11 Activities To Enjoy with the Kids This Summer
When you’re a kid, summers are the most magical time of the year. Possibly even more than the holidays, I would argue. I can so clearly remember the exhilaration that came from finishing the last day of school. The feeling of finally getting to relax for the first time in about 9 months. My favorite parts were staying up super late, waking up super late, watching endless daytime TV, and getting to hang out with my friends non-stop. It was a much simpler time. Luckily for me, I wasn’t expected to do very much of anything productive during my summer breaks.
Now, as an adult, summers are not nearly as fun as when I was a kid but I still love this season anyway. There’s something special about the sweltering heat, humidity (most people hate the humidity, but I don’t), and long days where the sun doesn’t go down until 9:00 p.m. Not to mention family barbecues, taking my little one to the park, and getting drinks with friends at Boathouse.
The best part is getting to enjoy the summer with my 2-year-old toddler, who is always pumped for anything that involves us leaving the house. And it’s a huge bonus for her if leaving the house involves some kind of body of water. Seemingly, she has not inherited the homebody gene from her dad…
Here are a few ideas on how to make the most of your summer with your family:
Pool day. Pool days are a must, especially when you live in a place like Florida, where pools are ubiquitous. I have never once had to go to a public pool in my because no matter where you go in Florida, there is always a pool nearby. For those of us who get a little spooked by sea creatures (like myself), the pool is an excellent alternative to the beach.
Beach day. I don’t hate going to the beach, but the beach comes with baggage. The proximity to fish, jellyfish, and stingrays when going into the water is a bit unnerving to me. In addition to that, the sand can be a nuisance, especially when it gets all over your car (because much like glitter, you’ll never be able to get it out). That being said, I can’t ignore the immaculate vibe of the beach and all the good things that come with it, such as playing in the water, getting a nice tan, and walking on the boardwalk, if there happens to be one nearby.
Day trip. It’s so fun to hop in the car with your family and just drive somewhere you wouldn’t normally go to. The point is not necessarily the destination, but the journey getting there.
Hiking. This is something I used to love doing before we had our baby, and would love to get into again. In fact, my husband proposed to me 5 years ago during one of our summer hikes near Titusville, so it holds a very special place in my heart.
Visit family. Summer is the perfect time to check in with family you haven’t seen in a while. Normally, we only see our extended family during the holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, and possibly NYE), so connecting in the middle of the year is so nice.
Backyard camping. If you have a house with a safe, fenced-in backyard, then backyard camping is a must. Granted, in Florida, the summer may not be the most hospitable time to do this sort of activity, between the heat and relentless insects. But if you live in a more camp-friendly state, such as up north, then camping in your backyard would be so much fun and would help create memories that your kids won’t forget.
Actual camping. Camping is one of the most affordable trips you can take with your family, costing as little as $10 per night to stay on established campgrounds. If you don’t mind roughing it for a few nights, then camping will probably make for a memorable holiday.
Enjoy a picnic in the park. Going outside and connecting with loved ones are some of the best things we can do for our physical and mental health, so why not combine them both.
Crafting. Think making homemade slime, making play dough, or painting rocks. Most kids love anything related to arts and crafts.
Go on a real vacation. This one is easier said than done because the cost of traveling with your spouse and/or kids is not insignificant for most families. For example, the average cost of a Disney vacation for a family of 4 is roughly $6,000 - $9,000. Nonetheless, I would say that traveling is important because life is short and there is always going to be a reason not to travel. Things will always come up, like an illness, moving, or something else, and if you don’t make travel a priority, then you’re never going to go anywhere.
Just let the kids do their own thing. Sometimes kids just want to do their own thing, or they want to do something entirely different than what you want to do, and that’s okay. Some of my best memories don’t involve my parents at all, and I imagine that will be the case for my daughter as well as she gets older. Sometimes, it’s best to loosen the reigns and let kids create their own memories.
XOXO, Alexis.