When the schools close for the summer, parents are reminded
of the struggle they face every year in finding ways to keep their kids busy
and occupied for six weeks, while still accomplishing everything on their to-do
list. In order to master the art of summer survival with your kids, variety is
key. Here are a few suggestions for activities and excursions you and your kids
can enjoy over the summer break to suit kids of all ages.
Learn a language
Learning a language is great for the brain and it also introduces
your kids to new cultures and ways of life that they might not have
experienced before. The beauty of learning a language is that it’s an ongoing
hobby that kids can dip in and out of, all from the comfort of their own home. There
are plenty of apps and tools to use for this too, such as Duolingo and Babble,
or YouTube videos to learn new words and phrases.
Some of the easiest languages for kids to get started with
include Spanish, French and German. But it can also be beneficial for them to
dive into the culture of a destination to inspire them first, so they can
choose a language based on a part of the world they’re already interested in.
Sign up to
holiday clubs
Local clubs are a
great way to get the summer camp feel without your children being away for long
periods of time. Holiday clubs provide a safe and fun environment
for little ones to make
friends and play, as well as get involved in a wide range of activities they
might not have tried before.
From cooking and
painting to sports and nature hikes, holiday clubs provide a rich schedule of
activities close to home that your kids can take part in with other children
their age – they’re ideal for enabling kids to maintain interaction over the
summer break, as well as giving parents chance to tackle their tasks and
workload safe in the knowledge that their kids are being looked after.
Build a garden
patch
If you’re lucky
enough to have a garden, patio or a balcony, dedicate a small area of the space
to your kids for them to plant whatever they like there. From herbs and veggies
to flowers, there are countless plants that grow quickly and are easy to
maintain that kids will
have a great time tending to. It’s a project that will teach them useful skills
and it’s also an ongoing activity that they can do over the whole summer,
that’s relatively cheap for parents too.
All they need is a
small spade or shovel, a watering can and some seeds, and they can get started.
Kids love the satisfaction of having produced something on their own and when
their produce has finished growing, they can make something from it in the
kitchen, which provides an additional activity for them. Gardening is a
wonderful hobby that will get your kids off the couch and outdoors, which is
good for their mental and physical wellbeing.
Organise a
camping trip
If you want to take
a family trip together, camping is a great option. It gives you all chance to
take a break from computer screens and watching TV on the couch, getting you
out of the house to explore the great outdoors. Kids will love exploring
nature, going on hikes and setting up the tents, as well as the fun of playing
games outside.
But if you can’t
take time off from work to go camping, your kids can still enjoy the camping experience
by setting up a tent in the garden. You can play board games, have a BBQ and
roast marshmallows, without setting foot outside of your home. Live in the city
and don’t have a garden? Get creative by bringing the tent indoors or make a blanket
fort.
Final thoughts
Finding activities
that are a mix of fun and educational is the key to keeping kids busy over the
summer holidays and staving off the dreaded boredom that can be a nightmare for
kids and adults alike.
If you can find
ongoing hobbies and activities, such as gardening and learning new skills, this
will give your kids something to do each day and they’ll love building their
skillset and learning new things. But activities out of the house, such as
camping or holiday clubs, are also ideal for giving your little ones a change
of scenery and the opportunity to meet new people.
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