4 Best Summer Activities for Kids

Every summer, when the school year ends, parents worldwide have to plan a series of activities to keep their kids engaged all through the summer months. This is a unique opportunity to make special memories with the family that will last all year round. Here are the best ideas for summer activities with your kid this year.

Go on a Kid-Friendly Cruise

A cruise ship is one of the best vacation locations to visit with your kids. Cruise ships cater to both adults and children alike. For the kids, the vessel offers supervised play activities and often has spacious play areas for kids of different ages with age-appropriate toys and games. There are family dining areas, kids’ clubs and family activities, family cabins, and babysitting services that allow parents to have some time alone when they need to.

Some parents have safety concerns regarding cruise ships. However, according to a team of cruise ship accident lawyers at ILawyerUp, whether on the cruise ship itself, on land, or during an excursion, the cruise line is still responsible for maintaining a safe environment. For this reason, cruise ship accidents are rare and far between, making these vessels one of the safest places to take your kids this summer.

Plan a Family Movie Night Every Weekend

Bedtime can be as late as you want all summer, so feel free to plan movie nights every weekend and make it a ritual that the children look forward to. You can do this every Friday and Saturday and on both days. To prepare for movie night, get a lot of popcorn and snacks to make it extra special for the kids.

Allow the kids to participate in more than just seeing the movie by assigning roles to everyone. Let someone be responsible for the snacks; someone else could set up the pillows and stuffed animals. You could add a twist by picking a colour theme for each night, e.g. everyone shows up in pink PJs. A parent should be in charge of choosing the movie, which you should do days before movie night. Also, pre-screen the film to ensure it is good enough for everyone. This will minimize interruptions of these special nights and make it more memorable for the entire family.

Plan a Family Fruit Picking Day

Plan a few fruit-picking days over the entire summer. Some fun fruits for the whole family include strawberries, apples, cherries, plums, etc. A good tip for fruit picking with kids is to go early so you get there just when the farms open. This way, you can avoid waiting in long lines with kids, as they may get restless or impatient if they have to wait in line for too long. Another reason to go early is to avoid the sun, as some summer days can be pretty hot. Remember to take some sunscreen. The farms are filled with bugs and sharp plants, so everyone should dress in long sleeves, pants and closed-toe shoes. Some farms are cash only, so remember to bring some cash with you.

To spice things up, you can also plan to visit a local farm to see some farm animals so that the kids do not get bored with just fruit picking. Many farms have arrangements where you can come and visit as a family. These farms are often situated in the countryside, but you can also find a few in the city. Farm visits allow kids to see how animals are raised and offer an important lesson about nature. Animals they’ll see on the farm include chickens, goats, cows, pigs. They’ll also learn the difference between the various kinds of farms, e.g. a fruit farm versus a dairy farm. Before visiting farm animals, ensure the kids know to get permission from an adult before touching an animal and that they wash their hands after petting livestock.

Take a Parent and Kids Cooking class.

There are endless summer activities and play ideas for kids, but cooking with kids will always be at the top. Cooking with your children not only encourages family bonding; it also teaches independence and provides an opportunity for you to teach the kids about healthy diets. Before you take their kids on their first cooking class, make sure you do some practice in your home kitchen. Teach them to use kitchen tools and utensils and have them practice some skills, such as cutting up fruits and veggies with an appropriate knife, using a bender, rolling pastry, etc., so that they’re not total amateurs in the cooking class.