No time of the year is more precious for a kid than their summer vacation. At their age, it truly feels like the sky is the limit for where they can go and what they can do with all their free time. Sadly, as we adults know, nothing lasts forever and the last days of summer can be a little bittersweet even for the most active and restless of kids.
Well, it’s time to do something! Don’t let your kids spend their last days of summer vacation lounging around and letting all that energy go to waste. There’s no need for a grand plan when you have good ideas, a little inspiration, and a lot that childhood fascination for improvising things. Here are some things you can do with your kids on the last days of summer vacation, enjoy!
Have a massive water fight
It’s still summertime, after all! While it may be too late to plan a big outing or go on a trip, it’s always a good time for a classic water gun fight in your backyard. On top of the regular water guns (or in place of them), you can use many DIY water toys that are designed to eliminate any unnecessary roughness from the game. If all else fails, you can always make water balloons, which guarantee that every player will end up soaking wet by the end of the match. Just remember to pick up all the burst balloons after you’re done if you have pets so that they don’t eat them! So what if you end up making a little mess inside?
Go on an impromptu adventure
Every family has that “someday” plan: Whether it’s hiking at a natural reserve, going swimming at the local lake, visiting a botanical garden or a museum, or maybe just having a meal at that restaurant you’ve never been to before, the time to do it is right now! It doesn’t matter what it is, just go on an adventure celebrating the last days of summer and riff on the details, because what matters the most is that the whole family has fun and that you make great memories of this summer. After all, why not nurture their improvisational skills while they’re young?
Organize a scavenger hunt
The fun thing about this one is that you can adjust the scope of the hunt however you like, from your backyard to a local park or a whole area of the city. Active kids will love the idea of using their minds to find clues and landmarks while staying on the move, and you can make the list as extensive or vague as you want to. Find the statue with a horse? A building with a big gate? A tree with a bird’s nest? Try creating a route with your clues that leads your kids to a fun surprise!
Start your own garden
Let’s be honest; most kids love to play around in the dirt, so why not channel that interest into something productive? The last stretch of summer is a good moment to plant a small herb garden that the whole family can take care of for the rest of the year and enjoy together. This is a great opportunity for your kids to learn something new, grow an interest in the food that they eat, and turn it into a hobby down the line. If you’re not interested in a herb garden, however, how about a tree if you have a big enough yard? Choose one that’s good for the Hoboken climate and that can thrive in the soil of your yard.
Spend a night camping
For how much trouble it is to get them into bed, kids sure love to sleep outdoors, right? If you haven’t gone on a camping trip all summer, this is the time to bring out the tent and sleeping bags, because the whole family is taking a trip to the untamed wilderness of your backyard. It’s seriously comfortable to camp in your backyard because you have access to all the commodities of your home while still getting that outdoorsy feeling from an actual camping trip. Pin the mood down even more by making smores, stargazing, and (if your neighboorhood and backyard allow for you to do it safely) even make your own small campfire.
Do some local volunteer work
The things you do on summer break stay with you forever, so why not spend the last days helping others in need? Local charities and volunteer programs are always looking for an extra pair of hands, so can spend time with your kids, teach them the value of giving back to their community, and doing some actual good in the world at the same time. The activities are sure to be different from one city to another, but try to get the kids involved in something a little more physical so they can still enjoy the outdoors and do some exercise.
These are only the best summer activities for kids for you to plan before they get back to school. Remember that your goal is to create some amazing and fun memories with them, so don’t worry too much about the details or that everything has to be perfect. If you have fun, they will too!
