Vacation Tips: 22 Cool Ways To Keep Your Kids Busy This Summer

Summer vacation is just around the corner – it is that time of the year that mommies dread and kids love. After all, schools won’t be open for a while and the little devils will be home 24x7. In case you are also wondering how to keep the little champs busy, you have come to the right place. Here’s a to-do list featuring 22 cool activities that you must do with your kids and make the best use of vacations.

Connect with nature
The afternoons are hot but the pleasant mornings and the cool evenings can be a great time to get close to nature in one of the following ways:
Swimming: Go for swimming lessons. There’s nothing like having a splash in the pool this summer.
Family camp: Of course, there are summer camps to take care of your kids, but how about setting up a family camp in your backyard and enjoying the star-lit sky and the sunrise?

You have been teaching your kids the importance of eating fresh food. How about growing it this summer? Discover gardening joys with your kids and grow their favourite veggies right there in your garden.
Go hiking: Put on your boots and gear up for an adventure-filled hiking trip with your family and friends. Looking for some excitement? Ditch the old route and explore a new trail.

Get fit, get adventurous
Vacations and holidays make you lazy for sure. How about choosing ‘fitness’ as the theme of your holidays this year? You would agree that even kids need some fitness!
Sport: Let your kids to learn a specific sport that they are interested in or a sport they enjoy watching on TV. They will love to be a part of the sport that keeps them glued to TV.
Adventure sports: If ‘normal’ sounds too tame to your kids, they’ll jump at the idea of learning an adventure sport like scuba diving, parasailing, rock climbing, bungee jumping, river rafting and so on.
Cycling:How about pushing those pedals together? Encourage your kids to cycle every evening. There’s nothing better than making it a family fitness mantra.
Replace the toys: Yes, this summer replace your child’s favourite gadgets and toys with things like skipping ropes, balls, racquets, hula-hoops, etc.

Indoor fun
When the sun shines bright and the sweltering heat becomes too hot to handle, staying indoors is the best idea. Before you tag indoors as boring, here’s what you can do to spice up things.
Hobby time: If your kids want to pursue a hobby, this is the time to hone their skills. From learning to play a musical instrument to painting or calligraphy – there’s a lot that kids can do indoors, without leaving the comforts of one’s own home.
Cook for fun: Ask them to join you in the kitchen every now and then. Not only will they enjoy spinning some new recipes but you will also get some breather.
Clean up: How about engaging the little devils in some cleaning activities? We’re sure that mommies will love this idea. Make it a rewarding activity for kids by showering them with gifts every time they accomplish a goal.
Make your own rain: Who cares for the rain gods when you have your own hose pipe. Just go ahead and have some splashy fun in the balcony/veranda/backyard.
Puzzle race anyone? Take out that 100-piece puzzle that was tucked away and see who finishes it first. The more complicated the puzzle, the better it is for the kids.
Read: Reading is not always boring. Join a nearby library or a book-reading club and we’re sure your kids will become friends with books by the end of this vacation.
Craft: Give your kids some waste material and assign them a task to create something useful out of trash. What more? Let the best kid win!
Yes, homework: Doesn’t sound like a cool idea, but do save some time to finish off the school assignments.

Out and about
There’s no end to going out when you have a long stretch to enjoy. So jot down the places still pending in your ‘must-visit’ list. Here are a few suggestions, though.
Zoo: It’s never too late to experience wildlife.
Museums: Get a taste of your city’s history and go museum-hopping these holidays.
Picnic: Yes, pack up that basket and head out to any place that looks nice and comfortable.
Beach bums: If you stay close to a beach, you can’t miss taking a dip and must make the sand castles.
Play tourist: How about visiting all the tourists attractions in your city? Parks, gardens, amphitheatres, amusement parks, historical monuments and more. We are sure you will be surprised to discover all that you have been missing.
Plan trips: Vacation time is not complete without a family holiday. So the last but not the least in your ‘to-do’ list should be a visit to an exotic destination. Decide on a place that the whole family will love to visit and go ahead for some fun.