26 Jun, 2024 Beating the summer HEAT with family friendly fun
Outdoor activities/Advice
By Summer Lane
Photo: Deposit
Is the summer sun getting you down? Ahead of this year’s Fourth of July celebrations, families across America are looking for clever ways to beat the heat and still have fun reflecting on our nation’s birthday.
While summertime may be my favorite season (I love the long hours of daylight, the sweet stone fruit, and the opportunity to go camping), I admit that when temperatures tip triple-digits, I tend to avoid outdoor activities during the hottest times of the day. I take walks in the evening after the sun goes down. I don’t go on hikes except in the cool morning hours. I’m not a big pool person, but if I must be outside, I’ll try to attend events where there are misters, a pool, or some kind of air conditioning.
In California, we’re facing our first massive heat wave of the year (it’s that time!), and it got me thinking about some fun, family-friendly, and common-sense ways to keep kids active during the summertime without risking heatstroke!
Sign up for swim class
Swim classes during the hot summer months are one of the BEST ways to teach your child basic, life-saving skills and keep them moving and entertained. My daughter absolutely loved swim classes, and while we were too busy this summer to squeeze them in (so far, at least), I highly recommend trying them if you haven’t! Many local pools have good prices for community swim classes if you don’t want to bite the bullet on private swim tutoring, too.
Backyard cooling station
I used a combination of water tables and fisher-price plastic kitchenware to entertain my daughter when she was a toddler. While she doesn’t go for it as much now, one of the most successful things I ever did with her was set up a water table outside. I used a plastic fisher-price kitchen set and an outdoor table to replicate an outdoor kitchen and added a small splash-pad (amazon!) to the play zone.
She spent hours playing in the outdoor water kitchen (which, yes, eventually became a mud kitchen, but I digress!), and she was happy to take a small rest when she came inside to cool off on the couch.
Water park fun
Don’t forget to visit the water park this year! If you love to ride cool-water slides and take a plunge in the lazy river, the water park is a great option for a family outing. Most water parks have kid-friendly play areas that are great for cooling off without worrying about deep water risks. Bring your own lunch in an ice chest if you’d like and have fun in the sun – just don’t forget the sunscreen!
Do some high-mountain camping
Higher elevations usually mean lower temperatures. Escape the heat for the weekend and head up to the mountains! Mountain evenings are crisp and cool. Find a cool creek to play in – but remember, never drink it! I loved finding cool pools of water to play in as a kid, but it’s integral to remember that in the mountains, the leading cause of parks-related fatalities is often water. Most water in the mountains is freezing cold and movES swiftly. Rocks can be slick and it’s easy to slip.
If you’re going to play in mountain water, remember to be responsible, wise, and exercise extreme caution around any large bodies of water.
If all else fails, head to the LAKE! There’s nothing like a day fishing or picnicking at the nearest lake to boost your spirits after a long week.
Don’t forget about VBS
Head to church this summer for vacation bible school! When I was a kid, this was the highlight of my summer. I loved the mornings of singing, crafting, and watching silly skits onstage made by high schoolers and big-hearted youth pastors. I still remember the songs I sang at VBS to this day! I remember calling it “Disneyland for Christians” when I was ten.
It’s a great way to get your kid engaged with their church friends and kids from the community without spending money or taking them on a fancy out of town trip. You won’t regret VBS – and your kids will make lifetime memories!
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The opinions in this article are specific to its author, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the entire Counter Culture Mom team. This specific article was written by Summer Lane, and may not be reproduced, except to quote for reviews or interviews, without the express permission of the author.
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Summer Lane is the #1 bestselling author of 30 books, including the hit Collapse Series. She is an experienced journalist and columnist who reports on news within the U.S. She covers policy, lifestyle, and ag for The Epoch Times. She formerly served as the Associate Editor for Right Side Broadcasting Network.
Now, she owns Write Revolution News, where she provides a rapid-fire feed of the nation’s most important America First news and events.
Summer is also a mom and wife who enjoys rural country living, herding cats and ducks, and reading fiction. She is passionate about writing on women’s issues, parenting, and politics from a theologically-grounded perspective that points readers to the good news of the gospel.
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