Sipping Into Summer: Fun and Refreshing Drinks for the Whole Family
Turn hydration into a summer adventure! From shimmering glitter drinks to fruity coolers and kid-friendly creations, these fun and refreshing drink ideas are the perfect way to beat the heat while making sweet family memories.
Steffani Baty
6/21/20263 min read
The hot weather is finally here and, phew... it's shaping up to be a warm summer! Recently, I've been getting really into fun, refreshing drinks. Not only do they help me stay hydrated throughout the day, but they also make drinking water feel a little more exciting.
As a mom, I'm always looking for simple ways to add a little magic to everyday moments, and these colorful summer drinks have become one of our favorite little traditions. I've had so much fun experimenting with different flavors, colors, and toppings. It turns out that something as simple as a fun drink can make an ordinary afternoon feel a little more special.
The best part? The kids absolutely love helping create them. From choosing fun ice cube shapes to picking out colorful straws and tiny umbrellas, making these drinks has become an activity all on its own.
This weekend, we made a refreshing Summer Shimmer Drink using sugar-free drink mix, edible glitter, boba, and some adorable summer accessories. It was sparkling, colorful, and honestly felt like something you'd order on vacation!
I'll share that recipe below, along with a few other family-friendly drink ideas that have been making regular appearances in our kitchen lately.
Summer Shimmer Drink
Ingredients
1 packet sugar-free Crystal Light (any flavor but we used the fruit punch)
16 ounces cold water
1 teaspoon edible drink glitter
Prepared boba pearls
Fun-shaped ice cubes
Mini drink umbrella
Colorful straw
Directions
Mix the Crystal Light with cold water according to package directions.
Add prepared boba pearls to the bottom of your cup.
Fill with fun-shaped ice cubes.
Stir in edible glitter.
Add your umbrella and straw.
Give it a swirl and enjoy the magical shimmer!
Kid Tip: Let your little ones choose the flavor and decorations. It turns the drink into a fun summer craft they can enjoy afterward.
Strawberry Lemonade Splash
This one tastes like summer in a cup.
Ingredients
1 cup lemonade
½ cup sparkling water
Fresh strawberries, sliced
Lemon slices
Ice
Simply combine everything in a glass and stir. The fresh fruit adds a beautiful pop of color and a little extra flavor.
Berry Blast Fizz
Ingredients
Mixed berries (blueberries, raspberries, strawberries)
Sparkling water
Splash of cranberry juice
Ice
Lightly muddle the berries before adding the liquids for a refreshing berry-filled treat.
Watermelon Cooler
One of the most refreshing drinks for those extra-hot afternoons.
Ingredients
2 cups watermelon chunks
1 cup cold water
Juice of ½ lime
Ice
Blend until smooth and serve immediately.
Ocean Adventure Punch
This one is always a hit with kids.
Ingredients
Blue sports drink or blue raspberry drink mix
Lemon-lime sparkling water
Gummy sharks
Ice cubes
Top with a few gummy sharks and watch their faces light up!
Make It Extra Fun
Part of the fun isn't just the drink itself—it's all the little extras that make it feel special.
Some of our favorite additions include:
Fun-shaped ice molds
Edible glitter
Boba pearls
Mini drink umbrellas
Reusable colorful straws
Fresh fruit garnishes
Frozen fruit instead of ice cubes
Mason jars or fun summer cups
These little touches turn a simple drink into a memory-making activity.
Affiliate links to the things I ordered:
Gummy sharks: https://amzn.to/4vVhrEg
Umbrellas: https://amzn.to/4aMpUBx
Boba: https://amzn.to/4emNTJY
Ice cube tray: https://amzn.to/4eSiFui
Edible glitter: https://amzn.to/4uNHkF0
Final Thoughts
These drinks were a huge hit in our house! The kids loved getting to personalize their own creations with fun toppings, colorful straws, and little umbrellas. The gummy sharks were especially popular—they spent half the time "fishing" for them at the bottom of their cups!
It was a warm day here, reaching 85 degrees, so these fun drinks were a great way to encourage everyone to stay hydrated while making it feel like a special summer treat. Sometimes a little creativity is all it takes to make drinking water more exciting.
For our versions, I used sugar-free ingredients whenever possible, with the exception of the boba and gummy sharks. I'm a big believer in teaching balance rather than restriction. While we try to be mindful of added sugars, I also want my kids to learn that all foods can fit into a healthy lifestyle. These drinks were the perfect example of enjoying something fun while still making thoughtful choices.
At the end of the day, these drinks were a huge hit with our summer night BBQ! I can already tell this will be an amazing summer that I will cherish for years to come!