15 summer Family Activities That will create lasting memories
Reading Time: 4 minutes 15 fabulously unique ideas to get you started on your memory filled summer family activities.
Everyone in the family has different expectations and feelings about the summer break. Some are apprehensive about the added need for childcare or more meal planning while others are thrilled at the thought of having those kiddos around the house full time. Regardless of how you feel about summer, you want to know what to do.
This list will help you with activities you can do regularly that also create memories to look back on with laughter and great feelings.
1. Nightly bike ride: my sister and I did this with my dad when we were young. We went almost every night because the summer heat had gotten tolerable and dad was back from work and dinner and the dishes were done.
2. Picnic in the living room: my boys were not allowed to eat in any room except the kitchen and dining rooms. Once a week we spread a blanket on the floor in the family room, ate and played games.
3. Pizza and movie night: my brother and sister in law make pizzas every Friday night. My nieces choose the movie. Often, my dad will show up since he knows Friday is a special night for family.
4. Camp at home: we pitched a tent in the backyard. We did not have trees to build forts when I was younger so having a “fort” just for us that we could take our sleeping bags and flashlights to was really special. We had s’mores on the grill.
5. Plant and grow a garden: have each family member go choose a seed packet that they want to grow. It does not matter if you have flowers, herbs, fruits and veggies in the same garden. The diversity of your garden will show the different flavors of your household. Notice and talk about how they all grow and look great together.
6. Volunteer together: empathy is hard to “teach” but you can model it and let your children “catch” it. Volunteering at a local non profit for a population (homeless, children, animals, disadvantaged, etc) can give your children an appreciation for all that they have. Choose a place together. Talk about your experiences.
7. Weekly “find something”: this has similar benefits as #6. Have each family member go through everything that is theirs and find one thing they can “gift” to someone less fortunate. Two great benefits from this activity: 1: your children start to think about what they have and what others may not. 2: your family is helping you, willingly, to de clutter!
8. Family Cook or Bake off: back to #3, my brother in law can grill the pizzas. Often my nieces will help create new flavors for the pizzas and put on the toppings. They will also help mom roll out the crust. My boys loved making cookies with me.
9. Games: I think I have games on almost every blog as a solution to whatever it is I am talking about. Seriously, games can pretty much cure anything. Find a game the entire family can join in and play. It is best if you can find one that is not competitive. When everyone learns to play well and nicely, you can “graduate” to other types of games. I wrote a blog on letting your children win at games, should you? Click HERE
10. Geocaching: have you heard of this? There is a scavenger hunt just waiting for you and your family, where ever you live, where every you go! We found 5 “caches” in a one day hike 3 miles from our house. Here is a great article to tell you all about it and how to get started.
11. Fort: much like the camp at home you and your family can build an amazing fort, in or outdoors, that can be used exclusively for “stuff” you need to do this summer that may not be as popular. I am thinking of daily reading, in particular.
12. Start a family story or comic strip: my older son, who is now 26, is constantly saying, “That totally needs to go in the Peterson Sitcom”. We should have written these times down. Our miscommunications or misunderstandings have lead to hilarious conversations in the past that we have ultimately forgotten. We would have all loved a comic strip or story “documenting” these times.
13. Rollerblading in the park: this one is flexible. If you have a river in your town, it can be tubing down the river. If your family loves frisbee golf, try that. The idea is, as a family, head to the park and have an activity you ALWAYS do and enjoy together. If it is repeated regularly, you all become comfortable with it and get more and more skilled.
14. Pictures: go through the pictures for about 30-45 minutes a week. This activity causes the parents to tell stories and children love to hear stories from when they were younger. The added huge benefit is it enables you to actually look at your device (or wherever you have these photos) and delete duplicates, create files for them to be stored in an organized manner and delete any photos that have poor resolution or simply are not really good.
15. Sing-A-Long: true confessions, my boys are now 21 and 26 and I am doing this AGAIN. I just ordered my karaoke machine. Have a weekly night that is dedicated to karaoke. Even your most shy family members can have fun with a duet singing favorite songs. We will have a disco ball and two cordless microphones so we can do a little “grooving” while we sing.
Do you have fabulous family activities that you do? Please share. If you try these, we would love to hear about them. Reply or post in instagram with #EpicPublisherFamilyFun
“A laugh can be a very powerful thing. Why, sometimes in life, it’s the only weapon we have.” ~ Roger Rabbit, “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”