July 10, 2013
10 Ways to Put a Personal Family Spin on Summer
Summer is officially here – it’s crazy hot, the kids are out of school, and family time and activities are at their very height. It’s so easy for families to get lost in television or electronic devices (especially when it’s too hot to go outside!) so here’s a list of 10 things you can do with your child that put a personal, family-oriented spin on traditional summer activities.
1. Make homemade ice cream. Who doesn’t love ice cream in the summer? Instead of driving to your nearest Dairy Queen, make ice cream at home with the kids and have a sundae night where everyone can customize their toppings and flavors. The best thing about making it at home? You can have it any time, and you can tailor every recipe for children with allergies or dietary restrictions. Homemade summer!
2. DIY, kitchen style. Your kids are at home now…put them to work! Summer is a great time to teach your kids some tricks in the kitchen. When I was a child, my mother taught my little brothers how to make pickles, and was always giving my sister and I lessons on baking. Spending the afternoon in the kitchen is not only productive, but you’re teaching your children life skills about how to cook, bake and provide for themselves. Plus there’s always something really delicious to enjoy at the end.
3. Shared reading. One of my fondest memories growing up was when my father and I both read the same copy of Where The Red Fern Grows at the same time. Two different bookmarks, one book. I felt so special to be reading something at the “same level” as my dad, and to be introduced to one of his all-time favorite stories. This is a great way to have some individual time with your children as well, while also encouraging them to keep up their summer reading.
4. Plan a party! Chances are your kids have lots of neighborhood friends, and how often do kids get to have a party outside of their birthday? Let them pick the theme and the menu, and then make the decorations at home instead of buying them at the store. A themed cocktail menu for the adults makes the party friendly for all ages!
5. Go on a family bike ride. This is a fun, free way to enjoy an evening and get some exercise. I know I just extolled the virtues of homemade ice cream, but a stop at the DQ was always a good incentive for family bike rides for my siblings and I.
6. Take day trips. Rather than focusing on a big, expensive vacation, plan a day trip with your kids to some place close that has a fun cultural or historical attraction. It could be a museum, a landmark, or a national state park – pack a picnic and take the opportunity to teach your kids about something new!
7. Create a list of summer goals. Just because it’s summer, that doesn’t mean everything has to stop. Put a kick in your family’s summer by coming up with a list of family goals you plan to accomplish together throughout the summer. This could be anything from taking on a new activity, to rotating the cooking every week, to committing to reading a certain amount of books or learning something new. Crossing things off a list always feels awesome.
8. Eat new foods. Summer produce is gorgeous, bright and colorful. Take the opportunity to teach your kids about seasonal eating and new types of produce by shopping at the farmer’s market. Challenge everyone to pick out something they’ve never tried before and then come up with a new recipe that you all share. Food made fun, and educational!
9.Take some one-on-one time. An important part of a family’s dynamic is making sure each child feels special and like they are receiving individual attention. Have you and your partner plan separate outings with each of your children for a little parent/child time and do something fun and different. You become parent of the year, and your kid feels pretty good too.
10. Remind your kids that it’s okay to be bored. Summer is the perfect time for your kids to exclaim about how bored they are when nothing is happening. As my mother always said, “It’s good for you to be bored sometimes.” And while it really annoyed me when I was a kid, it’s actually become a very healthy mantra for me as an adult. Be bored together, hang out. Not every day has to be the most exciting day of your life – sometimes it’s nice to just hang out as a family and do nothing.
