3 Summer Staycation Ideas to Entertain Your Kids
Need a few Summer staycation ideas to entertain your kids? After all, most of us can't afford to go out of town for months at a time so we need to keep the kids occupied at home. Here are a few ideas to help you make memories, keep the kids happy, and maintain your sanity.
Summer Staycation Idea #1: Embrace the Pool
Do you have access to a swimming pool? It could be your neighborhoods, parents, friends, a community pool – it doesn't matter. The point is that if you have access to a pool, now is the time to enjoy it to the fullest.
The key to making a long trip to the pool enjoyable is to plan ahead. Bring everything you'll need for a day of fun in the sun and you won't have to leave. You can swim, hang out under an umbrella when you need a break from the sun, eat a few snacks then hop back in when you're ready.
Here are the essentials you'll need to bring:
- Towels
- Sunscreen
- Plenty of drinks (ideally in a good cooler)
- Snacks – ideally foods that aren't messy
- Pool toys and floaties (if your kids are on the younger side)
- Goggles (kids always love being able to see underwater)
Have fun!
Summer Staycation Idea #2: Movie Day (or Night) with Friends
Have you ever blocked off a whole day to just sit around and watch movies? It can be a blast – especially in the summer when it's so hot. It gives you an excuse to stay inside, enjoy air conditioning and snacks and just veg out.
Your family can do this yourselves or invite some friends or family over. The more the merrier, and it makes the movie day more of an event versus just having a lazy afternoon.
We recommend having some kind of theme for your movie day. For example, you can choose to watch The Hobbit and Lord of the Ring movies or marathon the Harry Potter flicks. If it's a bunch of ladies, maybe you choose to watch a bunch of romantic movies. On the flip side, if it's all guys, you can watch a bunch of manly action movies.
Load up on movie snacks and drinks, crank the air conditioning, hang some blankets over the windows to make the room dark, and have fun!
Summer Staycation Idea #3: Make a Day Trip to a Local City
Why not visit a local city for the day to change things up? Within 1-2 hours of driving, you can probably find yourself in a town you've spent very little time exploring. The key is to do some pre-planning to figure out where you might want to go.
- Which restaurants should you check out?
- What local attractions do they have?
- What do your kids like to do? For example, if your son likes skateboarding, maybe you can look for a skate park.
While this kind of trip does mean leaving the house, it's still a lot cheaper than a full-blown vacation. But it's a little adventure that they'll always remember.
Conclusion
A summer staycation with kids is a great way to save money and keep the kids happy – but mainly if you're happy with your home!