This summer, parents are looking for ways to save money and have fun. We're cutting back on some outings that now strain the family budget. The neat thing is family and friends are getting together and finding that you don't have to go out and spend a lot to have a fun and memorable summer with kids.
Backyard celebrations and at-home fun with family and friends can take the place of frantic travel and expensive outings. When kids reach elementary age, it's easier to have a relaxing get-together. Parents can socialize while the kids make their own fun.
Cutting back on hectic activities and travel is good for kids too. My mom always says that kids need to be a little bored sometimes. That's the soil that grows creative thinking. Alix Spiegel at NPR recently reported on how 'Old-Fashioned Play Builds Serious Skills.'
We can give kids a jumpstart with ideas for games and activities that they can do on their own, with their friends, or together with the family. I've gathered some ideas from the web and at your favorite bookstore for summer activities that may remind you of your childhood days. Simple entertainments to try with your kids, they might just turn a boring summer at home into a time of rediscovery of family, friends, and fun.
Back to Basics Summer Activities
Adventure Play
Explore the new genre of books that contain classic adventures and activities for boys and girls. I like them because they recall a past with a bit more freedom for kid play and they encourage kids to develop competence in a variety of activities.
- The Dangerous Book for Boys by Conn Iggulden and Hal Iggulden
- The Daring Book for Girls by Andrea J. Buchanan
- The Curious Boy's Book of Adventure by Sam Martin
- The Big Book of Boy Stuff by Bart King and Chris Sabatino
- The Big Book of Girl Stuff by Bart King
- How To Be The Best At Everything (The Boys' Book) by Dominique Enright, Guy MacDonald, Nikalas Catlow
- How To Be The Best At Everything (The Girls' Book) by Juliana Foster
- Young Magician: Card Tricks by Oliver Ho
On the Web: See the instructions for juggling from the Dangerous boys' book and the rules to classic card games, Hearts and Gin, from the Daring girls' book. Another fun idea is to practice card tricks. At card-trick.com, even young kids can do the Red-Black card trick.
Dramatic Play
Do your kids like to 'put on a show' for you? Take it to the next level with these activity books that contain ideas for creative drama games, including tips for simple plays and skits.
- 101 Drama Games and Activities by David Farmer
- Putting on a Play: Drama Activities for Kids by Paul Jacobs and Jennifer Swender
- 101 Drama Games for Children: Fun and Learning with Acting and Make-Believe by Paul Rooyackers
- On Stage: Theater Games and Activities for Kids by Lisa Bany-Winters
- Funny Bones: Comedy Games and Activities for Kids by Lisa Bany-Winters
On the Web: See how to mime at David Farmer's Drama Resource. ChildDrama.com has a long list of drama games such as the easy and fun Rhyme Charades. Also find a huge list of drama games at the Improv Encyclopedia.
Silly Play
I know that I preach 'structure and routines' for elementary kids, but I always make time for just hanging out and having fun. Silly play is unstructured and often improvised as it goes. Because kids use their imagination to create and plan their own silly play, it's the most seriously beneficial type of play for cognitive and social development.
- The Encylopedia of Immaturity
- Junkyard Sports by Bernie DeKoven
- Chicken and Noodle Games: 141 Fun Activities With Innovative Equipment by John Byl, Herwig Baldauf, Pat Doyle, Andy Raithby
- Unplugged Play: No Batteries. No Plugs. Pure Fun. by Bobbi Conner
On the Web: Find inspiration and ideas for silly fun and games at Bernie DeKoven's DeepFun. Some of my favorites are Planets, Human Card Games, and Free-Form Frisbee Golf.
