Hey Mama, summer is here! Are you ready? Ready for fun, sun, water parks, activities and attractions? Well, if you’re not, I’ve got you completely covered. Being a mama of two, I am constantly looking (because we’ve got to keep the kids busy, right?) for cool activities, attractions for my kids, and things we can do together throughout the summer. Summer is meant to be enjoyed!
I’ve compiled a list of summer activities that your children will absolutely love. (I’ll admit….these activities were pretty fun for me as well)
Let’s dive into some fun:
1. Space and Science Centers
- Space and science centers may be more so for older kids (middle and high school) it allows them to be hands-on and provides experiential learning opportunities and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) challenges to inspire, engage and educate.
- Robinson Nature Center (DC). They have indoor and outdoor nature events that are pretty cool.
2. Museums
- Kid/children’s museums are perfect for interactive/play-based learning and experiences. They spark curiosity. You’ll be able to find a kid/children’s museum in multiple states.
- Art Museums are super cool exhibits of art made by self-taught intuitive artists and sometimes even young/children’s artists.
- Historical museums offer history workshops, general exhibit tours, and storytellers.
- Now, I just had to throw this one in here because it’s my family’s favorite museum, the National Air and Space Museum (DC). Explore all things air and space with exhibits, story-time, discovery stations, science demonstrations and events. They are newly renovated and it’s so much to explore there. All ages will absolutely love it there.
- Natural History Museums. Appropriate for all ages, they have cool interactive areas that enlighten visitors on fossil dating, fossilization and evolution. If you’re ever in Washington DC, they have a butterfly pavilion, tarantula feedings and other cool stuff.
- National Postal Museum (DC). Hands-on activities are always fun. Kids can create a stamp using their own design, write and mail a postcard, sit in the cab of a postal truck, ride in a stagecoach and also sort packages as if they worked in a mailroom.
- International Spy Museum (also in DC). Spy-related intrigue and interactive experiences.
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3. Zoo’s, Farms and Gardens
- Visiting farms allows us to understand the importance of maintaining farm animals, their welfare and agriculture.
- Visit your local zoo to learn more about animals from all over the world.
- If you happen to be in Washington DC, visiting the United States Botanic Garden is an absolute must. It’s a cool living plant museum, where your kid will learn about the importance, fundamental value and diversity of plants and their aesthetic, cultural, economic, therapeutic and ecological significance. They offer a variety of exhibits, tours, and programs for visitors of all ages.
4. Discovery Centers
- Discovery centers are designed to be engaging, inspiring, educational and fun for children from birth to age 10. They offer special events, like, sensory-friendly experiences and human beatboxing guests to put on a show for the kids.
5. Classes With Instruction
- Swimming lessons, such as Kids First Swim School (they have many locations worldwide). They offer swimming lessons to everyone, from infants to adults.
- Gymnastics, ballet, ninja, cardio classes/lessons. My Gym (locations worldwide) has all these classes and much more. Personally, we love My Gym! It’s super engaging and the staff are equipped with the necessary tools and experience…not to mention they will keep your kid entertained throughout the whole class.
- Music/instrument lessons for kids, like School of Rock.
6. Fun to Keep You Active
- Visit your local fire department. Fire department tours are great for kids of all ages. They can meet firefighters, tour the space and interact with equipment. Plan with a group for an even greater experience. My daughter’s Girl Scout Troop did a group visit and they had so much fun experiencing the fire department with friends.
- Indoor play parks like Climb Zone, Sky Zone, Urban Air and bounce houses are a sure way to keep the kids entertained and busy.
Hopefully, this list of summer activities has been helpful. If you’re looking for more summer reads, click here! Happy summer!
