Activities Your Family Can Enjoy This Summer

Summer can be a challenging time right now if you have kids stuck at home. Keeping your kids inside all day can easily make them restless, as they need activities that can keep them engaged. Try to plan a wide variety of activities this summer that will entertain your kids while sticking to CDC guidelines. Here are seven activities your family can enjoy this summer.

1. Learn New Skills

If you have a lot of time in your hands, you can make good use of it by learning new skills. Have your kids ever expressed a desire to learn to play the piano or a guitar? Maybe you have older children that would like to learn a new language. This is the best time to do so and it can be that much more fun when you do it as a family. There are many websites or apps that enable you to  learn online so you can limit your contact with others. Let each family member choose the new skill they would like to learn and then set time aside each day or week for them to work on that skill. Some may want to learn painting while others may be interested in money skills. You can support them by providing everything they need to make their learning successful.

2. Take a Hike

Hiking not only takes you away from the home environment but is also the best way to keep everyone fit in the family. Find out the best trails in your locality for hiking before you set out on the journey with your family. Hiking is tiresome, so you need to consider what young members of your family can manage without anyone getting injured. You can also look up geocaching in your area if you are wanting to mix it up. If you have to go very far away from home, remember to carry enough food, water, and any other thing that will ensure everyone feels comfortable.

3. Rent Free Movies

Movies are a great way to keep everyone entertained at home. Some libraries offer subscriptions that can allow you to have access to free movies. Even if you can’t get the new movie releases, your library should have several nice movies to choose from. You can reserve these movies online and then pick them up from your local library without getting out of your car. Choose family movies that everyone in the family can enjoy. You can also pick educational or religious videos that can keep your kids entertained while they learn.

4. Plan a Camping Trip

Staying in the home environment for too long can become boring very quickly. It is a good idea to plan a trip that will get your family away for a few days while enjoying nature. This can be a local trip or a weeklong adventure, depending on everyone’s health, age, and abilities. Be sure to pack everything you may need for your adventure including a tent, sleeping bags, first-aid kit, food, and water. Planning an outdoor trip is an easy way to mix things up while staying safe during the pandemic. If you are looking to plan a bigger trip, try exploring a new area or activity such as rafting in California or camping in New York. Make sure that your family is prepared by ensuring you have the proper equipment necessary to do these activities.

5. Play Board Games

There are many board games you can enjoy playing as a family. Try ordering some new ones to learn and try out together. You can choose games that are played by two or more players to promote family bonding, communication, and good sportsmanship. These skills will benefit your children through adulthood as well. Some ideas that your family can try out are Codenames, Clue, Ludo, Throw Throw Burrito, among others.

Before You Go

Kids have short concentration spans. This means you don’t have to keep them on one activity for so long. Ensure you have a variety of activities to keep them engaged. The more outdoor activities that your kids participate in, the better it will be for their health. Do your best to balance indoor activities with outdoor activities. Try not to let them play video games or watch TV for too long each day.