How To Have The Ultimate Staycation This Summer

White beaches are nice, but nothing beats the family memories that can be made from the comfort of your backyard. To help, we compiled a list of ideas for you and your kiddos to have the best summer staycation, ever.

Explore Your Neighborhood Parks

There’s nothing quite as satisfying as spending a long day of playing in the summer sun. Parks are a great way to come together with family and friends and spend some simple, quality time together—and there’s no better time to do it than summer!

Find the parks in your area, whether neighborhood or national, and get outside. Be sure to pack plenty of water and snacks to stay hydrated!

Pack A Picnic

While you’re at it, why not prepare a picnic? Create your own personal retreat under a shady tree and take a breath from your busy days with a quick, homemade meal. Your little one can help prepare the picnic and choose her own favorite foods to bring.

Go Bird-Watching

While you’re outside, encourage your child to learn about their surroundings by doing a little bird-watching. They can bring along a notebook and crayons to color the birds they see, and you can even invest in a field guide to identify the specific bird varieties around you. If you don’t fancy carrying a heavy book around, there are also a number of bird watching apps available for download! 

Or, bring the birds to your backyard by building a birdhouse. Kids can explore their budding architectural skills by creating a mini house for their winged friends. You can find a list of kid-friendly birdhouse tutorials here. 

Grow A Garden

This summer, your child can develop his green thumb by planting their own herbs, flowers and even fruits and vegetables.

Children can learn a lot from tending their own garden, including scientific concepts like photosynthesis,  plant respiration and the seed growth process. 

Not sure where to start? Earth Easy has a great guide for gardening with kids, and here is a great resource for what to plant each month of the year.

Learn Something New

Just because school is out doesn’t mean learning has to stop! Summer is a great opportunity for kids to learn things they wouldn’t necessarily otherwise. While part of this learning can take place in their day-to-day play, you and your child can also take the opportunity to learn something new—together!

From cooking and dance classes to science-based courses taught by your local museum, there are myriad opportunities to find something of interest for your family to learn together. Check your local museums, craft stores and recreational centers to find a good fit for your family.

Remember Every Step Of The Way

Let this summer be one for the books: literally. Create a journal for your child to record what they did every day and one new thing they learned each day. This is a great way to maintain mechanical writing skills and spark a curiosity in children to learn something new throughout the summer. By the end of the summer, you’ll have a book of recorded memories and a personal guide to see how much your child learned!