June play ideas: Easy and fun activities to try with your kids
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Summer is here, and with it comes longer days, more sunshine, and plenty of opportunities for play!
But let’s be real—while the idea of endless summer fun sounds amazing, the reality is that juggling everything (while keeping the kids happy and entertained) can feel like a challenge.
That’s exactly why I put together this list of simple, screen-free play ideas — so you don’t have to spend time searching for activities when you’re already juggling a million things.
Whether you need a quick way to keep the kids busy while you grab a moment to breathe or a fun activity to enjoy together, these ideas are designed to fit into your real life.
No complicated setups, no Pinterest-level crafts—just easy, low-prep ways to bring more fun and connection into your days. Let’s dive in!
June play ideas: Easy activities to try with your kids this month
Each month, you’ll get four easy ideas:
- one for independent play (because sometimes we just need five minutes of quiet)
- one for connecting with your kids
- one for creative fun
- one for quality family time.
Think of it as a little toolkit to make your month more joyful and connected — without adding more to your to-do list.
These aren’t just activities — they’re little pockets of joy you can sprinkle into your month, no matter how busy it gets.
PLAY: Brick maze
This simple easy challenge that keeps the kids engaged, thinking, and having fun as they design their own mazes with different paths and obstacles.
Materials
- base plate
- marble
- colorful bricks
Instructions
- To prepare this activity, you will need a base plate, some colorful bricks, and a marble.
(If you don’t have a marble at hand, you can create a small ball out of playdough to use instead.)
- Invite the kids to build a maze out of bricks, then roll the marble from start to finish without rolling it over the walls of the maze.
- Bonus idea: Siblings can build mazes for each other and take turns solving the maze as soon as possible (using a timer).
CONNECT: Emotion detective
Turn storytime into a fun emotion-spotting game! As you read, your little detectives will watch for feelings in the story and match them to their own emotion faces.
It’s a simple way to help kids recognize emotions, build empathy, and spark great conversations — all while having fun!
Materials
- paper and watercolor paint (or colored paper)
- craft sticks
- googly eyes
- story books
- glue
Instructions
- Cut circles out of paper and create faces showing different emotions. (Older kids can create the faces using watercolor paper and paint, while for young kids, it is easier to use colored paper.)
- Glue the faces on craft sticks. (optional) Add the name of the emotion on each of the craft sticks.
- Select a story that features characters that go through different emotions.
- Invite the kids to be “emotion detectives” while you read the book by showing you one of the emotion faces any time they identify a feeling throughout the story.
CREATE: Cardboard bus
Invite the kids to turn a simple piece of cardboard into a colorful, kid-designed bus.
This fun craft sparks creativity as kids paint, build, and fill their bus with passengers.
Materials
- cardboard
- (colored) paper
- paint sticks
- sharpie marker
- scissors
- glue
Instructions
- To prepare this activity, cut a bus shape and 2 circles out of cardboard for each child.
- Invite the kids to paint the bus and the wheels.
- Once the paint dries, cut rectangles out of paper and glue them on the bus to create the windows.
- Invite the kids to draw the “passengers” on each window and add the wheels.
Bonus:
Ready to bring more joy and calm to your June? The Playful Moments Together guide is filled with ideas you’ll love! Grab it here.
FAMILY FUN: Award-winning movie night
Make family movie night extra special with a film that’s won big!
Check out Oscar-winning family-friendly movies from past years and pick one to watch together.
The easiest way is to take a look at the Best Animated Feature winners — you’ll find plenty of heartwarming, fun, and beautifully made films the whole family will love!
More ways to bring joy to your June
Want even more ideas? Here are two fantastic resources to help you create happy moments with your kids — without extra stress.
- 25 Days of Play and Connection [poster]
Looking for quick, easy ideas to make your days more playful?
- 25 simple activities that spark creativity & connection
- Perfect for busy days when you need an instant idea
⭐ Download your free poster here and keep it handy for when you need fresh ideas.
- The Playful Moments Together guide
Want to take the guesswork out of connecting with your kids?
The Playful Moments Together Guide gives you 25 engaging activities to help you spark creativity, encourage connection, and bring more joy to your days.
Includes printable activity cards — so you can build a go-to collection of fun ideas your kids will love!
⭐ Get the Playful Moments Together guide and make the most of this month together.
Bring more joy and connection to your June with playful moments your kids will love.
With easy, creative ideas, Playful Moments Together will help you make the days with your little ones a little easier and a lot more fun.
Both resources are here to help you enjoy meaningful moments with your kids without adding extra stress to your day.
I’d love to hear which activities you try and how they bring joy to your home!
