As much as children look forward to summer break, they often spend a lot of it bored, wondering what to do with their newfound free time. While they should dedicate some of their break to rest, summer is an important time for children to form good habits and stay active. If the whole family can get involved, then that’s even better. Here are some fun, active ways you can spend summer with your child.
Make a Summer Bucket List
Children are often full of ideas, but those ideas go away as quickly as they appear. Take some time with your child to make a list of things you both want to do before the end of summer break. As you complete each task, have your child check it off so they can have a sense of accomplishment. Some of the goals can be lofty, but make sure there are at least a few simple ones like “go to the beach at sunset” and “learn to fly a kite.”
Attend Outdoor Events
On any given weekend, and especially on holiday weekends, you can find all kinds of free or inexpensive family-friendly activities to do together. Find a major park or downtown spot online, and see what they have going on over the summer. Summer festivals, farmer’s markets or even movies in the park can be great opportunities to get out into the world as a family. They can also lead to great memories.
Explore Nature
There’s nothing quite like connecting with nature as a family. See if there’s a park or nature preserve near you. Before you head out, make sure you’ve packed plenty of water and sunscreen for everyone. Bring the whole family so you can get “lost” in the woods together. Keep in mind, you may lose cell signal. Follow marked trails so you don’t actually get lost. If your child needs a little extra motivation to head out into nature, make it a scavenger hunt!
Go Swimming
Swimming is a great activity for all ages, as it’s easy to learn and easy on the joints. If your child isn’t a confident swimmer, consider swimming lessons. You can make it a goal to swim together as a family by the end of summer. This activity is great because there are plenty of indoor and outdoor pools, and you can even go swimming in the ocean. If you are making a day of it, you’ll want to make sure you have sunscreen and reapply often.
Getting active together during summer break is a great way to spend quality time as a family. At North Tampa Christian Academy, a Tampa private school, students thrive creatively, academically and spiritually in a project-based learning environment. Faculty and families work together to inspire leadership through Christian innovation. Contact us today to learn more.