8 Ways to Keep Your Kids Smart and Healthy This Summer

i Summertime is here! My kids are already enjoying their summer, with camp during the week and random activities on the weekends. We’re trying our best to keep up with physical health during these next few months. I’m also trying my best to prevent the summer “slide” that can happen when it comes to their learning. Here are 8 ways to keep your kids smart and healthy this summer, so they’ll still be on top of their game when the fall comes around.

Physical Activity

First and foremost, keep your kids active this summer! Get them outside, away from the TV, video games, and tablets. Set a requirement of 60 minutes of physical activity per day. This should be an activity that gets them sweating and gets their heart beating fast! Set an example and get out there with them as well. Exercise is good for you, too! Use your backyard, pool, or visit a local beach. A change of scenery can add to the fun. 

Healthy foods and snacks

To go along with the physical activity, be sure you stay on top of your kids’ diets as well. A lot of kids end up gaining weight during the summer because of eating out and relaxed rules when it comes to snacks and drinks. Kids are also typically staying up later, which gives them more opportunity for late-night snacks. Don’t let this happen in your house! Sure, summer-time treats like ice cream and popsicles are a lot of fun. But, they should be special treats. They shouldn’t replace regular, balanced meals, and healthy fruits and veggies as snacks. I can admit that my cooking tends to slack over the summer, but I’m forcing myself to stay on top of it this summer, if anything for the sake of our budget! 

This post has helpful tips for getting your picky eater to eat. You’ll find suggestions on foods in each category that you can put together to make meals for the pickiest of eaters. 

Catch up on appointments

Since the kids are out of school, summer is a great time to catch up on appointments. This includes well child visits, dentist appointments, the eye doctor, etc. Catch up on your own appointments, too, while you have the time. Your kids need you to be healthy and at your best as well! 

Reading

Encourage your kids to continue reading over the summer. Our local library system has a Summer Reading Program that we participate in every summer. The kids get prizes each time they read a certain number of minutes or books, depending on their age. They love it, and it keeps them encouraged to read over the summer. You can come up with your own such system if your local library doesn’t have a similar program. Reading is one area that kids tend to “backslide” in over the summer. So, do their future teachers a favor, and keep them reading this summer. 

Workbooks

My kids love workbooks, especially the Summer Bridge Activity Books. We get a new one each summer for each of our younger kids. They work through them every few days, just to keep them thinking. They cover a wide range of subjects, so they’re very helpful in preventing that backslide. 

Arts

If your kids are into the arts, I encourage you to keep this going over the summer. They may not be in school, where they’re forced to do art projects or to participate in music. But, keep them in touch with their creative side. Whether it’s writing a story, drawing, painting, or making something (even if it’s slime!). It’s another great way to keep them busy and thinking. 

Volunteering

Since your kids have extra time over the summer, have them find a cause they want to support. Have them wash a neighbor’s car, cut their grass, or walk their dog. Volunteer at a local shelter, pet adoption center, nursing home, or hospital if they’re old enough. There are so many ways to give back to the community, so help your child find a way to make a difference this summer. Making a difference helps to build their self-esteem and their appreciation for their own lives. 

Educational Vacations

If your family has the opportunity to travel this summer, take a trip to a historic site. If you’re staying local, visit a museum, zoo, or seaquarium. Your trips can be both educational and fun, to keep their minds going this summer. I put together a post with low-cost ideas for a staycation for any vacation. 

I hope this list has been helpful! Do you have anything else to add to these 8 Ways to Keep Your Kids Smart and Healthy This Summer? Drop your tips in the comments below! 

Check out this related article for tips to Keep Your Kids Safe This 4th of July. 

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