School’s out for summer! Looking for tips to keep everyone (including yourself) cool, calm and collected for summer break? Whether they’re an only child, or you have a house-full of kids dashing around, there are always things to do to keep them busy but have a memorable summer break. They’re only kids once, so enjoy your time, and get all the activities you can under your belt.
Busy moms are always rushing around creating all kinds of innovative ideas to keep the kids busy and having fun, but a top tip for ensuring this summer goes as smoothly as possible is to ensure that the parents are having fun, too. It can be hard to keep up with the demands of parenting, working and running a household, so take our guide and get ready for a fun-filled summer!
Outdoor Activities
No matter what budget you have, being outdoors is suitable for all kinds of families. Whether you are teenagers, or youngsters, picking a sunny day and heading out will do everyone good. Plan an outdoor adventure like a picnic, bike ride, or a trip to the beach, and embrace the true beauty of the great outdoors.
Gather the kids and get each of them to pick their favorite snack and collate the perfect picnic pairing. Grab a basket, food, drinks, a blanket, and head to the beach for unlimited fun. We vote on a basket jammed with PBJ and fruit. A real crowd pleaser!
Other outdoor activities may be hiking, rock climbing, horseback riding, or even just a gentle dog walk! Getting the steps in are what will make your summer a healthier, happier time, and wear the kids out so they’re ready for bed.
Arts and Crafts
Whether you sign up for mini pottery classes, head outside with an easel, or just create some homemade paint stations in the garden, arts and crafts will help your kids’ inventive minds flourish. By encouraging creativity, your kids will unleash their imagination, and you can even get them to create some memorable household decorations.
An easy and affordable way to do painting is also by creating sponges out of old kitchen sponges and doing some finger painting in the garden. Someone’s birthday coming up? Well, you guys can all make some handmade gifts and make it extra personal! Say hello to your very own mini-Picasso.
Playdates
The best way to ensure your kids have the best summer is to make sure they’re staying in touch with their friends, and you get some adult time too. Arrange playdates in your neighborhood, with either school friends or local children, and create some group activities for them all to play.
Group activities can be things like sports, scavenger hunts, arts and crafts, or a games night for the older kids. Try, which GoT house you are from? Or which Gossip Girl character are you? They’re sure topics to get the conversation going! Once they’ve finished playing, you can even do a cook-out in the garden, so the parents get a good evening of fun.
Reading
It can’t be all work and no play. Make sure that you are setting some designated reading time aside, where you and your kids could head to the local libraries and choose books that will spark their interests. By doing so, you are keeping their minds going during the summer, so the classes back at school will be a breeze.
Alternatively, you could organize a family book club, and all read the same, and discuss and create quizzes. This brings momentum for the kids that don’t like to read and involves the whole family.
Summer Camps
If your kid is particularly strong in one subject, then you could research into local camps where they can really prosper in their craft. This helps them learn new skills, and make new friends, whilst also filling up their summer with a packed schedule. If summer camps aren’t an option, then considering workshops in different subjects, such as sport, and crafts, is also a good use of their time.
Family Bonding Time
This looks different for everyone, depending on budget, work life, and size of your family. Plan regular family activities that involve everyone, to make sure that they are nourished in love and affection. This can be a range of activities from family movie nights to game tournaments, cooking together, or even a big summer holiday. Gather the kids and head to the lake house for a summer they won’t forget. Make some smores on the campfire, and play some campfire games.
Every child is unique and individual to what they really like. The key to ensuring their summer is packed with activities that will benefit them is to ensure that structured activities are mixed with enriched options. Free play is hugely important as they must always have a tiny bit of independence as well, so they can mature and grow as they learn new things.
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