Wednesday, July 27, 2016

101 Fun Things to Do With Your Kids This Summer

Summer may be a time to relax, but tell that to kids who are bouncing off the walls or shrieking "I'm bored." As parents and nannies, we want each summer to be more memorable than the next, and with that comes the need for a few new ideas.

Jill Tipograph, summer expert and founder of Everything Summer, suggests that you: "Take advantage of those bright sunny days and warm summer nights and plan something new a couple of times a week." Jesse Koller, of Play, Create and Explore, holds regular art workshops for local kids. "We have a blast focusing on mostly process art and projects, as well as some sensory activities."

Here are 101 ideas for your summer bucket list -- to keep kids from being bored and create memories they'll have for a lifetime (or at least for that first day of school when they're asked "what did you do this summer?").

  1. Bake cookies for ice cream sandwiches.
  2. Volunteer at a nature center.
  3. Make a photo journal or a family yearbook.
  4. Have a luau in the backyard.
  5. Visit the beach and collect shells.
  6. Make a fort out of cardboard boxes.
  7. Visit a farmer's market.
  9. Pick berries.
  10. Have a picnic at a state park.
  11. Make ice cream. Use the berries you picked!
  12. Go canoeing at a local lake.
  13. Build a sandcastle.
  15. Forget cooking -- set up an ice cream sundae buffet for dinner.
  16. Clean up trash at a local park.
  18. Make homemade pizza.
  20. Head to a creek and look at the ducks.
  21. Set up a lemonade stand.
  22. Have a water balloon fight.
  24. Go biking on a trail
  30. Plant a garden of herbs and veggies.
  31. Make a sidewalk chalk mural.
  34. Visit a fish hatchery.
  35. Plant a butterfly garden with flowers.
  40. Visit a museum you've never been to.
  42. String beads into jewelry.
  43. Make a bird house out of Popsicle sticks.
  45. Create leis with wildflowers.
  46. Go fossil hunting near a lake.
  50. Make your own colored sand and create sand art.
  52. Set up a net and play badminton and volleyball.
  53. Visit an amusement park or water park.
  55. Go zip-lining.
  56. Have a tricycle race at the park.
  57. Investigate an ethnic grocery store and make lunch using interesting spices then experiment  with some kid friendly recipes.
  58. Visit a fire station.
  60. Go roller skating.
  61. Visit a zoo or aquarium to learn about animals.
  62. Run through the sprinklers.
  63. Blend your own smoothie.
  65. Batter up at a batting cage.
  68. Assemble a family cookbook with all your favorite recipes.
  69. Go horseback riding.
  70. Make popsicles in Dixie cups using fruit juices.
  73. Create a backyard circus -- kids can pretend to be animals and dress up as clowns.
  75. Take a sewing/crochet/knitting class.
  76. Make Mexican paper flowers using different colored tissue paper.
  77. Go to a flea market.
  78. Volunteer at an animal adoption organization.
  79. Visit a retirement home and read stories to residents.
  80. Attend an outdoor festival or concert.
  81. Pick a nearby town to visit for the day.
  82. Visit a cave.
  83. Get a map of your area, mark off all the local parks -- then visit them, take pictures and vote for your favorite.
  84. Take in a fireworks exhibit.
  88. Create three dimensional buildings using toothpicks and mini marshmallows.
  91. Create unusual s'mores by experimenting with ingredients like cookies, bananas, flavored marshmallows and white chocolate.
  92. Have a fancy tea party.
  94. Go camping in the backyard or at a campsite.
  101. Take a boring brown paper bag and have kids brainstorm creative things to do with it -- you'll be surprised at how many things you can come up with!

No comments:

Post a Comment