Top 10 Activities to Keep Your Kid Busy This Summer

1.    Create a go-to activity jar

This can be one of the very first activities you and your kids can do at the beginning of summer break.  Together, write down in colored pieces of paper, activities that you think you all will enjoy.  Put them in a jar and when boredom comes a knocking, make a game out of picking at random an activity or two!

2.    Whip out the Chore Chart

Children love it when they can “help” mommy or daddy.  Assign them simple responsibilities at home like watering the plants or keeping their toy box tidy.  Make it fun by keeping track of the chores they’ve done and reward them for their good work.  

Photo from flickr.com

3.    Plan and Implement a Big Family Project

What better time than summer to bond with your kids on a long-term home improvement activity that you all can work on together.  Build a tree house or barbeque pit, re-do your garden, make a vegetable plot or even paint and redecorate their rooms or cabinets.   Get them involved in planning, budgeting, getting supplies, and implementing the plan.  Not only do you get the opportunity to teach them new skills and values, you also get to have fun while and keeping them productive.  

Photography by David Hanson Ong (December 2007)

Click here to see more things to keep your child busy this summer.

[previous|page|next]

Read on to see more things to keep your child busy this summer.

4.    Get them into Sports

Summer sports clinics are a great way for kids to stay fit and active during the summer months.  Let your child try a new sport or support them in the sport they love by giving them the chance to hone their skills in an intermediate level sports clinic.  

Photo courtesy of the Younghusband Academy of Football

5.    Enroll them in a Summer Class

Do some research and find out the available classes and activities in your children’s school or in the neighborhood.  May it be art, cooking or music and dance, your children will have the opportunity to tap into what interests them and learn a thing or two.

Photography by Ocs Alvarez and Jun Pinzon (September 2006)

Click here to see more activities to keep your child busy this summer.

[previous|page|next]

Read on to see more activities to keep your child busy this summer.

6.    Enjoy Nature

Make it a point to expose your kids to all the fun and wonder that nature has to offer.  Take nature walks or go camping, go bird watching or just get to know the names of the trees and plants in your local park.    Being together while enjoying nature is educational, a lot of fun, and helps instill in children a love and caring for mother earth.

Photography by Ocs Alvarez

7.    Set play dates with classmates and friends

Summer need not be a time to lose touch with good friends at school.  Let your kids have fun with their friends by setting up simple play dates.  Keep computer gaming at a minimum and encourage interaction.  Take out a board game or do some crafts.  Make these play dates even more interesting by letting the kids help in making their own snacks.

 
Photography by David Hanson Ong (Jan-Feb 2007)

Click here to see more activities to keep your child busy this summer.

[previous|page|next]

Read on to see more activities to keep your child busy this summer.

8.    Take Family Weekend Getaways

Weekend getaways are perfect during summer.  Try to plan trips so that interaction and bonding with family and kin is given priority.  Go camping or visit a farm together.   You can also visit relatives in the province and spend an afternoon chatting with them.  Have a family tree chart handy as their reference when visiting kin.   Make these weekend getaways a means to create not only lasting memories but better relationships with your kids.

Photo from flickr.com

9.    Get them A-Crafting

Get your kids’ creative juices flowing by setting up an art or craft station.  Find out what your kids are interested in and provide materials for them.  Why not learn how to tie-die a shirt or learn how to scrapbook?  There are countless resources from books and websites that can help you and your child with whatever craft interests him.

Photography by David Hanson Ong (Jan-Feb 2007)

10.    Do volunteer work

Let your child have the opportunity to help those less fortunate.  Get in touch with organizations and foundations and find out what they need or if they accept volunteers to help them out for a day or two.  You and your child can sort through your old things and find toys, clothes and other items that can be donated.  Take him along when you drop off the things.