School’s Out! Celebrate The Summer With These Activities

Summer is a great time of the year for families — with school being done for the year, summer vacation is the perfect time to do some fun activities. But oftentimes, parents struggle to figure out what to do with the kids during the first few days of summer vacation. So to help you celebrate the start of summer the right way, here are a few activities you can do as a family.

Have a Backyard Picnic

There’s no better way to celebrate than with food. But instead of going out to eat, why not have a fun family picnic right in your own backyard? As a family, decide what you’re going to eat — sandwiches, fruits, veggies, and chips and dip always make great picnic foods. So gather your food supplies, create some fun snacks, and grab a blanket. Find a nice shady spot in the yard and enjoy your yummy food. Don’t forget to play some upbeat tunes and, of course, no afternoon picnic is complete without ice cream for dessert.

Create a Summer Bucket List

Even though this isn’t exactly an activity, creating a summer bucket list is a great way to get the kids excited for summer. While an unplanned spontaneous day can certainly be fun and successful, especially with 16% of unplanned purchases being made due to store displays, it can also be really great to make a list of activities the kids want to complete before summer is over. Are you planning a family vacation and want the kids to help pick the destination? Or is there a week that everyone will be home together and you need a list of activities to do? Whether it’s going on a trip, heading to a new local park, checking out a brand new restaurant in town, or learning to play golf, a sport 13.12% of 18- to 29-year-olds played in 2018, asking the kids what they want to do during their summer break is a great way to plan and get excited for all of the fun activities you’ll do at the same time.

Try Stargazing

On a warm summer night, what’s better than sitting outside and looking up at the stars? Whether you stay in your own backyard or drive to a nearby backroad for a better view, stargazing is the perfect summer activity for the whole family. Not only can everyone enjoy the stars, but this can also be a learning opportunity. Look up some planetary locations and constellations beforehand to point them out to the kids — or ask the kids to create their own constellations out of the stars. Either way, stargazing can be a fun way to end a perfect summer day.

Age-Appropriate Fireworks

Depending on your state’s laws, the epic, explode-in-the-air fireworks may not be legal — even if you have a fun cousin or neighbor who knows how to get their hands on them. That being said, there are plenty of age-appropriate — and legal — fireworks you can enjoy with your kids. Whether it’s the Fourth of July or just a fun summer night, nothing delights kids more than a bag full of sparklers, fountains, and smoke bombs. Naturally, kids should never have access to these fireworks or light them without close adult supervision. As long as you practice common sense safety and explain the importance of proper handling, this can be a great way to celebrate those warm summer nights.

While it’s true that 71% of people love to celebrate their birthday, celebrating the start of summer vacation is something the whole family can enjoy. So keep these activities in mind so you and the kids can kick off summer the best way possible.