3 Fun Activities to Get Your Kids Outside This Summer

With many summer camps cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and many parents opting to keep children out of group care for the foreseeable future, it's easy to rely on screen time, especially as it heats up outside. But there are many creative activities you can use to help your kids get outside this summer to enjoy the sun and fresh air! Scroll down to find three fun summer activities kids of all ages can enjoy.

Grow a Garden

Many kids enjoy growing a garden in the summertime. In addition to letting them enjoy the sunshine, a garden provides a creative outlet. Growing a garden is exciting, especially once your plants begin to grow. As your kids cultivate their plants throughout the summer, they will learn the rewards of diligently completing small daily tasks over an extended period of time.

If you can’t make it to the store, there are several benefits of buying seeds online. Online seed selections often have more variety and offer more discounts than stores offer in person.

Outdoor Water Games in Your Yard

If your kids are resistant to playing outside, outdoor water games are a great choice. Water games will get your kids off the couch and able to play outside while still providing them a way to stay cool. Most outdoor water games are cost-effective and simple to play. There are hundreds of water games you can choose from. Having a water fight with a garden hose and buckets of water is one of the easiest water games out there, but you can also spice things up by using water balloons, sponges, and squirt guns.

Draw with Sidewalk Chalk

Sidewalk chalk can entertain kids of all ages for many hours. If your kids need some ideas to get started, you can structure this activity by using the chalk to play games on the sidewalk like checkers, tic tac toe, or the dots and lines game. You can also have fun with your kids drawing self-portraits, playing Pictionary, or writing fun messages. A fun twist on sidewalk chalk is using it with water. If you splash some water on the concrete, your sidewalk chalk drawings will take on a whole new dimension of fun and creativity!

Growing a garden, playing outdoor water games, and drawing with sidewalk chalk are three fun, simple, and cost-effective activities that can entertain kids of all ages. There are many other activities out there as well—get creative, dream big, and have fun outside this summer!

Read this next for more great tips: Play-Based Learning at Home for Preschoolers—No Projects Needed