If you ask parents which time of the year is the hardest for them, the reply is most likely to be April-May, which coincides with the summer break at school. This is because children will be free for the above months, which translates to more time for mischief and games. Parents have to be more watchful to ensure that their children do not get hurt. They must also find new activities every day to keep their young ones occupied.
As a rule of thumb, refrain from handing over electronic devices to distract them. This may backfire against you since the gadgets can be addictive and children may not be able to stop using them. With the obvious disclaimer stated, let us look at 7 different fun activities for children during summer break.
Arts and crafts
Summer is often synonymous with arts and crafts classes for most children. Your children can get trained in simple watercolour paintings or relatively more complex oil paintings and similar ones. Some other options that can be considered are finger painting, paper quilling, pot painting and other DIY projects. Engaging your children with a new art form can help them spend their summers in a productive manner.
Swimming
Do you particularly find it hard to channel your child’s attention? If that is the case, swimming may be the right hobby for them. You can sign them up for swimming classes or take them to a beach and see them float, swim and have fun. They can indulge in water-based activities, as well. You can take up some DIY (do it yourself) activities such as creating a soapy liquid and soaking up a few pieces of sponge in it.
Self-defense classes
If there is one skill that you have to equip your child with, let it is self-defence. There are various types such as Karate, Kung Fu, Judo and Taekwondo that you can choose from and let your child specialize in. These classes are crucial to ensure your child’s safety when caught in adverse situations. They have become more of a necessity than an option in modern times. Summer vacations are a good time to acquaint your children with the skill. If they enjoy it, they can continue with it during evenings even after the school reopens for the next academic year.
Pottery making
This is a unique hobby that children can pursue during their summer holidays. It is not only a therapeutic activity but also helps enhance hand-eye coordination and patience, which is ultimately beneficial for the children. The activity also develops their imagination by compelling them to develop interesting patterns and reproduce them by hand. A bonus point is that their creations can be cherished as souvenirs and even gifted at a later date.
Sleepover
Make it a point to have your young one occasionally take part in sleepovers with friends. This will refine their social skills and make them more self-reliant. Summers are the best time to host or participate in sleepovers, as there is no pressure to wake up early and send children to school the next morning. You can spruce the party up by opting for interesting themes, making delicious food and let children make memories for life. It is also a good opportunity for parents to take a break and relax until it is their time to host.
Create a memory book
A fascinating hobby for summer would be to create a memory book. Gift your child a blank notebook and look at the memories they weave together beautifully. You can aid them by creating a template or prodding them using questions on their favourite memories or best moments of the year. Other points you can ask them to work on are evaluating friendships with their classmates, their takeaways from the academic year at school and the most important thing they learnt that year.
Gardening
Summers can be a great time to introduce gardening to your children and make them possess a green thumb. Take some time every day to acquaint them with the plants in the garden and the accompanying flowers and vegetables. Guide them on the merits and demerits of the hobby and let them water each plant by themselves, consistently. They may end up enjoying it so much that they learn more about these plants and are open to sowing new seeds as well.
The summer break is defined by fun and wonderful memories that you will continue to remember long after your school days are gone. Make sure to engage your child in tasks that will enrich the mind, while maintaining a balance between productivity and relaxation. We wish you happy parenting!
Looking for more ways to keep your child engaged this summer? Explore our exciting summer camps at Fundaspring! From arts and crafts to STEM, sports, and adventure-based activities, our curated selection of camps offers something for every interest. Give your child a summer filled with fun, learning, and new friendships. Enroll today and make this break truly unforgettable!
