My childhood summers hold some of my best memories. Those days were magical to me. To this day, I love, love, love SUMMER! I spent most of my summers on the beach in Florida searching for the perfect seashell. (I still have my collection of seashells to this day) My days were never rushed and there was plenty of time for boredom, exploring, and play, yet somehow they were packed with iconic “summer” activities that just seemed to happen spontaneously (eating watermelon, barbecues, going out for ice cream, playing miniature golf….) I want those kind of days for my kids. I have created a list of things that will help you recreate that kind of summer for you and your family.
1. Examine nature through a magnify glass. You will be amazed at what you find.
2. Make Superhero capes. This is such a simple activity that can provide the most fun. Everybody deserves to be a superhero.
3. Make Friendship bracelets. I used to love making friendship bracelets when I was a pre-teen. You could never have too many.
5. Camp in your backyard. No summer is complete without a night of backyard camping. Pitch a tent, make s’mores, and tell campfire stories!
6. Go on a Picnic.
7. Play Car Wash. A car wash is probably one of the few chores that can be turned into playtime. Get out the buckets, rags, bubbles and LET THEM GO AT IT!
8. Feed the Ducks. Pack up the kids, head to the park and feed the ducks. You can even make a half day trip out of it, packing a lunch and hanging by the playground.
9. Put on a Puppet Show.
10. Make a solar oven and cook s’mores.
11. Make & fly a kite.
12. Pool Noodle Obstacle Course.
13. Have a tea party and invite all of your stuffed animals.
15. Run through sprinklers.
16. Eat watermelon slices that look like smiles.
17. Eat ice cream, eat LOTS of ice cream.
18. Play tag.
19. Play flashlight tag at night.
20. Stargaze.
21. Cloud Watch.
22. Go Roller skating.
23. Unplug for a full day.
24. Take pictures. Take LOTS of pictures.
25. Make wishes on dandelions.
26. Play with squirt guns.
27. Play with water balloons.
29. Play Hopscotch. Bonus: This is a great way to reinforce numbers, letters and sight words with your little ones.
30. Draw with Sidewalk Chalk.
31. Make homemade ice cream. Your kids will be amazed at how easy it is to make ice cream.
32. Drink rootbeer floats. All you need is vanilla ice cream and rootbeer for this delicious summer treat.
33. Chase butterflies during the day.
34. Chase fireflies at night.
35. Go to the library.
36. Read a good book.
37. Build an indoor fort using sheets, pillows and furniture.
38. Lemonade stand.
40. Go fishing.
41. Play in the rain. Growing up in Florida, it rained every summer afternoon. Some of my favorite memories with my mom are laughing, singing and dancing in the rain.
42. Ride a roller coaster and yell at the top of your lungs. Lucky for us, we have Carowinds right here in our backyard.
43. Day trip to the beach.
44. Take a nature hike.
45. Attend a summer festival. (check out CSP’s article of Summer Activities)
46. Send a postcard.
47. Go miniature golfing or set up a putting green in your backyard.
49. Play hide and seek.
50. Play kickball
51. Host a family game night.
52. Play croquet.
54. Take a train ride.
55. Visit the zoo.
56. Make a time capsule.
58. Stay in your pjs all day.
59. Make pinwheels.
61. Day trip to the mountains.
62. Volunteer at the local animal shelter to walk the dogs.
63. Host a neighborhood movie night.
64. Make a hanging bird feeder using cheerios.
65. Make your own kaleidoscope.
66. Invest in a slip and slide.
67. Patriotic Hand Print Flag Craft.
69. Have a family summer barbeque.
70. Light up the night playing with sparklers.
Smarties, what is your favorite summer memory?
