Hello Summer
Now that school is almost out and summer has officially arrived, we as parents are wondering what to do with our kids. Summer can mark a great time for family bonding and memories, but the transition and break from routine isn’t always easy. Wherever you are, these five fun activities can make for a memorable summer for our kids and us!
Bike Rides
Even if you live in a state where the summer nights are chilly, a bike stroll after sunset can be a fun and peaceful experience for our kids. Pack a light jacket and flashlight, find a park open late, and enjoy another world. Fireflies, bullfrogs, and stars come out at night, offering a glimpse of the natural world not often seen. We usually do bike racing to the house and the kids love it!
Go Treasure Hunting
We love to figure out puzzles and solve clues. Here is a quick how to for a happy treasure hunting!
- Plan a route throughout the house.
You can send the kids around the house and backyard and even around a walkable neighborhood, or a local park.
- Select the locations where to find the clues
The house, garage, the big tree in the backyard, the slide at the playground, the refrigerator or doggy bed, a family member who might have the kids do 10 jumping jacks before handing over the clue. Make sure the kids can get to each clue within about five minutes or so of walking or looking.
- Write and number the clues, and put them in post-its
I write clues like this: (“This clue hides/where the giant and the queen of the house sleep.”), and generally create fun little puzzles for them to solve. You’ll hand the kids the first clue, which will lead them to the next, and so on.
- Plan it out.
It took me about half an hour to sit down and map out a route, identify good places for clues and write out the hints for each place. Once the mental work was done, the physical prep and drawing the map felt much less difficult.
- Set it up.
While the kids are sleeping, I go around the house and distribute the clues. I brought packing tape and scissors to secure clues to tree trunks, posts, etc.
- Treasure
I usually include a little reward, like candies, juices, or dollar-store toys so they are excited to go on the hunt. Have fun!
Swimming Pool Fun
The joys of the swimming pool are many as temperatures inch upward over the long days of summer. Swimming laps, lazily drifting on a float, or stretching out on a poolside lounger while slathered in sunscreen are all great ways to enjoy the pool, but sometimes, you’re trying to keep the kids busy or you feel like doing something more fun than swimming laps. The answer is a toy or game specifically designed for the pool. Battle it out while keeping your balance in the water gun plane ride-on.
Build a Tiny House for a Toy
Let nothing stops your imagination when creating a handmade tiny mouse house. This is a very simple craft making that takes about an hour.
We need: a cardboard box or shoe box (if the box without lid, then + a small piece of cardboard for additional details), ruler, fabric, Legos, mirror, matchboxes, construction paper, pencil, scissors, tape, glue and cookie (or pencils, paints, etc.) and good mood!
- If the box has any images (as we have from the A4 paper packs), it should be turned inside out. Glue inside the box any colorful pattern paper to simulate the wallpaper.
- Make the main floors. Bed: A little box is stuffed with cotton to simulate the mattress, put fabric around and make some pillows. Create carpets with construction paper and draw pattern details. Glue picture frames on the wall and a TV screen.
- Use your imagination with Lego pieces and create furniture, like coffee tables, sofas, plants, etc.
- From the lid (or a spare cardboard) we cut outside walls floors and glue them on the adhesive tape or glue.
- From a spare cardboard make a porch and use construction paper to create grass or pool.
