For parents, a big part of summer is keeping everyone entertained. With your girl home from school, families often look for ideas to keep boredom away—bonus points if screens aren't involved! Together with her American Girl doll and a little imagination, even the simplest day can turn into a memorable adventure. Whether it’s setting up a backyard picnic, packing for a pretend campout, or taking a walk through the neighborhood, here are some of our favorite summer activities to help your girl make the most of every day before school starts again.
Turn an ordinary afternoon into an outdoor celebration with a DIY picnic party that girls can organize themselves! Start by picking the perfect spot: under a tree in the backyard, on the grass at a nearby park, or any place inside or out where you lay down a blanket! Girls can pack their own picnic baskets with snacks, bring their American Girl bestie, and set the scene with picnic-perfect doll-sized treats like Raquel’s™ Summertime Treats Set or the American Girl® Tea Party Set.
Encourage your girl to invite friends and their dolls too so everyone can take part in the picnic! Set the scene with sets like the Hungry for Hot Lunch Set or give the day an ‘80s vibe with the Courtney’s™ Pac-Man™ Lunch Set. Girls can create their own stories around what each doll “brought” to the picnic and why it’s their favorite food to share.
Who says you need to leave home to go camping? With a little imagination, your girl can transform the backyard into a glamping getaway. Start by building simple forts or tents using blankets and sheets, then decorate the campsite with doll-sized camping gear like the AG Sisters™ Glamping Girls Sleepover Set or the cozy Courtney’s™ Strawberry Shortcake™ Sleeping Bag Set so dolls can enjoy the great outdoors too.
Once your campsite is built and the sun goes down, it’s time to look up for some stargazing! Lay back on blankets and point out constellations or make up your own stories about the stars. Girls can also add a camping snack break inspired by the American Girl® Grill & Games Set or set up a backyard barbecue with the Raquel’s™ Beach Chairs Barbecue Set.
Add more excitement with a nature-themed scavenger hunt. Have your girl search with her doll or in teams with her friends for certain plants, decorative items, or “treasures” that have been hidden around the yard. It’s camping, imagination, and outdoor learning all in one!
Turn any outdoor space into an art studio where creativity can run wild! Start with sidewalk chalk and let girls design their own hopscotch courses or draw doll-sized towns on the driveway, sidewalk, patio, or walkway at a local park. Add construction paper and let girls get creative with the American Girl® Create Your World Sticker Book or the American Girl® Coloring Journal.
Another idea is painting rocks. Girls can collect smooth stones and transform them into mini works of art inspired by animals, patterns, or even symbols of their dolls’ personalities. For added inspiration, try the Love to Explore Art and Science Set, which encourages curiosity-driven creativity.
Girls can also enjoy nature-inspired crafts like leaf rubbings or flower pressings, or uncover hidden surprises in the American Girl® Spectacular Scratch Art Book..
Any sidewalk can become a path to adventure! Girls can turn a stroll around the neighborhood into a pretend journey with the help of mini travel journals where they can document sights like blooming flowers, wildlife (like neighboring cats, dogs, birds and butterflies), or interesting textures on trees. Have your girl bring her favorite American Girl on the adventure in the Bitty Baby® Luxe Bassinet Stroller or the American Girl® Doll Carrier for 18-inch Dolls to make the outing extra special.
Make the walk more interactive with a nature bingo challenge with things like: spot a squirrel, find something yellow, or listen for birdsong. Furry friends, like Summer’s™ Dog Crescent or Raquel’s™ Dog Luzita™, would also enjoy tagging along on the journey.
Photo scavenger hunts, where girls snap pictures or draw the shapes or nature details they see are another simple way to build observation skills and spark curiosity outdoors.
The best summer moments are the ones girls create with their own imaginations. A simple day outside can become a picnic party, a camping adventure, or a craft day, all brought to life with a little make-believe. With their American Girl besties by their side, girls can turn everyday activities into playful, memorable adventures.
Outdoor activities naturally encourage confidence and connection, as children explore new ideas, work together, and express themselves freely. Each summer activity becomes an opportunity to learn through doing, while also strengthening bonds between friends and family. Over time, these shared experiences become treasured summer traditions they’ll look forward to year after year.
Imaginative outdoor fun supports emotional development by giving girls a safe space to role-play different experiences and perspectives. Over time, this type of play strengthens decision-making skills and helps children become more comfortable navigating uncertainty and change.
A helpful approach is to create inviting, open play spaces instead of limiting step-by-step instructions. Instead of directing the flow of play, set up spaces where girls are free to choose how they want to play, such as a craft materials station or a discovery zone. Letting girls plan activities, set schedules, or gather their own supplies, keeps play fun and self-directed while building independence.
Rather than positioning outdoor adventures as an alternative to screens, try focusing on what already interests them. If they enjoy storytelling, encourage them to share outdoor narratives; if they like building or designing, make some nature-based DIY crafts. You can also foster more organic outdoor play by keeping ready-to-go nature kits or an assortment of arts and crafts materials. This helps children choose what they’d like to do outside without a big transition or delay.
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