10 of our Favorite Fun Family Activities for the Summer

Are you wondering how you’re going to entertain the kids this summer? If so, you’re not alone. Parents all over the country are racking their brains to figure out how they’re going to fill yet more time with their little ones this coming season.

​​Fortunately, we have lots of ideas and these are just a few.

There are a lot of creative parents out there and they have some pretty good ideas for how you can keep your kids’ minds and bodies active over the next couple of months (and stay sane at the same time!).

Take Them Hiking

Many people are worried about how to entertain their kids this summer because of COVID-19 (and rightly so!). You can’t exactly throw a party or go to the movies – not without worrying anyway.

Fortunately, Michigan is a state with fabulous landscapes just waiting for you to explore them.

Hiking is an excellent activity for kids for so many reasons. Not only does it provide decent exercise, but it also teaches skills like perseverance and independence. Plus, you can learn about wildlife, have long chats, and enjoy plenty of sunshine – something we’ve lacked in recent months.

Go Camping

Camping and hiking go together like peanut butter and jelly. So why not combine the two? One person can carry food and cooking equipment. Another can bring the tent. A third can take all the clothes and sleeping bags – you get the picture.

Then, when you get to the campsite, you can reap all the benefits of outdoor life. There’s plenty of distance between you and other people, keeping you COVID-safe. You have ample opportunity to stare up at the stars at night. And you can eat up loads of time singing songs, building fires, cooking and playing games you’d never play at home.

Of course, camping, hiking, and playing outside can also lead to dirty, smelly shoes. So, unless you want to schlep muddy sneakers, boots, and sandals around the state, we recommend checking out our antimicrobial ​​ShoeSling®!

Visit The Lake

Michigan is full of lots of lakes, not least of which include 4 of the 5 great ones! The Great Lakes are one of the state’s most stunning natural wonders and, for all intents and purposes, an inland sea. Here, you can bask in the sunshine on the lake’s edge, build sandcastles, and grab seaside food.

Don’t forget the ice cream!

Bake Together

With an ongoing public health emergency tearing through the state, we all need a little extra comfort in our lives. This summer is the perfect opportunity to introduce kids to baking. Not only will they develop an important life skill, but everyone can enjoy a much-needed treat.

Baking is a fun activity because of how many different options you have. From simple cookies, to yummy banana bread, experimenting with sourdough and healthy treats, the possibilities are endless.

Don’t worry about it all going horribly wrong. Add enough sugar and butter, and you can make anything taste good.

Visit The Farm

Do your kids love food and animals? If so, visiting the farm can be a great learning experience, especially for tiny tots.

Agriculture is a business like any other. On the farm, kids can learn about the economics of food and how farmers make money. Most open farms offer tours, shops, and educational materials for children that show how they work. Plus, kids can get their hands dirty feeding pigs, sheep, cows, and goats.

Start an Herb Garden

Fortunately, COVID-19 didn’t seriously disrupt the food supply, so you probably don’t need an herb garden for survival purposes. However, creating one can be a fun activity to enjoy with the kids. Not only will they learn all about different herbs, but it might encourage them to eat them too!

Herb gardens don’t take up much space, so your yard is safe. Just allocate a section of bed, add a bit of compost and then get digging! If your soil is poor, you can create a raised bed—the sky’s the limit!

Go Fishing

Fishing can be a fun and rewarding sport for all the family, including kids. You sit in a boat or stand beside the bank, repeatedly casting your line into the water, hoping to get a bite. It’s a chance for everyone to bond and learn the ins-and-outs of this pastime.

Fishing isn’t as straightforward as you might imagine, though, if you’ve never done it before. It’s not just about attaching some bait to a hook and waiting for the bite. It often involves knowing which type of tackle to use and which bodies of water to fish, depending on the season.

Have A Family Game Night

Card playing first emerged in tenth-century Asia. Since then, it’s been a favorite of people all over the world. Kids love playing card games, ranging from simple ones like Snap, all the way up to the most complicated. If you know card tricks, you can also teach your children how to do these too.

Or bust out the board games (Monopoly could take up some time if you don’t hurt each other). Too competitive? Try not keeping score and just play for the fun of it! You could even hop online and connect with other families for a fun-filled night.

It’s a hoot!

Read Together 

It’s simple, it doesn’t require any technology and we don’t do it nearly as much as we used to. Reading with your kids is a great way to bond, increase their love of literature, and share some of your favorite stories and books. Switch out who gets to pick to the book and then take turns reading. Or make it a family activity and assign each person a role.

Movie Night

This tradition is a fave in many families. You don’t have to go to the movies to enjoy family movie night. Make some popcorn, get your favorite candy, turn off the lights (and your devices) and snuggle in for a little family time. Your living room is probably much quieter (and cheaper) than your local movie theater, anyway!

Or, check out a drive-in. With Covid-19, they’ve been making quite a comeback! In fact, Walmart just turned hundreds of their parking lots into drive-ins.

Staying safe this summer doesn’t have to be boring. Just take a look around and take advantage of all the activities your state, city, town, and home have to offer. These are some of our favorite things to do – now we turn it over to you. What are your favorite family traditions?