How Can I Make Summer Fun At Home?

Don’t fall into the summertime trap of boredom and video games. Use these quick tips to make summer fun at home.

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Summertime is here and moms everywhere are dreading those whiney complaints. You know the ones.

“Mom, I’m bored. There’s nothing to do. Can I play all-day-every-day on my Nintendo? And then I’ll complain some more.”

Ahhhhhhhh…

This summer, break the cycle and make summer fun at home.

Psst… for a more detailed summer schedule at home you can click here.

Engage Them

Let’s be real, you want some real fun and engaging activities without all the prep-work and planning.

I’ve gotcha!

• Participate in your local public library, YMCA, church, or local community programs.
• Engage them with a subscription box that peeks their interest. It could be a book box, science kit, travel (geography) box, culinary kit, or whatever. There are so many options.
• Teach them how to play outside games or bored games with each-other, and invest in some new team effort toys.
• Have them take a creative class of some sort. It can be online or in person. There are numerous music, art, or technology courses available (some are even free though your local state education system).
• Have daily discussions about their interests, likes, and dislikes. This will help you know how to engage them further.

Kids thrive when they are being engaged in fun learning. Plus, it will really make summer fun at home.

Get a daily summer routine here, including times!

Teach Life Skills

Life skills- the skills necessary to maintain oneself and home properly.

It’s not up to the school system to teach life skills to your children. And, so much of the year is spend learning academics… away from the home.

Take advantage of this time with the kids home to help them learn some important life skills. You know, how to take care of themselves and their home.

This has some real benefits.

• First of all, kids will find gratification and self fulfillment when they can be good helpers. Working hard is great for overall moral.
• Secondly, acquiring life skills prepares them for the future.
• Thirdly, these type of home-helping, family-fortifying skills teach responsibility and teamwork.
• Lastly, your house will be cleaner and your garden watered.

Build on Their Interests

Learning is totally interest driven. Summertime is a special time when parents can assist in their children’s “want to learn” by building on their interests.

This is how to make summer fun at home.

And, assist them in any further educational endeavors.

• Have daily talks about what sparks their interest and what they enjoy doing.
• Provide opportunities for them to explore these interests.
• Read across a wide spectrum of genres, reading levels, and modes.
• Spend time outdoors exploring nature and building inquiry skills (through journaling, picture taking, or scavenger hunts).
• Allow them to express themselves through art, music, dance, or other creative outlet.

Do Food Well to Make Summer Fun at Home

Food can be art. Food can be education. Hey… food can even be fun!

And, food is done every day.

Have you ever thought about using the thing you already do (cook dinner, provide lunch, etc.) as a way to have fun with your kids? Summer is perfect for things like this.

Here are some summer food ideas:

• Have a weekly/monthly culture themed food menu.
• Include your kids in the creation and execution of your shopping list.
• Teach them (age appropriate) meals that they can cook and allow them to “feed the family.”
• Get creative with your snacks and meals. Make sea monsters or spiders out of your cookies, etc.
• Have a “try a new food” day where everyone tries something they have never eaten before.