Summer provides a great opportunity to be together and active as a family.
Summer provides a great opportunity to be together and active as a family.
Summer provides a multitude of opportunities. Students are out of school and looking for things to do. Families go on vacations to a variety of destinations.
Every day the malls, beaches, pools, local hangouts, and family rooms with video-game systems are full of students. With so many options for kids, we often fail to keep up with the relationships we have been building with students during the school year.
Before you throw in the towel and put those relationships on hold for the summer, consider some ways to keep those relationships going and to reach students and their families as well.
Finding things to do is not as hard as you might think. Below are eight fun activities that my family came up with to share with you, with options for all ages.
Get wet
Whether it’s the beach, the lake, or the local pool, water activities are fun and use all the muscle groups.
For a break from traditional swimming, play games with water toys, have races with foam “noodles” or swim rings, or use kick boards to move around.
Children of all ages and swimming abilities can participate with the proper safety equipment and supervision.
The sprinkler in the backyard is another fun way to get wet and fit as you run and jump in the water spray.
Use the wheels.
Bikes and rollerblades are fun ways to build family fitness. When the boys were younger we pushed the stroller while skating.
It’s a great upper body workout. Now, we all skate together.
Bike riding on trails, in parks, and in the neighborhood is a great option, too.
PLAYING Tag
You’re it. Remember how fun a game of tag used to be? Well, it’s still fun as a family. For variety we play Flashlight Tag.
All you need to play is a flashlight and a safe, dark area. We use our front yard. The object of the game is to avoid being hit by the light. Whoever is “it” shines the flashlight around until the light shines on another player. If you get caught in the light, you are “it.”
Head to
the park
For younger children the park is
a wonderful adventure. Swinging, sliding, climbing, and balancing are developmental skills.
The park is a wonderful fitness adventure for Mom or Dad.
Don’t just sit on the bench and watch. Get involved and see how your strength, flexibility, balance, and cardiovascular fitness are all challenged.
Walk the block
Family walks are wonderful bonding times. When the children are young, push them in the stroller or pull a wagon in case they get tired of walking.
As they get older allow them to walk and talk about all the sites around your home. Who knows? You could find a whole new world just around the corner.
Team up
Host a baseball, basketball, or Frisbee game with other families from your church or neighborhood.
Have a ball
One of our favorite games is kickball, but any activity involving a ball is fun and fitness-oriented at our house.
Plan an
adventure
Think “active” when planning a family vacation with older children and teens. You could call your travel agent for suggested adventure locations or plan your own trip. Some of the best family outings happen by a lake or at a camp grounds.
Include hiking, canoeing, rock climbing, white water rafting, camping, horseback riding, biking, or skiing as a part of your vacation.
If you decide to go camping, when you and the kids are finally worn out from the day’s activities and it’s getting dark, the fun doesn’t have to end.
Campfires are always one of the best parts of the trip. Sing praise and folk songs, tell Bible stories, and share stories from your childhood.
And don’t forget to roast some hot dogs and marshmallows. (If you don’t have a campfire, you can still organize a singing and storytelling session and cook dessert on a camp stove or grill.)
Get the whole family involved and ask each person to come up wth a plan for a day of summertime fun.
Many people really won’t have to go far from home to experience the excitement of outdoor play as a family.
When we are active as a family we have opportunities to relate and communicate.
Just because it’s summer, fun doesn’t automatically happen. Fun happens when you are with the people you love and do things that create special memories together.
Give summer activities a shot to build your family both physically and relationally.