Summer Fun Activities and Healthy Habits for Kids
Now that you have kids, your idea of a relaxing vacation has probably changed. Gone are visions of a tropical beach and pina coladas in hand. Instead, many parents want a destination that will keep the kids active and engaged. The best kind of summer fun for a health-conscious family involves a balanced combination of outdoor activity and exercise. Active family excursions, whether day trips, weekend getaways, or long vacations, help kids learn to love exercise.As a result, active kids become active adults and are much less likely to suffer from some of the preventable health conditions caused by sedentary lifestyles. Plus, active vacations make unforgettable memories and help families bond. Years from now, no one will remember eating lunch on the beach, but they will remember the hike they took down the Grand Canyon or the fun they had mountain biking. And if the kids can learn something from their summer vacation, even better.The most important thing when looking for active family vacations: keep it kid-friendly. Avoid resorts that cater more to adult tastes and offer spa-like excursions.
With the goals of exercise and engagement in mind, here are few suggestions for great summer fun activities and healthy habits:
Promote Different Activities
Create a schedule that utilizes different fun activities throughout the week to prevent boredom.Take an educational walking or bike tour of a city. Walks around cities and towns rich with history are great educational activities for kids during the summer. To get the kids involved, tie in things they are studying in school; having a point of reference helps them remember the places they visit and the history behind those places. To further spark kids’ interest prior to your trip, show them a movie or book that features the city you plan to visit.
Promote Mental Health
Ensure that your kids are reading through the summer. Lack of mental stimulation can lead to forgetting up to two months’ worth of information from the school year. This way, they will have additional educational activities that will activate their brain in the best possible way.
Pack Healthy Snacks
When traveling outdoors, pack your own food to avoid eating at a restaurant. Healthy and energizing snacks such as fruits and nuts are good to keep in mind. To incorporate exercise and healthful food, take your family on a fruit or vegetable-picking hike as a summer activity or part of an active vacation. Then carry your harvest home and use it in a recipe that you make together as a family. Picking strawberries or apples? Make a whole wheat strawberry banana bread or apple-stuffed chicken. It’s good for kids to know where their food comes from and for them to get involved with cooking a healthy meal.
There are so many things you can do with your family during the summer, and it can be fun for the kids, too. Get your family active this summer with this selection of kid-friendly ways to have fun together.
