It’s summer, nanny! If you’re spending it with your nanny kids and are responsible for filling their days, this means lots of time to explore outside and inside (hello, heat wave!). It can feel daunting to come up with scheduled activities for your nanny kids every day, but there are so many ways you can have fun, keep kids occupied, and even sneak some learning in all summer long.

We’ve compiled our ten best summer fun activities for all types of children, ages, interests, and weather.

1) Muddy Trucks and Toys

Playing with muddy trucks is a tried-and-true classic. All you need is a kiddie pool (preferably one of those hard, plastic ones because they’re easiest to hose off and clean), the kids’ favorite monster trucks, construction toys, or any toy at all, and some mud. What’s not to love about getting dirty in your own mud pit?

2) Backyard Scavenger Hunt

Also fun for all ages is the easy-to-complete backyard scavenger hunt. Give each child a list of things to find, and make things interesting by offering incentives like popsicles or stickers for whoever finds the most items in a set period of time. The kids will learn to engage with the nature right outside their back door! Pinterest has tons of printable lists for all sorts of scavenger hunt adventures.

3) Sidewalk Paint

Who doesn’t love to create masterpiece murals right outside their window? All you need is flour, food coloring (gels work best), a small container for each color, and paintbrushes. Kids find it delightful because they’re “painting” and, best of all, it’s non-toxic and washes away easily.

4) Ice Smash

Wooden hammers and ice cubes—how can you go wrong? This is another good one if you’re watching more than one child and they’re different ages. Older kids can sometimes insist they don’t want to do what the younger kids are doing, but who wouldn’t want to smash ice cubes before they melt outside? It’s sure to bring about lots of giggles, too.

5) A Summer To-Do List

Instead of chores, this to-do list is full of fun things you and the kids want to do and see and places you’d like to go before summer ends! Early in the season, chat about what you’d love to do together over the summer. Some ideas to add: library story time, the zoo, different and new-to-you neighborhood playgrounds, local museums, a farm, the pool, or any other locale to explore.

6) Color-Sorting Water Balloon Game

Water balloons and summer pretty much go hand-in-hand, right? Right. Plus, it’s an easy and affordable way to have fun (as long as you don’t mind getting a tad wet). Grab a few colored bins from your local dollar store and match up the colored balloons. Make it a race, or take your time – either way, the kids will love it.

7) Sink or Float?

Another one for kids of varying ages is the “sink or float?” game. You can play this outside with a water table, a big storage bin full of water, a baby pool, or a regular pool. All you need is an assortment of random, pool-safe objects to test (think sunglasses, flip-flops, play food, Barbie dolls, water bottles, etc.) and have each child guess and test to see if the object floats or sinks. It’s a science experiment and a game all in one!

8) Rainy Day Number Line

If you’ve got to stay indoors for the day, here’s a fun one. You’ll need butcher paper and Post-it notes. Tape a long strip of butcher paper to the wall and have the children (with or without your help) write numbers 1-20 (or more or less, depending on their age), and then have them stick it to a line drawn on the butcher paper in numerical order. It’s a fun math game that’s not always as easy as it looks.

9) Travel Games

One of the best parts about summertime is the road trips. Car rides can feel pretty monotonous and long, so thinking ahead for some good travel games that are fun and easy to pack is a must. Cookie sheets and magnets are fun, and so are MagnaDoodle boards. Snacks, puzzles, and their favorite figurines are all easy activities for the car, too.

10) DIY Birdfeeders

A classic! You simply cannot go wrong with peanut butter, pinecones (or any object you prefer), and bird seed. The children will love making them (and the mess that goes along with it), hanging them up, and watching the birds enjoy their homemade feeders. The birds will thank you, too. This is perfect for inside or outside play!

No matter what kind of summer you and the kids have planned—whether it’s packed with adventures or filled with slow, sunny days at home—these fun, easy activities are sure to keep little ones engaged, learning, and making memories.

So, grab your sunscreen, gather your supplies, and get ready for a season full of simple joys and unforgettable moments. Happy summer!