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Summertime

Activities To Do Before the Summer Gets Away From You

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Summer is already here, and that means it’s time to get out there and enjoy the nicer weather. It can be easy to put things off until it’s too late. If you need some inspiration, this list of activities you can do before the summer gets away from you should be valuable.

Plan That Family Camping Trip

Around April or May, it’s easy to say that you want to take the family camping this summer, but it’s much more difficult to actually pull it off. You must make sure you have all of the necessary gear for the campsite on top of checking to see if all of your kids packed everything they needed. Plus, you have to find a suitable campground site with activities that everyone will enjoy.

We get it—this can all be quite stressful. Fortunately, once you get there, it should be much smoother sailing. You can either kick back and relax or partake in some fun camping events.

Get Some House Projects Out of the Way

One thing that all dads like to put off when summer rolls around is the big house projects that need to get done this year. However, some of the best outdoor improvements can be the most rewarding in the end, which is why it’s so vital that you start now. That way, you can make sure you have plenty of time to admire your work and take advantage of its benefits. Plus, you can use the rest of the season for more fun excursions with the big project out of the way.

Set Up a Garage Sale

Unfortunately, we have another one for you that isn’t quite as fun but needs to get done. A garage sale is a summer activity that always has a habit of getting away from people. This is why you need to begin the season with a full-blown garage sale. We’re sure that your family has a ton of unused stuff that others will gladly buy from you. Even though you likely won’t make a ton of money from one of these, you can at least put it toward another fun activity.

Join a Sports Team

Let’s do something that’s just for Dad. Joining a local sports team is a great way to get some sun while participating in an activity that you enjoy. Whether you decide to play something that you did back in high school or try out something new, we’re sure you’ll have a blast with it. Who knows? You might even make some new friends that you can spend time with when you’re not at home.

Try Something New

At the end of the day, though, the goal of this article is to get you thinking about your options this summer. There are so many things to do, and we don’t know what you’ve already tried. That’s why it’s best to just get out there and do something you’ve never done before. You won’t regret it.

Out of the Box Ways To Enjoy a Summer Birthday

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Year after year, celebrating your kid’s summer birthday becomes more challenging as they seek new ways to have fun. Renting a space at the park or cake at the pool gets boring after doing it so many times. While the memories are all that matter, there are various out-of-the-box ways to enjoy a summer birthday that can bring a little variety. Let’s look at a few of those here!

Seasonal Toy Donation

Depending on your child’s age, they may be outgrowing some of the toys they used to play with. A birthday is an excellent time to donate old toys to create space for their new gifted toys. In addition to creating space, donating is a great way to teach them kindness and generosity. Consider donating old toys to a local shelter or a family in need to support the community.

Bonfire Bash

If you enjoy that traditional summer birthday by the pool, add an evening by the fire. This can be a unique way to help everyone wind down from a day full of activity, and bring everyone to a gathering place. Here, you can sing “Happy Birthday” and share stories about the birthday person.

Connect With Nature

Summer is the best time to head outdoors, soak up some sunshine, and enjoy what nature offers. Plan a day at the park or wilderness hiking and consider this an opportunity to connect with nature. While there may be some struggle getting young ones out the door for this activity, they will remember this and appreciate it in the years to come.

Look Into Local Events

Most towns and cities offer summer-long events that cater to one theme or another. Look into what your town offers the weekend of the child’s birthday and see if you can make it a family outing. These local events are often annual celebrations, so it’s an easy way to create a new tradition.

A Day Away

Planning a day away is a memorable and unique way to enjoy a summer birthday. Consider asking the birthday person where they would like to go for a day, and see what that place offers. Larger cities have museums, experiences, and exhibits that make great day trips. Another option for a day away is booking a hotel, packing a bag, and using your hometown as a mini-vacation destination.

Summer birthdays come with the added layer of more time to plan or party. Try not to overwhelm yourself with ideas, and always remember that it’s the memories that count the most.

Summer Suggestions your Kids will Never Forget

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When we’re younger, we don’t measure our lives by what year it is. We measure it by afternoons spent picking ripe blueberries, by days of seemingly endless sunlight, and by the cacophony of katydids as they harmonize with violin-plucking crickets.

Summers make a deep impression on us. They stay in our minds not because of family vacations to exciting places, but because they’re filled with magical firefly moments, fleeting, but forever special. You remember summer moments forever. And your children do too.

