Today we are talking all about how to keep your kids busy while trying to make it through those dogdays of summer! Also included are some fun printables!
We have all been there, summer break hits, the long-awaited time of the school year being over has finally come! Now, within a week, the excitement wears off and the "I'm bored" talk starts. Whether you are a working parent who is trying to find some activities that will entertain while you get some things done, or if you are a stay-at-home mom who is trying calm the chaos so you can keep your sanity, this article is for you! We will not only discuss some activities and places to go but will include some printable options for the days when quiet is needed. One great way to start summer is to have each child write down their summer bucket list ideas, this helps you to understand what they would love to do this summer, but also allows you to set expectations early...I would like to go to Disney World also but if that isn't on the agenda you can let them know that now.
Activities for Toddlers (Ages 2 - 5)
Below is a bulleted list of things I have personally done to entertain my kids at a young age. I usually like to do a mix of outside free play time with a few led activities a day, to break up the routine. Also, don't feel like you have to fill every minute, some great memories can be made when kids have to get creative and find new things to play on their own.
Open play - check local gymnastics gyms.
Sidewalk chalk designs - use painters' tape and let them color in the lines and around them to create fun designs.
Scavenger hunt - a fun, free way to get some energy out and let you relax while they find the listed items.
Local sports camps or church camps - check into local churches or schools, they often have free or low-cost day camps available for multiple age groups.
Activity books - these are a great way to entertain on a rainy day and helps to cut down on too much screen time when it gets too hot to go outside.
Bubble machine - who doesn't love to run through bubbles and see how many you can pop?!?!
Local splash pad
Activities for Grade School (Ages 6 - 11)
Older kids are a bit trickier, in my opinion. They are less entertained by the small things and have a tendency to want more screen time or video games, especially if they have been given a phone. For my older two, 12 and 11, I usually try to do one extra activity a week or every two weeks, the rest of the time they have to come up with things to self-entertain, play with neighborhood kids, or they have done things from the list I am including below.
Scavenger hunt - I know I included this above, but it really is a good time for all ages.
Obstacle course - think ninja warrior but on a much smaller scale, this is especially fun for my high energy 11-year-old son who loves to be athletic in any way he can.
Summer reading log - they will not be excited about this one, but, if you print off a log and give them a reward after a certain number of pages or books it might help. It is so important for school age children to keep up with reading over the summer.
Local state park/hiking - do some research and see if you have a local park within an hour and spend some family time on a hike and enjoying the outdoors.
Board games/jigsaw puzzles - it was hard for me to pull these out after covid, we had puzzle overload during that time, but my kids still love doing them and it's something we can all do together.
Bake/cook new foods - an older child can definitely follow a recipe and do some baking independently. This is one of our go-to indoor activities when the weather isn't cooperating.
Tween/ Teen (12 - 18)
When a child can start driving their summer world really opens up and most kids are pretty active with jobs or sports. Although, they have to be home at times and hopefully still enjoy spending time with us that they are willing to participate in a few fun summer activities.
Movie night in the backyard - Set up a sheet, side of the house, or a screen (whatever you have) and use a projector. Pop some popcorn and stretch out in the backyard for a movie night.
Reading log - as mentioned above, this isn't going to be a favorite activity. Although, it's simple ways like this that keep their skills sharp for the next school year.
Summer camp - this is a great age to try out an overnight camp, although, I have kept this to one camp for the whole summer because they tend to be EXPENSIVE!
Earn some extra cash - whether you grab a job at the local grocery store or mow your neighbors' lawns, this is a great time to start saving up for a future car or college.
Road trips/day trips - if you are able to explore your state, see what some of the small surrounding towns have to offer, be a tourist in your own state or city. a lot of cities have festivals during the summer, this can be a fun thing to do with the whole family.
Catch a local baseball game - we have a farm team baseball organization in town and the games are a fun, inexpensive way to spend an evening.
Learn a new skill - this is when highschoolers finally have some free time to learn that new skill they have been interested in. Been wanting to play guitar? Sit down and spend some time with YouTube!
Hopefully you have found a few items on this list that can help you get to the end of the summer with some good memories, new skills, or just some great ideas to get through those lazy days of summer. Summer can be a wonderful time with your family, but don't fall into the trap of feeling like you need to make it the best time your kids have ever had, sometimes being off school and learning how to self-entertain is enough. Printables below!
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