7 Simply Fun Summer Activities to do with Your Child

In my last post, I talked about making summer sweet for your little ones; however, many of you may be wondering–like I did once–what in the world am I going to do with my kids for THREE WHOLE MONTHS?!

While some may look toward these months with dread and bewilderment, others may just feel clueless as to what to do to keep their child healthy, happy, and entertained for the summer. Still, there are several free or cheap activities that you can do with your child to make their summer fun and memorable.

 

1.) Find a Summer Carnival

You don’t have to wait for the fair or go to a big theme park like Six Flags to enjoy riding rides. You can often find smaller carnivals popping up in various places during the summer. Keep your eye out for community flyers and events around town. Also, watch parking lots for these traveling carnivals. I often see them in my area either in a Wal-Mart parking lot or a JC Penny’s lot.

 

2.) Visit a Local Park or Library

Parks are open twenty-four/seven and guess what? They are absolutely free! Because of their cost-effectiveness and their ability to adapt to my personal schedule, parks are my go-to in the summer, and my son LOVES them! If you want to make your trip to the park extra special, try packing a picnic lunch to take with you or even just a snack. There is something about eating outdoors that just excites children. Picnicking at parks gives you a great opportunity to indulge that.

In addition, many public libraries offer a free summer reading program to children in their community. Even if you’re child doesn’t like reading, this may be something to look into. Our reading program features concerts, special guests, and a traveling petting zoo.

3.) Cook Up Some Fun in the Kitchen

Get your kids involved in the kitchen. This is a great opportunity to teach them about making healthy eating choices and have a lot of fun in the process. Sure, you will make a mess, but let’s face it, you were going to mess up that pristine kitchen when cooking dinner anyway. Now, you’ve made a memory to go along with the mess–and those chubby little cheeks look even more adorable covered in flour.

4.) Get Artsy

Let your child tap into his (or her) creative side. Find an art class for them, or purchase some water colors or acrylic paints and let them go to town. If you’re worried about them ruining their clothes (or the furniture) take the paint outside and put them in an apron (or cut a hole in a garbage bag to slide over their heads). Again, they will make a mess, but on the bright side, it’s summer: just spray them off with the water hose or take them swimming to get the paint off.

For older children, you can also break out your Halloween costumes and encourage them to put on a play. You can invite the whole neighborhood over to watch or just have them perform it in the living room. Make it as big or as small as you want. If your kids are more into singing, put on a concert or a talent show. Afterwards, give everyone a Popsicle prize or have them make their own medallions.

5.) Get Physical

 

Don’t underestimate the power of good, hard play! Take your kid out the backyard to play a game of tag or baseball or just to wrestle. This is a good way to get all their energy out~and makes for a great nap time later!

6.) Visit with Friends

 

When all else fails, just get out of the house. Take your child to go visit a friend or some family members. A change in scenery can do wonders in curing boredom. I’ve often found that a trip out of the house can help with little tempers and bad attitudes–for my son as well as for myself. Come on, we all know how some much needed adult conversation can soothe our soul–kids need this social interaction with their peers just as much.

7.) Just Relax

Please understand that my son only sat still long enough for me to snap this picture, and it took some ice cream to get him to calm down that day–you can actually still see it smeared all over his face. However, this last one is for us, moms. Don’t forget to relax. Be patient with your little one, and don’t run such a tight ship–it is summer after all. And while it may be hard to set aside that load of laundry or push that pile of dishes out of your memory, your child needs you right now and one day they won’t. One day, you’ll have to beg to spend time with them, so cherish the time you have now. Let your house fall apart and your to-do list collect dust. These days take priority. And if you feel like you’re going to pull your hair out if you don’t get 5 mins alone, remember: you can always put them to bed early and veg-out on Netflix.