Good weather is on its way and soon the end of the school year. School’s out means the kids will be home all day long.
You’ll be tempted to give in when they ask to watch television or play video games because they’re bored, but stay strong!
Encourage everyone to get outside more and even spend time together with these outdoor activities.
Card & Board Games
When it’s sunny out, it can be as much fun to pull out a favorite card game and play on the patio. This is an excellent break for kids from something more active.
The kids can eat something and get their energy back before going back to more strenuous activities.
Active Games
If your family loves sports, you already have all the gear you need. Pull out the soccer ball, Frisbee or gloves and bats.
You can set up goals or bases using items you have lying around and get the game going (we always used a leg of the trampoline and a rolled up hose as the second and third base).
You can also play classic night games that take less equipment to play like Capture the Flag. If you don’t have enough players, get creative!
Take turns at bat while everyone plays a couple of positions on the field.
Exploring
It’s easy to go for a walk or a bike ride close to the house. If you’re up for an adventure that fills a whole afternoon, take everyone to the park or a beautiful paved path where the kids can see something new.
Take time for breaks to enjoy fun stop offs like streams and bridges. If that’s too much physical effort, go for a family drive instead.
You can go out in the country or circle some of the cool buildings in your city, and stop for a picnic along the way.
Going to a Game
Maybe you need a quick break from the house, in which case you can watch some of the community sports nearby. Most parks have soccer and baseball fields used by the city’s recreation department and games are free.
If you have a child that wants to play, you can sign them up and make game attendance a regular thing.
Reading
For less active times, take the kids to pick out a book at the library, then hang out together in the shade to read. It might be fun to choose one for everyone to read out loud as well.
This activity can be as long or as short as you want and can be broken up throughout the day with other activities.
Yard Work
If you have a yard, you should get all the kids involved in taking care of it. Assign each one a different job, then rotate them daily or weekly.
You might put someone in charge of lawn fertilization, weed pulling or watering trees. This is a great time to start a garden, too.
You can teach your kids how to plant, weed and water their favorite flower or vegetable, then watch how excited they are when it grows.
Volunteering
There are lots of opportunities to volunteer in the community. For example, things like garden clubs or spending time at an animal shelter.
If you want to keep it close to home, you might have a neighbor who needs help with their yard work or the kids could put on a free car wash for everyone on the block.
Backyard Camp-out
When you don’t have the time to go camping, it’s fun to have a camp-out in your backyard. Take advantage of the grill or the fire pit to roast up hotdogs and marshmallows.
You can spend time telling stories around the fire, then set up a tent in the backyard for the kids to sleep in overnight.
Do you have any more suggestions for outdoor summer activities? Please list it in the Comments. Thank you.
