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