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Keep Your Kids Happy this Summer
By Hikerpro | June 19, 2009
Most parents don’t fully grasp that during the summer months they automatically get the job of cruise director for their family. Many kids have a short attention span and can get bored doing the same thing every day. That’s why parents need to be armed with a wide variety of options that are both fun and interesting. Whether the kids prefer outdoor recreation such as Cincinnati kayaking and Little Miami River canoeing or more structured activities like an art class, a little planning will keep the peace between parents and kids. Here are lots of great ideas to help parents begin to plan a memorable and less stressful summer.
A really helpful resource for finding summer activities is the local department of parks and recreation. Every season is set up to help meet the recreational and educational needs of families. They offer day camps where kids are kept occupied from the time mom or dad drop them off on their way to work until dinnertime. Or, your family might have a need for only a half-day camp experience. Daily activities might include board games, relay races, obstacle courses, lunch, arts and crafts, basketball, baseball, kickball, dodgeball and water fun.
There are plenty of other activities offered by the parks and recreation department. Kids can participate in acting and drama classes where they perform a play for the families at the end of the experience. Boys and girls alike are welcome to select from just about every sport to improve upon or learn new skills. There are beading and knitting classes as well as cooking and golfing. They also offer a wide selection of nature hikes that focus on looking for and learning about plants and animals that can be found in the local woods, lakes, ponds and streams.
The more outdoorsy crowd, a perennial favorite has always been sleep away camp. The length that kids day range from one night to one week or more. One can expect the usual camping activities such as boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, cooking over a campfire, archery, arts and crafts, and other fun games and sing-a-longs. Another type of camp that seems to be very popular with girls is horseback riding camp. Some offer overnight accommodations while others offer camps only during the day. Campers learn how to properly mount and ride horses at their own skill level and some even take part in helping to groom and care for the animals.
If there is a zoo in the area, it would be crazy not to look into what summer programs they offer. Kids love the idea of being a zoo keeper. The experience gives kids the opportunity to visit all the zoo’s regions and get an in-depth opportunity to learn about the natural world. Kids participate in a variety of fun activities and lessons designed to increase their knowledge about our environment. Campers will also learn and have fun when doing arts and crafts, songs, games, hands on animal experiences and group play.
Some kids are perfectly content hanging out at the pool. But if you need an action plan, then be sure to take advantage of the suggestions outlined here. You won’t be sorry.
Topics: Destinations & Experiences | No Comments »