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Sometimes, as parents, we get so stuck in the everyday routine that we accidentally find ourselves sleepwalking through life – especially after being stuck in a pandemic for over a year. Sorting food, school runs, playdates, activities, nappies, etc takes up a lot of our time and brain power. Thinking about summer activities for children and summer adventures, whilst trying to think of something new to do seems harder than just continuing on but for the sake of our mental health, it’s so important.

Life is meant to be lived and when we are happy, so are our kids. So why not find a little time for summer adventures to spice up your family’s life? When we stretch our comfort zones, just a little bit, we feel more alive – and we need that feeling more than ever right now. Adventure doesn’t have to be big – it’s a mindset. It doesn’t have to be planned – it can be spontaneous. It doesn’t have to take a lot of time – it can be micro. Adventure doesn’t have to require a lot of skill or kit – it’s about just saying yes and trying something. 

Now, because I know that your brains are so full of the everyday stuff that thinking up what to do on the back of a pandemic when we are all completely exhausted is almost impossible, here’s a list of summer adventures that you and your kids can go out and do today. Each of them can be altered to be made appropriate for most ages. So, just pick one, make it your own, and off you go! 

10 summer activities for children

Going for a walk/scoot/cycle ride after dark

Even your own street looks different in the dark! Children love being out and about at night – it makes them feel very grown up and gives them a totally different perspective on things.

Being an explorer

Go for a walk somewhere you’ve never been before. New experiences help your growing children thrive. Don’t hold them back or stop them from being exposed to new things when they’re young. This can apply to something as simple as a discovery walk somewhere new. They could even start an adventure sketch book, drawing what they see or remember.

Chilling in a hammock

No space in your garden for a hammock? No problemo! Hang a hammock in your local woods, park or beach – hammocks are a great way of creating calm, relaxed sense of well-being for your child. Perfect for reading a good book in!

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Geocaching

A great way to get kids outdoors, there is so much to discover when outside searching for a cache. From animals and local plant life, and the sense of adventure and the thrill of the chase is super fun. Who knows what local treasures await! Visit geocaching.com to get started.

Den building

Den building is another great way of encouraging children to connect with nature. it also teaches vital life skills such as negotiation, problem solving, and if they are doing it with friends or siblings also – working as a team. National Trust has a handy guide on how to build a den which is a good reference point.

Watching a movie in the open air

There is nothing more magical than watching a movie outdoors. You could either create your own open-air movie night or head down to your local Luna Cinema. We are very excited that the UK’s no.1 open air cinema is offering multiple screenings of family favourite films at our local Kew Gardens this summer and will be heading down there to enjoy a movie alfresco (Encanto Singalong anyone?!).

Find out what’s on and come join us for an unmissable weekend of movies among the bloom this summer! Films include Moana, Encanto, Sing 2, Aladdin, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – for more information please take a look at their website here.

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Cloud watching

Cloud watching is wonderfully mindful in terms of summer activities for kids. Sure, you can spot shapes which is great for fostering creativity but also being able to spot and understand the different types of clouds is a fun, accessible way teaches kids valuable science skills—and maybe even how to predict the weather! For that, BBC Weather’s Cloud Spotting Guide is worth a look.

Tree climbing

Aside from the fact that being up in a tree and the different perspective it provides, tree climbing also provides numerous benefits for children including boosting self-confidence; focus; concentration; hand-eye coordination; flexibility; spatial reasoning; physical strength. Check out this post from Fatherly on how to teach your child to climb a tree safely.

Cooking and eating outside

Whether it be in your garden, at your local park, at the beach..anywhere!), you can get small camping stoves fairly inexpensively and enjoy some outdoor cooking. Outdoor cooking is a great way for children to learn about cooking and nutrition, allowing them to see how food is prepared, and giving children a chance to try new foods and cuisine types.

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Camping

Whether it’s packing up the tent for a whole family affair, or setting up a tent in the garden. Camping helps to develop a sense of adventure,  gives children the freedom to explore, boosts creativity, builds resilience and of course, brings them closer to nature. It also provides the perfect opportunity for some stargazing too!

Adventures don’t have to take place outside, but it sure does help us get into the right mindset. When we get outside we slow down and it’s like we can breathe again. So, what are you waiting for?

What summer of these summer activities for children do you have planned? Do share in a comment below – we’d love to hear them.