Hey there moms! Are you looking for super fun, totally easy activities that will keep your kiddos inspired this summer?
As Albert Einstein famously said, “The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge, but imagination.”
Not only is imagination important, but the act of play is critical to children’s development. Play is how children learn about the world, themselves, and others.
Of course, summer is one of the best times for kids to immerse themselves in healthful, hands-on play; whether they’re spending hours drawing and painting, or long afternoons playing soccer with friends.
In this three-part series, we’ll take at some hands-on summertime adventure that will spark your child’s imagination and sense of wonder.
Scavenger Hunts Galore!
What you need: pen and paper.
A super fun activity to do with your kid, especially when they have buddies over for a play date.
Start by making a list of items your kiddo and their friends will need to find. Put a little box next to each item, where your child can put a “check mark”.
If you live in a city, you’ll want to list things they can find easily discover in that environment, “a newspaper,” “a lamp post with a bird on it,” or “a woman wearing blue shoes,”. If you live in a rural area, you may want to get more specific to that environment, “a squirrel carrying a nut,” “a pine tree,” or “a red flower,”.
Get creative, and think up items that will spark your child’s interest and expand his or her horizons.
When your child checks off everything on the list, they’ve completed the hunt! You can reward them with a healthy popsicle, or just with that glowing sense of accomplishment.
Want to keep the game going?
If you have multiple children playing, you can either have them work together as a team, or if you have older children, you can divide into teams, and make it into a friendly competition.
If it’s just you and your kiddo, you can turn the game around, and have your child create a scavenger hunt for you! Your youngster will love giving you the challenge, and watching you search for each item.
Laugh, Listen, and Learn...
It’s amazing the things your child will notice when you’re out on a summertime adventure. Kids tend to be tuned in to the world around them; so whether they’re pointing out a seagull that’s a mile away, or giving you a lecture on how rocks are formed - stay tuned in.
You can learn a lot about your child by listening to their inspirations and ideas, and your child will notice and appreciate that attention. Most importantly, seize this beautiful opportunity to spend time together.
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