Summer Ideas for Families During COVID-19

Here are ideas to help families keep the spark of learning alive this summer while also carving out time for the daily protective factors every kid needs: playtime, downtime, and family time.

BE OF SERVICE

With family

  • Do chores
  • Help with gardening/yard work
  • Prepare a meal
  • Take care of siblings or pets

With community

  • Deliver groceries to those in need
  • Sew masks for others
  • Offer virtual tech help to seniors
  • Write thank you notes to first responders and frontline workers
  • Support a cause your care about virtually by writing letters to elected officials or participating in community organizing via text or phone
  • Provide dog walking and pet care services to neighbors

EXPLORE A PERSONAL INTEREST

  • Read for pleasure
  • Conduct a family history project
  • Interview a role model
  • Learn how to code 
  • Take an art class
  • Do science experiments 
  • Try a new exercise/sport

LEARN A LIFE SKILL

  • Budgeting
  • Cooking
  • Car maintenance
  • Navigating with a map and compass
  • Riding a bike
  • Meditation

FIND OR CREATE A JOB (virtually or IRL)

  • Be a virtual babysitter 
  • Tutor younger students
  • Start your own business: car washing, landscaping, house painting
  • Be an online museum docent

PRODUCE (AND CONSUME) MEDIA

  • Make a short film or family video, stop motion videos, podcasts, etc
  • Create a YouTube channel
  • Start an online book or movie club
  • Watch a documentary
  • Follow current events
  • Expand awareness of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) related topics

(RE)CREATE SUMMER FAMILY RITUALS

  • Go on a backyard camping trip
  • Learn to cook family recipes
  • Research a destination and “travel” somewhere in the world
  • Host game nights
  • Exercise together
  • Explore local parks and hiking trails
  • Read aloud as a family
  • Schedule routine video chats with extended family and friends
  • Have your child organize online summer parties

PARTICIPATE AS A CAMPER OR COUNSELOR IN AN ONLINE SUMMER CAMP/CLASS

Free camps/classes 

Fee-based camps/classes