The school year is coming to a close, so it’s time for your family to start planning for the summer. Outdoor children’s activities are an excellent way to keep kids social, active, and entertained over their break. Here are five ways your family can get out of the house and have fun.

5 Summer Children’s Activities Your Family Should Try

1. Take a Hike

When you go hiking with your family, you can show your child the beauty of nature while giving them some fresh air and exercise. Pick a trail with breathtaking views, and play games such as “I Spy” along the way. Make sure to pack a bag with plenty of water, snacks, and a first aid kit. Bring a picnic lunch if you’re going in the morning.

2. Have a Water Fight

Cool off from the summer sun with a water fight. Break out the hose, water balloons, and water guns and get ready to get wet. Consider splitting off into groups to practice cooperation and teamwork. To avoid accidents, stay on the grass and try to keep the pavement off-limits.

3. Set Up a Campfire

Storytime, s’mores, and campfires are the perfect combination for kids of any age. Your family will have a blast roasting marshmallows and sharing spooky stories. You can even invite your child’s friends and make it a party. If you don’t have a pit in your yard, look into nearby camping grounds.

4. Go Swimming

Nothing says summer like a refreshing dip in the pool. You can get your family a pool membership, find a public pool, or take a trip to the beach. Swimming is one of the best children’s activities for fun and easy exercise. Kids can develop strength, balance, stamina, and flexibility just by playing around in the pool.

5. Play With Chalk

Unleash your child’s inner artist with a box of colorful sidewalk chalk. Encourage your little one to use their imagination to draw any shapes, people, animals, or patterns that come to mind. Fun games like tic-tac-toe and hopscotch can make time fly by. When it rains, you can bring out the chalk again and start all over.

During the school year, your child should have an enriching education in a safe, welcoming environment. Plainville Early Learning Center offers child care, preschool, and before- and after-school programs for families throughout the Hartford County, CT, area. School-age kids can take advantage of homework help, enrichment clubs, and stimulating children’s activities. Their teachers strive to provide age-appropriate curricula to foster healthy development. To learn more about their school-age program, visit them online. Call (860) 747-3321 to take a tour of their facility.