Top Three Summer Activity Ideas for Kids

Summer’s here, bringing your kids two glorious months of freedom and fun in the sun…

… as long as they don’t get bored or start spending too much time in front of the computer or TV.

Keep your youngsters busy, happy and active over these celebrated months with a little planning and make this their best summer ever.

So, step away from all those screens and...

GO TO CAMP

If you’ve been on any summer camp visits, you’ll probably have a good idea of whether your youngster is ready for sleepaway camp.sleepaway camp

Overnight summer camps offer kids a wonderful world of outdoor activities, arts and crafts, campfires, new friends and exciting challenges.

Whether a two-week session or a summer- long adventure, sleepaway camp gives youngsters the chance to discover …

… so much about the natural world and themselves, gaining confidence, self-esteem and responsibility…

– along with a whole passel of new friends and new skills.

If your child isn’t quite ready for sleepaway camp, check out local day camps.

Whether private or run by local recreation programs, day camps have super activities like: Swimming lessons Nature explorations Games

Sports Archery Bundle of other outdoor adventures Rope Courses Rainy day fun

Often kids can attend for half- or full-day sessions, so it’s easy to accommodate everyone’s schedule.

HAVE FUN WITH THE FAMILY

Plan some summertime family projects and events; the warm weather months present a myriad of opportunities to spend quality time together.

Plant a garden; kids love watching fast-growers like cucumbers, peas and tomatoes spring up, even if they’re not crazy about eating veggies.

You can enhance the green experience with activities like building and decorating a birdhouse, making wind chimes or just having a painting party to spruce up the deck furniture.

Take a day trip to the local park, hit the beach or take a bike ride around the neighborhood.

It doesn’t have to be a fancy or expensive trip; the point is just to hang out together, relax and have fun.

The more adventurous may like to take a family camping trip.

Most state and national parks have reasonable rates, and the opportunity to tell stories around the campfire and sleep under the stars with your kids is truly priceless.

If your child is just about ready for the first year at sleepaway camp, it’s also a great preview of what it’ll be like to sleep in a cabin out in the woods.

Listen to the night noises of the forest and identify them for your child, from croaking frogs to chirping crickets; it’s reassuring for kids to know that those mysterious sounds may be nothing scarier than a barn owl.

DON’T STOP LEARNING

Even though it’s summer and school’s out, kids can keep on learning in a more unstructured, laid-back way.

Plan some trips to local museums, zoos, nature centers or historic sites.

Youngsters especially love places with hands-on exhibits, whether aquariums, science museums …

… or museums just for kids, so go on-line together and dig up some fascinating family field trips.

Closer to home, libraries, art associations and recreation department offer a cool variety of summertime activities …

… from summer reading programs to painting classes and writing workshops.

If you're considering sending your child to an overnight summer camp, be sure to visit our site to learn about Camp Walt Whitman.

Located in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, Camp Walt Whitman offers a safe, nurturing environment in a beautiful mountain setting.

Our camp is a coed sleepaway camp, with separate areas for boys and girls. The kids have a blast, and make friendships that can last a lifetime.

Camp Walt Whitman 1000 Cape Moonshine Rd Piermont, NH