Summer is a wonderful time for kids to explore, learn, and have fun. Whether you’re spending the summer at home or planning a trip, here are some creative ideas to keep your kids busy during those sunny days:
-
Nature Activities for Kids:
- Bird Watching: Take advantage of long sunny days by exploring the natural world. Go bird watching, take photos, and keep track of your sightings. Use an app or guidebook to identify feathered friends.
- Herb Gardening: Grow fresh herbs in containers. Use old coffee cans, milk jugs, mason jars, or plastic cups to plant your herbs. Keep your herb garden on a patio or windowsill and watch them grow.
- Cloud Gazing: Look for shapes in the clouds. Spread a blanket in the grass, lie down, and stare up at the sky. Take turns talking about what you see in the clouds.
- Bird Feeders: Make a bird feeder and watch birds visit your yard. Add to your list of bird sightings.
- Fairy Houses: Use moss, bark, and leaves to create tiny dwellings fit for Thumbelina.
- Pick Your Own Plants: Find a local farm with blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, veggies, or flowers and get picking.
- Butterfly or Hummingbird Garden: Plant flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Create a backyard wildlife habitat and watch these fascinating creatures all summer.
-
Rainy Day Activities:
- Movie Marathon: When the weather keeps you indoors, break out your movie collection or use streaming services like Netflix. Have a movie marathon complete with popcorn and plenty of snuggles.
- Build a Fort: Put pillows in the living room or cardboard boxes in the yard to create a hideaway of your child’s dreams.
- Summer Learning and Fun Kit: Create a kit with educational activities, books, and puzzles. Check out free e-books from your local library if available.
- Indoor Gardening: Plant a flower garden in a planter. Involve your kids in choosing colorful flowers and caring for them.
- Cooking Adventures: Try making a 4th of July themed yogurt parfait or bake cookies together.
- Crafts and Art Projects: Gather supplies for painting, drawing, or making paper crafts.
- Board Games and Puzzles: Dust off those board games and challenge each other to a friendly competition.
- Science Experiments: Conduct simple science experiments using household items.
- Family Dance Party: Put on some music and dance like nobody’s watching
-
Maintain a Balance:
- Screen Time: Encourage children to put down their screens and spend time outdoors. A 10-minute walk around the neighborhood can be helpful for everyone.
- Plan Fun Outings: Schedule a few exciting activities throughout the week for your children to look forward to.
- Family Time: Fill in the big events of summer, such as family vacations or reunions. Leave plenty of room for downtime and hanging out with family and friends—resist the urge to overschedule the summer.
Remember, summer is a time to slow down, enjoy the sunshine, and create lasting memories with your family. 😊🌞🌼