5 Big and Small Activities to Keep Your Child Busy

For parents, summer vacation may seem like a long stretch of open time full of potential trouble that their kids can get into. Without the framework of school, kids may just sit and watch TV or, worse, make a crazy mess in the house and backyard. This is why little kids can’t wait for summer vacation to start and their parents often dread it. During the school year, parents know that their kids are safe in the hands of their instructors. During the summer, it can get a little hairy.

If you’re fresh out of ideas for new crafts and can’t fathom another day at the local public pool, you may need fun activities and toys like Disney subscription boxes to keep your kiddo busy this summer. From Bible study, playing with Disney goodies to the basics of surfing, we’ve got you covered when it comes to summer fun that’s safe and exciting.

1. Forget about regular building blocks—Magna-Tiles are in!

Are your toddlers and young kids tired of their same old building blocks? Are you wondering why you even spent money on those, since they just sit in the corner collecting dust? Good news! There’s a new, innovative way for toddlers and young kids to build—with magnets. Magnet-based building blocks and tiles make building extravagant towers easy and fun, even if it’s your first time using them. Magnetic blocks are fun to use and have a mesmerizing quality. Plus, these colorful magnet-tiles even help teach your kids the basics of geometry!

2. Bible school is cooler than ever before.

If you’re active in your local church community, a Vacation Bible School (VBS) program might be a good idea for your kids. VBS programs are innovative and exciting these days, and instructors have plenty of experience turning Bible study into an interactive experience for kids. VBS is a great way to keep your kids in touch with the love of Jesus Christ and the various Bible stories, even if they don’t go to your local church every Sunday during vacation. Many local churches have their own vacation bible school program, so reach out to your church leader about a possible VBS for your kids.

3. If your kid loves the water, maybe a surf lesson is a great idea.

If your child loves the water, but you hate the public pool or aren’t into the beach, you should think about surfing lessons. Whether you’ve ever tried surfing before, a private lesson or a group lesson in the fundamentals of surfing and surf etiquette is taking that love of water to the next level. You may have a surfer on your hands, and with the right surf instructors, you’ll be giving your children (or young adults) the gift of a love of surfing.

If you do love the beach, a surf lesson is also a great way to have fun for the whole family. From San Diego to Hawaii, if you live near a beach you should consider getting a surfboard and riding that first wave. You might find that, after a private surf lesson, you can stay off the surfboard anymore.

4. How about a private lesson in the fundamentals of new crafts?

Is your kid a crafting maven? Whether they’re in kindergarten, preschool, or 6th grade, there are crafts out there that they’re sure to be excited about. Maybe knitting and crocheting are the right crafts for them. Or maybe they’d love to try a first lesson in painting watercolors. For your toddlers, they can finger paint or work with clay. Enrolling them in a class that will teach a new craft is a wonderful way to fill your kiddo’s schedule, learn something fun and useful, and have a great time in one fell swoop.

5. Prep for kindergarten or 1st grade the fun way.

There are certain milestones that kids need to prep for, and kindergarten or 1st grade are definitely high on the list. Learning letters and basic reading, plus how to count or even add and subtract, will give your little one a leg up when they enter the classroom for the first time.

In order to do this (and have a great time), consider buying some educational toys geared specifically towards 1st-grade teaching materials. Regardless of their skill level, having these concepts down before the first day of school will put them in the ideal place for success. Many activity books come with free shipping, and your child’s instructors are sure to be happy to send you the ISBN numbers for the best activity books on the market or educational toys on the market.

Summer vacation doesn’t have to be a drag for parents. With the right outreach and mindset, it can be the best experience you have all year long. In fact, once you spend some time together doing these activities you might find that you’re in a better place as a whole family.