegal playlist just for kids where you'll find lots of fun music to dance to.
Splash in puddles after it rains or in the bathtub at home. Drop bath or swim toys from different heights to see how they splash.
Find a place to observe wildlife. Can you find squirrels, ducks, deer, or songbirds? As you point to different animals, try to make the animal's sound.
Take a walk around your neighborhood or try out a trail in the area. Point out any animals you pass along the way.

Ages 4 - 7

Try your hand at jump rope. What rhymes can you repeat while jumping?
Take turns hiding and seeking a special toy. Having trouble? Provide hints or call out "Warm! Warmer! “as they get closer.
Walk with your family or your dog around the neighborhood. How many animals did you see? Can you draw a picture of the animals you saw?
Go on a nature walk. Collect anything you like on the ground that came from a plant. When you get home, make a collage with your collection.
Play tennis with balloons! Make your own racket by taping rulers to paper plates. How long can you keep your balloon up in the air?
Create a racecourse with sections for skipping, hopping on one foot, galloping, and sideways stepping. How many laps can you do in a row? Practicing steps like this helps build coordination and endurance.

Ages 8 - 11

Host a Kids versus Adults night with your immediate family. Choose a competitive activity: maybe it's a board game, maybe it's an obstacle course (make one with boxes!), or maybe it's a simple race. Split up into teams: adults vs. kids. Let the games begin!
Surprise your grown-ups with a clean room – any room! If you choose your bedroom, clean it first and rearrange the furniture in a fresh, new way. It might inspire some new creative thinking!
Create your own signature dance to a favorite song. You can keep it to yourself or teach your buddies. Looking for some music? Check out our Freegal playlist just for kids.
Take a walk around your neighborhood or try out a new trail. What are some new things you see around you while you walk? Can you invite some friends or extended family members to join you?
Grab some glow sticks, play your favorite songs, and throw a dance party in the dark!
Put on the most amazing show of the summer – anything goes! Create a play, put on a stuffed animal show, dance to the music – whatever you want. Show your family what you can do!