Summer is just around the corner. Before you know it, the kids will be out of school, and you'll be wondering how to keep them busy and entertained throughout the summer months. How do parents work during summer break? Between your typical busy schedule and spending more time with the children, you may not be able to think through every aspect of summer planning, from safety tips to vacation preparation.
In this blog post, we've compiled the ultimate summer planning guide for parents to give you ideas on things parents can do with their kids in the summer. It's your ultimate parents' guide for surviving summer. You'll get our best safety and travel tips and engaging summer activities that will keep the kids busy and provide fun for the whole family.
Top Summer Safety Tips
- Be safe while having fun in the sun. Unprotected skin can burn fast in the sun, resulting in immediate and long-term damage. Wearing sunscreen is one of the most critical summer health tips, as it will help you avoid sunburn and melanoma, which is caused by frequent exposure to the sun and can be deadly.
- Here's another summer health tip! Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids even when you don't feel thirsty. If you find it difficult to remember your daily water intake, you can consume electrolytes in various forms, which you can purchase at a drug store, big-box retailer, or convenience shop.
- Practice swimming pool safety. This is essential to remember, especially when you have little ones who enjoy taking a dip on hot days. If you have your own pool, keep it secure when not in use. It is also essential to establish and enforce safe pool behavior and rules.
- Road trip preparedness. Before you embark on that long trip, ensure you have car seats, sufficient water, a fire extinguisher, and a first aid kit to keep the family safe.
- Protect your home, especially if the kids will ever be home alone. You can install smart door locks, a doorbell camera, and a monitored security system to keep your eye on your home when you're not around.
Travel Tips for Summer Vacations
If you're traveling this summer with children in tow, there is a lot to consider between making various bookings and ensuring you have everything you need so both yourself and the children can be as comfortable as possible. Here are some family travel tips to consider.
When planning a trip, consider your children's ages, as this will give you an idea of what to prioritize. For example, up to six months, a baby is portable, sleepy, and easy to carry around. At six to twelve months, you need to plan around their feeding and nap schedule, and from twelve to twenty-four months, children can verbalize what they like doing, so places with activities are ideal for keeping them engaged. Considering what your child or children need depending on their age, will support you in researching and deciding on appropriate destinations for a family vacation.
Money is one of the main determining factors when choosing a vacation destination, so set a realistic budget. Remember travel expenses, flights, accommodations, activities, transportation, and meals, and always add a buffer for unexpected costs during trips.
Finally, go to the airport prepared. Queues and security checks at the airports can be a pain and especially tough to navigate with children, strollers, and other needed items. Ensure your documents are easily accessible, set expectations so your children will understand the process, and wear comfortable shoes for long airport walks.
Investing in your kid's health, safety, and security wherever you travel is essential. Factor in the cost of travel insurance to protect you should your flight get canceled or if someone injures themselves during the trip.
Engaging Summer Activities for Parents
- Set up water games in the backyard. These can include water balloon games, swimming, and playing through sprinklers. If you live in an apartment or don't have a backyard, consider how you can turn your balcony or other space into a water games area.
- Enroll your child in summer camp. Summer camps offer a range of summer learning activities, from STEM camps, sports camps, and art camps to science and nature camps. Going to a camp enables children to explore new interests, make new friends, make memories, and have fun in a controlled environment. If camp costs are out of reach, inquire about scholarships or subsidized camp spots.
- Lead your own camping activities. These summer learning activities may include hiking, camping, making a fire, roasting marshmallows, and singing camp songs. Often, these camp activities are a highlight of the summer, so if you need refreshing on camp songs, turn to YouTube for ideas and lyrics. Even if you’re balancing work with parenthood, organizing just one night of camp activities can be a great way to bring the family together.
From summer reading to local field trips to learning activities like art projects, there is no shortage of summer activities you can do to keep your children busy and entertained this summer. If you need more ideas of things parents can do with kids in the summer, Christina from the Purple Alphabet shares her top ideas for summer activities on her YouTube channel.
Looking to pick up high-paying per diem shifts so you can spend more time with your kids this summer? Download the Nursa app today to browse nearby opportunities that fit into your ideal work schedule.
