Plant a Garden
A garden can be a wonderful project for children, giving them the chance to see where their food comes from while learning patience, responsibility, and the simple satisfaction of watching something grow. You don’t need a large garden, either. For indoor growing, we like this vegetable growing kit, which allows children to observe the roots developing beneath the soil. Another fun option is AeroGarden’s Pizza Party Herb Garden for Kids. The kit includes everything needed to plant and care for an indoor herb garden, and after about 12 weeks, children can harvest their herbs and put them to use at a homemade pizza party. For an even simpler introduction to growing vegetables, try one of these easy projects regrowing plants from food scraps, such as celery, garlic or scallions.
Get Creative in the Kitchen
Summer is an ideal time to invite children to help make some of their favourite warm weather treats. If your family hasn’t yet tried the ice cream ball, we highly recommend you do this summer. The concept is simple: fill the rubber ball with sugar, heavy cream and any flavors you like and then play ball! After about twenty minutes of active play, open the ball to reveal a pint of homemade ice cream.
Another fun idea is homemade popsicles – just grab some molds or even an ice cube tray or small washed yogurt containers and get to work! We love this list of fifty popsicle recipes – all without any artificial sugars or colorings! We also adore this Edible Chemistry Kit; everything is included to create over sixteen tasty experiments including funny fizzy drinks and color-changing foaming jelly.
Make Lunch and Give Back
Cooking together can also be a simple way to introduce children to the importance of helping others. In the United States, millions of children live in households that struggle with food insecurity, and organisations such as Feeding America and No Kid Hungry offer ways for families to support children facing hunger.
You can also look closer to home. Many schools, libraries, community organisations, and food banks run programmes that allow families to prepare and pack meals for children and families in need. Ask your child’s school or local food bank about opportunities in your area. Spend an afternoon making sandwiches and packing lunches together, and use the experience as an opportunity to talk with your children about food, gratitude, and the importance of helping others.
S.T.E.M. Away from the Screen
Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics don’t have to involve a screen. There are plenty of ways to encourage problem-solving and creative thinking through games, experiments, and activities that can be enjoyed together as a family. The If/Then game is one great example of this that requires no special equipment. This article offers several options for at-home, device-free activities that help build the skills needed for computer coding. Another option is to incorporate an educational board game into family game night; the MIND Research Institute published this comprehensive list of S.T.E.M. board games for various ages. Our favourites are Evolution, Wingspan and Planet.
Move Your Body
The summer promises endless time outdoors. Encourage children to embrace the season. Climb trees, play tag, pick flowers, or gather sticks and stone for crafts. Swimming, whether in a pool or the ocean, is an excellent source of exercise. For those that don't have a pool at home, Swimply offers by the hour private pool rentals across the U.S. and in select international cities. Most rentals offer completely contactless entry and exit so your family can privately enjoy an afternoon poolside. Many offer amenities, such as barbecues and waterslides.
