ABC’s of Summer with Kids

A is for amusement park. Taking the kids to a nearby amusement park is fun for everyone. Just watch their eyes light up!

B is for bug collection. A magnifying glass, a butterfly net, and a small plastic container (vented) is all you need to enjoy an afternoon of hunting down bugs and lots of fun.

C is for chalk on the sidewalk. Whether you buy a box of sidewalk chalk or make your own Pinterest version, you’ll have lots of fun making art all over the sidewalk.

D is for drive-in movies. It might be a little harder to find a nearby venue than it was back in the day, but there are still a few classic drive-ins in each state. Enjoy the warm weather and take family movie night outdoors.

E is for eating watermelon. Is there a better summer time snack than a big slice of fresh watermelon?

F is for fishing. I’ll never forget catching my first fish. I can’t wait to take my little guy on his first fishing trip. From learning to cast to reeling in your first catch, fishing is too much fun to miss.

G is for get outdoors. After a long winter, it’s almost a requirement to take advantage of the long sunny days. It’s the perfect way to get all the energy out of your kids and enjoy a quiet night after they fall asleep early.

H is for hiking. Hiking with kids is really fun because they tend to notice things we have long since stopped paying attention to. They see the caterpillars and the pretty flowers. It will change your perspective.

I is for ice cream truck. Go ahead, chase it down and order an Astropop, or whatever your childhood favorite.

J is for juice pops. If you can’t find an ice cream truck, you can have a lot of fun making your own juice pops in the freezer.

K is for kite. Go fly a kite. When’s the last time you did that?

L is for lemonade stand. Teach them the value of a dollar and help them earn that new toy they’ve been eyeballing.

M is for making crafts. This is a perfect activity for rainy days or those days when you keep hearing “I’m bored!”

N is for noodle fights. Pool noodles, although I suppose you could use spaghetti if you’re into food fights.

O is for ocean. A trip to the ocean is another perfect way to enjoy the summer.

P is for paddle boats. They’re a great way to get out on the water and enjoy the weather while getting some exercise.

Q is for quidditch. This one is perfect for the Harry Potter fans in your house.

R is for roller coaster. While you’re checking out the amusement park, take the kids on their first roller coaster. They’ll remember it forever!

S is for swimming. Is it really summer if you don’t get to go swimming? It’s definitely a must do.

T is for trampoline. This will keep them busy for hours and away from the video games.

U is using your imagination. Technically, you can and should use your imagination year round, but it’s especially important to remember during the really long days of summer.

V is for volunteer. It’s a great way to get involved with your community and teach your kids about helping others.

W is for water park. Water slides and the lazy river, wahoo!

X is for experience. Okay,so it doesn’t technically start with X, but X is a really hard letter. Summer is the perfect time to have a new experience.

Y is for yard games. Teach your kids how to play ladder ball or croquet.

Z is for zoo. It’s a great time to make a trip to the zoo and meet all the animals.