Creative ways to fill your summer days with fun, laughter and memories!
Summer is always a time of freedom from schedules, and this summer will be an extension of what’s been happening in our world. Although the kiddos have been home for weeks already, the drive is strong to make their summer as normal as possible. Take some tips from these thoughts, breathe in the fresh summer air and love one another!
A is for Arts. Summer is a great time to ger your creativity on! From something as simple as sidewalk chalk or paint, to even more elaborate activities like an art camp, find plenty of ways to get artsy this summer.
B is for Barbecue. The warmer months are ideal for firing up the grill to cook dinner—plus you won’t heat up the kitchen! Make a burger bar by grilling hamburgers, then set out lots of toppings to the family can create their own masterpieces. Take hints from your family’s tastes and include items like guacamole, salsa, cheese, pineapple and different types of cheese.
C is for Creativity. Write your own story! Make “books” from typing paper stapled together, or purchase pretty journals. Come up with titles together, then spend time each day crafting a story. For example, watch the cat and see how her day goes, then make a chapter about it. “Felicity woke up and stretched, then walked over to the window to watch the birds in the birdbath. Then she….”
D is for Dog. Whether you have a dog or not, make an activity of learning about different dog breeds, and when you go on walks around your neighborhood, watch for each type. Or offer to take your neighbor’s dog for a walk or walk your own. Learn about canine care in warmer months and what makes dogs tick.
E is for Exercise. Rain or shine, do something to get moving. Run up and down the stairs, play basketball in the driveway or see how many jumping jacks you can do. Offer prizes for who does the most and have your children come up with fun ways to move … how about dancing, doing cartwheels or going on a scavenger hunt?
F is for Fantasy. Imagination comes in may forms, from the dreams your children have to the books they read. How about creating fairy gardens? These are all the rage, and you can find supplies at your local dime store or just around your house or yard. Check online for ideas.
G is for Grandparents. If grandparents are not close by, set up FaceTime dates frequently. And if grandparents are staying home, have the kids show off artwork, swimsuits or foods they create—or let the kids read a book aloud for them. If you are lucky enough to see them in person, plan outings in which grandparents can share.
H is for Hair. Girls and boys alike will enjoy an activity that involves putting washable dye in their hair. Blue for the Royals, red for the Chiefs or patriotic stripes for the Fourth of July. Find styles online for braiding, sculpting and coloring.
I is for Imagination. Children are born with natural curiosity, so feed it. Now, more then ever, encourage kids to dream and learn new things. If your son loves baseball, why not teach him to imagine hitting a home run or becoming a pro player? Is your daughter a dancer? Have her practice her steps at home. You even can set up a home studio with mat, dance bar and special lighting.
J is for Journey. Take your children on a “journey” walk and see whether you can find things that begin with J…junk, jungle gyms, jets flying, and more. Before you begin, talk about where you will go, and afterward, snack on crackers and different jams.
K is for Kite. Make your own! There are plenty of ideas online, and you can theme them to your children’s interest. Dragons, superheroes—you can make all styles and sizes, and most fit in the trunk of a small car.
L is for Lazy. Veg out sometimes. Have a day when your only wear your pjs or keep your swimsuit on all day. There is nothing wrong with lazing about, and you can color, read or make jewelry from beads on the picnic table outside. Take time to reconnect.
M is for Moonlight. Why not get a tent and camp outside in your own backyard? Lie on a blanket spread on the ground and count the stars. Memories are made during these special times, and together you can enjoy the outdoors. Sometimes, a flashlight and lightning bug jar are all you need.
N is for Nest. Build a bluebird house! You can find plans online for this very simple activity. Learn where to place the house so the bluebirds will be attracted to it, then watch as these beautiful birds fly in and out, building their nest, then feeding their babies.
O is for Oars. Go canoeing or kayaking. The teamwork it takes to canoe will teach patience and balance, and a kayak gives young people confidence to do something by themselves. Take this a step further and read about the origin of the first paddle or oar.
P is for Parasailing. Yes, you can! Many lakes and area parks will teach lessons and rent you the boat. If you don’t want to go that route, take a paddle boarding class or just spend time on the shore watching others do these activities while you picnic or fish.
Q is for Queen for a day. Designate a date for your child to be queen or king for the day. The royalty gets to select the foods eaten throughout the day, the activities planned and the shows or movies the family watches.
R is for Reading. With libraries closed, you can still give your children a challenge of reading a book a week or every few days. Simply go to the library website and download books kids can read online. This is a fun escape!
S is for Swimming. Jump in and float, splash and enjoy. An outdoor, blow-up or aboveground pool in your own yard works fine. Even older kids will enjoy putting their feet in, no matter what size it is. Turn on the sprinkler and get out the water guns if the local pools are not open. Local lakes and rivers are ideal nature trips.
T is for Turtle. If you get around water, you are bound to see box turtles. These pets, simple for all ages, don’t require much care. If you don’t want the live version, research turtles and find out how they lay their eggs and learn that some tortoises live to 150 years! These are amazing creatures. Draw and color pictures of them.
U is for Umbrella. Raindrops keep falling on our heads—so keep plenty of colorful umbrellas in an umbrella stand by your door. Your children can paint them with waterproof colors and then get out there and splash in the puddles!
V is for Vacation. A vacation does not require flying on an airplane or traveling miles by car. It is a state of mind. Vacation to Hawaii by cutting a fresh pineapple, practicing hula dancing or making tie-dye shirts. Have a beach day and spread out colorful towels and sit under an outdoor umbrella for a fancy picnic. Don’t forget the island music!
W is for Work. Make a list of jobs for the day and place the chart on the fridge or pantry door. Make it fun so your kids won’t dread it. Today, the boys clean the garage, and the girls water the plants. Or have everyone fold the clothes and dust the dressers. Don’t assign anything too overwhelming and do reward, reward, reward!
X is for Xylophone. Or any other instrument. Learn to play the flute, the drums, the piano or the guitar. There are many local teachers, and if they are not available, take classes online. Summer is the ideal time to make music and learn a new skill.
Y is for Yacht. Now, not all of us are lucky enough to be able to take a ride on an actual yacht, but any innertube, raft or wakeboard can become your yacht. Take time to float in a fishing boat you can rent or a paddleboat. Water is, after all, one of the best parts of summer!
Z is for Zoo! There’s no place like the zoo during the summer. If by chance it is not open, check online for other animal oasis sites, such as Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center in Blue Springs. The zoo is offering virtual views of their animals, and this is a great learning activity.
Try creating your own ABCs of summer! It’s a fun way to use your imagination. Give everyone different letters and have each person come up with an activity. Have a fun summer!
Judy Goppert lives in Lee’s Summit. She enjoys drawing on her personal experiences to write about the nuances of everything wonderful about life.