Savor Summer Nights
An old saying goes that the quality of a child’s day can be measured by the ring around the bathtub. If that’s the case, one could argue there’s no better way to embrace summer break than by engaging in outdoor play as much as possible. For many families, outdoor adventures are highly desired but hard to implement. A recent study by the Seattle Children’s Research Institute concludes that half of the four million preschoolers surveyed were not able to be outdoors every day with the supervision of a parent. Not surprisingly, the non-profit advocacy group Alliance for Childhood concludes that “compared to the 1970s, children now spend 50 percent less time in unstructured outdoor activities. Children ages 10 to 16 now spend, on average, only 12.6 minutes per day in vigorous physical activity. Yet they spend an average of 10.4 waking hours each day relatively motionless."
We all know the benefits of being outdoors: lots of fresh air, unlimited creativity, plenty of exercise and stress relief, among other things. But ongoing research from sources such as Cornell University and San Francisco University now concludes yet one more reason to aspire to bond outside: Despite living in a consumer driven culture, experiences and memories built as a family bring more satisfaction and happiness than possessions ever do.
With a growing number of families operating with both parents’ working, one of the biggest challenges is simply finding time to be outdoors as a family. Have no fear. Some of the most memorable activities can take place after sunset—and with swarthy temps on the rise throughout the summer months, evening activities may be more preferred anyway. In no particular order, here are a dozen activities to delve into as a family to savor the summer nights.
Hit the trail. The American Hiking Society dubbed the first Saturday of June as National Trails Day. KC is home to a variety of trail systems that connect suburbs on both sides of the state line. Hit a local trail this June 3 and beyond!
Walk to the store. Crooner Nat King Cole dubbed summer the season of lazy, hazy days. Indulge! Hit the local ice cream shop or swing by a Redbox station by walking or biking to get there instead of driving.
Teach old-school games. Kick the can. Capture the flag. Flashlight tag. Many classic games are lost on this generation of children. Introduce them to some of your childhood favorites.
Pseudo camping. Who says you have to go somewhere far away to try your hand at camping? Pitch the tent in the backyard or blow up the air mattress on the deck.
Stargazing. Read up on constellations, download a stargazing app and enjoy nature’s nighttime wide-screen.
Make your own sweet concoctions. Break out the electric ice cream maker and make your own frozen desserts.
Lights, camera, action! With a few simple supplies, you can build your own movie projector and watch a favorite flick in the backyard. Lay sleeping bags out on the deck and build a gourmet popcorn bar on the patio table with a variety of candies, nuts and pretzels and popcorn. For those seeking simple installation, Movies 2 U will do all the hard work for you. Simply invite the neighborhood and enjoy!
Drive-in movie theater. KC boasts a handful of real drive-in movie theaters. Plus, most city parks and rec departments offer family-friendly outdoor movie viewing experiences.
Outdoor theater. Starlight, Theatre in the Park and a slew of community theater groups provide high-quality and low-cost family entertainment. Nothing beats Broadway-style productions under the stars!
Chase fireflies. Grab your butterfly net and a mason jar (don’t forget to poke holes in the lids for ventilation) and go to town catching summer’s favorite living light source!
Gourmet outdoor dining. A grill can cook so much more than burgers and brats. Think outside the box. Grill pizza, veggies, even fruit! And don’t rule out the fire pit as a cooking source for s’mores, tinfoil dinners and more.
Sports under the stars. Go to a professional or semi-professional league sporting event, such as a Royals game at the K, a T-Bones independent professional league game at Community America Ballpark or a Sporting KC game at Children’s Mercy Park.
Lauren Greenlee and her brood attempted their first-of-many backyard camping adventures this spring. She can be found writing from her Olathe home.