Here we are in the dog days of summer once again!  The novelty of no more homework and no more books has just about worn off!  Maybe the kids are feeling a little bit restless and you’re wondering how you will ever get through the next few weeks before the back-to-school ramp up begins.  Check out some of these fun, engaging, low-no cost summer hacks to make the most of the rest of this summer!

1.  Go for a walk in the country

Taking your kids for a walk in a local forest or nature reserve is a wonderful opportunity to connect with nature and spark their curiosity about the natural world.  Walking and negotiating obstacles, hills, and climbing rocks are all great activities for developing strength and endurance.  Take this opportunity to notice colors, textures, animals, and animal sounds.  Looking to make this activity a little bit more involved? Bring along a sketch book to create some nature-inspired art or pack a picnic lunch to relax and enjoy the moment in nature.  If you have older kids, bring along field guide to learn more about your local wildlife. 

2.  Go for a walk in the city

A walk in the city can be a true adventure!  In the city there are tons of opportunities for learning and exploration.  Try a scavenger hunt, maybe your list includes fire hydrants, street signs, vehicles, or statues.  Photo safaris can be a lot of fun using disposable cameras or smartphones/tablets.  Encourage kids to look for interesting colors, textures, shapes, and architecture to photograph.  Introduce your kids to the history of your city as you walk along historical routes.  Many cities offer interactive maps and apps that offer fun facts and interactive features - try them out.  Finally, even in a bustling city there are parks, gardens, and urban green spaces.  Use those opportunities to check out plants, insects, and birds. 

3.  Nature scavenger hunt

Create a list of items for kids to find in nature, such as specific types of leaves, flowers, or insects. Take them to a nearby park or nature reserve and let them explore while searching for the items on their list. This activity encourages observation skills and connects children with the natural world. For your free Nature Walk Scavenger Hunt cards, click here - https://17d5188b-0698-49cd-9f38-f1006b135047.usrfiles.com/ugd/17d518_2035c6fd96c04abe9b8a2aaa101626af.pdf

4.  Head to the local park

Most towns have at least one, if not multiple parks. Summertime tends to be the time when kids have the greatest physical development.  Parks present an abundance of opportunity for children of all ages.  Swinging, sliding, and bouncing offer passive movement inputs that allow our kids to learn about their bodies.  Running, jumping, and climbing give our kids heavy work and opportunity to use their muscles in an active way to develop strength, balance, and coordination.  Interacting with other kids helps our children to develop social skills including communication, cooperation, problem solving, and conflict resolution.  Regular physical activity also reduces the risk of obesity, promotes healthy growth and development, and strengthens bones and muscles.

5.  Check out the library

Did you know? Studies show that children who frequently use the library tend to perform better academically.  There are so many great things to say about the library, especially the fact that you can borrow books – for free - as many as you want – did I mention, for free!  This is a great way to teach your child responsibility.  They are responsible for caring for the books that they borrow and then returning them on time.  Some libraries will even let you borrow puzzles and other small developmental toys.  Many libraries offer weekly story and activity times depending on your child’s age, be sure to ask about the schedule at your local library.  Reading is a gift that you are giving your children.  It will open the door to new ideas, different cultures, differing perspectives, and deepens our understanding of the world around us.  How about a reading challenge?  For each book your child reads with you, they earn a point.  After so many points, they earn a special treat. Taking advantage of your local library is one of the best no-cost summer activities available!

*Pro tip.  If your child is on the younger side, and not very interested in reading books with you, choose a short book, use a lot of energy and emotion while reading, and read this book multiple times over the course of a few days.  Your child will start to learn the book and what to expect from the book, which should increase their interest.  If your child is not interested in the words that you are reading from the book, try talking about the pictures in the book using words that your child understands.  You may even want to let your child tell you the story!

6.  Check out a local beach or lake

If you are lucky enough to live within driving distance of a beach or lake, take advantage of that!  Swim, fish, boat, build sandcastles, dig and dump, and have a picnic.  Aside from the fact that spending the day at the beach is just fun, spending time outdoors in fresh air and natural surroundings has been linked to improved mental health and well-being in children.  Fresh air, exposure to natural light, and physical activity help to regulate your internal clock which promotes better sleep patterns and gives a boost to your immune system.

