I find summer a great time for family activities. Without the pressures of homework and school bedtimes, I can connect with my children in fun, creative ways.
Whether you and your children are hanging out at the beach, the cottage or just enjoying some long light-filled evenings at the playground with ice cream, here are some of our family favourites!
1. One summer, I bought a box of watercolour paints, a couple of brushes and paper and set myself up in the back yard. I tried my hand at painting flowers, birds, kids at the playground, and sunsets. Inevitably one or more of my children became interested and joined in. Although nothing was really ever of ‘framable’ quality, we shared some wonderful moments together.
One year we even tackled a bedroom at the cottage. Using a template and acrylics, we sponge painted large random overlapping dots in shades of blue, green and yellow all over the walls. The dots have been there for years now and each teen remembers who painted what! It’s such a great memory, I wouldn’t dream of painting over it.
2. At a family restaurant, a good time buster while waiting for the food to arrive is a game called “Take Off the Table”. One person removes an object from the table (while the others have their eyes closed) and holds it in their lap. The others have to guess what it is. Some ground rules can be set, i.e. no candles, no food, etc.
As my kids got older and savvier, the rules became more complicated, such as “Could items be repeated?” or “Does salt count as food?” Half the time, we wouldn’t have the rules straight before the food came...
3. Shake up the family routine with lots more picnics and finger food, scavenger hunts in the backyard and staying up late to see the stars. Water balloon tosses, sparklers for no reason, croquet, backyard bowling with kitchen boxes and cans, chalk hopscotch, lemonade stands and fort building etc. all conspire to create great summer memories for your kids.
Some of our fondest memories were the nights we had nothing but all-you-can-eat, make-your-own ice cream sundaes for dinner. But don’t quote me on that one!
Doone Estey
Co-founder of Parenting Network
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