Kids never need to be taught to play. Having fun is human nature, in fact. Adults simply have the nasty habit of subduing this natural tendency. Unfortunately, some parents even dread summer vacation from school because they don't know what to do with their kids.
The answer to this is obvious: take the time to reconnect with the true nature of joy and freedom, and reconnect with the child at the same time. The rewards of play are immeasurable. Here are some fun ideas to get mental gears turning:
Treasure Hunts
There is a reason for the popular phrase, "The thrill of the hunt." Hunting for something, and the discovery of it is exhilarating! No matter a child's (or parent's) age, treasure or scavenger hunting is a blast. Hunts are easy to create in a short amount of time. Leaving clues to follow which leads up to a prize is the ultimate in kids' thrills. Kids also love to witness their parents' discoveries, so allowing the child to devise a simple hunt is also a great idea. A scavenger hunt can be a good game to incorporate into any outing to add some pizzazz. For example, hiking, shopping, and vacationing are good times to embark on a scavenger hunt together.
Obstacle Courses
Obstacle Courses are equally fun to make, to tackle, and to watch others performing. Their construction can consist of common household and yard items like balls, rope, hula hoops, wood boards, old tires, boxes, branches, etc. Get creative with the design. Their is no single correct way to do it. Try timing events, doing them backwards, videoing the event, and doing them as a team for variety and extra laughs.
Themed Days
Here is a place where creativity runs wild. Devising a theme for a day gets everyone involved in making the mundane magical. A theme can be anything from a color (Blue Day), to an era or historical event (Pirates of the Carolinas), to a country (New Zealand Day), to any unusual idea (Left-Handed Only Day.) It's so much fun centering one day on one idea and makes daily tasks come alive. Here are some activities that could be on the agenda for Blue Day, as an example:
- Blue foods could be on the menu.
- Blue clothing could be worn.
- Blue foods like blueberries could be eaten.
- Eye Spy with blue objects as targets could be played.
- A collage with blue items cut out of magazines could be played.
- Charades with blue key words could be played (bluebird, blue lagoon, the blues).
- An age appropriate show or movie could be played (Blues Clues).
A family that plays together stays together. From hunting, to obstacle courses, to themed days, summer days can be filled with wonder and excitement for kids and adults alike. Be magnets of fun, gravitating towards a fun filled summer with children.
Resources:
The Teacher's Corner offers some fun summer ideas, as well.
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