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Who’s excited about summer? Glorious sunny days and long vacations are just what the doctor ordered. When you’ve got little ones, long summer days can seem like a blessing. It feels amazing to spend quality time together and have more freedom outside of usual routines. But keeping them entertained for weeks on end can be tough. Especially if they’re all hot and bothered!
Getting out and exploring
Perhaps you’ll be heading out on a road trip together this summer? Or visiting family and friends across the country. You might even have exotic vacation plans.
But you don’t need to go far afield to have a great day out. Check your local parks and recreation department to see what kinds of family festivals or events are going on in your area. There might even be activity sessions or day camps where you can send the kids for a fun-filled day on the cheap.
If you’re not going away for vacation, there’s still a lot to explore in your local area. Luckily, in Arizona, there are plenty of fun family days out to be had. Families can spend the whole summer trying out these things and exploring with kids. Visiting national parks, museums or theme parks is always a fun day out!
You could also think outside the box. Check out local volunteering options if your kids are old enough. You could look into walking dogs together at the local animal shelter, or you could try making quilts or knitting blankets that you can donate to humanitarian causes. Volunteering together can really strengthen your bond and teach kids important life lessons. Plus, you get the feel good factor too!
Things to do at home
It feels great to get out and have mini-adventures in the summer. But with the heat, sometimes it feels just as good to stay home. There’s nothing better than getting the grill out and having a relaxed day in the back yard. You can get the kids involved with making fun foods like fruit kebabs or colourful salads. Check out these exciting summer recipes for kids. Depending on their age, they could even get into the entrepreneurial spirit and try setting up a lemonade stand.
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It’s easy to think we need to constantly keep the kids entertained and give them loads of activities to do all the time. But the truth is, kids love to entertain themselves! So don’t be afraid of having a few days here and there where you let them get bored. Kids are great at coming up with imagination play ideas and can make an epic water fight in the yard last for hours! Investing in some board games or sporting equipment like basketball hoops can keep kids entertained for hours. You can also check out a load of books at the local library for some peaceful reading in the afternoon sun.
As well as lots of play, summer is a perfect time to develop your child’s love of the arts. It doesn’t have to be expensive. Major grocery stores often have a craft section where you can pick up glue, paint and tissue paper on the cheap.
Why not set up a little crafting corner in your house? You could even take a big plastic sheet out into the yard and have them paint there. Don’t be afraid to let it all get a bit messy. Kids love the freedom to be creative! Pinterest is a great resource for inspiration. Or you can let the kids go to wild with their own imagination. You could display their crafty masterpieces around the home, or give them to family members as gifts. They could even make a little something for their new teacher in September.
Hazy summer days are always some of the best memories to look back on. So why not preserve these precious memories by making a summer scrapbook? It’s a perfect crafty project that the whole family can get involved with. You could buy a blank notebook and then fill it with photos, ticket stubs, flyers and doodles. Anything that reminds you of what you got up to this summer. Your kids can practice their handwriting and storytelling skills by writing little passages to go with the pictures. It’ll be a cute thing to look back on in the years to come!
Whatever you end up doing this summer, the time is sure to fly by! Treasure these summer days by filling them with special memories. Just remember, sometimes the best memories are those closest to home. So don’t worry if you’re not going on vacation or travelling the world. There are plenty of fun memories to be made with your kids in your local area, or even at home.
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