Ah, the joys of summer. There’s a sense of ease when the summer months roll around. Many people tend to feel happier during this chunk of time as they settle into relax-and-recharge mode. At the same time, summer can mean a drastic change in parents’ schedules. It’s a break from school pickups, drop-offs, and extracurricular activities.
With the young ones at home, it can be all too likely for the weeks to pass with their eyes glued to a screen. Kids today are more addicted to their digital devices than ever. Because of this, they may feel drawn to spending their entire summer vacation on their devices. But never fear, you can prevent your kids from turning into screen zombies. Before the school bell lets out, consider some ways to keep your children more active this summer.
1. Prioritize Outdoor Time
Summertime should be spent outdoors. This is particularly true for children who have largely been stuck indoors due to the pandemic and remote learning. Fortunately, summer is the perfect opportunity to prioritize more outdoor time. To motivate your kids to get outdoors, you may need to let loose of your tight rein. Instead of limiting them to the backyard, let them ride their bikes to a nearby friend’s house for the afternoon.
For older kids, some freedom can be empowering. To ease your mind while they venture farther from home, you may consider giving them a kids smartwatch. With the active GPS tracking on this device, you can know where they are and also get a hold of them. These types of smartwatches are basic in design and meant solely for communicating with no distracting apps.
2. Enroll in Summer Camps
Summer camps are a great way for your little ones to meet new friends and spend the day out and about. Summer camps can let kids have some say in how they spend their break, and attending camps can help establish a summer routine. This can be useful for young ones who may be insisting on spending their summer on the couch. Not to mention, you also get a break when your kids are away at camp!
The best part about camps is that there are so many available options. From sports to arts, scouts or religion, camps run the gamut of interests and energy levels. Depending on your child’s age, you might also consider overnight camps. Sleepaway camps cultivate great memories for kids that they’ll hold onto forever. Talk with your children about camps they are interested in, and find out where their close school friends are going. This can help ease any pre-camp anxiety and make them excited and interested in going.
3. Make a Summertime Bucket List
Checking things off of a list evokes a satisfying sense of accomplishment. Creating a summertime bucket list can lead to a memorable, fun-filled summer. Each family member can create their own list, or you can make one list for the entire family. Get your children involved by having them think about what activities or goals they’d like to fit in this summer.
This list can be everything from doing a cannonball at the local swimming pool to going on a family hike to hosting a sleepover. Whatever is on the list, make sure it doesn’t involve screens. This will force your kids to think beyond playing video games and watching television. Once the bucket list is complete, hang it in a prominent spot. Send your kids to visit it when they say they are bored or beg to watch a movie.
4. Plan an Adventurous Getaway
If a summer vacation is on the docket, consider making it an adventure trip. An adventure can be as thrilling as sightseeing at a national landmark or as simple as going to an amusement park. Planning a trip with your children in mind will ensure that the entire family will have a good time. It can also be an educational experience if you decide to visit a historic site.
If a full week’s vacation isn’t possible, that’s all right. Even a one-night getaway or a day trip can reinvigorate and reinspire young ones. A camping trip to a state park is a great idea as is a trip to an outdoor water park. It doesn’t matter where you go as long as you are getting family members together in the great outdoors. And we all know that having something on the calendar to look forward to can be beneficial for everyone. Above all, remember to savor the journey. A spontaneous summer adventure is a great time to whip out a disposable camera. Capture these memories to look back on with the whole family.
The one problem with summer is that it is gone in a blink of an eye. Before you know it, you’ll be back to packing school lunches and coordinating after-school activities. So make sure your kiddos don’t squander these precious days in front of a screen. Keep your children active by encouraging them to be outside as much as possible with their friends or together as a family. After all, a bit of vitamin D is a healthy habit that everyone can get behind.
