Creativity comes in many forms, from art to music to getting physically active. Being creative covers a whole gamut of activities, making it something that everyone can do to give their mental wellbeing a much-needed boost! 

Creativity and mental wellbeing are deeply connected! Creative activities are powerful ways for people of all ages to care for their mental health. Whether you’re picking up a paintbrush yourself or encouraging your child to explore music, writing or crafts, creative activities can help reduce stress, boost our moods and provide a healthy outlet for self-expression. 

Being creative helps reduce stress, improve mood and gives uplifting opportunities for self-expression. Adults who bring creativity into their everyday lives have statistically better mental health outcomes than those who don’t!

And there’s no time like the summer to nurture this spark! Longer days and a change of routine create space to try new hobbies together or on your own. By making room for creativity, we open doors to joy, relaxation, and meaningful connection with ourselves and each other. Explore some creative summer activities for children, teens and adults!

15 Creative Activities to Try This Summer

Outdoor Creative Activities

1. Natural Journaling and Sketching

Capture the beauty of summer through drawing or writing! Try your hand at drawing pictures of flowers, birds, trees and anything that catches your eye while on a hike or nature walk. Prefer words to drawing? Bring a journal and describe what you see, and press flowers between the pages.

2. DIY Garden Projects

If you’ve never gotten into the soil before and helped something grow, now is the perfect time to give it a try! Gardening is a great way to connect with nature and feel grounded (pun intended) while nurturing a plant as it grows.

Here are some plants and flowers that thrive in the Kentucky heat:

• Begonias
• Geraniums
• Marigolds
• Zinnias
• Peppers
• Squash
• Sweet corn
• Tomatoes

This Kentucky Gardening Guide has great tips on what to plant!

3. Photography Adventures

Head out on your nature walk and capture the details you see in photos! You can take impressive photos with just a smartphone or tablet. If you prefer an urban space, go on a photography adventure exploring architecture in downtown Louisville or Lexington, or just capturing candid memories with your friends.

4. Chalk Art and Murals

Chalk art isn’t just for preschoolers. It’s a playful, creative way to experiment with new ideas using a medium that naturally fades over time. Plus, it won’t leave a permanent mark on sidewalks or driveways. Draw something creative or write encouraging messages for passersby to appreciate.

Artistic Expression for Relaxation

5. Painting and Crafting

There is no shortage of creative possibilities with classic art supplies for watercolor painting, acrylic painting or even mixed media! Search on Pinterest or TikTok for inspiration, or just buy some paints and let the creative juices flow.

6. Creative Writing and Poetry

Similar to journaling on a nature walk, express yourself through creative writing! Writing is a great way to process emotions, whether it’s keeping a diary, writing a story with fictional characters or even poetry. Find what you enjoy and get writing!

7. Music and Dancing

There are many ways to enjoy music, whether you’re playing it yourself or listening along. Learn a new instrument (maybe even your first instrument!), create playlists to listen to when you’re feeling different emotions, turn up the stereo and have a solo dance party in your bedroom or check out the latest dance trends on TikTok and have fun!

8. DIY Tie-Dye and Fabric Art

Tie-dye has made a comeback in recent years, and we’re here for it! Customize your clothing, tote bags, blankets or whatever else you can think of with vibrant colors and summery designs.

Social and Mindful Activities

9. Group Art Nights

Art doesn’t have to be a solo activity! Attend or host a painting night with some of your favorite people. If you’d rather host one at home, use a Bob Ross painting tutorial from YouTube, or teach the class yourself if you’re an art-savvy person! Inviting someone who doesn’t like to paint? A fun collage or mood board can be created with old magazines and catalogs, glue and a pair of scissors. 

10. Themed Movie Nights

Invite friends or engage the whole family with an art-themed movie night. Watch a movie that fits the theme and set out a variety of art supplies for everyone to create whatever they’re inspired to make! Some great movies about artists are “Big Eyes,” “Exit Through the Gift Shop” and “Loving Vincent.” If you prefer a film leaning more into mental wellness, try “A Beautiful Mind,” “Goodwill Hunting” or a family favorite, “Inside Out.”

11. Volunteer with Creativity

Find local volunteer opportunities where you can get creative and expressive! It could be making care packages or handmade cards, painting murals for community spaces or hosting a creative activity at a local nursing home. Volunteering is a great way to encourage empathy and connectedness with your community.

12. Storytelling Circles

A storytelling circle is a fun way to get creative with a group, whether it’s your family or a group of friends. Take turns adding to a story, going around the room. Try one sentence at a time, or take turns adding to the story following letters of the alphabet. These stories almost always end up being funny and making everyone laugh, plus almost anyone can play! (This is also a great activity for a road trip!)

Tech-Free Creative Breaks

13. Scrapbooking

Summer is often a time full of exciting memories. Summer camps, campfire nights, pool parties and local festivals: all of these memories are worth capturing in some way to look back on for years to come. Combine photos, ticket stubs and other mementos in a scrapbook as a physical keepsake of a great summer! It can also be fun to look back on the past school year and create a scrapbook. Time to print out the favorite photos from our phone camera rolls!

14. Upcycling and DIY Projects

In the mood for a closet cleanout? Or maybe you put off the spring cleaning well into summertime? Old furniture can be up-cycled with a fresh coat of paint. Or you can turn an old t-shirt into a tote bag, or turn a scarf into a headband! Reduce, reuse, recycle!

15. Cooking and Baking Therapy

While you may not relish washing the dishes afterward, there’s nothing quite so satisfying as making a new recipe and then getting to enjoy it when you’re done! Try something totally different from what you’d usually make, or look for fun and silly recipes you can make with the little ones if you’re a caregiver.

Mental Wellness Support in the Summertime

Creativity is a great way to combat the summer slump that a lot of youth experience when their familiar routines of school and social activities are interrupted. If a child or youth in your care seems to be struggling to find healthy outlets during the summertime and it’s beginning to impact their mental wellbeing, KVC Kentucky can help! Our behavioral health services are available all year round to support youth with multi-systemic therapies that embrace creativity and give our clients the tools they need to care for their mental health.