7.  Have a backyard campfire

When I think of summer campfires, I think of s’mores and marshmallows on sticks.  But what’s even better about a campfire is the socialization and storytelling that happens around it.  Sharing family stories helps to preserve and pass down the history, traditions, and values of a family from one generation to the next.  It allows children to learn about their ancestors, cultural heritage, and the challenges and triumphs that have shaped their family's identity.  Listening to and participating in storytelling can enhance cognitive development in children. It stimulates imagination, language skills, and creativity.  So, break out the graham crackers and marshmallows and cozy up around the campfire for a memorable summer night.

8. Camp out in the back yard

A truly memorable and no-cost summer activity is backyard camping. Set up a tent in the backyard and take your family on a camping adventure.  Camping lights a spark of curiosity, discovery, and creativity in kids.  Use flashlights and finger movements to make shapes on the tent ceiling, listen to the tree frogs or crickets, stargaze, tell stories, and fall asleep to a warm summer breeze.  Create a memorable camping experience close to home.

9. Create a garden

It’s not too late! You can still plant a garden with your kids.  That may mean a garden on your windowsill or potentially, a garden in your backyard.  Your garden may be large enough to require digging in the dirt outside or may be small cups that sit on the counter.  Regardless, gardening teaches kids about patience and responsibility.  It provides kids with sensory inputs and fine motor experiences.  Gardening offers a wonderful learning experience. Through planting seeds, watering plants, and observing growth over time, your kids will learn about the life cycle of plants and the importance of soil and sunlight.  And on top of all that, it’s simply fun to plant flowers, herbs, or vegetables, to watch them grow, and then reap the bounty!    Check out this link for late summer planting options.  https://www.almanac.com/what-vegetables-plant-late-summer.

10. DIY science experiments

Depending upon your child’s age, the possibilities are almost endless.  Maybe your child is developmentally ready for simple cause and effect experiments, taking measurements, or more complex STEM activities.  Take a look at this blog post https://www.science-sparks.com/summer-science/ where you can also sort results by age!

11. DIY arts and crafts

This is a big one and there are so many ideas that you can find online depending upon your child’s age and interests.  Think about what you already own in your home and what you can do with these materials.  A simple list could include crayons, markers, pencils, chalk, paper, cardboard, scissors, glue, cotton balls, Q-Tips, recyclables such as water bottles and empty plastic containers.  You can use straws, tissue paper, cupcake holders, and food coloring.  You can use items that you find on a nature walk such as pinecones, leaves, rocks, and sand.  The list is endless, and the only limitation is your imagination!

12. DIY Musical instruments

Encourage kids to get creative and make their own musical instruments using recycled materials. Help them transform empty containers into drums, create shakers using rice or beans in plastic bottles, or fashion guitars out of cardboard boxes and rubber bands.  Anything that can make some noise has the potential to be a musical instrument!  Don’t forget to decorate your instruments with paint, magic markers, stickers, sequins, glitter, feathers, or any other fun decorations that you may have lying around your home.  Then, let them put on a backyard concert and make music together!

13. DIY waterplay

Beat the heat with DIY water play activities in your backyard.  Set up a sprinkler or a kiddie pool for kids to splash around in or create a homemade water slide using a tarp and a hose. Add water toys, squirt guns, and water balloons for added fun.

14. Traditional summer games – tag, hide and seek, and more

I think most people know how to play these games, but in our modern digital era, we often don’t think of them.  These games rescued kids from boredom for decades and taught us how to take turns, manage disappointment, and use our imaginations.  Hide and Seek, Jump Rope, Duck, Duck, Goose, Tag, Flashlight Tag, and Kick the Can.  These are the ultimate no-cost summer activities! And for a more sedentary option, how about simply lying in the grass and watching the clouds pass by, imagining that they are dragons, wizards, or fairies.  What are some games that you played as a kid, games that didn’t involve technology?

15. Board games

I have to say, I love board games.  Especially on a rainy day or in the evening while sitting out on the back porch.  These games promote the development of so, so many skills including counting, color and letter recognition, spelling, following directions, problem solving, turn-taking, self-regulation, attention, sportsmanship, fine motor development, to mention just a few! When choosing a board game for your family, try to choose one that will allow a wide range of ages to participate.  Try not to make it about winning, but more about being playful, having fun as a family, and being present with one another.  By doing this, all those other skills will happen automatically in time! 

