School is out for the summer, leaving many parents wondering how they’ll keep their kids entertained.
Many kids want to sit around playing video games all day, but this doesn’t really provide anything beneficial to your children.
There are a variety of things that your child can do to be entertained while gaining something beneficial, and you can even join them for some family fun.
Check out our list of healthy summer activities for kids.
1. Sports & Exercise
Sports are at the top of the list of healthy activities for kids because they provide several benefits such as friendship and good health.
There are many sports to play such as soccer, basketball, football, baseball, and more. Every sport involves physical activity that increases the heart rate and helps kids to burn off excessive energy.
Sports also teach children comradery because many sports involve teams. This teamwork-based environment will help your child earn new friends and learn how to treat people respectfully.
The great thing about sports is that they can be played anywhere. Parks often have basketball hoops and fields with nets, and there are numerous gyms that offer sports’ programs.
Another really great form of exercise is hiking. San Francisco offers many hiking trails that can easily be accessed to give your child a physical activity to do while also connecting with nature.
2. Summer Camp
Summer camps are great, not only for your child but for you, as well!
There are many different kinds of summer camps that involve sports, religion, outdoor activities, and more.
Sending your child to a camp is a great way to get them more involved with the activities that they’re interested in! If your child plays soccer, a soccer camp is useful because they’ll get more serious training.
These camps are also beneficial to you because your kids will have something to do, meaning you will get more free time to do the things that you enjoy that you can’t take them along to do.
3. Cook Together
Cooking is one of the best healthy family activities to do, and it’s fun for everyone, especially when it’s summertime.
Having your child help you cook will make them feel important, and it will give them something to focus on rather than running around the house.
During the summer, cooking outside becomes an option. This means that you and your child can cook on the grill while also doing outside activities, like playing with the dog!
Another benefit to cooking is that it will teach your child ahead of time rather than them learning when they become adults. Get ready to have them make breakfast!
4. Go to a Cinema
Seeing a movie is an affordable activity that the whole family can partake in. When you don’t know what to do on a Friday night, there’s always a variety of films showing at your local theater.
Today, there are more films for children than ever! With films like Toy Story, The Lion King, and Aladdin, your child can enjoy something that visually pleases them.
Many films targeted towards children often teach the importance of friendship and being kind to one another, which means that the experience is actually quite educational.
Sequels are very popular amongst children’s films which give your child something to look forward to and talk about amongst their friends.
Movies also spark creativity. With toys and imagination, children often imitate their favorite movie characters with each other.
5. Visit a Museum
Visiting a museum is a very educational experience, and it benefits your child because it provides them more knowledge about the history of our world.
Many modern exhibits have interactive features, such as virtual displays and audio. Some museums even use machines to make things like dinosaurs “come to life.”
With the number of things that there are to do in a single museum alone, it’s very difficult to become bored and your child won’t stop being interested.
6. Artwork
Art is a way to give kids a creative outlet and it’s important for their development. It’s also one of the most affordable summer activities at home.
With art, your child can learn motor skills, decision making, and how to focus. The number of benefits that art provides is endless, these are just some of them.
Art is very inspirational to children, that is why visiting a museum is such a great activity to do. When they see paintings in a museum, they want to go home and make a painting, as well.
Encouraging artwork as something they should do and complimenting their work will boost their confidence because they will receive positive reinforcement for something that they’ve done.
Even something like Lego is a great way for your child to express themselves and learn important skills.
7. Travel
Traveling allows your child to see the world for how big it is and experience new things that they can’t in their own city.
If you live in a place where it snows even during “Summer,” taking your kid to a place like Miami, Florida would be a great change of pace for them.
They would be able to see new things, swim in the ocean, and enjoy the warm weather.
Traveling furthers your bond with your children because you are with them the entire time, and it gives everyone an opportunity to learn more about each other.
Taking your child with you is also an unsaid hint that you care for them. Them seeing that you want to bring them will make them happy, making the whole experience a great time.
Final Word on Summer Activities for Kids
Whether it be baseball or drawing, there’s always something for your kid to do that doesn’t involve being a zombie at a computer screen.
With this list, you now know several summer activities for kids that you can get involved in without having to spend a ton of money. These activities will keep your children engaged and learning.
Feel free to take a look at our post about some quick tips for healthy kids.