Summer at Home

Summer is here! This is a favorite time of year for many children. The school year is finally over, and the days are longer and warmer. If you are like most parents, you are probably looking for ways to keep your children happy, active, and safe during the break from school. The freedom of summer comes with a set of challenges for many parents though, especially while also dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. While the state of Texas has completely lifted all COVID restrictions, not every other state and country is operating the same. Travel, especially abroad, may be limited this year. So, if you cannot go on a family vacation this year, how do you keep your kids entertained at home for the long summer months? 

We thought we could provide some ideas for summer activities for your kids at home and some basic health tips to ensure that you enjoy the most out of this time.

Activities 

The 2020-2021 school year was challenging to say the least. Many children had to attend school from their home via web-based lessons and/or attended in-person school only periodically. This meant the kids spent a lot of time at home this past year. After a very long year at home together, you might need some ideas to help differentiate the school year from summer vacation. Making sure your kids are entertained for the whole summer can be a daunting task for any parent. Here are some ideas for keeping your kids busy and entertained at home this summer:

    • Enjoy a picnic at a nearby park.

    • Pick flowers for friends and family.

    • Get creative with arts and crafts projects.

    • Decorate your sidewalk or driveway with chalk art.

    • Do summer sensory activities using things such as sand, shaving cream, silly putty, and colored water.

    • Play with bubbles.

    • Make art with finger painting.

    • Pitch a tent or build a pillow fort in your living room for some indoor camping. Do not forget the s’mores!

    • Hold a nature scavenger hunt in your backyard or at a nearby park.

    • Go on a nature hike.

    • Turn your backyard into a water park. You can do this by making your own slip and slide or just playing with sprinklers, water balloons, squirt guns, and the garden hose.

    • Cool off at a local pool, beach, or lake.

    • Have a family game night.

    • Read books together.

    • Listen to music and have a dance party.

    • Cook together.

    • Fly a kite.

    • Visit a petting zoo.

    • Be a tourist in your own hometown.

Health Tips

Summer means kids will be spending more time outdoors. It is important to keep them safe while they are having fun. Here are some great basic tips to keep in mind that can prevent injuries and accidents from ruining your family’s summer fun. 

  • Drink enough water.

  • Protect skin from the sun.

    • Apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before going outside, and at least every 3 hours.

    • Use sun-protective clothing.

    • Try to stay out of the sun between 10am and 4pm, when the sun is at the most intense.

  • Look for signs of heat exhaustion. Signs may include:

    • Elevated body temperature

    • Goose bumps

    • Fainting, dizziness, or weakness

    • Headache

    • Irritability

    • Confusion, disorientation

    • Muscle cramps

    • Nausea and/or vomiting

  • Avoid bug bites.

  • If swimming, keep watch to prevent drowning.

Summer this year may be a little harder to differentiate from the school year. It may also have to be spent closer to home than usual. However, with a little planning, it can still be safe and fun!

-Carla J Anderson, MS, BCBA, LBA

BCBA Clinician

AdBAnce - Behavioral Health

Health, General Resource, LifestyleExceptional Kids