8 Things Every Child Should Do This Summer

By Sarah Lyons

           

Once summer is in full swing, kids have the freedom to enjoy warm weather and time with family and friends. Many parents find that with this freedom comes the battle to keep their kids off electronics.

Here are some screen-free activities every kid should do this summer. 

 

Take it outside

Some kids may enjoy playing outside without having to be pushed out the door, but others may need a little encouragement. Instead of simply telling your children, “Go play outside,” offer some fun suggestions. Try having them design and build a kite, then go outside to fly it. Another idea is doing a park tour by making a list of great parks in your area (ask friends for recommendations) and visiting a different one each week. Have a picnic, explore the neighborhood, set up an obstacle course, draw with sidewalk chalk, toss a ball, play on the swing set, take a family bike ride or organize neighborhood games. The possibilities are endless and can be tailored to your child’s interests.

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Jump in a lake

It wouldn’t be summer without some swimming. Take the kids to the lake or community pool - or just set up the sprinkler in the backyard. Nothing feels better than cooling off in the water on a hot summer day.

Consider signing up the kids for swim lessons - see our story here.

 

Plant a seed

A great way to get kids outdoors is to have them work in the garden. This allows for plenty of time in the fresh air and can even be productive, taking care of daily garden maintenance of watering, weeding and checking on the plants. “Grow something!” says mom Heather Allen. “Anything, be it a tree, vegetable or flower. There is something really rewarding about getting your hands in the dirt and growing and taking care of a plant.” If you choose to have a vegetable garden, get the kids involved in cooking with ingredients they have helped to grow.

Get more gardening tips and activities for kids here.

 

Camp out

Camping affords a great opportunity to get families outside together. Some families may venture to a nearby campground with their tent to enjoy a day or two of unplugged peace. Other families may prefer camping in the backyard so they are close to the comforts of home. Either way, put away the electronics for the day, roast marshmallows on a campfire and enjoy the time together in the great outdoors.

Find a list of great camping sites here. 

 

Complete a project

Family projects are a great way to keep kids busy. Decide as a group what projects you would like to focus on this summer. Some ideas could include cleaning and remodeling (or rearranging) their bedrooms, collecting food for a food pantry, planting a garden, scrapbooking, reading an entire book series or running a 5K.

See the upcoming Alaska races (including 5K and kid runs) at runningintheusa.com/classic/list/ak/upcoming

 

Learn something new

“I tell the kids the school year is for learning what your teacher wants you to learn, and summer is for learning what you want to learn,” says Amy Cameron, mom of three. She suggests making a list of two or three topics of interest and pursuing them by reading books, attending camps or doing research. Moms Erin Lorton and Stephanie Loux both suggest keeping a daily journal. “They write a few sentences about their day,” Erin says. “It’s always fun to look back on previous years.” Stephanie says, “We keep daily math, reading and summer writing journals.” Whichever approach you take, you can print pictures and create a keepsake for kids to look back on.

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Cool off with a sweet treat

Ice cream should be on every kid’s summer bucket list. Local areas offer countless ice cream and shops to visit. Create a list of new shops or old favorites you’d like to visit this summer. You can also try making ice cream or Popsicles at home.

Get recipes for homemade ice cream (in a bag!) and freezer pops here.

 

Get moving

Being outside in the summer is great, but sometimes the weather turns bad, and you need to find an indoor place to burn off energy. Consider getting the kids moving by visiting an indoor trampoline place, a skating rink, rock climbing facility or indoor swimming pool.

For more indoor fun ideas, read here.

And be sure to check out Alaska Parent’s Camps & Activities Guide here. 

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Will kids stay off their electronics the entire summer? Likely not, but with these tips you can increase their outdoor and exercise time. They may even have so much fun they forget about their tablets.

A parent can dream, right?