Fun, Educational Summer Activities for Kids

Kids are always excited when school is out and summer's here. For a few days they keep themselves busy; sleeping later, playing with friends, watching tv, playing computer games amuse them for a while. Then comes the inescapable complaint all parents dread-- "I'm bored!"

Here are few suggestions to keep your kids busy and learning throughout the summer:

Check out your local library. Many libraries have special summer programs for children. Sometimes libraries bring in guest artists and writers to give presentations or offer special workshops. Your child could discover a new interest or hobby.

Visit local attractions. If you are lucky enough to live in or near a city, there are probably area attractions that are both educational and interesting. In the city where I live, for example, we have a train museum, a zoo, an art museum, a planetarium, a marine museum, and a historical mansion that is open for tours. And this is all within ten miles of my home. Check out what's in your area.

Create a family scrapbook. For a creative project, your child or children could develop a family scrapbook. Help your child gather pictures, drawings, certificates or other items of importance and organize them into a scrapbook. This could be very simple or elaborate, depending on the age of the child. A scrapbook is a way to encourage planning and creativity, and it's fun!

Encourage your child to volunteer. If your child is a bit older (probably at least 9 or 10), s/he he could volunteer at some organization in your area. Animal shelters sometimes allow children to come and walk animals or just pet animals to socialize them. Children can volunteer to read to people at the hospital or nursing home. Even walking around and collecting litter in parks or on the roadway provides a way for a child to volunteer. Volunteer experiences can often be both rewarding and educational for a child.

Go for a hike (or a bike hike, if you prefer). To make this an educational experience for your child, you can plan to stop along the trail and check out interesting insects, birds, and plants. If this seems like too much preparation, just take a digital camera along, and stop along the way and take interesting photos.

You can involve younger children by having them plan out a snack break or bag lunch. This is a way to start encouraging them to eat healthy.

So when a child complains about being bored, suggest activities that are not just fun, but educational too!