19 Fun Ways to Celebrate Summer Solstice with Kids #summersolstice #longestday #kidsactivities #homeschooling #homeeducation

As the sun reaches its highest point in the sky and the day stretches to its longest, the summer solstice marks a magical time full of sunshine, nature, and celebration.

Occurring on or around June 21st in the Northern Hemisphere, the Summer Solstice is more than just a celestial event, it’s a chance to honour nature’s rhythms, connect with the outdoors, and make lasting memories with our children.



19 Fun Ways to Celebrate Summer Solstice with Kids

Whether you’re a parent or a homeschooler, celebrating the solstice with fun and meaningful activities can turn an ordinary summer day into a cherished family tradition.

Here are a variety of summer solstice activities for kids to help you celebrate the Summer Solstice with creativity, learning and joy.


Outdoor Adventures

Solstice is the perfect time to get outdoors, so try one or more of these fun outdoor activities to celebrate the longest day of the year:

1. Nature Scavenger Hunt

Take advantage of the extra daylight with a nature-themed summer scavenger hunt.

Give kids a copy of our printable scavenger hunt checklist that includes items like:
  • A buttercup
  • Ants
  • A smooth stone round like the sun

This is a great way to encourage observation of and appreciation for the natural world.

With photo clues to help them find everything, it's suitable for even the youngest kids, too.



2. Sunset Picnic

Plan a special dinner outdoors to watch the sun set on the longest day of the year.

Let kids help pack up their favourite summer foods like watermelon, sandwiches, and lemonade.

Bring along a blanket, some outdoor games, and perhaps even some sparklers for a festive finish.



3. Make a Sundial

Teach kids how to track time using the movement of the sun with this fun activity.

All you need is a paper plate, a pencil and some markers such as shells, twigs or stones.

Stick the pencil upright through the centre of the plate and place it in full sun.

Check the shadow every hour and mark it with one of the sticks or stones.

They could even choose stones in number shapes or learn Roman numerals to use the correct number of sticks for each number.



Creative Crafts

Before you head outdoors on your soltice adventure, make some fun sunshine-inpsired crafts:

4. Make a Suncatcher

Suncatchers are a fun kids craft and easily made using tissue paper and clear contact paper.

Cut out a circle (the sun!) and let kids arrange bits of coloured tissue on the sticky side.

Seal it with another piece of contact paper and hang it in the window.

Watch how the sunlight shines through and creates colourful shapes around the room.



5. Floral Crowns

A traditional solstice and Midsummer symbol, especially in Scandinavia, flower crowns are another easy and fun craft for kids to make.

Use dandelions, daisies and other items from your garden, or use artificial flowers for a longer-lasting crown.

Simply twist floral wire into a circle to fit the child’s head and attach flowers using tape or smaller wire. 

Kids can parade around the garden feeling like nature royalty!

For younger children you may prefer to create a cardboard crown and attach the flowers with sticky tape.



6. Sun-Themed Paintings

There is definitely no right or wrong with this one!

Simply break out the art supplies and let your children express what the sun means to them.

You could prompt them with ideas like the longest day, sunrise or sunset, my summer dream or sun magic.

Print out some different paintings from history featuring the sun such as Caspar David Friedrich's Woman Before the Rising Sun, Van Gogh's The Sower at Sunset or his Olive Trees with Yellow Sky.

Try using materials like watercolour paints, finger or poster paints, or even natural items like leaves and sticks to create textured artwork.



Educational Fun

7. Learn About the Solstice

Use age-appropriate books and videos to explain what the solstice is and why it happens.

Concepts like the Earth’s tilt and orbit can be illustrated with a globe, or even a basketball, and a light source.

Our ready made Summer Solstice unit study is a great place to start:



For younger kids, stick with storytelling and use one or more of these amazing books about the solstice:



8. Create a Sun Journal

Starting on the solstice, encourage kids to keep a 'Sun Journal' for a week - or even a month.

Each day, they can draw the position of the sun, write down the weather and record what they did outdoors that day.

This activity promotes daily reflection and helps them observe natural patterns, as well as getting screen-bound kids outside more!



9. Solar Cooking

Why not experiment with cooking using the power of the sun!

A simple solar oven can be made with a pizza box, aluminum foil, and plastic wrap.

