Many children often face the classic back to school assignment, “What I did over summer vacation,” with a blank stare. Most often only remember the big moments of their summer like a vacation or a visit from family. As adults, we know that life is made up of thousands of small moments. This summer, let those small moments fill your child’s back to school essay and the memories of this summer will fill their hearts.
Cool Off
Have a water balloon relay race. Head to the indoor ice rink and play a pick up hockey game. Set up a bicycle washing station for friends. Wade in a creek and skip stones. Start a battle of the water guns – kids vs. parents. Beat the heat at the library and join the summer reading club. Slip and slide at Watiki Water Park.
Get some Exercise
Participate in a Fun Run/Walk for a great family experience. Learn how to perfect your cartwheel. Rent a tandem bike and enjoy the benefits of teamwork.
Go Shopping
Bargain hunt at garage sales. You never know what you might find. Head to Dollar Tree and play “How much can you buy with $5”. Rummage through the booths at outdoor flea markets.
Take in the sights
Watch a parade from the sidewalk or watch the spectators while walking in the parade. See an outdoor summer concert or play. Hit the trails on horseback and let someone else do the walking.
Foods of Summer
Host a Pot Luck BBQ. Everyone brings their own meat and a side dish to pass. Enjoy curly fries, a corndog fresh and squeezed lemonade at the County Fair. Invite the neighborhood kids to participate in a watermelon eating contest. Make your own Snow cones with Kool Aid and shaved ice. Roast hotdogs over the fire for dinner and make s’mores for dessert.
Craft time
Fold paper airplanes and test the best designs. Make colorful candles with leftover crayons. Enhance your wardrobe with custom-made tie-dye shirts. Design your own fireworks t-shirts with glue lines and glitter. Show off your artistic skills by wearing DIY face painting.
Night Time Fun
Go to a Drive In movie. Catch fireflies in a jar, but let them get back to their families when the night is over. Sit on the porch and watch the sun set. Write your name in the dark with sparklers.
Enjoy the outdoors
Rent a canoe and have a picnic on the shore. Hunt for nearby treasures by geocaching in your hometown. Play classic backyard games like Sharks and Minnows or Kick the Can. Go camping. Race rubber ducks down a flowing stream or small river.
Rainy Day Fun
Set up a photo scavenger hunt at the mall. Head to the arcade. Make a maze or fort using cardboard boxes. Start a summer fun journal or scrapbook.
Give back to others
Support childhood cancer research and set up a lemonade stand for Alexslemonade.org. Make a meal for a family. Spend the day performing random acts of kindness. Help find a forever home for animals by fostering kittens or puppies.
Get Silly
Take forced perspective photos to make objects appear larger or smaller than normal. Have a paint war with goggles and non-toxic paints. Check out what really happens when you mix Coke and Mentos (with supervision).
Beyond the Backyard
Cheer for the home team at a ball game. Ride the Ferris wheel at the carnival. Explore the Children’s Museum. Feed the goats at the petting zoo.
Written by Pam Molnar