By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture
LITTLE ROCK — Between summer camps and family vacations, finding fun activities to fill summer’s long weeks can frustrate both children and parents. To combat boredom and keep costs low, experts with the Cooperative Extension Service suggest taking advantage of local opportunities and getting creative with indoor play.
“Summer activities can help build independence and self-confidence for kids — if grown-ups are willing to allow them to explore,” said Brittney Schrick, extension associate professor and family life specialist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “This is a great time to check out seasonal events happening in your community, like festivals or farmers markets.”
Schrick suggests that families consider the following outdoor activities:
· Cool off. Visit local splash pads, such as those at Rotary Centennial Park in Jonesboro or the four splash pads in Little Rock.
· Go local. Take a day trip to a nearby community you’ve never visited. Plan your itinerary around any cool museums, local playgrounds or scenic overlooks.
· Gather friends and family for a minor league baseball game with either the Arkansas Travelers in North Little Rock or the Northwest Arkansas Naturals in Springdale.
· Spin your wheels. “Kids are less likely than ever to know how to ride a bike, so learning to ride a bike, scooter or skateboard would be a great way to spend a few afternoons this summer,” Schrick said. “Remember to always wear a helmet and knee or elbow protection if necessary.”
· Get to know your community. “Take family walks — either in the morning or in the early evening after dinner — so that kids know how to get places,” Schrick said. “Most kids don’t know how to get places because they travel there in a car, and many are on screens during the ride, or just otherwise don’t pay attention because they don’t ever go anywhere alone.”
· Take a dip. Plan an outing to one of Arkansas’ many swimming holes, such as those on the Buffalo National River or along North Sylamore Creek in Mountain View.
· Fun at your feet. Break out the sidewalk chalk for games of hopscotch, tic-tac-toe or four square.
For any time spent outdoors, it’s important to practice sun safety by wearing sunscreen and lightweight, loose-fitting clothes and to apply bug spray when necessary.
Stuck inside? Get creative
During the hottest part of the day — typically in the late afternoon, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. — spending time outside can be especially difficult and potentially dangerous. It’s important to avoid heat-related illness by staying indoors during the hottest hours.
But summer fun is not limited to outdoor adventures. Schrick suggests the following indoor activities to spark imagination and fight boredom:
· Build a fort using blankets, bedding and other household items.
· Get crafty by making friendship bracelets, beaded necklaces or keychains.
· Take on a simple project such as building a birdhouse or a flower box. Building kits for these and similar crafts are available online or at craft stores.
· Make a simple recipe together. “Cooking together is a great way to help kids learn their way around the kitchen and understand the food preparation process,” Schrick said. “Start by making a list together and checking your pantry to see if you have any of the ingredients. Shop together and have fun crossing your items off the list. The recipe should be one that involves your kids in most steps.”
Summer can be an enriching time for children and their families, but parents should also not be afraid of letting their kids “get a little bored,” Schrick said.
“Boredom is not necessarily a bad thing,” Schrick said. “A bit of boredom can help challenge kids to make their own fun and come up with their own things to do. If parents create a dynamic where they are constantly providing their children with a ‘solution’ to their boredom, that sets everyone up for failure.”
For more information and resources for low-cost summer fun activities, visit Schrick’s At Home Summer Camp page on the Cooperative Extension Service website.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.
