Guest Writer Josh Moore
Diaperdads.org
Summer is here, and it’s time to savor that brief but wonderful time when families spend hours outdoors together enjoying camping, boating, hiking, and playing sports in and around the Boston area. Make plans now to take advantage of the many fun and free things to do so you and your loved ones can make the most of every moment. Here are some tips to get you started, courtesy of Lower Mills Dorchester.
Make Sure You Scan Your Travel Documents
An app for scanning is a must-have for on-the-go families this summer, allowing you to quickly digitize and store essential documents, tickets, and kids’ artwork while traveling. Here’s a free scanner app to help you get the job done. This will help you keep everything organized and accessible, ensuring you never lose track of essential papers during your adventures. Plus, sharing your summer memories with loved ones becomes effortless when you can scan and send photos instantly!
Involve the Family
Instead of making the summer plans and telling the kids, involve them in decision-making. Simple Family Travel suggests giving kids input to get them invested in your plans. It’s a great way to carve out time for your kids in your otherwise busy schedule. It can also be a great way to get them to learn more about specific destinations and activities. And when everyone is heard, there will be less whining and complaining when it comes time to travel, making everyone happier.
Plan Your Family Destination Carefully
Choosing your destination is essential, of course, but it’s also critical that you spend some time researching your chosen destination to make sure you’re taking full advantage of what’s available. For example, when visiting Boston, you should check out the New England Aquarium and the Boston Children’s Museum or go whale watching, to name a few. Again, ensure the whole family is involved in the decision-making process!
Shop Local
It’s time to shop once you know where you’re going and what activities you want to do. You don’t have to scavenge for the last remaining kids-size four swim trunks or floaties when you plan. Instead, you can make suitable investments and support local business owners. Your community likely has thrift stores or a specialty shop for outdoor activities, such as a hiking and camping supply store or a local independent sporting goods store. Shop early in the season, and you’ll have a better chance of purchasing items that must be specially ordered.
Take a Hike
Hiking is a great activity that combines outdoor exposure with exercise. Children can significantly benefit from connecting with nature. To enjoy hiking and avoid injury, playground and school gym sneakers are probably not the ideal footwear choices. Day hiking boots come in children’s sizes and are appropriate for beginner-level outings. These boots might require a small investment, but they will repay you with happy feet all summer.
Other hiking necessities include a water bladder backpack, daypack, field guides, and maps. Don’t forget hats and sunscreen. If your outdoor adventures include camping, ensure you have all the equipment you’ll need for staging your base camp. From portable stoves to sleeping bags, tarps, folding chairs, and water bottles, your local camping store will have everything you need.
Small Steps Towards Great Adventures
Big trips, camping, and even long hikes can be overwhelming for some kids, so start small. If summer camping is in your sights, turn your backyard into a weekend campsite. This will give you even more use out of your camping essentials investment; it can be a great way to practice for the main event. You can DIY a firepit over which the whole family can roast marshmallows and make s’mores. Ensure it’s safe from the house and not under trees with low-hanging branches.
Each year, you can make a tradition to test out your tent and sleeping bag, ensuring no rips need repairing. When you are not camping away on weekends, give your kids the option to spend the night under the stars. This way, you’ll get your money’s worth from your equipment while giving your family additional opportunities to enjoy the outdoors.
But before committing the entire family to backyard living, ensure it is safe for everyone. Many of the same practices you likely used to kid-proof your house apply to the yard. Ensure sharp tools are stored out of little hands’ reach, and all chemicals are locked away.
Dive Into Nature
There are great ways to get your family active and out into nature without committing to the cost and uncertainty of a weekend camping trip. Take advantage of beautiful days to make a bird feeder or have a whole family treasure hunt. You can even visit a local park for an afternoon playing disc golf, an inexpensive pastime your family can enjoy year-round in many places.
Gardening is another summer backyard activity that engages the whole family and provides benefits through flowers or vegetables. Kids can further their connection with nature in the backyard by learning about the birds that visit and live in neighboring trees.
Storm spotting is another fun way to get kids interested in the world around them. And don’t worry. You don’t need to drive your kids towards an active tornado to enjoy the fun. Kids can do fun activities like tornadoes in a jar and learn how to read barometric information to predict weather events.
Gearing up for summer can mean making some strategic purchases, but it can also mean much more. Get your family involved in planning your staycation and vacations this summer, and get them outside together. Trip Outside cites research showing that being outside greatly benefits physical and mental health. And don’t tell your kids, but summer can hide fun ways of continuing learning outside their classroom.
Whatever you choose to do, make sure you plan your stops, involve the whole family in the decision-making process, and have the right equipment to fuel your adventures. Leave some room for spontaneity, as well. That way, you will make each summer day an enjoyable outdoor experience for your whole family!
