Schools out and your week days have transitioned from full schedules and long pick-up lines to a free schedule. Your creativity now has to be in full force on how to keep everyone busy and entertained. Meanwhile, your 9 to 5 hasn’t changed and the kids’ idea of a fun day may just very well be sleeping in and watching their favorite show.
But that can’t last the whole summer, especially when the weather is nice and you want them outside or at least moving around. When school is out, it can turn into a stressful time trying to keep kids active when those programmed activities have ceased for a few months.
Additionally, you may find that this is the time of year where they have the most freedom to be active and participate in activities they don’t have time for during the school year.
But most importantly, the need to stay active this summer really relates directly towards the health of your kids. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), 1 in 5 kids aren’t getting the recommended amount of physical activity and this can affect their heart health. In just 1 hour a day, you can help set your kids (and possibly yourself) up for healthy habits that can strengthen your body AND can be fun.
So if you find yourself in a spot where you are dreading the last day of school because now you become the programmer of all things fun, take a look at these fun things that will keep your kids active this summer.
1. Summer Sports
This is probably the most common but I want to start here so that you can find gaps in your summer schedule that can allow for these extended activities that may last a week to a month.
These may take up larger chunks of time and require a little advanced planning. Sign your kids up for a local recreational camp to learn how to play certain sports- bonus points if you have neighbor kids who want to join them.
Church camps are also fun and exciting ways to introduce kids to a different social group while also engaging in educational lessons too. Both are fun, low cost ways to get kids active this summer, especially during the work week. Additionally, local soccer, tee ball, swim, basketball, hockey, ice skating, martial arts classes are usually running during the summer although they may take place in the evening or on weekends.
There are many opportunities to get kids involved in a team sport or a social activity to learn team building, conflict resolution, sport specific skills, and make friends!
2. Obstacle Courses
These are always fun and may take a little creativity to first set up but trust me, the kids will want to build their own once they see how fun it is! Grab any kinds of toys that promote balance or coordination. Have them slide down the slide, then balance across rocks or stepping stones, then hop over a rope or sticks, and finally race around the yard. It’s a fun way to get kids moving! This can be done inside too with a broom, pillows, chairs (to crawl under), etc.
3. At-Home Workout Equipment
What better way to learn than by modeling what a good workout looks like? Let them roll your mat out and show them how to do a push-up or plank. Take turns trying out different exercises and let them be a part of something that is also important for your health too!
4. Hiking / Trails / Exploring
Head out to a local park that has trails or explore a creek or river near your house. A lot of local parks will also have walk ways that can add a lot of steps onto your day. Movement doesn’t need to be difficult – you just need to move! While exploring, be on the look out for fun things in nature. Bugs, certain plants, animals, etc. The entertainment can just be nature itself and before you know it, the trail leads you right back to the start (better yet if it leads to a playground!)
5. Schools and Other Local Activities
Maybe you don’t want to get your hiking boots out or go on a long trail to check out nature. Instead, head to your local school track and run around. These public places are great (when not in use by a team or other school activities.) My kids love to race each other. On a standard size track, 4 times around is 1 mile! Also, you may consider going to a local sledding hill, baseball diamond, or somewhere that is used seasonally. You can get a timer out to see if they can “beat their time” at any of these places. It’s an easy way to keep the kids busy and active this summer!
6. Chalk
Don’t feel like leaving the house? I’m serious, grab chalk. Make home scotch, draw and obstacle course they have to get creative with. (walk the line, hope over the circles, or hope on one foot down the zig zag line) Show them how to play Four Square, or draw consecutive boxes and make a chalk agility ladder. Again, so long as it isn’t raining, this is always a viable option!
7. Inflatable Activities
Get that inflatable bounce house out of your basement and use it outside. You can set down a tarp or blanket to protect it from sticks and sharp objects. Moving something that children are used to having indoors feels like a whole new experience! Bonus points if you buy a water park inflatable and really commit to outdoor usage. Our favorite places to find good prices on inflatables are: Costco, Walmart, and Amazon. We’ve even heard that Aldi’s at one point was selling inflatable pools. They are out there people!
8. Guided Workouts
This one isn’t outside to enjoy the benefits of the sun and fresh air however, there won’t always be perfect days, right? There are wonderful videos that encourage movement on YouTube. Some suggestions are: Cosmic Kids Yoga and Juice & Toya (HIIT training for adults + kids)
9. Outdoor Facilities
This one is a given but I figured I’d mention it. There are so many nature-based facilities that have outdoor activities, splashpads, nature centers for education and animal sight-seeing, etc. Then of course you have amusement parks and outdoor malls which can help increase your steps for the day. And of course the zoo!
Now some of these aren’t mind-blowing and they aren’t supposed to be. What I do hope you get from this is that we only have a few months before the kids are back in school and busy as ever. Instead of dreading the time away from school, find fun things that they can do – ones that need minimal set-up and intervention too.
I hope this inspires you to plan something or use these in a situation where you simply need to keep your kids active this summer. No matter what the plan is, they will absolutely appreciate your effort, even if it sounds more like complaining for a popsicle afterward.
Enjoy this time with them and get creative!
Looking for a challenge you can do with the kids? Check out this 7-Day Challenge that is sure to get everyone moving.
