*Please note I was gifted Micro Scooters in order to facilitate this product review. All opinions are 100% mine and my sons’!
The song “School’s Out” by Alice Cooper keeps playing over and over in my mind. The boys have been home for a week and I am so glad that I prepared for the numerous times (already) that I would hear, “I’m bored”.
Ways to Keep Kids Active This Summer!
POOL TIME
Summertime is synonymous with super sunny days and heat. Where I live it is warm all year round but especially hot and humid during the summers. Pools are the perfect plan for some hours of fun and exercise. My boys love to play basketball or volleyball in our pool. Other fun games to play include:
- Marco Polo
- Monkey in the Middle (I was always the one in the middle and despised it, so make sure they are alternating positions)
- Swimming races
- Handstand competitions
- Diving or jumping competitions
BEACH TIME
We live so close to the beach but never go. It’s terrible. And when we do go it is more than likely because we have out-of-town visitors or it’s to the dog beach with Sadie. Lame.
When we do actually get around to going, we end up having a GREAT time and wonder why we never go more often. It’s so funny.
Beaches are fun for so many reasons. The kids can swim in the ocean, search for seashells or build sandcastles. I remember when I was little and we would go to the beach, I would always find a new friend to play with. Isn’t it amazing how kids can just find a complete stranger (another kid of course) and play like they’ve been friends for years, to only leave a few hours later and probably never see them again.
PLAYGROUND
We have so many beautiful parks with cool jungle gyms and swing sets. Apply that sunscreen and let the kids have at it! My boys used to make up stories like that they were on a ship (the jungle gym) and needed to get to shoer as soon as possible before the rains came. Their imaginations can run wild!
Pack a picnic lunch and fully enjoy the great outdoors!
MOVIE DAY
Movies are perfect for those rainy days when you’re cooped up inside. Movie Day can be at the theater or right in your family room. If you choose to go to a theater, check around for theaters that offer discounted movies (sometimes there are theaters that show older movies and charge a nominal amount).
If you choose to stay home, pop some popcorn, grab blankets and pillows and all cuddle on the couch for their favorite flick. This is my favorite thing to do because I get in some quality cuddling time too!
INDOOR PLAY PLACES
We have a few of indoor play places where, for a fee, your children can have fun on their indoor jungle gym, bounce houses, trampolines – you name it! I love the trampoline and bounce house places because aside from just being plain cool – there’s a lot of exercise going on there too!
OUTDOOR EXPLORATION
Are there any local nature preserves or zoos in your area? Don a pair of binoculars and check out the wildlife right outside your door! We have all kinds of birds and lizards that come to visit and we love to watch them.
PLAY DATES
Scour the neighborhood and previous classes for friends that are staying local this summer. Plan play dates with the parents and fill that schedule!
We are thankful to live in a community with a handful of friends only a street or two away. My boys love to jump on their bikes or now their new Sprite Micro Scooters, and meet their friends at the community basketball court or go to their houses to swim or play football. We can’t get them off the Sprite scooters – I took one for a spin around my living room when we first got them and they are fun!!
Here’s a little video the boys made to show you how easy it is to get where you need to go – and thumbs up for the break in the back!
There are so many other scooters and kickboards to choose from – even one that is part luggage, part scooter!
Well, I hope these tips help you plan some fun and active adventures with your little ones! What do you have planned for the summer vacation? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below!
Steve Weber says
I think I would get the silver!
Dana says
Great choice Steve! Good luck!
Susan says
Great ideas! You really can’t go wrong with the beach or pool. We also like playgrounds with a splash pad!
As for the scooter, I’d probably get a red one!
Emma says
My daughter rides her scooter almost every day – she would love to give this one a try!
Dana says
Emma, it is such a great scooter – good luck! What color would you choose if you win?
Joules (from Pocketful of Joules) says
I love taking my 4 year old to the beach because he is happy to spend hours playing in the sand as long as we have snacks! The red one is cute!
Marie says
These are great ideas! We love going to the zoo and playing Marco Polo. If I won one of these scooters I would totally get the chartreuse one because it is super bright and because both my son and daughter would love the color.
Dana says
Thank you Marie! What’s Going to the Zoo? I’d love to teach the boys some new games. I wish you luck on the giveaway!! 🙂
Kathleen Kennedy-Leon says
great ideas to keep the kids on the move. if we won your giveaway, we’d like to win a blue scooter-that’s my son’s favorite color
Dana says
Thank you Kathleen! We have the blue and it is really nice!! Good luck!
Chrishelle Ebner says
So many great ideas to fight off boredom this summer. I know my kids live in the pool this time of the year. Great tips.
Dana says
Thank you Chrishelle! The pool is the place to be when it is so super hot out!
Catherine Sargent says
These are all great ways to stay busy over the summer. We spend a lot of time at the pool and beach.
Dana says
The pool and beach are perfect as ways to keep the kids active and have some fun!
Jennifer Rote says
LOVE the met purple color. But since I only have boys, I’d have to pick the blue. lol
Dana says
The purple is gorgeous! The blue or the chartreuse are nice too for boys 🙂
Jenn @ EngineerMommy says
It’s so important to keep the kids active during the summer. We’re always on the go and we try to give the kids activities that they enjoy that keep them busy. These are awesome ways to keep the kids busy!
Dana says
I completely agree with you Jenn! I’m glad you liked the ideas – if you have any new ideas I’d love to add them to the list.
Heather says
We’ve already done indoor play places and some parks. The kids haven’t had much pool time because my gym membership expired…will renew one day. These are all great ideas to keep the kids having fun and cool this summer.
Dana says
Thanks Heather! It’s hard to keep them active for an entire summer, right? Also libraries have great programs too!
William Sweeney says
I love these ideas!! I know my kids love to play outside all the time in the summer, so important for them to stay active for their health and their minds.
Jessica says
Such fun ideas!!! I think most of them can apply all year long, too!!!
Jen says
I want to say chartreuse (because I love the word), but the purple is pretty fierce. (Is it still cool to say fierce? ;)) My stepson lives in FL, and they rarely go to the beach unless we visit. I’d like to think I would go at least every weekend!
Dana says
It is totally cool to say fierce and I too love to say the word “chartreuse” LOLOLOLOL 🙂
Bonnie @wemake7 says
These are really great tips. If we won I think my kiddos would like any color.
Stephanie Pass says
We have definitely been doing all of these things this summer. We go to the pool and playplaces weekly. I think we are about to try splashpads all around the area to see which ones are best.
Rebecca Swenor says
These are all great things to do during the summer time for kids. Going to the beach is something I did a lot when my kids were little and exploring the woods was another. Thanks for sharing the ideas.
diana says
I love all these ideas. Especially outdoor exploration. The zoo is definitely on our list!
rika says
So many fun things to do this Summer. Hope the weather is friendly enough and not too hot to be outside
ricci says
These are great ideas to keep kids busy during the summer months!! Great post!!
Eloise says
great summer activities for the young ones! those are all fun suggestions that will create great memories for the family: )
Angela Kanellopoulos says
These are some really activities! my best friend and I take her son out all the time because we like to keep him active but at the same time I love curling up on the couch with some pop corn and a good movie 🙂
Dana says
Can’t beat a good movie and popcorn (my favorite snack!)