Summer break is here, which means the daily question begins: "What are we going to do today?" If you're looking for summer activities for kids, screen-free ideas, and easy DIY projects, Essential Oils can make playtime even more memorable.

Whether you're crafting homemade playdough, creating sensory activities, or preparing for backyard adventures, these DIY summer activities with Essential Oils are simple, engaging, and perfect for spending quality time together. Let’s get started.

6 Ideas To Keep Kids Busy This Summer

Here are six fun, kid-approved activities that inspire creativity, spark imagination, and make the most of sunny days, all with the help of a few favorite Edens Garden blends.

#1 Aromatherapy Playdough

Few activities keep little hands busy like homemade playdough. Making it together is almost as fun as playing with it afterward, and adding Bee Happy essential oil blend creates a cheerful, uplifting aroma that makes crafting even more enjoyable.

This DIY is perfect for:

• Summer days
• Rainy afternoons
• Sensory play
• Fine motor skill practice

Aromatherapy Playdough Recipe

You'll need:

• 1 cup Salt
• 1/3 cup Water
• 1/2 cup Cornstarch
• 1/4 cup Cold Water
• Natural Color Dyes
• 30 drops diluted Bee Happy Blend

Directions

1. Stir salt into the water in a saucepan over medium heat for about 5 minutes until the mixture appears snowy and dry.
2. Remove from heat.
3. Stir in cornstarch and cold water.
4. Add your natural coloring and diluted Bee Happy blend.
5. Continue mixing until a dough forms.
6. Allow the dough to cool completely before playtime begins.

The finished dough is soft, colorful, and ready for hours of imaginative creations.

#2 Life's Better With Bubbles

Few things say summer like bubbles floating through the backyard. Homemade bubble solution becomes even more exciting with a light, cheerful aroma from Lavender oil.

Homemade Bubbles

You'll need:

• Dish Soap
• Rubber Band
• Wash Cloth
• Empty Water Bottle
• Bowl
• Lavender Essential Oil

Directions

1. Cut off the bottom off of an empty water bottle. 
2. Put a washcloth over the opening to cover the bottom and use a rubber band to secure the cloth onto the bottle.
3. In a bowl combine a few drops of Lavender oil with scentless dish soap.
4. Mix with water until the mixture is sudsy. 
5. Dip the bottle, washcloth side down, into the mixture. 
6. To make bubbles, blow into the bottle through the spout, and watch as the bubbles stream out. Enjoy!
7. Whether it's a family bubble contest or simply enjoying an afternoon outside, scented bubbles add an extra touch of fun to warm summer days.

#3 Slime Time

Homemade slime continues to be one of the most popular sensory activities for kids, and it's easy to see why. Stretching, squishing, and molding slime provides endless entertainment while engaging multiple senses.

Add a few drops of Focus, Focus, Focus blend to create delightfully scented slime that children will enjoy making and playing with.

This activity is especially great for:

• Indoor summer afternoons
• Sensory exploration
• Fine motor development
• Creative pretend play

Just be sure to supervise younger children during preparation and play.

DIY Slime

You'll need:

• 4 oz Water
• 1 Tbsp Buffered Saline Solution 
• 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
• 4 oz Clear Glue
• Sparkles
• 1 oz Sunflower Oil
• 6 drops Sweet Orange Essential Oil

Directions

1. Dilute 6 drops of Sweet Orange oil in 1 oz of Sunflower oil.
2. Stir baking soda into water until it dissolves.
3. Empty glue into a separate bowl and stir in 10 diluted drops of diluted Sweet Orange oil, then add the water and baking soda mix.
4. Add the saline solution to the mixture of glue and water.
5. Stir the liquid until the slime thickens and fully forms.
6. Knead the sparkles into the slime. Enjoy!

#4 DIY Essential Oil Bug Spray

Summer adventures often mean hiking, camping, backyard games, and evenings around the fire pit, but insects sometimes want to join the fun, too.

Mix up this simple DIY Essential Oil bug spray before heading outdoors.

Bug Spray Recipe

You'll need:

• 2 oz Fractionated Coconut Oil
• 12 drops Pest Defy Blend
• 2 oz Glass Spray Bottle

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients inside your glass spray bottle.
2. Shake gently before each use and apply before outdoor adventures.

This easy DIY is perfect for:

• Camping trips
• Backyard play
• Nature walks
• Picnics
• Summer evenings outside

#5 DIY Cooling Mist

Hot afternoons call for a quick refresh. This lightweight DIY cooling mist is a simple way to help everyone feel more comfortable during outdoor play.

Cooling Mist Recipe

You'll need:

• 3 oz Distilled Water
• 1 oz Grain Alcohol
• 24 drops Focus, Focus, Focus Blend
• 4 oz Glass Spray Bottle

Directions

1. Combine Focus, Focus, Focus blend with the grain alcohol.
2. Allow the mixture to sit for several hours.
3. Add distilled water.
4. Shake well before each use.
5. Mist lightly whenever you need a refreshing pick-me-up.

Store in a cool location and shake before every use.

#6 DIY Sensory Bottle

Sensory bottles are calming, fascinating to watch, and surprisingly easy to make. Children love shaking them, watching the glitter slowly swirl, and discovering different colors and textures.

Pair this activity with Calm 'Em Down, diffusing nearby to create a peaceful atmosphere during quiet time.

Sensory Bottle Recipe

You'll need:

• Glass Mason Jar
• Water
• Fractionated Coconut Oil
• Coloring Dye
• Glitter & Confetti (optional)

Directions

1. Fill the jar halfway with water.
2. Add coloring dye.
3. Stir in glitter and confetti if desired.
4. Fill the remaining space with Fractionated Coconut Oil.
5. Seal tightly and shake.

Watch the glitter slowly drift as the oil and water separate, creating a mesmerizing sensory experience kids can enjoy again and again.

Make Summer Memories Naturally

The best summer activities don't have to be expensive or complicated. Sometimes all it takes is a few household ingredients, a favorite Essential Oil Blend, and a little imagination.

From DIY aromatherapy playdough and homemade slime to a refreshing cooling mist, natural bug spray, and calming sensory bottle, these projects encourage creativity while giving children plenty of opportunities for hands-on, screen-free fun.

Looking for even more summer crafts for kids, Essential Oil DIYs, and family-friendly inspiration? Explore the Edens Garden blog for seasonal recipes, kid-approved activities, and creative ways to make Essential Oils part of everyday life all year long.