annaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaanna Summer is in full swing! Kids have the freedom to enjoy warm weather and time with family and friends. Many parents soon discover this sweet freedom sets the field for an epic battle to keep their kids off electronics. Here are some screen-free activities every kid should do this summer.

annaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaanna Take it outside

annaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaanna Some kids may enjoy playing outside without having to be pushed out the door, but others may need a little encouragement. Instead of simply telling your children, “Go play outside,” offer some fun suggestions. Try having them design and build a kite, then go outside to fly it. Another idea is doing a park tour by making a list of great parks in your area (ask friends for recommendations) and visiting a different one each week. Diverting outdoor fun is almost limitless, and families can tailor the fun to children’s interests: Have a picnic, explore the neighborhood, set up an obstacle course, draw with sidewalk chalk, toss a ball, play on the swing set, pick flowers, take a family bike ride or organize neighborhood games. The possibilities are endless and can be catered to your child’s interests.

annaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaanna Be a night owl

annaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaanna No school means no early mornings. Though staying up late every night may not be the best option for young children, allowing a few late nights on lazy summer evenings can be a great way to make memories. Use a projector to watch a movie outdoors, catch fireflies in the backyard or watch a fireworks show. Introduce your kids to the magic of a staying up late on a balmy summer evening. If you are lucky, they might even sleep in the next day.

annaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaanna Jump in a lake

annaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaanna It wouldn’t be summer without some swimming. Take the kids to the lake, pool or sprayground—or even set up the sprinkler in the backyard. Nothing feels better than cooling off in the water on a hot summer day.

annaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaanna Plant a seed

annaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaanna A great way to get kids outdoors is to have them work in the garden. This allows for plenty of time in the fresh air and can even be productive, taking care of daily garden maintenance of watering, weeding and checking on the plants. “Grow something!” says Heather Allen of Olathe. “Anything, be it a tree, vegetable or flower. There is something really rewarding about getting your hands in the dirt and growing and taking care of a plant.” If you choose to have a vegetable garden, get the kids involved in cooking with ingredients they have helped to grow.

annaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaanna Camp out

annaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaanna Camping affords a great opportunity to get families outside together. Some families may venture to a nearby campground with their tent to enjoy a day or two of unplugged peace. Other families may prefer camping in the backyard so they are close to the comforts of home. Either way, put away the electronics for the day, roast marshmallows on a campfire and enjoy the time together in the great outdoors.

annaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaanna Explore the city

annaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaanna Kansas City is a great city to explore, and hometown field trips will get kids out of the house and away from their screens. You can visit some of the popular attractions in the area or discover a hidden gem. “We are going to find a passion project,” says mom Kristal Shanahan. “I”ll start a list of unique places to visit locally to learn more about what they do. Maybe we will find what interests my daughter with things off the beaten path and hopefully spark a new passion.”

annaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaanna Complete a project

annaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaanna Family projects are a great way to keep kids busy. Decide as a group what projects you would like to focus on this summer. Some ideas could include cleaning and remodeling (or rearranging) their bedrooms, collecting food for a food pantry, planting a garden, scrapbooking, reading an entire book series or running a 5K.

annaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaanna Learn something new

annaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaanna “I tell the kids the school year is for learning what your teacher wants you to learn, and summer is for learning what you want to learn,” says Amy Cameron, mom of three. She suggests making a list of two or three topics of interest and pursuing them by reading books, attending camps or doing research. Moms Erin Lorton and Stephanie Loux both suggest keeping a daily journal. “They write a few sentences about their day,” Lorton says. “It’s always fun to look back on previous years.” Loux says, “We keep daily math, reading and summer writing journals.” Whichever approach you take, you can print pictures and create a keepsake for kids to look back on.

annaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaanna Cool off with a sweet treat

Ice cream should be on every kid’s summer bucket list. The metro offers countless ice cream and snow cone shops to visit. Create a list of new shops or old favorites you’d like to visit this summer. You can also try making ice cream or Popsicles at home.

annaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaanna Get moving

annaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaanna Being outside in the summer is great, but sometimes it’s too hot or rainy, and you need to find an indoor place to burn off energy. Consider getting the kids moving by visiting an indoor trampoline place, a skating rink, rock climbing facility or indoor aquatic center. If you want to save money and need some indoor ideas, have a dance party in the house, find Go Noodle or Cosmic Kids Yoga on YouTube or have a push-up and sit-up challenge.

annaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaanna Will kids stay off their electronics the entire summer? Likely not, but with these tips you can increase their outdoor and exercise time. They may even have so much fun they forget about their tablets. A parent can dream, right?

annaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaannaanna Sarah Lyons is an Olathe mom of six, including 7-year-old triplets.

