Summer Bucket List of Must-Do Activities with Kids

Written By Nicole Cox

Summer, summer, summertime…. time to sit back and unwind… that is, unless you’re a parent, am I right??!!

A friend of mine recently told me we only get 18 summers with our kids and WHOA… it hit me hard. The guilt of being a full-time-working mom and the pressure to make the most of every moment I get with my kids during summer, (when I have limited time as it is), was almost overwhelming. I started feeling like I don’t do enough, or haven’t spent enough time with them, and the mom-guilt hit. I started to doubt myself as a parent. It all started to feel like A LOT of pressure, ya feel me??

 
 

But then I stopped myself. And thought back to my own childhood, and the most fond memories I had of summer. And I realized they were not the expensive vacations, the most elaborate summer camps or doing back-to-back activities every day but the simplest things… LIKE the first time I learned to swim, going to the park and flying a kite, family bike rides, building forts, running through sprinklers, getting ice cream, and playing with my friends until dark…

So, as moms, can we agree to release the pressure on ourselves and remember to slow down this summer and enjoy the simple things? Can we give ourselves permission to not over-schedule ourselves and our kids, and not to rush from activity to activity but be present in these moments instead? And remind ourselves that summer is not about quantity… it’s not about the number of activities you pile in a day, the number of vacations you take or the amount of money you spend… it’s about making the minutes you DO spend together count. And that is what your kids will remember the most.

So you can spend less time on a screen doing research and more time outdoors with your little ones – our team has compiled our summer bucket list with some simple ideas of activities you can do with your kids that you’ll both remember. <3

Plan a Picnic + Visit a New Park

While we tend to visit the same 1-2 parks in our neighborhood, a trip to a new park can be like a whole new world with new fun to explore. Pack a picnic lunch and blanket + map out the park you’re heading to in advance so you can plan to spend a few hours there. You can even get a family workout in by attending one of FIT4MOM’s family-friendly classes and playgroups at a nearby park. Check their schedule in advance, as most locations offer a free playgroup after class one day a week. Here are a few resources for finding great parks in California:

  • Orange County - Check out FunOrangeCountyParks.com. Created to promote play and empower families to prioritize nature time, we love this free community resource created by a true supermom, Michelle. She thoroughly vets and personally visits every park listed on the site.

  • Sacramento - check out these 10 best parks in Sacramento, including William Land Park which is not only beautiful and spacious, but also home to the Sacramento Zoo, Fairytale Town and Funderland. Bike along Davis’ greenbelt and stop at a handful of the 65 different play areas. Or spend a day at the water at Putah Creek Riparian Reserve, Lake Natoma, or the Effie Yeaw Nature Center.

  • San Diego - Check out these 10 parks and playgrounds every San Diego kid should visit, along with some beautiful gardens where you can chase butterflies and stop and smell the roses. The Waterfront Park downtown, Kit Carson Park in Escondido and Old Poway Park are a few of our personal faves.

Take a Family Bike Ride

However your kids like to roll, whether it’s on a bike, scooter, roller skates or a skateboard, we love this fun (and free!) activity we can do together when the days get longer. Taking a family ride opens up a whole new world of adventure. If your kids are too little to pedal themselves, there are a few infant carrier options to haul your most precious cargo. Here are a few of the top family-friendly bike trails in California:

Attend a Summer Concert or Festival

Whether it’s an outdoor concert, play or food festival, we are so happy that IRL events are coming back this summer, after two years of being virtual. So take advantage of the fun, low-cost and free events happening this summer, and let your kids experience the joy of in real life connection and entertainment again. Here are a few of our team’s recommendations:

  • Orange County/LA - Check out the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival Memorial Day weekend or the Tustin Street Fair + Chili Cook Off on June 5th for amazing food and entertainment. And do not miss 10 free concerts and 12 free movie screenings at various OC parks from June 17-Sept. 2. For a complete schedule, visit OCParks.com.

  • Sacramento - Friday night concerts in the park in downtown Sac are back! Enjoy music in the park classes geared for ages 0 - 5 through Grow Resilient Families.

  • San Diego - If you haven’t been to The Rady Shell venue yet, it is a must! The backdrop of the downtown skyline is breathtakingly gorgeous and their summer line-up includes several family movies on a large screen overlooking the harbor, accompanied by the San Diego Symphony Orchestra. Free concerts in the park are back in Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Coronado, Poway, Santee and Scripps Ranch! Check out the summer concert series coming to the Children’s Museum in Escondido July 9 + Aug. 13 featuring Hullabaloo and the free car show, Cruisin’ Grand every Fri. night in Escondido.

Book or Host a Playdate

We know keeping the kids busy all summer can be a challenge, so sometimes you need… “just a little somethin' to break the monotony…. ”

So shake up your routine by scheduling a playdate! Whether it’s for a few hours a week or a few days a week, June Care is a new service available in cities throughout California where you can host or request playdates, and they will match you with another family in your neighborhood. You can either sign up as a host and make money to host playdates in your backyard, park or beach, or you can request playdates when you need coverage over summer break, or all year round. Your kids get to meet new friends and you get to connect with another family, PLUS it’s “just a bit of a break from the norm…..ya feelin’ the Will Smith vibes yet??!…

Take a Swim

Nothing says California summer like spending your days (and nights) poolside! No access to a pool? We’ve got you covered!!

Kids need a refresh before taking the plunge this summer? Here are a few of our favorite swim schools, based on their top notch instruction:

 
Nicole Cox

Nicole Cox is Head of Marketing and Communications for junecare.co and mom of two.

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