5 Fun Summer Activities for Families

This summer may be particularly hard for parents and kids. We’re all dealing with a global health crisis, unknowns about school plans in the Fall, and many of us are working from home at the same time. Today’s post aims to help you shake off the worries for a few hours and plan some fun summer activities as a family. It’s the perfect time to try new (and safe!) experiences with your family. Check out the list of activities below.

5. Go Camping in Your Backyard

Campgrounds may be limiting visitors right now, but your backyard isn’t! Recreate the classic summer campout with your very own at-home version. Set up a tent in your backyard, grab some sleeping bags, your favorite treats, and plan a fun night of sleeping under the stars together as a family. If you have a grill or fire pit, do some s’more making and marshmallow roasting (you can also just do this over a gas range). Or, try making some tin foil dinners for a true camping experience! It’s a bit of work but your kids, and you, will cherish the experience and the memories for years to come.

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4. Have a Water Fight

If you have elementary age kids, they will LOVE this activity. Your kids are likely used to playing in the water in the summer but how often do mom or dad participate? What makes this activity really special is that it’s the whole family participating in a good old fashioned water fight. Get the fam in swimsuits and plan your water weapons -- sprinklers, buckets of water, water balloons, etc. Set up some game guidelines (safety first!), split into teams, and let the fun begin!

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3. Make Homemade Ice Cream

One of the best parts about summer is enjoying a delicious ice cream on a hot summer afternoon. This activity has a bit of a twist; if you have the time and energy, plan a day to make some homemade ice cream! If you’ve never made homemade ice cream before it’s really not as hard as it may seem. We like this Vanilla ice cream recipe from NYTimes Cooking or this Oreo ice cream recipe from GiveRecipe. Give it a try. Make sure to make it a family activity with the kids helping. Get some sprinkle toppings or syrups to top it off. Mmmm tasty!

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2. Explore the Great Outdoors

Covid-19 may prevent us from going to summer festivals, markets, and public places, but it’s not preventing us from exploring the beautiful great outdoors. Now is the perfect time to get outdoors, get active, and start learning to appreciate the beauty and majesty of the world around us. If you live near hiking trails, plan a hike and picnic with the family. Have access to fishing? Spend the day at the lake! Have a park nearby that’s never been explored? Now is the time to do it. Plan an outdoor activity your whole family will enjoy doing together.

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1. Try a New Outdoor Sport

Last but not least, exercise is one of the best ways to promote a healthy and balanced lifestyle; especially now during these uncertain times. Find a sport you and your family can play together this summer. The fun part might even be just trying new outdoor activities out together. Set a date and try a new sport once a week to see what everyone prefers. A few ideas for outdoor summer sports include: soccer, pickleball, tennis, basketball, softball/baseball, dodgeball, trail running, frisbee, kickball, etc. There are so many fun sports out there to try. Your kids will enjoy learning the different games and may just find their favorite new sport as well.

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