If you were to believe what you hear on TV, then you might think that the only way to make your kids happy is to load up the car and head to Disney World. Fortunately for your sanity and your budget, this is not the case. There are lots of fun family activities you can do with your kids that don’t require hours and hours of planning or tons of money. Without further ado, here are five activities you can do with your kids this summer that don’t require much planning.
1. Wash the car
While it may seem like a daunting task for some kids, washing the car can be a blast for kids and it’s easy for parents! To get them up and running, you don’t even need a ton of materials or equipment. Just grab the garden house, a couple of buckets, and some car wash sponges or towels. Tell your kids to put on their bathing suits so they can enjoy the inevitable water fights without getting too dirty.
2. Family picnics
It has been studied and proven over and over again that the act of eating together can greatly improve the overall happiness of the family and has an effect on reducing alcohol and drug abuse in adolescents, as well as improving performance children’s academic. The trick is to involve the children early on in the planning process. Ask them to help you choose a venue and menu, or if they’re old enough, have them prepare the food and pack the plates and utensils.
3. A trip to the library
Going to the library is an excellent option to entertain children during the summer. One benefit is that you rarely need to plan or prepare for the trip, aside from gathering library materials that are due since the last time you went! Most libraries even offer youth programs during the summer, allowing your children to earn points for every book they read, giving them a great sense of accomplishment as they expand their minds.
4. Camp
Another great way to keep the kids busy and out of your reach for a few hours (or maybe even a few days) is to send them camping. What kid doesn’t love spending the night in nature with his friends, telling ghost stories and roasting marshmallows? What’s more, you can have a quiet house all to yourself at night. Even if your kids aren’t the outdoorsy type, they all love creating their own indoor forts and tents!
5. Medieval times display
Another educational and entertaining activity that is really fun for the whole family is going to a medieval exhibition or a Renaissance fair. Your children will delight in seeing knights in shining armor on horses in their flowing shells. They’ll love experiencing what life was like in the days of old, including eating with their hands and watching a real live jousting tournament!