20 Ways to Entertain Kids This Summer
Welcome back to our blog here at South Florida Speech Solutions! Today we thought we’d concentrate on our littlest patients, our kids, and the many ways we can entertain them this summer. So if you want a few ideas, read ahead and we’ll be happy to share our findings and even some learning tips. Here are 20 ways to entertain your kids this summer!
Go on a hike. This is one of those easier said than done situations with some of our kids, trust us we get it. However, with the proper gear and making sure everyone is hydrated, hiking can be both calming and educational. Give it a try!
Visit your local library and get a library card! If you’re not acquainted with your local library, summertime is the best time to do so. Libraries are quite literally wells of information. Check out some of the classics according to your children’s learning levels and try to tackle a book a week!
Paint. This one is great because we can practice saying shapes and colors while we create with our kids. Painting is one of the most therapeutic activities you can do. If you have a creative type, watch them love putting paint to paper. Set this up away from anything you might find valuable, for obvious reasons.
Sleepover time! If your child has made friends in school, a sleepover is a nice way to get acquainted with them and their parents. Creating a safe environment full of friendships can help stimulate a child into learning and developing social behavioral habits.
Game night! Some of my fondest childhood memories were pulling out a board game and gathering around the kitchen table with the family. Different games are catered to different people, so make sure to pick a kid friendly one and have some fun! Remember: no sore losers!
Plant a garden, or if you live in an apartment plant some seeds in pots. The trick here is for the kids to learn something new all while stimulating their brains and teaching them new words. A quick trip to Home Depot or Lowe’s will set you up with all you need.
Go camping! This one can actually be done pretty easily by setting a tent up in your backyard. Kids love the outdoors, teach them about the stars and enjoy some s’mores as a family. They will learn new things in no time.
Set up a treasure hunt! This can be done easily around the apartment or if you have a backyard you can set something up there. Give them a certain time to find things and write clues to help them search. Make it a competition or a group effort.
Learn to cook something together or teach your child a simple recipe. I’ve personally never met anyone who didn’t like cookies. Let’s show our kids how to read, count and follow instructions. In the end, everyone gets rewarded. Our favorites are chocolate chips and oatmeal raisins!
Build a jigsaw puzzle together. Jigsaw puzzles can be really fun if you like to spend some quiet time with your loved ones. It’s fun to see which kid gets tired of it really easily, and which kid gets sucked in until the last piece finds its slot. Make it fun and pick a picture they will like!
Family friendly science experiments. There are plenty of recipes online for fun, easy and safe science experiments that you can help your kids do. Let your kid ask questions and if you feel inclined introduce them to the old Scientific Method. Remember to use protective eyewear and gloves. Safety first!
Family trip to the local zoo! Okay, who doesn’t love animals, and what perfect way to incorporate what we have learned associating words to things we see, than a trip to the zoo. Kids love animals and this is the live version of flash cards.
Take your children to a play. Plenty of local acting troupes put on plays year round. Practice going to those first, and if your child seems to be really into it take them to an off-Broadway play and watch their smiles shine.
Learn about different countries and cultures! Find a bowl and fill it with small pieces of paper. On them write the names of countries and let the kid(s) pick one out every week. Every day you too can learn a fun new fact about that country or culture. This is a great tool to teach kids about the world around them.
Do each other’s makeup or practice a new hairstyle. Kids of all educational levels have a personality just waiting to emerge. Temporarily dye your kids hair, let them pick a color and let loose.
Go on a picnic. There are plenty of parks in South Florida where you can take the family for a picnic or to BBQ. Make sure to pack plenty of fluids to keep everyone happy as the Florida sun can be relentless. Don’t forget your sunblock!
Hour of reading. Nothing kicks off a kid's creativity as much as using their imagination. Using books, following the reading level your child is currently at, will help them exponentially. Do be patient and when they get stuck on a word, pop open a dictionary and learn about the word together.
Splish splash! Have some fun outside with water! Water balloons, water guns, slip ’n’ slides. All very easy to set up and fun for the whole family. If your kids are very little, fill up a kiddie pool and let them splash around.
Go to the movies! Movie theaters are usually on the emptier side earlier in the day. Take the family out to a family friendly movie - unless your kiddo doesn’t do well around loud noises. In this case try having a quieter movie night at home.
Family time. Yes we know what you’re going to ask, “well aren’t all of the above technically family time?” Yes, and this one is just a reminder to live in the moment. Being a parent is not easy, but enjoying our time with our kids and watching them experience much of the world for the first time is one of the greatest joys. Remember, there’s a kid inside all of us, so let loose from time to time as well!
We hope you enjoyed this list. It’s not typically what we would write about on this blog, but we figured it’s summer, so let’s have some fun! Thank you for visiting our website and reading our blog. Remember, South Florida Speech Solutions has your back. Have a great (and fun) summer in South Florida!
Interested in joining our growing team? Please send your Speech Language Pathologist resume to: info@southflspeech.com.