This year, give them a summer against which all others will be measured. You don’t have to go to the cerulean waters of the Caribbean or on an African safari to create a little magic. Instead, check out some of these activities that your kids will love and always remember.

1.     Hit the Beach

Just remember to pack the sunscreen, Dad. Though beaches are mainly coveted because they offer a cool escape from the summer heat, they’re also a great place for kids to play and learn. While you’re digging up shells, teach them about what used to live inside of them. And after you’ve completed the moat around the sand castle, try explaining where sand actually comes from. You’ll have tons of opportunities to teach them about the ecosystem, and you should take as many as you can. Not only will it enhance their experience, but they’ll think you’re brilliant.

2.     Did Someone Say Picnic?

Pick your favorite park, playground, or patch of grass in your yard and have a picnic. If it’s a dreary day, opt for spreading a blanket on your living room floor. Forget the misconception that they’re reserved for a certain time of day. Would you be excited to wake up to a breakfast picnic? Yep. And so would they.

3.     Grab a Movie

Sure, going to the regular movies is great too, but many areas offer unique movie viewing experiences. Take your children to a drive-in or see if your town shows any movies in the park. These experiences are outside of the norm, so while they may actually be cheaper than going to a theatre, your children will have a better time because it will be something new to them.

4.     Water Fight!

Want to get the award for being the coolest dad ever? Have a water fight on a hot day. Your kids get to run around outside, be cooled off, and have a lot of fun. Make it more interesting by inviting friends over and creating a game out of it. Capture the flag with water balloons? Kids vs. grownups? Awesome.

5.     Train rides

Whether you’ve got a destination in mind or it’s just for the scenery, train rides are a fun way to travel. Start with a visit to your local library to check out a book that relates to trains. Visit this website for some possibilities. There’s a lot of history laid down on the tracks and you and your family will be making your own history.

6.     Arts and Crafts

Help your kids create something that helps them remember their summer, and don’t worry: you won’t have to pretend to be Martha Stuart. Arts and crafts may not be entirely your forte, but how cool are tie dyed t-shirts, sculptures from clean household refuse, and pictures made by leaf rubbing? Pretty cool. Help them create their own, but don’t be left out. Spending time with you is the best part of this whole experience.

7.     Campout in the Backyard

Actually, you can camp anywhere and it’ll still be fun, but there’s something special about roasting marshmallows in your backyard. Plus, at home you won’t have to worry about all the what-ifs that accompany pitching a tent in the forest. So you’ll sleep easy, almost as if you were a few hundred feet away in your own bed.

8.      Go Fly a Kite!

Make your own kite. Visit PBS for complete instructions or buy a kite kit. It gives your children a sense of accomplishment and makes them feel really great watching their efforts soar hundreds of feet above their heads.

9.     ‘X’ Marks the Spot

What’s more fun than hunting around for things using a map?  …Nothing. And it doesn’t really matter what’s cached. You don’t even have to tell them. Just leave helpful clues, hints, and drawings on a map – they’ll be thrilled and entertained for quite some time (depending on your map making skills). Find a way to make it so you “discovered” the map and get in on the fun. Everyone wants to be a Goonie.

10.  Star Gazing

You don’t have to be Copernicus to teach your kids about the sky. Actually, you don’t really need to know anything about it at all. Google sky, mobile apps, and thousands of different books will help you and your children learn about the planets and constellations. Go ahead and make a night out of it: lay a blanket down, get some pillows, bring snacks, and don’t forget the bug spray.

11.  Read All About It

And not just at bedtime. If you want to impart a tradition that your children will maintain for the rest of their lives, read to them. Pick books that are of interest to all of you and make the reading interactive. If the main character encounters a problem ask, “What would you do?” or nurture their ability to predict by asking, “What do you think will happen next?” Changing your voice and acting theatrical will thoroughly engage your young audience. You’ll hear their applause when they say, “Read it again, Dad.”

Kids are always complaining how short the summer seems when it’s almost time to head back to school. With all these great activities, you will be too.

Be sure to take tons of pictures, or if you have a camcorder, videos too. Near the end of the summer, get together with the kids and compile a slideshow or video scrapbook. These are so much fun to make, and often hilarious to look back on later at family gatherings.

So let your inner kid out, and have the best summer you and kids could ever dream of!