Congrats moms! We made it to the end of a school year like no other! These past few months have made it crystal-clear to me that I chose the right profession. Not that we didn’t know this before, but teaching is not for the faint at heart. And truth be told, Camp Williams has been in effect since May. *wink*
Summer’s here and a lof of parents are left wondering what to do with their young kids this summer, especially in light of COVID-19.
Some feel they’re left with no choice but to put their kids in summer camp. But if you’re still nervous about sending the kids anywhere and/or just looking for some really cool things to keep them entertained this summer, here are some fun ideas at home, in your neighborhood, or in your region.
Virtual Playdates
While I’m all “Zoomed out”, virtual playdates have been a lifesaver for us – especially for Averie, who really missed her pre-K friends. Of course some playdates can be more formal, but my little girl loves to grab the phone/tablet and have a ball with her friends in her room. Here’s a little playdate inspiration.
Daily Walks
When quarantine started, I was determined to make it a habit to take the kids for neighborhood walks. It’s funny how you don’t take notice of the cool things that are right in your backyard. We’ve gone to local parks and walked the business corridor, which has helped the kids become more aware of their surroundings. They’ve made observations that they probably wouldn’t have noticed otherwise with all the hustle and bustle. We make walks fun by playing a game of I-spy or having a scavenger hunt (the kids love that part!).
Put That Square Footage to Use
After 10 years of being homeowners, we finally decided to make over our small backyard. It was always on our “to-do” list, but well… #rona. LOL We had a privacy fence installed, laid sod, and planted pretty hydrangeas. Add some outdoor string lights, comfortable seating, cushions, and folding tables and we are in business! We just wanted to make the space feel more homey, comfortable, and inviting for the whole family. So now, on those days when we have to get work done and the kids are dying to go outside, they are free to play soccer, read a book, or have a little water play. Plus, it’s a good change of scenery for them – and can easily be done on a budget (more on that later).
Water Play
As I mentioned above, we invested in a splash pad for the kids, and dusted off the water table from when Asa was a few years old. This is a great option when you or the kids don’t want to get entirely wet. It really keeps them engaged for hours.
Get Physical
If you have the room to spare, set up an obstacle course in your yard that will keep the kids busy, give them a little bit of physical activity, and of course save you a little bit of energy as well.
Gardening
This has been therapeutic for the whole family during these stressful times, and a great way to get the kids excited about science. Each morning we look forward to watering the plants and checking the tomato plants that hubby planted some weeks ago. You can always start from scratch and buy the materials needed to plant a seed, or just do like we did and go to your local hardware store and grab some pretty plants that are ready to go.
Learning new recipes
This came in handy especially for me because when I was trying to work from home, work on my business, and teach for the past few months. I got stuck trying to complete projects because of having to prepare meals and snacks. Pull up some easy kid-friendly recipes on sites like Pinterest. What I found, especially with an autistic child, is that kids are more likely say eat healthy food when they’re involved in preparing and cooking it. It also doesn’t hurt that Asa can help his little sister when she wants something to eat.
GoNoodle
A parent from Asa’s school put us hip to this site, which is a really great alternative to games or your typical YouTube channel where the kids are just watching the screen. GoNoodle is a dance, movement, mindfulness, and meditation site which is a free for families. Our little ones have really gotten into yoga and meditation, and are even excited about things like counting money and how the heart works.
Take in Local Attractions
We knew we wanted to take the kids somewhere this summer, but where could we go that was safe? We’ve got a running list of local attractions that are now open to the public while still offering plenty of room for social distancing. For instance, a few local orchards have “pick-your-own” hours where you can purchase passes in advance for a certain window, and when you arrive, the family can enjoy picking seasonal fruits and vegetables to take home and enjoy. The Safari Drive-Thru at Six Flags is a great alternative if your kids get really excited about animals, but you aren’t ready for being close to the general public. It’s a win-win!
These are just a few things that we’ve come up with that of really made a difference in how our kids are spending their summer at home. Let me know damp a low what you think of these ideas or if you have any more to add to the list.