Dear Director: The summer is around the corner and with Covid numbers going down, I am feeling like my kids should be gearing up for outdoor and group activities. They were so focused on online activities/school, their phones, and tv shows for so long. What can I do to convince them to get them up and out now that the weather is getting better?
We hear you! You are obviously not the only one who had to adjust from pandemic quarantine to partial freedom. It has been proven in studies that active outdoor play is positively associated with better behavior and mental health of kids.
Here are three things to keep in mind:
1. Be present for your children. Turn off smart devices and say no unnecessary plans. When it comes to organized summer activities for kids or work and social commitments for you, say no to the superfluous. For example, if your child is desperate to go to musical theater camp and it’s within your means, go for it. Otherwise, say no to the extras. Then, join in their ideas for fun.
2. Give your child new opportunities to feel independent which turns into confidence. Some of the best childhood memories happen when children have the freedom to explore on their own. For instance, being allowed to bake on their own, heading to the corner store with friends, or playing outside unsupervised until the sun starts to set are some ideas; if they are safe of course.
3. Promote creativity. Pretend play is where the magic of childhood happens. You may have heard that kids don’t like to be bored and need to be busy to prevent it, but it actually can be the precursor to inventiveness. Studies find that young children who engage in more pretend play tend to be more creative later in life.
Below are many summer activities for kids to give them the best summer ever:
- Water water, everywhere! Pack lunches, snacks, and sunscreen and head to a waterpark or splash pad for the day. Stay as long as your kids would like. Run and jump in a sprinkler or slide down the slip and slide with them. Spend the day at an outdoor pool. Head to the beach and wade through tide pools looking for marine life. Or head to a local creek and look for minnows, crayfish and other freshwater creatures.
- Pack a picnic for when you pick them up from daycare and head to the nearest lake for dinner.
- Plan movie nights, pop popcorn and watch whatever show they choose.
- Go to the local library and binge on books. Then, read to them as often as they’d like (even if they’re old enough to read on their own).
- Lounge in your backyard often. Bring out books, toys, or paint rocks.
- Pack snacks and go on kid-friendly hikes along rivers and creeks you might be able to dip your feet into along the way.
- Try geocaching – google it – it’s fascinating!
- Allow your child to look up a recipe and make it together. Let your kids lick the bowl if they want to!
- Ride bikes to the closest store or ice cream shop.
- Make a “magic potion” with pantry ingredients, items from your craft cupboard, or items found on a nature walk.
- Say yes to one of your child’s crazy ideas as long as it’s feasible and, of course, safe.
- Allow your children the opportunity to re-arrange the furniture, empty out the linen closet and make a fort.
- Allow your child to plan an outing for the family. It could be a day trip or something simple like heading to a nearby splash park.
- Get out the recycling, child-safe paint, glue, and tape and prompt your children to create whatever comes to mind.
- Set up sensory play activities. Something as simple as water with toys, soap foam, or colored cloud dough, plus your child’s favorite toys. This can be awesome sensory play. Be okay with them getting dirty as they create mud pies, build sandcastles, or make a messy craft.
- Encourage them to set up fun backyard activities and invite their friends over for a day worth of play. They could call it a “fair” using all of our sporting equipment as stations. Also, spraying down the driveway and writing with sidewalk chalk sparks artistic creativity, and they could even make chalk paint.
- If your child has a warm-weather birthday, instead of an overly orchestrated and scheduled birthday, let the kids free play. Summer parties for kids don’t need to be complicated.
- Here are some last words of advice for an incredible summer for your kids: Do family activities together – Take your kids bowling, to putt-putt, hiking, kayaking, do family board game night…try new things! You might need to plan ahead so that you have options ready. Your kids will learn that there are many fun activities in real life. This also models curiosity and an openness to new experiences.
- Be a role model – We have to practice what we preach and be a positive role model for our kids. If we are on the screen frequently, even if it is mainly for work, our kids notice that – then settling limits on their screen time doesn’t hold much weight
Special thanks to Bryna Sherr for filling in for our fearless director while she takes a well-deserved vacation!
