8 summer activities to keep your kids busy

Ready-For-Summer-l

It is hard to believe that another school year has come and gone. It feels like it just started!! Summer is right around the corner and I have been busy the last couple months researching all kinds of activities to keep my kids busy. For me I wanted something educational, as well as being able to set aside some family bonding time. After considering things pricing and balancing the schedule with family trips, these are the ideas I have come up with.

  1. Summer camps: Summer camps are such a fun and educational way to keep your kids busy in the summer. We are very fortunate to live in a city that offers a large variety of camps that fits many different interests. This is not the best idea if you are planning on a budget, especially if you have multiple kids, but if you can make it work, it is something your kids will really enjoy. I have signed my kids up for cooking classes, golf lessons, and an animal encounter camp. These camps are not only great for educational purpose, they are also a great way for your kids to build their social skills. They also work well for my kids because like school, they are a structured activity. Find what works best for you and your family. Keep in mind that some of them even offer pick up and drop off, which is great for working parents.
  1. Plan out play dates: Once school year is done, play dates are a great way for your kids to keep in touch with their friends over the summer. You can take turns with other parents hosting the play dates, and this gives each of you a chance to get a break. I have already planned out play dates for the summer with a few other moms. You can also plan to meet at places like the park, or movie theater just to switch things up. Perhaps your child and a friend could learn to roller skate together. This list of roller skates for children will help you decide which to buy.
  1. Go on a Staycation: I have talked about Staycations in other posts, but I can’t stress enough how simple and great they are. You stay close to home in case something comes up, but you get a chance to relax and bond with your kids like a real vacation. Staycations can also be extremely budget friendly. You can stay in your city, or travel to the next place over. Again, you can do what works best for all of you!!
  1. Camp Outs: My goal this summer is to do a camp out in our backyard. This so simple, convenient, and fun for your kids, and you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your own home!! Grab your tents, sleeping bags, and marshmellows for S’mores and head outside.

Bonus: Try out a new sport. It’s a great time to get your kids into something new. Ask them what they’re into and book accordingly. My friends kids are now doing tennis because she asked what they wanted to do then a quick ‘Tennis Lessons San Diego‘ Google search later, they’ve got a new hobby.

  1. Have your children cook dinner: My daughter will be 7 in July and she has expressed an interest in cooking (hence the cooking classes I talked about earlier). I thought why not let her put those lessons to use. It is a great opportunity for us to spend some time together. She can even get her little brother involved, which will be a great exercise for teamwork.
  1. Summer Journal: Have your child start a summer journal. They can write in it every day, every week, or however often they want. This is a great way for them to capture some of their summer memories, and another activity to keep them busy. They can even share it with their teacher and friends when the new school year starts. As added fun, you can even buy them a disposable camera (yes these still exist J and so you don’t have to worry about them breaking your nice, expensive camera), so they can add pictures to their journal entries. At the end of the summer you can get the pictures printed and it will be a great way for your child to look back at all the fun activities they did.
  1. Go see a movie at a drive in: We all know how much kids love going to the movie theater, so why not switch things up and head out to the drive in!! This is such a fun, new experience for your kids and you will love to see their reactions!!
  1. Plan a weekly family game night: Now that my kids are older, they can appreciate family time a little more. They love to play board games, and making it a family activity is a great way to bond with them. You can even spice things up and invite over another family to partake in the fun!!

This is our summer list and I am looking forward to checking some of these things off with my kids!! I would love to hear your feedback and ideas on some of the fun things you have planned for the summer!! Cheers to a fun and busy summer for you and your family!!

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