How to Keep Your Kids Entertained Over Summer Break ? A Healthier ...

Summertime is finally upon us, but to some parents that can mean stressful weeks to come. Entertaining kids each day, every day can be exhausting, to say the least. Whether you?re a stay-at-home parent or work out of the home, here are some summer activities you can enjoy with your kids to have a stress-free and fun summer!

Planned Projects

These summer projects take a little planning and organizing by the adults, but will be completely worth it in the end:

• Start a kid?s book club and exchange
• Summer camp (day or extended)
• Start a garden
• Open a lemonade stand
• Volunteer
• Hold a garage sale
• Treasure/coin hunt
• Water gun war
• Organize and donate
• Organize a neighborhood band (have them practice and then have a concert for the parents)
• Shoot your own short movie
• Summer video/photo log/journal
• Recycle day (go around the neighborhood asking for things that can be recycled)

Schedule a Field Trip

Here are some activities to get your family out of the house no matter what the weather:

Sunny Days

• Zoo
• Park or playground
• Beach
• Fishing
• Picnic
• Farm or orchard
• Swimming pool
• Carnival or festival

Hot/Rainy Days

• Museum
• Science or nature center
• Library
• Mall
• Movie Theater
• Bowling
• Eat at a new restaurant
• Visit a family member or friend

Lazy Days at Home

Having fun doesn?t always have to cost money. Here are some fun?things to do at home this summer:

• Build a fort (indoors or out)
• Encourage creativity (painting, coloring, drawing etc.)
• Dress up
• Put together a jigsaw puzzle
• Play board games
• Play charades
• Play catch in the yard
• Wash the car
• Fly a kite
• Collect bugs or catch butterflies
• Make cards for upcoming family and friend birthdays or special occasions
• Make sock puppets
• Have a spa day at home (paint nails, massages, etc.)
• Water balloon toss games
• Get out the sprinkler
• Play cards

More project ideas including making homemade ice cream in 5 minutes!

If you are crafty, here are some project ideas from Martha Stewart.

Some themes to help organize your days this summer:

• Make it Monday
• Two for Tuesday
• Wacky Wednesday
• Trivia Thursday
• Field Trip Friday

It is important to give children and kids down time where there are no activities scheduled. Letting them daydream, doodle or rest is as vital in their growth and development as learning through activities.

What fun activities do you have planned for your family this summer?

Photo credit: wsilver

Angela Jenkins

Angela is a certified health coach at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan who writes about physical activities and healthy eating habits here on A Healthier Michigan. She enjoys spending time with her husband and young daughter. Her passions include family, health and helping others accomplish their wellness goals.

Twitter - More Posts

Related posts:

1. No Child Left Inside Week
2. No Child Left Inside Week
3. For Summer Parties: Focus On Friends And Family, Not Food
4. Summer Feasting-Time
5. 30 Minutes of Daily Physical Activity Can Prevent Obesity For Kids Too

Tagged as: exercise, healthy habits, outdoors, parenting

Source: http://www.ahealthiermichigan.org/2011/06/02/how-to-keep-your-kids-entertained-over-summer-break/

detroit tigers mega millions winning numbers dallas morning news pepsi channel 9 news border morse code