Summer may be winding down, but there's still plenty of time to make memories your family. Whether you want to stay in or get out of the house, there's an activity for you.
Sieze the freedom of laid-back summer days and nights to create lasting memories with your family. Here are ten ways to make the most of your time together at home and around town. Who knows, you might even start a new end-of-summer tradition or two!
Grab your lawn chairs, blankets, and sunscreen and spend an afternoon or evening attending an outdoor concert. It doesn't have to be a famous band or one that you know; many towns have a Summer concert series showcasing local bands that the community loves and knows. Don't forget to pack snacks and drinks!
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream for dinner! Yes, that's right. Switch things up and have an ice cream sundae bar with all of the toppings as your meal. Pro tip: Plan an outdoor activity like biking or going to the playground afterward, so the kids wear off their energy before bed!
Pinterest is your BFF for finding scavenger hunt printables that are age-appropriate. You can even find picture lists for non-readers. Depending on the kid to adult ratio, you could split up into teams to see who finds everything first.
Even if the nearest drive-in theater is an hour away, your kids will love this rare treat to don their PJs and head to the movies. Do your research beforehand to find the location and what sort of concessions and amenities (bathrooms or playgrounds) are available. Don't forget the blankets and pillows!
Campers and non-campers alike will find joy in pitching a tent for a night in the backyard. For more fun, invite some friends and have a bonfire, complete with hot dogs and s'mores.
Block off a morning to stroll through a farmer's market in your area. Load up on fresh-picked produce, introduce your kids to new veggies or foods offered for sale, and support local vendors by grabbing lunch from a food truck.
Take some time to go to that museum that you drive past three times a week but have yet to set foot in. Most people are creatures of habit; we eat at the same restaurants and take our kids to the same parks, playgrounds, and cinemas. Find a few places that no one in the family has visited and go check them out. Bonus points for eating at a new restaurant afterward!
These should be things we do year-round, but we often focus on them in winter, especially around the holidays. Challenge the kids to brainstorm ideas about how they can help others. Some low-cost ideas to get started: have kids create cards or draw pictures, buy some balloons, and deliver them to neighbors.
Leave a bucket of water balloons on their doorsteps, with a note challenging them to a water balloon contest at a specified date, time, and location. Ring their doorbell, run home, and prepare to get wet.
Give your kids a taste of entrepreneurship while quenching the thirst of neighbors and passers-by. Choose a weekend, or the typical garage sale day in your town, to get more foot traffic.