We know that planning the summer activities can be a little bit hard. Organizing them, designing the right thing for each age, providing amusement, doing a variety of different things, and knowing when they’ll be tired. It can be a bit too much if you think about it all together, specially, when we’re talking about very young kids.
Little children can be very easy to entertain, nevertheless, there are some challenges. Keeping their attention for too long can be difficult, you have to think what will peak their interest and how you will approach it. They can be very open to trying new things, but sometimes they can also be very confined as to what they like to do. And even though they are little children, they don’t always like to be treated as such. So what are some good activities for them? Here we give you some ideas.
Nature Exploration .
We know that kids have a very active spirit, so what better way to use that energy than to go out and explore nature? Doing easy hikes while exploring will be something that they love. Try and set some challenges for them, like spotting certain animals, learning about the different types of trees, identifying plants or even collecting rocks that are shaped in strange ways. They will love it, do some exercise, and the best part, get some fresh air.
Storytime.
Reading a story by the fire before bedtime is something that will soothe them, get their attention and put a nice end to a great day. Maybe you can even add some S’mores (just be careful with the sugar rush). Another great idea is to get them to help you with the story; they can be the ones to tell it, or even act it out, let their imagination free, and you’ll be very surprised at the places it can take them.
Costume Party.
If there is something that kids love, it's dressing up as their favorite character. Organize a costume party! It can have a theme, like favorite movie character, favorite superhero, wild animals, or any other that you can think of. Kids will have a great time dressing up and watching what all of their friends chose to go as. You can also complement the party with themed snacks, decorations and activities.
Arts and Crafts.
Art is a great way for children to express themselves, use their creativity and show their uniqueness. There is no limit to a child’s imagination, and you’ll definitely see that when they start filling up a blank canvas. Simple art projects like finger painting, coloring, and using playdough also allow children to develop fine motor skills. And if you really want them to get excited, let them paint somewhere that will remain, like a wall where they can paint a mural as a group and even revisit it next year.
Building .
If their creativity runs wild on a blank page, imagine what kids can do when they actually build stuff. It can be as simple as handing them some Legos and giving them a task, like build your ideal spaceship. If you want to do something more elaborate you can set up a carpentry workshop to build very simple things, like little chests, picture frames or a birdhouse. Or if you really want to keep them occupied, do a pottery class in which they can create whatever shape they want, glaze it and keep it forever.
Cooking .
When we think of children in the kitchen we get nervous, nevertheless, we underestimate how much they like cooking and how easy it can be. Things like cooking pancakes, simple snacks, decorating cookies with frosting, or even getting them involved in the easy part of more complicated recipes, like mixing and pouring. You’ll be surprised at how happy they are when they get to taste the result.
Sports .
Playing and winning are two things that kids love, which is why sports are always a great option. They exercise while having fun, and they also learn to work as a team, help each other, and communicate with others. You might want to try out some games in which they all have to work together as opposed to making two opponent teams, this way, no one loses and they all have to help each other out in order to get to the finish line. Sports like this include ultimate frisbee, canoeing, archery and obstacle courses.
Board Games.
A good puzzle is always nice after a physical activity. Sometimes, kids will be too tired to run but not too tired to keep doing more things, so it’s important to organize activities that include mental activity. Board games stimulate various cognitive functions, including problem-solving, critical thinking, and spatial reasoning. They also help them exercise hand-eye coordination, visual perception and spatial awareness, and their memory.