Help your kids to make s’mores or melt cheese on crackers while learning about renewable energy and science.

Read all about how to do it in this NASA guide.



Games & Play

Getting kids to bed in midsummer is almost as hard as on Christmas Eve!

"The sun's awake so I'm awake!" as Anna says in Frozen, so get the wiggles out and tru to bring on some tiredness with these fun outdoor games and activities:

10. Sun Tag

Put a summer solstice twist on the classic game of tag.

in this game the person who is It is actually 'the sun'.

When someone gets caught and tagged, they must freeze in a sunbeam pose (arms out like rays).

They can only be unfrozen when another player gives them 'a cloud', i.e. a gentle tap on the shoulder.



11. Water Balloon Toss

Cool off from the heat with a sun-inspired water balloon toss - every kids favourite summer activity!

Use only yellow and orange water balloons, or colour the water with yellow and orange food dyes before you fill the balloons.

Then play games like catch, dodgeball, or relay races.



12. Glow Stick Dance Party

As the sun finally sets, hand out glow sticks or LED bracelets for a backyard dance party.

Play some fun upbeat music that your kids know, perhaps teach them a few simple dance moves, and let everyone enjoy the twilight in a colourful and energetic way.



Mindfulness & Rituals

If you need the kids to wind down again at the end of the day, these are the activities for you!

13. Sun Salutation

Teach kids a simple version of the Sun Salutation yoga sequence.

If you incorporate imagery with the movement, saying things such as 'reach for the sun', 'melt like a ice cream' or 'buzz like a bee' it will make it more fun for them, but also help kids learn the movements more easily.

This calming routine helps children connect with their bodies and the natural rhythm of the day, so it can be done on rising or at the end of the day as the sun sets.



14. Gratitude Circle

At sunset, gather your family in a circle and ask everyone to share one thing they're thankful for this summer.

It could be something simple like 'playing outside more' or 'getting to eat ice cream every day', but they may surprise you with something more profound.

This quiet ritual encourages reflection and appreciation and is a lovely practice to add to your family rhythm.



15. Light a Solstice Candle

If you’re comfortable with it, you can end the day by lighting a special candle to symbolize the sun’s light.

Let each child make a wish or intention for the rest of their summer, then blow out the candle together.

Making this promise to each other and deciding what is special to you all is a great way to move forward into summer together.

If you have the space, you could even light a bonfire, a Midsummer tradition common throughout Scandinavia.



Food & Treats

No family celebration is complete without some delicious foods, and sumemr solstice is a great way to bring some new dishes or ideas to your table - or picnic.

16. Make a Sunshine Smoothie

Blend up a bright yellow smoothie using mango, banana, pineapple and a splash of orange juice.

Older kids will love doing this on their own, whilst younger ones will love to help with chopping the fruit.

And everyone will enjoy drinking it!



17. Bake Sun Cookies

Use a basic sugar cookie dough to make beautiful sun-shaped cookies.

You could make them simple circles or buy a sun-shaped cookie cutter especially for the job.

Decorate them with yellow and orange icing and maybe some fun sprinkles.



18. Fruit Sunburst Platter

We all eat with our eyes first, so what coule be better than to create a beautiful fruit platter in the shape of the sun?

Use orange slices, pineapple chunks, mango, and strawberries to make a radiant, healthy treat.

Kids will love to help chop the fruits and then to help assemble this fruity feast.



19. Sun Bread

Making a specially shaped loaf of bread for key points in the year is another fun family tradition.

Whether it's a dragon at Michaelmas or a sun at Midsummer or summer solstice, the ritual of getting the family together to bake bread is wonderful.

Add the book Sun Bread to your reading pile or morning basket, too.



However busy your family is, Summer Solstice is the perfect opportunity to pause and embrace the magic of nature’s cycles.

It’s a time to slow down, soak up the sunshine, and spend intentional time together.

Whether you’re crafting, playing, exploring, or simply watching the sunset, these summer solstice activities can instill a deeper connection to the Earth, and to each other.



Creating your own solstice traditions as part of the rhythm of the year gives kids something more to look forward to each summer.

Over time, these moments build a sense of wonder and belonging that lasts well beyond the longest day.

So as the sun climbs high in the sky this solstice, let joy and curiosity guide your day and your celebrations.

Happy Summer Solstice!




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