8 Summer Activities We LOVE!

Summer is here and along with it is plenty of time to relax, enjoy our kids, and make memories! Some of our favorite summer activities cost little to no money, and my kids enjoy them year after year. Many of these activities could still count as “school” but, the kids don’t know that! The key is to take the time to enjoy our children WITHOUT the pressure of being teacher. To me, that’s what summer is all about!

 

Camp in our Backyard

We live in the country, and my kids LOVE to camp. We pitch a tent in the backyard at least once each summer. We shut up the house, make a campfire, roast marshmallows, and pretend we are somewhere else. The kids love it and it has become a yearly tradition! While camping we also enjoy catching fireflies. I am sure most of us done this as a kid, and now I enjoy the same activity with my kids each summer.

Playing in the Creek

We have a creek near our house, and the kids LOVE to go down there and skip rocks, wade, and catch salamanders. The girls also make “rock paint” which is a lot of fun! This activity is hands-on science at it’s best!

Water Games

We love to run in the sprinkler, play on the slip and slide, and spray each other with the hose. This is cheap and fun water play and kids LOVE it! Other fun activities to do with water include water balloons

Visit the State Park

We go to the local state park at least once a year. They typically offer summer nature programs that are educational and fun. We also go fishing, pack a lunch, hike and swim in the lake. We plan to spend the whole day out there. The bonus is there is no cell phone service, which equals no distractions!

Summer Reading Programs

Our library does this each year, and we always participate. The kids have to read 10 books, and then get a prize and free book upon completion. They also offer craft and educational programs throughout the summer.

Make Shaved Ice

We splurged a few years ago and bought this Shaved Ice maker. We use our own cups and spoons, and buy the syrup to make our own shaved ice. This great summer treat costs very little after the initial purchase.

Visit Parades

We go to two local parades each year. One is for Memorial Day, and we march each year with our church handing out flyers for our church Bible School. The other is Labor Day weekend and is HUGE! We watch this each year and really enjoy ourselves.

Spend Extra Time with Friends

Summer is the best time to catch up with friends that we don’t see a lot during the school year. We set up play dates at the park, slumber parties, cookouts and more during the summer.

 

These are just a few of our favorite summer activities. What’s your favorite summer past time?