A photography safari, or photo scavenger hunt, is a creative, interactive way to usher your kids away from screens and out into nature this summer.

Getting kids outside is more important than ever. The Kaiser Family Foundation reports that kids are spending upwards of seven hours a day with screen technology, which means less time outdoors playing. According to a nationwide poll conducted by the Nature Conservancy, only about 10 percent of children spend time outdoors every day. In the poll, kids said they aren’t interested in being outside, they don’t have access to parks or outdoor recreation or they’re uncomfortable outdoors.

But spending time outdoors has numerous mental and physical health benefits. Research finds that kids who spend time outside are more creative in their play, more physically active, and have enhanced attention spans. And as they get older, children who’ve spent time outdoors show a greater appreciation for the environment.

I found that by taking my two sons, ages 13 and 11, out on a photography safari at one of our local parks, we were able to slow down and intentionally observe nature’s quiet rhythm, including wildlife, insects, and seasonal plants and colors. Here’s how to plan a photography safari with your family:

• Select a location. Parks with nature trails, botanical gardens, nature centers, and zoos provide plenty of material for a safari. Or start in your own backyard.
• Consider the time commitment. Set aside 30 minutes to an hour. If you’re on vacation, turn the safari into a multi-day event where you collect snapshots over the duration of your trip.
• Gather your supplies. If you don’t have a digital camera and you’re uncomfortable with your child’s borrowing your phone or iPad, check out inexpensive, kid-friendly digital cameras available online and at large discount stores like Walmart and Target. Another option is to purchase a disposable camera. Remember to pack sunscreen, bug spray, water and snacks.
• Construct your list. Do some research of your destination to decide what to include on your list. Maybe you plan to hike in a forest or camp at a national park this summer. Make a list of animals, plants, birds or landscapes to be on the lookout for. Decide how many and what types of items to put on your list according to the age of your child.
• Types of lists. If you’re going to the zoo, you might craft a list of adjectives that describe different animals. For example, look for animals that are striped, have tusks, swim, waddle, fly, etc. I opted to keep my list for the park general and stuck to having my kids search for particular colors, shapes and textures. To challenge kids who are already handy with a camera, you might have them hunt for interesting angles, lighting and reflections.
• Establish ground rules. For our safari, we decided that we couldn’t choose the same subjects to photograph. Consider how you will structure your hunt. For example: Can we help each other? Is there a time limit to complete the list? Can we only shoot natural objects or are manmade subjects game too? Will we head out together or split into groups? How competitive do we want the hunt to be?
• Decide whether you want friendly competition. I opted not to make our safari a competition with prizes at the end, but you could—especially if you’re hosting a large group of kids you plan to split into teams, like a Boy Scout/Girl Scout group or a birthday party. Dollar stores offer a variety of inexpensive prize options. You might award prizes to teams who capture the funniest, most striking or creative images.
• Review and discuss. Go through your photos together and share what you like about each other’s snaps. Ask your kids about their favorite shots and why they like them.
• Make it seasonal. Help your kids see the beauty of the changing seasons through the eye of their cameras. They may be surprised about how much nature has to offer even in the winter. Look for wintering birds, animal prints in snow, wild grasses and stick-like tendrils of ivy that will resume its climb when spring arrives.

My sons and I began to see all kinds of various shapes and interesting colors that we’d never before noticed when we’d visited the park in the past. We watched a goose swimming gracefully across the lake, a fisherman casting his line and a kayaker paddling smoothly across the water. We peered over a bridge and marveled at the geometric design engineers used to build the lake’s dam. And best of all, while we walked side by side, cameras in hand, we simply enjoyed each other’s company.

Post-Safari Photo Ideas

• Print out the photos and make a collage or scrapbook.
• Paste a favorite photo into a journal and write about it.
• If you went to the zoo and picked up a map, cut and paste photos onto the map to keep as a souvenir.
• Create a digital photo book.
• Write a make-believe story to go with the photos.
• Start a private family blog and have your child write a post about his outing featuring his favorite snapshots.
• Make a movie slide show of photos set to music.

Sample List for Your Photography Safari

Snap photos of something:

• Green
• Furry
• Red
• Striped
• Orange
• In motion
• Feathered
• Round
• Square
• Oval

Freelance journalist Christa Melnyk Hines and her husband are the parents of two boys. Her latest book is Happy, Healthy & Hyperconnected: Raise a Thoughtful Communicator in a Digital World.