When you think back to your summers as a kid, what do you remember? Were you stuck on the couch bored out of your mind, or having the time of your life actually doing things with your family? Which would you rather have been doing?
We believe summer should be a time of fun, excitement, and exploration for children of all ages. To facilitate that, here is a list of activities we think all parents should try to do with their kids to help them experience summer to the fullest.
1. Make Homemade Popsicles
There isn’t a more delicious way to cool off this summer than with a popsicle. Making your own popsicles is a fun activity to do with kids and you can tailor them to you kids’ tastes. Plus, they’re basically frozen smoothies, so you can make them as healthy as you like!
Check out our article on all-fruit popsicle recipes to make healthy popsicles right in your own kitchen.
2. Go Camping
Some of the best memories children have growing up are from camping with the family. Maybe it’s from having someone’s foot in their face while sleeping in close quarters, discovering new bugs to sneak onto your clothes, or getting a s’mores sugar high. Whatever it is, camping makes for a memorable summer activity.
If you aren’t a fan of a long drive to an expensive campground, you can always camp in your own backyard. That way the comforts of home are readily available and wild animals aren’t likely to take your food. No guarantee the food is safe from your kids though!
3. Go Boating
photo: Rain0975/Flickr CC
If you do choose to camp at a campground, or simply want to do something different for a day trip, boating is great way to spend a summer day on a lake.
Most campgrounds have a dock of sorts, or at least allow kayaking off of their beach. Many even have paddleboats, kayaks, and/or canoes and all necessary safety equipment available for rent. You may even be able to paddle local waterways in your town or city.
Buckle up the lifejackets and set sail! So to speak.
4. Have Fun at the Beach
photo: Jose Martinez/Flickr CC
Getting to the beach is a must in the summer, whether it’s along the ocean or a lake. Canada’s east and west coasts have a monopoly on beautiful ocean beaches, but even inland, you can discover wonderful lakefront beaches.
Some of the top southern Ontario beaches, for example, include Wasaga Beach, Cobourg Beach, Grand Bend, and Pinery Provincial Park. And right in Toronto, there’s Centre Island Beach, Cherry Beach, Woodbine Beach, and many others.
5. Have a Water Fight
photo: Kayla Thorne
Where is the fun in staying dry all summer? It’s much more fun to give your kid a squirt gun, spray them with a hose, and run away before they can get you back.
If you’re wanting to start a water war, be sure to arm yourself. Our weapons of choice are water balloons, squirt guns, or garden hoses. After you’ve stocked up on ammo at the nearest tap, take cover!
6. Explore a Farmer’s Market
Farmer’s markets are ideal for parents seeking to buy fresh produce and baked goods, and are great places to expose picky children to new and interesting food options not usually available at your average grocery store.
Live in Toronto? Read our list of best farmer’s markets for families in Toronto to find your closest farmer’s market.
7. Pick Berries
photo: Eric Havir/Flickr CC
There are so many strawberries, blueberries, and other juicy berries in summer that it would be a waste not to let little hands and mouths have at them.
Take your kids to a pick-your-own farm, like these pick-your-own farms near Toronto as a delicious activity, but make sure more berries go into their buckets than in their mouths!
8. Cheer On Your Baseball Team
photo: Kayla Thorne
It’s called the great American pastime, but baseball is just as beloved by many Canadians—and their kids!
If you are going to be in Toronto this summer, be sure to buy tickets to see Canada’s only major-league team, the Toronto Blue Jays, in the Rogers Centre.
But no matter where you are spending the season, look into attending a local amateur baseball game, since they are free and allow your little one to get closer to the actual game.
9. Spend Time with Animals
photo: Laurie Jansen
Lions, and tigers, and goats! Oh, my! Canada is home to many animals and creatures from all over the world, from the king of the jungle to the teeniest of bugs.
In southern Ontario there is the African Lion Safari in Hamilton, and if you’re willing to make the trek there is Bird Kingdom and a butterfly conservatory in Niagara Falls. If you live in Toronto there are plenty of fun animal-centered places, such as the Toronto Zoo, Ripley’s Aquarium, and family-friendly farms.
10. Go to an Amusement Park
photo: Kayla Thorne
One of the many benefits to summer is that all the amusement parks are open. With enough rides and food to make anyone sick, a day at an amusement or water park is sure to be a blast for the whole family. If you’re in the GTA, the obvious choice is Canada’s Wonderland, but there are many traveling carnivals throughout the summer all across Canada, so keep your eyes peeled.
If you have young children in Toronto who aren’t tall enough for bigger rides, or they simply prefer running around in water over riding a ferris wheel, visit one of Toronto’s best splash pads for an equally fun summer day.
11. Go to a Summer Festival
photo: Kirsztina Konczos/Flickr CC
Summer is a popular season for all types of festivals, including ones centered on food, music, or specific cultures. Many festivals have all of these components, plus lots of other activities and events for families to enjoy. There are dozens of annual summer festivals throughout the summer, so keep a lookout!
Regularly check our event listings for upcoming summer festivals in the GTA.
12. Play with Chalk
photo: lincolnblues/Flickr CC
Playing with chalk on the driveway is a summer classic that never loses its appeal. Help your kids draw a hopscotch course, four square court, or encourage them to draw and take advantage of the giant blank canvas. The best part about playing with chalk is that nature does the cleanup for you during the next rainfall.
13. Get Messy
photo: Neil Winton/Flickr CC
Squish! Splat! Splash! Hearing these sounds while indoors is an instant cause for concern for most parents. But outdoors, so what if there’s paint on their back, clay on their face, or goo in between their toes? After play is done just get out the garden hose and spray the mess away before hopping in the tub. Your kids will likely have had one of the best and messiest days of their lives, and the furniture and walls will never know.
Check out Tiny Rotten Peanuts for some neat ideas for messy outdoor play.
14. Go on an Adventure
PHOTOS: MOMINMOLLY/FLICKR CC
If everything else on this list seems too tame for you and your thrill-seeking child, try something a little more exciting. Ziplining, rock climbing, or a rope course are active options to keep the adrenaline pumping for a full day of stimulating fun for the whole family.
TOP PHOTO: KAYLA THORNE
