With summer just around the corner, it is time to plan not just for vacations, but also for the everyday fun activities that can make a summer more memorable. Here are some tips for including the whole family in the planning and then enjoying a truly enjoyable summer together.
- To plan a summer that everyone is excited about, it is important that the whole family contributes ideas. Have each member of the family come up with a bucket list of ten things they’d like to do. It may help to encourage everyone to include a variety of ideas, such as things to do at home, outdoor activities, day trips, educational activities, or special events.
- Group the similar activities and eliminate any duplicates. Look for the overlap among the remaining ideas and decide as a family which activities are the “must haves.” Make sure the “must haves” are possible financially and timewise with work and other commitments.
- Put the ones that must be planned in advance on the calendar now. Keep the other ideas handy and plan to do one or more each week of the summer to keep the fun going!
Some ideas to consider
- Outdoor activities may include trips to the beach or pool, picnics in the forest preserves or at a park, new playgrounds, bike excursions, hikes, backyard camping, or local festivals or fairs.
- At home activities could be movie or game nights, baking together, learning a new craft, or trips to the library with a family reading challenge.
- Day trips could include trips to different nearby regions of the state, local tourist attractions, museums, amusement parks or historical sites.
Other tips
- Look for free activities when you can.
- Enjoy local resources, such as the library and park district.
- Allow time to just relax – for the whole family!
