Español de México Is your child bored in the summer? Time to build up a list of solutions to the dreaded words, “Mom! I’m bored!” or “There’s nothing to do. Can I have a snack?” As parents, we always need to be ready and equipped with easy, fun activities that will keep our children healthy, active and engaged during the summer months. Remember, the key is to model physical activity for our children so that they don’t fall into the rut of sedentary behavior. If they see us moving and making healthy snack choices, they are more likely to follow and establish healthy lifestyle habits. Here are a few activities that are little to no cost that will be sure to help you and your children overcome any bouts with boredom.
MUSIC! MUSIC! MUSIC!
Whether it’s on an ipod or radio music is sure to make our bodies move. Take turns with your child picking out different songs or radio stations and moving your bodies to the rhythm. Pretend to be different animals stalking or running through the jungle. Try to see who can make the silliest dance move, shake their hips the quickest, or sway their arms the slowest. Play stop-and-go with the music–keep dancing to the music and when it stops, FREEZE! The possibilities are endless!
TURN A MUNDANE WALK AROUND THE BLOCK INTO AN OBSTACLE COURSE
Take turns with your child picking out different markers while you’re out on a walk. Decide how you’ll get your bodies to the marker. For example, “You see the stop sign up again. When I say go, let’s skip all the way to the stop sign.” This can be followed up with, “I see a blue mailbox up ahead. When you say go, let’s gallop like horses to the mailbox.” A game of follow the leader is another great way to make a monotonous walk around the block more fun and active. Try different motions like lunges, squats, grapevining, hopping, arms out like an airplane, etc.
PICK-A-PARK
Check out your area’s local city parks. Make an effort to visit outside your “usual go-to” spots to evaluate other play structures. Have a family a goal to visit 3 different city parks in one week. Help build up anticipation with your child by talking about visiting a new park and what new adventures are to be had there. Develop a list with your child which parks you will visit and write down what they are hoping to see or play on when they get there. After the visit, talk with your child about what was their favorite part or not-so-favorite part of the park. You can use a system like smiley face/frowny face or thumbs up/thumbs down as a way to evaluate the park. By the end of the summer you’ll have accumulated a long list of play evaluations to use for future reference. Parks are also a great place to bring balls, bubbles, and other outdoor toys.
HEALTHY SNACKS
It’s important to always have a pantry stocked with healthy choices for young children. Make it easy on yourself and do a little prep ahead of time which will help little hands become independent. Snack sized Ziploc bags make self-serving prep a snap and perfect for the grab-and-go lifestyle of summer! Some quick and easy snacks to have available include:
- fresh or dried fruits
- unsalted nuts (if no nut allergies in the home)
- vegetables ready for nibbling (cut and sliced ahead of time)
- low-fat or fat free yogurt
- single serving of string cheese
- whole-grain cereal for munching by the handful
For additional healthy snacks visit Choose My Plate Snack Tips for Kids at http://choosemyplate.gov/kids/downloads/Tipsheet1_MakingGreatTastingSnacks.pdf
Do you have easy snack ideas or a fun outdoor activity to share with other parents? Send it to parentinghub@earlylearninghub.org
Favorite Summer Recipe:
from Kristen, Salem Mom
I love to make summertime smoothies with fresh fruit. We are cow-milk free and dye free so these work for that.
Bananaberry Smoothie
1 frozen banana
1 cup berries (anything in season, we love frozen strawberries or blueberries)
1 cup vanilla almond milk
Chocolate Banana Smoothie
2 frozen bananas
1 cup vanilla almond milk
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
Creamsicle Smoothie
1 cup vanilla almond milk
2 Tbsp orange juice concentrate
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
ice
Put any of these in a blender and blend until smooth. My youngest is a SUPER picky eater and hard to get any protein into. The protein powder helps and keeps him full until dinnertime!
FOR OTHER RESOURCES:
http://www.naeyc.org/files/yc/file/201107/LeapsAndBounds_OnlineJuly2011.pdf
