OK, so your kiddos are home for the summer – are they bouncing off the walls yet? Without school to exercise their growing minds and bodies, summer is a ton of fun, but can also be a challenge for mom and dad. It’s pretty easy to get a stuck in the rut of letting them spend time watching TV or playing games on the iPad, but when a little turns to alot of indoor tech time, a change is in order. From crafts to outdoor adventures, there’s a whole heap of kid-friendly activities that don’t require modern technology out there. Take a look for some great ideas to keep the kiddos (and mom!) active and entertained all summ
er long.
Park Crawl. Make it your mission to research and check out every neighborhood and local park in your area this summer. Most parks offer a variety of summer activities for kids (often free!) or simply explore. Pack up a picnic and throw in a Frisbee, kite or ball and you can turn any open area into a fun zone. Don’t forget the sunscreen!
Beach Time. Live by an ocean side beach, lake or river? Take the whole crew outdoors for some time in the water and sand. Rent body boards or just bring along some towels and collect rocks and seashells along the shore.
Turn Your Backyard into a Waterpark. When the dog days of summer arrive, it’s time to bust out the ancient sprinkler and make your yard the best stop on the block. Throw on some tunes, swimsuits and break out the popsicles – suddenly you have a backyard party. Make up games, fill up some water balloons and just have some simple outdoor fun.
Get Crafty. From huge murals to smaller projects, most kids love getting out he paints, glue and other craft supplies. Unroll a huge piece of butcher paper in your driveway and get the whole neighborhood in on the painting action. Let them paint their feet and hands for foot and hand prints and even keep out some glue for adding those rocks and shells from your summer outdoor adventures.
Bike Trip. Get the whole family on their bikes this summer and traverse to a local park, bike path or other safe area for a biking adventure. Pack up those bike baskets with snacks or a picnic – take a break as a family. Spend the summer mapping and logging your miles for a fun project that will motivate the kiddos for more bike trips throughout the summer months.
Rainy Day? If it’s been a while since your board game collection has made its way out of the closet, a rainy day is the perfect time to break it out. Skip the TV and movies and take time to play together or even work together on a puzzle.
Join a Book Club. Most local libraries offer summer book clubs for kids and teens – and many of them offer some pretty fun incentives for reading and tracking the number of books you’ve read. Work with your kids to reach their reading goals with at least an hour a day of book time.
Have you had a hard time coming up with kid-friendly activities that don’t require modern technology this summer? How do you spend time with your kids during the summer months?
