Fun summer activities!

Ally Bremer
Jun 30
4 min read

Summer time is here! For many of you, that means summer camps, sports, and beach days. But what about the times when the kids are at home, routines are interrupted, and kids start to get bored? Summer time can be chaotic without school and various activities keeping your child’s day structured. In this article, I will discuss different activities that keep your child busy while also supporting their social skills, critical thinking, and creativity. Keep in mind that some outdoor activities are best done with supervision. Use your discretion when considering the following activities.

Outdoor activities:

Being outdoors can be incredibly beneficial for everyone’s mental health. I especially enjoy how exploring outside can promote creativity and curiosity… without screen time! I remember growing up climbing trees, finding cool sticks, and swimming in lakes. Though times are different now, I believe that many children can still benefit from being outdoors. The following activities can be great for your back yard, public park, pool, or nature trails. Here are some fun outdoor activities!

Scavenger hunt:

This one is a great activity that pushes your child to explore and find new things! This activity can be done at home, at a park, or at a beach. Here is how it goes…

How to do it:

1.) Make a list of common items in your neighborhood for your child to find. Items can include things like yellow flowers, circular rocks, a four leaf clover, leaves bigger than your hand, or even frogs! Using shapes, colors, and textures in the description can help to build cognitive and descriptive skills, especially for younger kids.

a.) Make it fun! You can add pictures to your list, or even give your child a box to collect their items (hopefully they don’t collect a frog!)

b.) This activity can also be made age appropriate. For older kids, let them explore larger areas if it is safe to do so. Older kids may also be able to go and find larger animals like different bird species or plants.

Build a fort:

If you live near a wooded area or even have a larger backyard, it might be fun to try and make a fort out of fallen branches and sticks! If you don’t know how to do this, feel free to use resources like google or youtube to learn how to do this! This activity can be great for creativity and independence. It teaches kids to problem solve and to use resources that are available to them. It is also a great opportunity for imaginative play. Maybe they can play house or pretend that their fort is a castle or witch’s hut. The possibilities are endless! You might be able to use sticks, leaves, mud, moss, bricks, or even scrap pieces of cardboard.

Go for a bike ride:

It sounds simple, but family bike rides are often neglected! Riding bikes together not only encourages physical activity but it can also strengthen family relationships. If you don’t want to ride bikes with your child in the city, no worries! There are many state parks or natural trails nearby. Be sure to set rules and limits with your kid before going (like stopping before busy streets or not biking too far ahead).

Go to a public playground:

Going to a public area designed for kids can be a great way for your child to strengthen social skills! This can be an amazing opportunity for you to push your child to make new friends, try new playground equipment, and be active. Giving your child space to interact with the equipment and other children can help build their confidence, cooperation, and communication skills.! If your child is older, consider going to skate parks, building obstacle courses, or playing catch in a larger field. You can also get creative with it! Bring bubbles, chalk, balls, or other fun outdoor activities for your child to enjoy and share with others.

Do anything with water:

When I think back to summer times with my family, I remember going to the pool almost every day! Going to the pool or beach can be super fun and relaxing for you and your family. Make it a day trip by packing a picnic and enjoying a family beach day. If you don’t have time to go to the beach, think about getting a small pool for your child to use at home. Giving them access to the hose, sprinkler, or even water balloons can be a great way to cool off on warm summer days. Water play can be especially good for children who have sensory needs. Plus, it will help them cool off on hot days!

Conclusion:

These are just a few activities for children to do in the summer that are both fun and beneficial. And these are just the outdoor activities! When considering different things to do, remember that less screen time is better. Stay tuned for activities to do during rainy days!