Summer break is a highly anticipated time of the year for kids and parents alike. Those eight weeks are brimming with the promise of exciting adventures, leisurely days, and quality time spent together. With school out of session, children are free to indulge in their interests, discover new hobbies, and even experience a little personal growth. For you as a parent, the summer can present extra opportunities to connect with your kids and strengthen your bonds.
Guest Post by Katie Brenneman. Photo by Susanne Jutzeler
However, everyone knows just how quickly the summer can fly by. It’s all too easy for the break to slip away, leaving behind it a sense of missed opportunities and unfulfilled plans. This is why it is so important to approach the summer with some intentional consideration and planning.
In addition to having fun, your kids can participate in activities that foster a love for gaining new knowledge, stimulate their curiosity, and prevent the dreaded “summer slide” that some kids experience. By seizing the break and making a few solid arrangements, you can make the most of this valuable time with your kids.
Identify Great Destinations
When it comes to planning a summer break with your kids, choosing the right destinations can be key to creating unforgettable experiences. Finding places that cater to the interests and needs of your entire family can ensure that everyone has a great time.
Firstly, take into account the age range and preferences of your children. Look for spaces that provide a variety of attractions suitable for different age groups. This might include theme parks. Certainly, Orlando, FL has some of the more popular sites in this regard, including Universal Orlando Resort and Walt Disney World. However, there are plenty of great theme parks elsewhere in the country, including Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN, and Six Flags Mountain in Valencia, CA.
Accommodations can also play a vital role in the overall experience. So, be sure to research family-friendly resorts, hotels, or vacation rentals in your intended destinations. Look for accommodations that provide spacious rooms or suites to ensure everyone has enough space to relax and unwind after a long day of exploring.
Importantly, remember that doing summer break right doesn’t necessarily mean spending the entire time away from home. Having a staycation can still make for a great experience for your children. You can plan day trips away to amusements and scenic areas within a drivable distance of your home. It can even be fun to camp in your backyard together.
Embrace the Outdoors
Summer break tends to bring with it better weather and longer periods of daylight. It’s important for you and your children to make the most of this. Spending more time outdoors is known to reduce stress and promote happiness. This can involve a range of fun activities, some of which you and your kids can do at home, such as gardening or a picnic in the park. Others — like renting a cabin or kayaking — might take you further afield. The key is to make the outdoors a primary part of your summer vacation.
Camping can be a particularly valuable way to embrace the outdoors with your kids during summer break. Most National Parks allow camping and offer some incredible scenery for your family to spend your days in, not to mention star-filled skies to sleep under. Whether you opt for a weekend getaway or an extended camping trip, it provides you with opportunities to disconnect from technology and reconnect with one another. Sit around a campfire, roast marshmallows, and tell each other stories.
You can also look out for a variety of accessible water-based activities at local lakes, beaches, or rivers. Spending time together swimming or paddleboarding is not just a fun experience, but it can also help you all navigate the summer heat a little better. If you’re feeling more adventurous, you might consider hiring a boat and taking your kids on a longer adventure along a river or canal. This both offers fresh perspectives on the landscape and promotes your kids’ development of collaborative skills.
Boost Creativity
Summer break is an ideal time to nurture your children’s creativity and provide them with opportunities to follow their curiosity and explore their imaginations. Encouraging creative pursuits can not only keep your children engaged but also promotes their cognitive development, self-expression, and problem-solving skills. It’s worth building these activities into your summer break plans.
You may find it useful to set up a dedicated art space at home for the summer. Provide your kids with various art supplies such as paints, clay, markers, and different types of paper. Encourage them to experiment with different mediums and techniques, led by their imagination. It can also be wise to create portable creativity kits you can take with you on family trips so that your kids have access to creative tools wherever they are.
Remember, though, that summer break creativity doesn’t necessarily have to be limited to traditional drawing and painting. If your kids are interested in movies, encourage them to spend time during the summer on film-making projects. Provide them with an old smartphone or a child-friendly camera, have them gather up some friends as cast and crew, and give them the space to tell stories or make documentaries. This is not only a fun activity but it also prompts them to solve the logistical and creative problems of bringing their vision to the screen.
Combine Fun and Learning
School may be out, but that doesn’t mean that your children need to stop learning entirely. Indeed, summer break offers valuable ways to keep your children’s minds engaged and promote continuous education while still having fun.
One impactful way to approach this is by establishing fun ways to get your kids outside and learn about nature. Take your kids on simple hiking trips and talk to them about the different plants, geological features, and wildlife they see. Camping can also be a good way to pass on outdoor survival skills. Even spending the evenings stargazing may spark their interest in astrology.
Another approach is to introduce STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) activities into the summer break schedule. Engage your children in hands-on experiments, building projects, or coding activities. There are numerous online resources and DIY kits available, including those offered by NASA. These provide you and your kids with step-by-step instructions for projects suitable for a range of age groups. Taking the time to prepare these enriching activities for your kids can help develop their problem-solving, critical thinking, and innovative abilities while having fun.
Conclusion
Doing summer break right with your kids requires a certain amount of planning and consideration. Take the time to research potential destinations that meet your family’s needs, including the potential for staycations. It’s also worth prioritizing activities that see your kids embracing the outdoors and boosting their creativity. Don’t forget that some summer activities can be great avenues for continued learning that also offer a lot of fun.
It’s important to bear in mind, though, that a great summer break doesn’t need to be costly or complex. Think about craft projects they can engage in using old materials around the home. Look for local free landmarks, parks, and museums you could visit. No matter what your budget is, you can find activities that help ensure your kids have a memorable and enriching experience. The key is to be intentional in your efforts to spend quality time together.
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