Make Moments This Summer: 10 Fun-Filled Activities To Enjoy With The Kids!

Summer is almost upon us and our kids are looking forward to being free to enjoy all the bounty that Summer has to offer. While this is an exciting and happy time for them, this can pose a bit of an obstacle for parents as we are scrambling to find activities that both entertain and engage our children at the same time. Let us help you! We've found 10 fun-filled Summer activities to enjoy with the kids this Summer.

(photo credit: istockphoto.com)

1. Get Wet

Let’s face it - Summer is hot. The best way to cool down is to find some water! Invite the neighbourhood kids over for a water balloon fight in the safety of your backyard. Head to your your neighbours’ pool, the local splash pad or beach and jump in! Pack up the car with all of the fun water toys and necessities needed to enjoy the day. The beach is always a special memory that both kids and parents treasure when day dreaming about Summertime.

Remember to pack:

• Bathing Suit
• Swimming Nappies (for baby)
• Floaty Toys
• Towels
• Sunscreen
• Sun Hat
• Change of Clothes

...and don’t forget the Snacks!

2. Grow a Garden

There’s nothing more rewarding than watching our children grow - but watching our garden grow comes in a close second! Make this chore special by including children in this process. Take the kids to the garden center with you, and let them choose some flowers and vegetables they’d like to see growing in the garden. They’ll be excited to see their garden growing and more inclined to water and nurture the garden along with you throughout the Summer months.

3. Backyard Camping

Camping is a fun Summer pastime, but not all of us are able to get away to the campsite every weekend. Why not go camping in the backyard instead? Bring out the tent, sleeping bags and flashlights and set up the site in the convenience of your own back yard. Don’t forget to choose a shady location, and bring out the bug spray! When night falls, bring out some popcorn and have some fun making shadow puppets with the flashlights.

(photo credit: istockphoto.com)

4. Get Active

Physical activity is very important for growing children - and adults alike - so make physical activity part of the daily summertime routine. Go for a bike ride, walk the dog or kick the soccer ball around in the park for some fun physical exercise that will help your children burn off some energy while having fun at the same time.

How much physical activity do children need? Visit Participaction Canada to find out what type of exercise is required to maintain optimum health.

5. Tour a Farm

There is so much of the Lord’s bounty to enjoy during the Summer months - from outdoor activities to enjoying the food that feeds us! Consider taking your children on a tour of a local farm. This is a great way for them to learn about the various types of food and livestock that are grown and raised on our fields: cows for meat and milk, bees for honey, alpacas for wool, and fruit and vegetables for the masses to name a few.

When the weather isn’t cooperating, here are some fun indoor activities that we can enjoy with our children.

6. Play Board Games
 

Board games provide hours of enjoyment for the entire family, especially when it’s raining outside. There are games of skill (ex. The Game of Life/Monopoly), silly games (ex. Charades/Twister) and games that teach us skills (ex. Scrabble) that incorporate elements that build a player’s strategic thinking, planning and decision making skills. Hide and Seek is also a lot of fun for kids. So go on and roll the dice or shuffle those cards and share some quality family time while playing some games!

7. Make Some Slime

Would you like some classic ooey-gooey good times? Make some slime! Kids are fascinated with this stuff and will be entertained for hours. All it takes is a few minutes, and you only need 3 basic ingredients:

• 8-ounce bottle Elmer’s white school glue
• 1 1/2 – 2 Tablespoons contact saline solution, more as needed (or slime activator)
• 1 Tablespoon baking soda
• Food coloring, optional

For a quick and easy slime recipe visit: www.iheartnaptime.net

“Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him” - Psalms 127:3

8. Story Time

Young children love a good story, and most libraries have reading programs that incorporate singing, rhymes, story telling and play that encourage imaginative thinking and help build early literacy skills. Plus, the interaction with other young children is a fun way to spend some time indoors on rainy Summer days. Help them grow their faith by introducing the Bible into their story time session. Google local community pages for reading programs in your area.

9. Kraft Time

Get out the glue and coloured construction paper and make some art! Have the kids create a masterpiece by drawing or painting their favourite Summer memory! Draw with Silly Scents Crayola Washable Markers that smell like fruit and other good stuff that children like - make it a sensory experience! Add some glitter, buttons, stickers and torn coloured paper to add layers of texture to help make their memories come alive. Proudly display their work of art on the fridge until the next kraft session!

(photo credit: istockphoto.com)

10. Journaling

Encourage journaling with the kids this summer! Scholastic Canada is a fabulous resource for teachers, parents and children alike with access to books and educational material to aid in fostering literacy. Let them choose a fun colourful journal that speaks to them and encourages them to have fun filling its blank pages with memories they are thankful for each day. They can also press some of the flowers from the garden within its pages as well adding their favourite printed photos and stickers to each entry. At the end of the season they will have a record of all the fun activities they enjoyed with you over the Summer. What a fabulous keepsake!
 

As Summer fast approaches, lets remember to take the time we have with our children to provide them with guidance, love, support and FUN! The Bible represents Summer as a time of maturity, preparation and fruition where the beauty of the world is fully expressed, invokes awe and demonstrates God’s abundance. Enjoy the abundance of the Lord with your children and create happy Summer memories with family that you’ll cherish forever.

Inspired by: Participaction Canada, Crayola Canada, I Heart Naptime