It’s summertime and you know what that means; school’s out, the sun is shining, and the kids are bored! Just because school is out of session doesn’t mean the summer can’t be engaging and fun for your kids. In fact, summer programs can be a great way to introduce your children to new hobbies and interests, lifelong friends, and a heightened self esteem.
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Take Advantage of Your Surroundings
If you are at a loss for where to look for summer programs and activities, a great place to start is your own city parks website or YMCA. Most cities have extensive summer classes ranging from tennis lessons, kickball, swimming, basketball, soccer, to beekeeping.
For example, Stacey, a caregiver to her 4 and 6 year old nieces, says that they took a children’s yoga class at their local park last summer. Now, a year later, yoga is a part of their daily routine. Better yet, the majority of these programs are free or low cost. The YMCA, although a little higher in cost, boasts a professionally trained camp staff, and no shortage of friendships, swimming, and field trips.
Look No Further Than Your Own Backyard
Want a fun way to support healthy behaviors? Consider starting a garden in your own backyard! Fruits and vegetables such as lettuce, strawberries, peppers, zucchini, and herbs are easy to tend and fun to learn about. Plus it’s fun to delegate tasks to your kids, like planting seeds, watering, pulling weeds, and watching their crops grow. In the fall they can collect crops and you can challenge your kids to make a meal on their own. No matter what their age, they will feel good about making something delicious out of their own garden vegetables. If you are tight on space, consider a windowsill or hanging herb garden, and make a trip to your local farmers market. Talk to the farmers and see if an educational visit to the farm would be possible. You can look for tips on Pintrest too.
Lets face it, not every kid is a fan of the outdoors. There are plenty of places to look for indoor summer activities. Contact your local library, as many have children and teen groups, and summer reading challenge. Not only will this be fun for your kids, but it will help give them an edge over the school year. Also, many libraries have free passes for museums, which can be a low-cost fun activity for the whole family.
For science-minded kids, see if there is a nature museum or conservatory near your town. Not only are these fun to visit, but they often have extraordinary summer camps. For example, COSI, a Children’s Science Museum in Columbus, Ohio, educates their camp members on issues like robotics, amusement park science, and space. Instead of sitting around watching TV, your kids can be inspired and learn interesting things.
If you have a budding artist in your household, look towards art museums and craft stores. Many craft shops or art studios will hold lessons in scrapbooking, knitting, weaving, you name it! At Lillstreet Art Studio in Chicago, kids and teens can sign up for wheel throwing classes or learn the basics of movie making. These are fun hobbies that can easily be carried over to the warmer seasons and well into their adulthood.
This is just a small list of the many possibilities to keep your kids busy this summer. For almost any interest they have, there are resources. From public safety, to volunteering, to learning about starting your own business, the best thing you can do is reach out and find resources! Whatever you do, don’t let your kids spend their summer cooped up at home, just watching TV or playing video games. Make some time for your children and plan ahead. That way, when they return to school in the fall, they will be excited to share everything they did during the summer.