Summer Entertainment Options Perfect for the Whole Family

Summer Entertainment Options Perfect for the Whole Family

With summer just around the corner, parents of seven- and nine-year-olds might be on the lookout for fun and engaging activities that are easy to set up, both at home and outdoors. Here are some kid-approved ideas that combine creativity, physical movement, outdoor learning, and sensory play.

**At Home Activities:**

1. **Backyard Camping:** Transform your backyard into a campsite by setting up a tent or building a fort with blankets and string lights. Add sleeping bags, flashlights, and have a campfire experience (real or fake) for marshmallow roasting and storytelling. The tent can also serve as a hideout or reading nook during the day.

2. **Creative Chalk Play:** Use sidewalk chalk to draw murals, obstacle courses, giant board games, or classic hopscotch on the driveway. This encourages creativity and can be a fun physical activity.

3. **DIY Bird Feeders:** Make bird feeders by smearing peanut butter on pinecones or cardboard tubes, rolling them in birdseed, and hanging them outside. Kids can then observe and journal the visiting birds, learning about nature.

4. **Shaving Cream Drawing:** Outdoor sensory play with shaving cream spread on a large tray, where kids can draw and then wipe clean to start over — messy but satisfying and fun.

**Outdoor Activities:**

1. **Water Fun:** Organize a pool noodle relay, underwater treasure hunt, sponge-ball toss games, or play classic pool games like Sharks & Minnows or Marco Polo. If a pool isn’t available, sprinklers, splash pads, or buckets of water can offer similar refreshing fun.

2. **Backyard Obstacle Course:** Use household items like hula hoops, jump ropes, and pool noodles to build a wacky obstacle course for kids to race through, promoting physical activity and friendly competition.

3. **Nature Exploration:** Gardening is a great way to teach kids about science and responsibility. They can help water plants, dig holes, and observe bugs and worms. Alternatively, plant a butterfly garden with plants like milkweed to attract butterflies and learn about their life cycle.

4. **Catch Fireflies and Flashlight Tag:** At dusk, kids can try gently catching and releasing fireflies or play flashlight tag, a hide-and-seek game where "it" tags others by shining a flashlight on them — memorable and magical outdoor evening activities.

5. **Dance Through Puddles:** After a summer rainstorm, put on music and dance through puddles, which combines joy, physical activity, and spontaneity.

6. **Create Sidewalk Story Murals:** Collaborate with the family to draw a long sidewalk mural one square at a time, telling a story through pictures.

These activities offer a blend of creativity, physical movement, outdoor learning, and sensory play, making them highly enjoyable and developmentally beneficial for kids aged seven and nine.

For those looking to enhance these activities with some purchases, here are some options:

- A snack box with a lid is available on Amazon for $36.99. - The Make Ice Cream Ninja Creami is available on Amazon for $199.98 and Canadian Tire for $169.99. - Hasbro Gaming: Jenga Classic Game is available for $24.99. - An Anywhere Sports Youth Pickleball Set is available at Mastermind Toys for $87.99. - A VEVOR Commercial Popcorn Machine is available on Amazon for $239.99. - A Strider 14x Balance Bike for Kids is available for $299.99. - A Glymnis Beach Tent Pop Up Beach Tent is available on Amazon for $91.99. - Fantastory Tempera Paint for Kids is available on Amazon for $55.99. - A camping tent with rainfly is available on Amazon for $84.99. - An Amazon Fire 7 Kids tablet is available for $139.99. - A Summer Reading Challenge Journal for Kids is available on Amazon for $8.99. - A Carnival Games Outdoor Combo Set is available for $29.99. - Reusable water balloons are available on Amazon for $21.99 (originally $35.99).

Please note that purchasing items through links on this website may result in a commission. Enjoy your summer!

1. After a long day of outdoor activities, families can unwind by preparing dinner together, discussing the day's experiences, and strengthening their relationships around the dinner table.
2. While activities like backyard camping and creating sidewalk story murals are family-friendly, having pets like dogs and cats can add an extra layer of excitement and companionship to these adventures.
3. Incorporating home-and-garden projects, such as planting flowers and vegetables or building a bird feeder, can teach children about the importance of taking care of their environment and the benefits of nurturing life, a valuable lesson that extends beyond summer and into their lifestyles.
4. As the school year approaches, parents can consider reading together or using a Summer Reading Challenge Journal to help children maintain their reading skills and explore new literary worlds, fostering a love for learning and literacy that can support their future endeavors.

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