*Some of my family’s favorite board games over the years have been Candy Land, Old Maid, Checkers, Connect Four, Trouble, Monopoly, and Jenga. What are your family’s favorite board games?

16. Obstacle courses

Organize a DIY mini-Olympics in your backyard or local park.  Set up various sports and relay races, such as sack races, three-legged races, and egg-and-spoon races. Create makeshift medals or ribbons for participants and encourage friendly competition and teamwork among kids.  More

simply, you can set up an obstacle course using sidewalk chalk and instructing kids to jump with one foot, jump with two feet, roll from point A to point B, army crawl, skip, climb over, climb under, dig, bike, skateboard, scooter, and pretty much any other movement you can dream up!

17. Community events and festivals

This one may require a little research on your part to find the community events that are local to you.  Many communities host free concerts, outdoor movie screenings, farmers markets, and cultural celebrations that are fun for the whole family.  Community events are great for families, and they often involve music, food, physical activity or hands on activities, games and contests that kids can be a part of.  

18. Community service projects

Although this is geared toward kids who are a little bit older, I would say that a child as young as 4-5 could get involved in community service projects, particularly when involved as a family. Volunteer at a local food bank, participate in a neighborhood clean-up initiative, or organize/ help with a donation drive for a charitable organization. Engaging in community service teaches kids the value of giving back and instills a sense of empathy and social responsibility.

19. Outdoor picnics

One of the classic no-low cost summer activities for kids would have to be going on a picnic. Pack a picnic lunch and head to a nearby park or beach for a relaxing outdoor meal. Let kids help prepare the food and choose their favorite picnic spot for a fun day out. 

20. Bird watching

Explore the world of birds by going on bird-watching excursions in your neighborhood or local parks. Bring along binoculars and a bird identification guide to help kids spot and identify different bird species. Set up bird feeders or bird baths in your backyard to attract birds and observe them from the comfort of home.  

21. Stargazing

On clear summer nights, take kids outside to observe the stars and constellations. Spread out blankets in the backyard or find a dark area away from city lights where the night sky is more visible. Use a stargazing app or a guidebook to identify constellations, planets, and other celestial objects.  Check out these wonderful interactive stargazing apps for kids- simply point your device toward the sky to learn about the visible objects and stars in your view.  1. Skyview 2. Stellarium

22. Storytelling and puppet shows

Encourage kids to use their imagination by putting on storytelling or puppet shows. Help them create simple puppets using socks, paper bags, or craft sticks, and let them write and perform their own stories. This activity promotes creativity, language skills, and confidence.  

23. Outdoor yoga or tai chi

Introduce kids to the practice of yoga or tai chi in an outdoor setting. Find a quiet spot in your backyard or a local park and guide them through simple yoga poses or tai chi movements. For an activity that wont break the bank while helping to improve flexibility, balance, and mindfulness, all while enjoying the fresh air and sunshine, give outdoor yoga a try.

24. Cooking and baking

Spend time in the kitchen with your kids, teaching them basic cooking and baking skills. Choose simple recipes that they can help prepare, such as homemade pizza, fruit popsicles, or fruit salad. Try decorating cookies.  Perhaps you want to try cooking a dish that is traditional in a different culture.  Not only is cooking together a fun activity, but it also teaches valuable life skills and encourages healthy eating habits.

25. Movie marathon

Make it a movie marathon day! Let kids pick some favorite movies, sprinkle in some classics to introduce them to something new, gather some favorite snacks, and snuggle in for a day of movies.

Summer isn’t quite over and there is still plenty of time to enjoy time spent with your children.  With a bit of creativity, regardless of your family size or budget, you can continue to build lasting memories!

The information provided in this blog post is meant for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute therapeutic advice.  If you have a specific concern for your child’s development, it is important to consult your child’s pediatrician.  There are many underlying conditions that can cause a variety of symptoms in children, and these are best to be formally assessed by a professional who is knowledgeable in your child’s specific set of circumstances.