Summer vacation is my favorite time of year. Not that I like the heat in Texas, where we’ve lived since 2006, but mostly because I have a long summer as an educator. Traveling is our favorite thing to do in summer, and planning and anticipation begins in spring.If you haven’t read my earlier about 5 reasons to love springyou can read spring is blooming here. Summer vacation can be too long and idyllic for many, and in today’s post, I’ve written about 10 summer vacation activities you can do with your kids or teens.
background
Did you know that summer vacation starts to bring the kids home and help them patent the farm and take a break from the sweltering summer months? While right now we don’t have any need for farming from kids (or parents), and most, if not all, buildings are equipped to deal with summer heat, nearly all schools in the US and around the world follow a summer break time that can last Form between 4 weeks and 12 weeks. Many schools do follow modified schedules and offer summer enrichment or remedial classes for students in need, but in general all students around the globe enjoy summer. So read my 10 ideas for summer activities for kids and teens.
10 summer activities for kids and teens:
- volunteer
Summer is the perfect time to volunteer and give back to the community. With free time and based on children’s interests, there are many opportunities for them to use their skills and extra time to make the most of it. Some of the places my kids have volunteered since they were kids include-
- local library
- local animal shelter
- library
- community Center
- church
Other ideas include
- nursing home
- homeless shelter
- Charity you donate your money to
- Local school/daycare center for summer enrichment
- Museum of Art
- local or state park
2. Try a summer internship or job
For teens and minors, this is the perfect time to explore their interests and try to find summer camps or internships (or even jobs). Summer camps can be expensive, but there are tons of free summer activities for kids to search online. Below are just some of the activities that my teens attended and enjoyed –
- Mayor’s Youth Council – High School Students
- RYLA (Rotary Young Leaders Award) – 14-30 years old
- Civics Unplugged – High School Students
- Young Leaders Academy (18-22 years old)
- rotate Youth Peace Conference (14-25 years old)
- MUN (Model United Nations) – Upper Primary to College Students
3. Learn something new
Summer vacations can be used to pursue hobbies or explore their creativity. Creativity comes from multiple taps, and there is no right or wrong way to do things. Here are some of the ways my kids spend their summer vacation –
- Learn to cook/bake
- learn to play an instrument
- get better at the game
- learn a new language or programming
- art or craft class
4. Vacation
Summer is the best time to plan or vacation. Vacations don’t have to be fancy or remote. They can go to a neighboring town or state, an amusement park or water theme park, a state or national park, or to visit family. Below is a list of a few places we visited during our summer vacation –
- Ocean World
- Six Flags
- Europe
- Visiting family in Canada
- visiting family in india
- American road trip
5. Hang out with friends
While many take summer vacations, no one leaves for the entire vacation. So, coordinating with friends and classmates and meeting up when they are free is a great way to stay connected and do fun things together.
6. Explore the outdoors
Summers in Texas can be very hot, but even on the hottest days, when family or friends visit us, we explore the outdoors. If you’re lucky enough to live where the summer temperatures don’t reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit, there’s a lot you can do outdoors.
Below are just some ideas for outdoor activities-
- hiking
- rowing / kayaking / rowing
- camping
- ride a bicycle
- picnic day
7. Visit a museum
There is so much to discover and learn at the museum. There are many different types of museums including but not limited to art museums, children’s museums, natural history museums, science museums and war museums to name a few. There are so many collections that can be used in different ways to learn, enjoy and inspire. The Houston Museum District includes 19 museums, some of which are listed below –
- Health Museum
- Natural Science Museum
- Museum of Fine Arts
- Natural Science Museum
- Holocaust Museum
- African American Cultural Museum
8. Spend time in the library
Reading is a favorite summer activity for many kids, including my teen. Libraries play an important role in society and greatly facilitate literacy, learning, education, innovation and relationships. My kids participated in the summer reading program and received many recognitions. They have a reading program as part of their public school learning experience and have been looking forward to going to the library. It may be a parent’s responsibility to instill a love of reading in children from an early age, but many children develop the habit when they enter the school environment. Parents can be role models and help children absorb this lifelong learning skill.
9. Go to the beach
A summer or spring beach is a must and can be refreshing. Nothing beats spending a day or a week at the beach with friends and family. If the beach is not an option, a swimming pool may be the second best option for water, swimming and relaxation.
10. Spend quality time with family and friends
Whether it’s at home or on vacation, or visiting your neighbor across the street, let your kids (and yourself) be thankful for having a good time at leisure during the summer. Whether it’s going to an amusement park, exploring hobbies, doing arts and crafts, solving puzzles or playing games, hiking or camping or camping, any quality time spent with friends and family is precious and must be cherished. What better way to spend a summer vacation than with fond memories that last a lifetime!
wrap up
To sum it up, summer is the best time to volunteer, try summer internships/camps, vacations, explore the outdoors, learn new things/creatives, hang out with friends, visit museums/libraries/beaches and spend quality time with and around the neighborhood dear of.
Dear readers, we would love to hear from you. What’s your favorite summer activity? What activities does your child look forward to during the summer break? share.
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