Fun Summer Activities for Kids
Summer break is just around the corner. While this might be exciting news for most kids, for many parents it’s not so much. Thinking of how to keep children occupied all summer is no easy task. And though summer camps are great, they’re often for older kids and usually just last for one or two weeks. Some may go for as long as seven to eight weeks, but not everyone is comfortable sending their kids away for that long.
Whether you’re sending your kids to summer camp for a few weeks, or they’re home with you for the summer break, here are a few fun summer activities for kids. The great thing is that you can share most of these with your child, but there are also many that kids can do alone.
Volunteer
The summer months are a great time to teach your kids the value of volunteering. Not only will it keep them busy, but it also has tremendous benefits such as allowing them to experience the value of serving others. We all know that it’s a good idea for young people to volunteer, but what about toddlers? Many parents have never thought about volunteering with their toddler or with younger children. With toddlers and younger children, the biggest difference is the level to which the parents will have to get involved. But, there’s no better way to teach your child about compassion and empathy than to model it yourself.
Now, there are several ways you can volunteer with your kids. You could clean up the environment or even start a food drive. For slightly older kids, you can ask for their input and even let them check for opportunities with some volunteer agencies. If you have a child who loves animals, the Charleston Animal Society accepts volunteers, so your child might be able to sign up there. For High School kids, try Wings for Kids. You can also visit volunteermatch.org to find kid-appropriate volunteer opportunities near you.
Volunteering does not just create opportunities for your child, but it also builds confidence, teaches them to serve others and helps them discover more about themselves and the kind of person they want to be.
Learn a Life Skill
Summer break is also a great opportunity to teach your child important life skills. Children are much more capable than we often give them credit for, and these skills will help them on their road towards independence.
There are so many life skills you can choose from. They will mostly depend on your preference as a parent. You can start by teaching them how to get their own breakfast if they don’t already know how to do that. Most 5-year-olds can get cereal from the carton into their cereal bowls without much incident.
Another life skill to teach your child is doing the laundry. Not only does it help the child when he finally leaves home for college, but it will also relieve you from some of the burden of that chore long before then.
Learn a New Language
Learning a new language is always fun. If you want your child to be fluent in a foreign language, then, according to researchers, the earlier you can start your kids on their bilingual journey, the better. If you can find a great teacher, your child is not just going to learn a new language, but will also have lots of fun. Best of all, this is an activity that will last well into the summer and maybe beyond that as well. And guess what? Studies have shown that learning a new language increases the cognitive skills of children. So, this will benefit your child in more ways than one.
Naturalists Adventure Day Camp
If you’re in Charleston, why not try the Naturalists Adventure Day Camp? It’s a fun summer camp that takes place every year. Your kids can experience boat rides and explore to their heart’s content. They will have lots of fun beach-combing on Capers Island or zip lining through trees as well as meeting and making new friends.
The wonderful thing about camps like these is that they help kids build resilience, an important part of their development that helps them face life without losing enthusiasm. Visit Nature Adventures to find out more about their summer day camp for kids.
True Beauty Princess Camp
Now, if playing the adventurer or adventuress isn’t your child’s thing, never fear. He or she can still enjoy camp this summer with the True Beauty Princess Camp.
This is run by Once Upon a Party, the people who provide themed parties of all sorts. This is a great way for your child to learn about true beauty in the context of Christian values. Find out more about it here.
Take Swimming Lessons
So, we talked about learning life skills, but we didn’t mention swimming because it is in a category of its own. Swimming is perhaps one of the most important life skills your little one can learn. Not only does it help ensure that your child stays safe, but it is also a great way to keep fit and get in some exercise during the summer months. Charleston Swim School provides swimming lessons for kids and adults in a safe and fun environment. Call us to ask about the exciting plans we’ve made for the summer. They even offer free swim lessons for infants under 6 months! So you can get your baby active also!
Regardless of what activities you decide to do, trying something new is a great way to help your kids stay active and engaged and make the most of their time this summer. Enjoy!
